QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  Ah, how Thanksgiving is misused.  Only a New York Times columnist could twist a Thanksgiving column to include his own piece of absurd political propaganda.  Robert Wright, another Times leftist columnist, gives us this:

Since what I enjoy is focusing on the negative, this sent my mind back into the realm of nonblessings. For example:

(1) The New Start treaty — which just about every analyst, Democratic or Republican, says would make America more secure — is on the verge of being sunk by a few senators for partisan reasons. (2) This is symptomatic of intense political polarization, bitter division that is paralyzing our politics. (3) Some of America’s divisions, dangerously, are falling along ethnic lines. In particular, American Muslims are often the object of irrational fear and suspicion.

At this point I typically envision a scenario in which these pieces of bad news, along with others, find a horrible synergy that ushers in the apocalypse.

I’d like to think that it’s just me, but the truth is that never before have I heard so many people I know say they’re deeply worried about America — more worried than they’ve ever been, even.

COMMENT:  They are worried, in part Mr. Wright, because of people just like you.  Narrow, irresponsible people.

First, the START treaty isn't being sunk by a few senators for partisan reasons.  Those senators are calling for a reexamination based on their thoughtful concerns about the state of our nuclear deterrent. 

Second, American Muslims are rarely the object of irrational fear and suspicion.  We have been incredibly tolerant, as a nation, of the Muslim community.  But it is entirely responsible and mature to have concerns about elements within that community.  Americans expressed those same concerns about elements within the German-American community before World War II, just as we promoted German-Americans like Eisenhower and Nimitz to lead the struggle against fascism. 

Wright's column begins this way:

An aspect of Thanksgiving I’ve always had trouble with is the part about giving thanks. I’m not against gratitude, but things to be grateful for just don’t naturally spring to mind.

Another example of why The Times, out of touch with the nation, is slipping badly.

November 25, 2010