Mike – I guess I’m in the “that’s sentimental pap” column too. Sure it’s nice to have a rich mosaic of voices or whatever. But the content of those voices must be weighed on the merits too. Simply asserting that divergent voices add to our diversity and diversity is good isn’t enough, because it provides no criteria by which we should judge those voices. It adds to diversity to have, say, Nazis and Stalinists in the national debate too, but frankly, I’d rather have a little less diversity if it meant not having them in it. I am not, repeat not, saying that Coulter and Moore are Nazis/Stalinists. But the point remains; the rich mosaic approach must celebrate all perspectives regardless of content.
I’m partial to the idea of one nation divided by a healthy debate too. But I do not believe that Moore and Coulter are in the same nation. The nation that you, me and Ann inhabit witnessed 9/11 and immediately saw it as an assault on our nation, regardless of partisanship. Moore saw it as something we had coming and lamented that more deserving, i.e. Republican, targets weren’t hit. I disagree with Ann quite often but I never doubt that she’s on America’s side. I can’t say the same about Moore. Oh, and if you’re wondering if I’m questioning Michael Moore’s patriotism, the answer is yes. I think the only thing he truly loves about this country is how rich it’s made him.