Just to share interesting experience in blogosphere... I wandered in "Blogs for Bush" (I know, masochistic tendencies...) and found post about Haiti. After checking out comments section I tried to make post about some facts considering situation in Haiti (which most other commentators seemed pretty unaware). But after trying to post, I got this message:

"Your comment was denied for questionable content. If you feel this was in error, please contact the site administrators."

And here's what I wrote:

"hmm...who has selective memory? just few facts:

Aristide was actually Haiti's first democratically president who won 67% of vote in 1990 election. He was ousted by brutal military junta in 1991. True, Clinton adminstration helped Aristide (who was legitimate, democratically elected presdient, not dictator) back to power by ressuring junta to step down and sending US troops to Haiti. I doubt this has anything to do with personal friendship, but rather it was caused by flood of refugees from junta-ruled Haiti.

Aristide re-election in 2000 was boycotted by opposition, but it is very likely that Aristide would have won anyway, boycott or no boycott (and that's why opposition chose to boycott). Opposition's official reason to boycott was senate election in same year where they claimed tallying of votes was unfair in 10 seats. But considering that even according to opposition Aristides' party won 16 of 27 senate seats fairly (and 10 unfairly, according to opposition) it seems that Aristides had still solid democratic majority.

And yes, Aristide ousted in February 2004 by armed rebellion (which US government probably more or less supported). Actually Aristides was flown out of Haiti by US military plane in operation he later called "kidnapping".

Unlike Aristides government, present government of Haiti is not popularly elected, but is in power because it has been supported first by US and French troops (February 2004 interevntion was US-French joint operation), and now by UN "peacekeepers"."

I don't know which part of this was "questionable", you can check the tread:

http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/archives/004621.html#comments

It sure is much easier to live in denial if you really deny to publish facts...

Brilliant post; thanks Jon!

When I watched the movie "Die Weisse Rose" (a very good film, if in German) in 1990 it never occurred to me that I might be living in a country where I confront the same problems that young Germans confronted in the '30's and '40's. If I chose to wake up and see those problems.

I'm fascinated by people like Pechuro who make that 'crazy' decision. I've spent a lot of time thinking about those south africans who actively rebelled under apartheid: risking (or sacrificing) your life and your children's lives is not really rational. But it is part of the beauty of human beings. I guess it is not surprising that most people, even if they see the wrong in the system, choose to keep their head down and get along.

RR, last summer I spent many hours arguing with the regulars at Blogs for Bush. Too many hours. The people there were wilfully obtuse -- they'd twist my comments beyond recognition and put words in my mouth, in the most outrageous manner. No arguing in good faith on their part, and if I provided a link to the White House's official site to support my point, even this was deemed suspect. Finally I said "screw it" and gave up. My time was better spent elsewhere.

To post on Blogs for Bush you need to register with them, and they'll let you post. But I can't recommend this as a rewarding activity.

Truth is hard work, it is much easier to be spoon fed lies that feel good than to learn the painful lessons of honest investigation.

In today's political climate, truth is meaningless.

Along these same lines, ever hear of the Edelweiss Pirates ("Edelweißpiraten"), basically anti-Nazi German "hippies" or "beats" ? They have never been acknowledged by the post-war German establishment, and the movie made about them last year had a good deal of trouble getting distribution, and isn't going to be released until Nov. 10th, 2005.

http://www.edelweisspiraten.com/
http://www.palladiofilm.de/palladio/englisch/proj-01-02-e.htm

Thanks Jonathan. And thanks for the reference of "The Unquiet Ghost". As I read the excerpt you provided, I was immediately reminded of "They Thought They Were Free", by Milton Mayer. As a German Jew recalling the social changes in the runup to the holocaust, he makes the same observation; that those who were pro-Hitler "...hadn't traveled anywhere. They had read very little. They were people who went through their daily routine, brought up their kids, cooked their meals, went to their offices and didn't give anything else a second thought."

History has a way of beating us over the head with the truth. We need to pay attention to it, and as you say, keep bringing it to everyone else's attention.

I understand where you're coming from, Dale, but I don't agree. That's one of George Lakoff's cardinal rules-- liberals who believe that "the truth will set you free" are always, always, always in for a disappointment. Lakoff says, again and again, that it's all about the framing-- so you don't hit people over the head with the issues, you hit them over the head with the attitude.

This is just one of many reasons for Bush's success. He's so sold the American people on his image as a man of faith that it doesn't matter that he doesn't actually go to church.

I write often for a submission-based, somewhat-right religious newsletter (I'm one of those liberal Catholics) and I've been pitching myself as a "Works of Mercy Progressive"-- who places feeding the hungry, et cetera, et cetera, over "politics as usual." It's a terrible cliche, but I've actually seen some positive response from the other side.

Given that success in '08 will depend on how well the left can present itself as a bastion of religious faith, this is the kind of thing I'd like to see from whoever it should be.