Another Take

Here's an interesting review of Fahrenheit 9/11 that Al-Jazeera published a few days ago.

As depressing as it is to be a thinking American these days, it's worth reminding ourselves that things could still be a lot worse:

In essence, the critical offensive to which Moore subjects President George W Bush is a phenomenon that no one in the rest of the world - particularly the Middle East - can set out to accomplish in their own political environs.

To be sure, the freedoms your average citizen of the European Community enjoys resemble ours. But the circumstances aren't right for producing the phenomenon Al-Arian describes. At any rate, it's worth remembering that no one was gunned down waiting in line to see the film on its first weekend.

BTW, If you haven't done so already, I suggest bookmarking Al-Jazeera's English-language home page.

In These Times recently ran an interview with the network's Samir Khader that may provide necessary context for your reading and/or -- if you have the DISH network -- viewing.

How's this for a quote?:

There is no American democracy. There is democracy, period.

At least someone still believes in transnational values.