George Rebane
Truthout.org has published a major article ‘Breivik's Fundamentalist War on Politics, and Ours’ which is a progressive manifesto, and itself a declaration of war on conservatives and their politics. Author Henry Giroux (one of truthout’s “news analysts”) forges every connection imaginable between Breivik, the Norwegian mass murderer, and anybody to the right of Hugo Chavez.
There is no doubt in the minds of truthout.org subscribers (this 501c3 solicits funds every month) that the greatest danger to America comes from “fundamentalists”, which is the labeled can into which all people like me (you?) are thrown. Coming from leftwing sources like the White House, and now these people, the "terrorist" label is starting to sound like a drumbeat.
Missing from the fundamentalist toolbox is the necessity for self-reflection, thinking critically about the inevitable limitations of one's arguments, or being morally accountable to the social costs of harboring racist ideologies and pushing policies that serve to deepen racist exclusions, mobilize fear, and legitimate a growing government apparatus of punishment and imprisonment. What connects the moral bankruptcy of right-wing Republicans who embrace violent imagery in order to mobilize their followers with the mindset of extremists like Breivik is that they share a deep romanticization of violence that is valorized by old and new fundamentalisms, whose endpoint is a death-dealing blow to the welfare state, young people, immigrants, Muslims, and others deemed dangerous and, so, "disposable."
After reading Giroux’s piece, a simple perusal of RR comment streams quickly reveals that our leftwing compatriots here are exactly of a piece with the worldview and philosophy of this leftist ideologue. The opinions expressed on truthout.org are not to be dismissed, since their stable of contributing authors includes many (most?) of America's progressive luminaries. This is their home stomping ground, and their readers are collectivist intellects who can master the sometimes thick porridge that the site pours out.
A remarkable telltale of their firm position on the political spectrum is the fairly frequent pace of publications that take even the Chief Community Organizer to task – maybe he’s not that bad after all. So if you do happen to be a little to the right of Hugo, pour yourself a stiff one, send the young’uns out of the room, and wade in.
rebanesruminations.com 
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