Comments on: “THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT” (How’s that MAGA thing working out for you, losers?) https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:45:30 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44528 podrock Tue, 05 May 2020 16:42:56 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44528 Behind a paywall, but you'll get the gist: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/irish-dig-deep-support-virus-hit-native-americans-repaying-150/ Behind a paywall, but you’ll get the gist:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/irish-dig-deep-support-virus-hit-native-americans-repaying-150/

]]> By: hank https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44477 hank Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:42:12 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44477 Every wave of immigrants comes here seeking the promise of America. Most find it but they find disappointment too. But humans being what they are, they tend to remember the former but after a few generations forget the latter. America is a land of great bounty but it promises more than it can possibly deliver. Being outsiders, immigrants bring a fresh perspective and an instant comparison to everything they see and experience here. They can see clearly what those long established here cannot. Like strangers going into a neighbor's house, foreigners detect smells and sounds those who have long lived here do not, through long familiarity, notice any more. Mr O'Toole has got it right. Those of us who still remember the Old World may have seen this coming, but those who have been here for generations will experience national humiliation on a vast scale, whether they deserve it or not. The great civilizations of the Western world have suffered mightily this century. The French were defeated and occupied with hardly a struggle, their sophisticated culture and rich history shown to be incapable of survival without a handout. The British lost their mighty empire in a decade, Germany will have to carry the weight of its barbarity and savagery far longer than the lifetimes of those who actually deserve it. But America will suffer the humiliation of those who squandered their promise, not because of war or rebellion, but because of hate, greed, ignorance and fear. And we will carry that weight a long time. The glory that was Rome, and the grandeur that was Greece is almost gone now. All that remains are some dead languages, decaying ruins and quaint backwater countries, their mighty legacy has been dispersed and taken by others, and built on elsewhere. The summits of their achievements are now admired in foreign museums and pored over in translation in musty libraries. Is this our destiny, to become a theme park for future empires, a place where they can travel, guidebooks in hand, and see for themselves the hubris they believe they will never suffer? Every wave of immigrants comes here seeking the promise of America. Most find it but they find disappointment too. But humans being what they are, they tend to remember the former but after a few generations forget the latter. America is a land of great bounty but it promises more than it can possibly deliver. Being outsiders, immigrants bring a fresh perspective and an instant comparison to everything they see and experience here. They can see clearly what those long established here cannot.

Like strangers going into a neighbor’s house, foreigners detect smells and sounds those who have long lived here do not, through long familiarity, notice any more. Mr O’Toole has got it right. Those of us who still remember the Old World may have seen this coming, but those who have been here for generations will experience national humiliation on a vast scale, whether they deserve it or not.

The great civilizations of the Western world have suffered mightily this century. The French were defeated and occupied with hardly a struggle, their sophisticated culture and rich history shown to be incapable of survival without a handout. The British lost their mighty empire in a decade, Germany will have to carry the weight of its barbarity and savagery far longer than the lifetimes of those who actually deserve it.

But America will suffer the humiliation of those who squandered their promise, not because of war or rebellion, but because of hate, greed, ignorance and fear. And we will carry that weight a long time.

The glory that was Rome, and the grandeur that was Greece is almost gone now. All that remains are some dead languages, decaying ruins and quaint backwater countries, their mighty legacy has been dispersed and taken by others, and built on elsewhere. The summits of their achievements are now admired in foreign museums and pored over in translation in musty libraries.

Is this our destiny, to become a theme park for future empires, a place where they can travel, guidebooks in hand, and see for themselves the hubris they believe they will never suffer?

]]> By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44476 podrock Wed, 29 Apr 2020 12:31:47 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44476 When I was there a few years ago searching my roots (the original version of my surname goes waaaaay back) I learned first hand how much the Irish love America and Americans. A small example - and a great story: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred_Spirits_(sculpture)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred_Spirits_(sculpture)</a> Not only authority, Mr. O'Toole speaks with anger and sadness. Unfortunately, the Irish know these as well. When I was there a few years ago searching my roots (the original version of my surname goes waaaaay back) I learned first hand how much the Irish love America and Americans.

A small example – and a great story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred_Spirits_(sculpture)

Not only authority, Mr. O’Toole speaks with anger and sadness. Unfortunately, the Irish know these as well.

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44475 Robert Wed, 29 Apr 2020 06:28:32 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44475 Right wingers seem to believe that the United States exists in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. They ridicule Liberals' concern with how the "ROW" views us. But in fact, we live in an interconnected world. Through the Internet Irishmen have the same front-row seat that Americans have, and historically, the Irish have been an integral part of American society. They've been part of us since the Potato Famine; to be an Irishman has long been to be an honorary American. Trust me, I know: My second ex-wife hailed from County Lough, the "wee county", and I learned that the Irish understand America perhaps better than we do, being both outside looking in, and inside helping to build America. When an Irishmen offers a critique of America, it's wise to pay attention. Fintan O'Toole speaks with unique authority. Right wingers seem to believe that the United States exists in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. They ridicule Liberals’ concern with how the “ROW” views us.

But in fact, we live in an interconnected world. Through the Internet Irishmen have the same front-row seat that Americans have, and historically, the Irish have been an integral part of American society. They’ve been part of us since the Potato Famine; to be an Irishman has long been to be an honorary American.

Trust me, I know: My second ex-wife hailed from County Lough, the “wee county”, and I learned that the Irish understand America perhaps better than we do, being both outside looking in, and inside helping to build America.

When an Irishmen offers a critique of America, it’s wise to pay attention. Fintan O’Toole speaks with unique authority.

]]> By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44473 podrock Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:43:30 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44473 Aye Aye

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/the-world-has-loved-hated-and-envied-the-u-s-now-for-the-first-time-we-pity-it-hows-that-maga-thing-working-out-for-you-losers/#comment-44472 Robert Wed, 29 Apr 2020 02:39:40 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81338#comment-44472 Sometimes an essay is so complete there's no comment necessary. Sometimes an essay is so complete there’s no comment necessary.

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