Rhapsodies

While I’m sure some people will disagree with me, in my own way I consider myself  a patriot. I love my country and as a scholar of history, I believe in exceptionalism (though I don’t deny the existence of the exceptionalism of every one else) As a history buff, I’m endlessly amazed that we became what we are not just because of what we are but despite of what we are.

However I believe that hubris in all of its forms is unacceptable, and to ensure this it is imperative­ that  we never believe our own advertising copy. True patriots must ask questions, criticize and mock… this brings me to the importance of satire. Jon Stewart , Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher do their job but despite all of that  they’re still to close for a truly proper razzing you have to turn to the people looking from the outside because as the song goes; “Who else but a bossom buddy can tell you how rotten you are?”

Which is one of the many reasons I’m such a fan of Rick Mercer. I’ve enjoyed him in “This Hour has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada and most recently The Rick Mercer Report. and think the way he goes for the throat is exceptional.

So today here are some of Rick Mercer’s USA specific from my quote collection.

“The US is our ally, our trading partner, our neighbor, and our friend, and sometimes we’d like to give them such a smack. “

“The United States were a 35-year-old man, I think he’d be in a mental institution. Violent tendencies – delusions of grandeur – medicate heavily.”

“In the United States I have always believed that there was a big difference between Conservative and stupid. Boy is it getting harder to prove that one by the minute.”

And on a more general note.

“Here’s to democracy. May we get the government we deserve.”

And let’s close this with his wonderful “Talking to Americans” Where his targets include George W. Bush.  (The little boy at the end gives me some hope.)