Camus’ famous words: WOULD THAT I COULD LOVE JUSTICE AND MY COUNTRY, TOO!
Aren’t you grateful you don’t live in Camus’ country? Me too.
Dr. M.L.King Jr’s words : “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
And aren’t you glad that in your nation, nothing matters, so ML King’s words here don’t apply to you?
Gilby-
Can you provide an option for self-deleting threads?
There was a noticable disruption in the www from the simultaneous Googling of Billy’s quote.
Is you quote from this:
During World War II, during the terrible years of 1943 and ‘44, Camus published several “Letters to a German Friend” (see Resistance, Rebellion and Death, Knopf, 1961) to explain his stance against nationalism. “I cannot believe that everything must be subordinated to a single end,” he said. “There are means that cannot be excused. And I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice. I don’t want greatness for it, particularly a greatness born of blood and falsehood. I want to keep it alive by keeping justice alive.” Of course his German friend “retorted, ‘Well, you don’t love your country.’” Camus says he felt “a choking sensation” as he thought of his friend’s remarks, then says, “No, I didn’t love my country, if pointing out what is unjust in what we love amounts to not loving, if insisting that what we love should measure up to the finest image we have of her amounts to not loving.”
You say nothing matters, how can that be if all are not yet silent?
Right now the world just cannot afford an indecisive America. Fainthearted, self-indulgence will put at risk all we care about in this world.
In this hour of danger our President has had the courage to stand up. And this Democrat is proud to stand up with him.
Thank you.
God Bless this country and God Bless George W. Bush.
If courage is bombing the bollocks out of a country that poses no threat what so ever to your own country, I want nothing to do with it.
Also, could you elaborate on that “all we care about in this world” bit? Who are these “we” and what do “we” care about?
Shirley you’re joking! Please tell me you are.
I agree with you abouts this.
But having a trigger-happy shithead for a president will totally screw up all we care about in our world.
Woohoo, I only come here for the mature debate. 
The original quote, and the context, show a simple semantic argument. What does “country” mean? I wish I could love my country?
I do love my country. As an Englishman, I love the beautiful scenery, the wildlife, the quaint old buildings, the spectacular castles and cathedrals, the pubs, the rivers, lakes and canals, the moors and fells and secret valleys, the musical and dance traditions, the easy going sense of humour of the people, and so on.
But I do not love my country if I use the word to signify the second rate power posing as a world player by hanging on the coat tails of an imperialist American government. I do not love my country when I refer to the place where 12 year old boys are shot in the street by 15 year olds, and the local people are too afraid to come forward with evidence. I do not love the country that bans smoking in pubs, even though I do not smoke, and hate smoky pubs. I do not love the country that presents the absurd spectacle of the Rolling Stones being told they can’t smoke on stage. I do not love the country that cancels village fetes for fear of litigation arising from accidents that are unlikely ever to happen. I do not love the country that calmly accepts 10 road deaths a day and 2 child murders a week, but holds expensive and mawkish services to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana Princess of Wales.
If I were American, I would love the spectacular cities (I have been to New York), the musical heritage (I have been to New Orleans), and the proud history (I have been to Boston). I would love the freedom, the wealth, the basic goodness of most of the people. I would love the mixture of cultures and heritage that would allow me to eat the food of a different continent every night of the week within five minutes of my hotel room. I would love to explore the wide deserts and praeries, and the Rocky Mountains.
But if I were American I would not love my country if I used the word to refer to a foreign policy that is regarded with suspicion or fear by allies and enemies alike, and a president who is widely regarded as both dangerous and ridiculous. I would not love my country if I used the word to refer to the tacky elements of American culture, like McDonalds, preachers dressed as Elvis, and all that plastic “Have a nice day now” stuff. I would not love my country if I referred to the country that puts young black men in the electric chair, but hardly ever does that to a white man.
No doubt Camus loved the Germany of historic castles, Reisling wine, lederhosen, chivalry, and a proud military, artistic and social history, but he felt unable to love the Germany of intolerance, genocide, and unthinking obedience to an evil political doctrine.
There’s a false dichotomy if ever I saw one.
It would not have been indecisive for America to decide to tap into its supposed Christian heritage and to forgive those who attacked it. It would not have been indecisive, faint hearted or indulgent to take the brave step of not retailiating. Attacking the wrong people with a knee jerk display of firepower has put at risk a lot of what we care about in this world.
That’s right. And it start with a Congress that sits way too quietly while our constitutional rights are being worn away under the guise of “National Security.” I have nothing against security, but if it gets into a conflict with our constitutional rights I have a big problem. Doesn’t Congress?
I’m glad we at least get to be decisive about a president other than George W. Bush next year…
Also I agree with pretty much everything Mikefule said. Don’t worry about the 10 road deaths a day (a paltry number by our standards), Diana’s wasn’t one of them. 
And yes, I agree we have a “president who is widely regarded as both dangerous and ridiculous.”
It’s a bit of a hobby horse of mine, what with me having worked in insurance claims for many years, as well as being a cyclist and motorcyclist.
10 a day x 365 = 3,650 a year in this country. (The true figure is nearer to 3,500, give or take.)
Compare that with the number of British people killed or injured by terrorists on or since 9/11, and then compare the political consequences and expenditure arising…
In fact, evrey year, we lose about as many people to “inevitable” road traffic accidents as were killed on 9/11, more or less. (The argument is valid even if the comparison is only crudely approximate.)
And, of course, how many Americans are killed by fellow Americans each year?
And how many Americans die of diet-related illnesses each year?
Hey, we’ll worry about the tricky problems tomorrow; let’s go bomb some foreigners today. War: the ultimate displacement activity.
I randomly went to a site, scrolled down, and copied the last end of the speech, and posted it on here.
Was a little experiment on my part.
OOOOKAY!
You had me scared shitless for a moment. I mean… the way you phrased everything… it was horrible.
But then I thought it might be like when I said that unicycling sucks.
But I had to make sure.
<3 <3
Looks like we’re ALL with you and Camus, and Jerrick was JOKING!
A rare event here…