The roots of global anti-Americanism

[No Elephants]

Murtaza Hussain

The roots of global anti-Americanism
Revelations of Korean rapper Psy's anti-American past are emblematic of a global resentment caused by US militarism.
Last Modified: 11 Dec 2012 12:44



he incongruity of it seemed to be nothing short of a betrayal. After lightheartedly dancing his way into the hearts of Americans and gaining entrance to the inner sanctum of their cherished cult of celebrity, the Korean rapper, Psy, whose song "Gangam Style" became the most watched video in the history of YouTube and made him a pop culture sensation, has been revealed to have a politically active past which places him directly at odds with the American mainstream worldview and which violently decries its most basic articles of faith.

The man whom they enjoyed as an unthreatening, comically light-hearted foreigner dancing for their enjoyment was revealed to have only years earlier been a vociferous public critic of American policies and the country's role in the world.

In a 2004 performance, the rapper famous for his "invisible horse dance" denounced the United States in a song called "Hey American":

"Kill those f---ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives
Kill those f---ing Yankees who ordered them to torture
Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers
Kill them all slowly and painfully"

For an American public conditioned to the type of unquestionable worship of the military embodied in the phrase "Support the Troops", Psy's words represent nothing less than sacrilege. This song however was not his only offence.

In a previous performance, he had come on stage to protest the presence of 37,000 US troops in South Korea and smashed a miniature American tank in protest over the killing of two South Korean schoolgirls by American forces stationed in the country.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html




I wonder how Former Cat Food Commission Co-Chair Simpson feels now about his allegedly gangnam style video. Then again, no one would recognize his bizarre performance as having to do with the popular song, dance and video.

[formercia]

1. The House of War

is how we are referred to.

[Enthusiast]

2. This nation glorifies war.

All "we" do is prepare for war. The entire nation suffers so we can have newer, greater and ever more powerful weapons. The nation still has not admitted the mistake of Vietnam, let along Iraq and Afghanistan. Where will we strike next?

[No Elephants]

3. Notice how no one is talking about cuts to the "defense" budget anymore?

[Enthusiast]

4. They aren't even mentioning it.

A military one half its present size is not justifiable.

[formercia]

5. We have met the Enemy and he is Us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_%28comic_strip%29