America, 'tis of thee!

Someone once called Gore Vidal, “the last living civilized American.” Such a statement is obviously absurd, but in a country that has wilfully elected a man like George Bush as President; refused to accept football as its national sport; has a sizable section of the fundamentalist Christian right propounding the absurd doctrine of ‘Intelligent Design’ and has made a film and its sequel based on a Theme Park ride, it is difficult not to have a certain amount of sympathy with the lonely intelligence of the author of ‘Myra Breckinridge.’

I know that it is fashionable to describe America as an empire which refuses to accept its responsibility; but the stance of America in the world today encourages any thinking observer to want to scream to the Administration that they are an Empire and it would be more truthful for them to behave like one, instead hiding behind the voicing of vacuous platitudes of belief in democracy and freedom to excuse their almost complete lack of true involvement in running the world which they control.

Their mind bogglingly overwhelming insularity, mixed with a healthy dash of sheer ignorance [you try saying you come from Wales when in America and expect any appreciative response!] and their smug belief in their essential cosy rightness makes any ex-colonial power look on in mute disbelief. At least we (the Brits that painted the map pink) had an articulated ethos that accepted and exulted in the fact that colonies were there for the benefit of the mother country. Now America uses the mantra of self-determination for other ‘useful’ (i.e. oil producing) countries as if it actually exists and informs the philanthropic foreign policy of the Administration.

The latest example of this neo colonial arrogance is seen in the demands made by America for the relaying of information (down to the inside leg measurement) of all passengers flying from Europe to the US. The details of what information the Americans require makes ‘Alice in Wonderland’ look like an everyday story of country folk.

Who now, of thinking people, has any real belief in a coherent strategy against the so-called ‘axis of evil’ by any of the western governments, let alone the paranoid amalgam of bigotry that is the Bush vision of America?

So much of the paraphernalia of ‘justified measures’ is for home consumption, a crude political trick to influence, inflame and direct domestic political debate, not to produce authentic, reasonable and effective measures against a culture of violence.

America is rapidly losing friends throughout the world. Its moral basis for existence through the struggle against colonial excesses to the Declaration of Independence is becoming something of a sick joke. Its ham fisted actions to protect its own power base are naked and obvious; its grasping arrogance becomes more and more clear.

Meanwhile back in Cardiff: Monday will see the appearance of yet another estate agent – but this time, we are prepared. God help the poor bugger when he has to listen to our list of ‘suggestions.’

This evening: back to the Millennium Centre for a popular concert called ‘Chorus’ in which the Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera will provide a programme of all the best bits from a series of operas. As I am going out to dinner afterwards, please do not expect any coherent assessment of the performance!