To understand this is to understand the nature of the American empire and its citizens’ profound lack of interest in confronting that reality. It’s different from every imperial power that’s come before it. It pretends not to exist. It’s willing to use lethal violence or to celebrate it uproariously, and then to forget it, to imagine its consequences are less important than they are. The public goes along—except when they suddenly don’t—but then reveal once more their genius for moderation, simplistic thinking, and unwillingness to face the truths of the world that gives them the iPhone and
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