Various people were talking about the AARP (American Association of Retired People?) on NPR this morning. I don't remember the details (it was 5am), but they were discussing how the AARP has opinions on different issues, like privatizing social security. Well, one of the people criticizing the AARP listed a bunch of the "bad things" about the AARP, culminating with "they don't support our troops in Iraq."
Huh? Where'd that come from?
One of the things I've noticed living down here is that "you don't support our troops in Iraq" has come to mean "you are unpatriotic/unamerican and a *really* baaaaad person". Criticizing Bush or the war usually equates to "you don't support our troops". And, well, the AARP dares to criticize Bush.
I'll file this under "differences". Up in Canada, criticizing the government is normal, and considered healthy. We do it all the time. Regularly. Without, I might add, a huge amount of backlash. After all, if we don't criticize our government, how will we make sure it doesn't go and do something stupid? (Like, um, start a war with a random country?) The US supposedly has freedom of speech, but good luck if you try to use it!
I keep wondering if the FBI has started a file on me yet...
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