THE STAR-SPANGLED ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Across Europe, if you are at all in the public eye, it is impossible to criticize the foreign policy of the USA without being looked at askance at the very least, and almost certainly called the most pejorative of names.

The USA, or to be more precise its elites and foreign policy, must be treated as a communal sacred cow, allowed to make its usual mess which is immediately ignored, or greeted by wry smiles.

Perhaps a shrug will be seen… at most.

The nation that has recently caused mass slaughter in the Middle East based on lies must be set in cotton wool and portrayed as the world’s ultimate force for good.

What kind of willful madness is this?

It is simply not possible to speak about or report upon the activities of the USA in anything but neutral to positive terms if you are at all a possible opinion leader with access to TV or radio. If you do raise your head above the parapet and voice even the mildest concern about North America foreign policy you can expect several predictable consequences.

1. You are looked at askance, as a quite strange outlier, perhaps a useful idiot for Russia.

2. You’ll become a target noted in the nearest U.S. embassy where phone calls will be made.

3. You will find that certain invitations to debates or other appearances suddenly dry up.

4. You will suddenly find that opportunities to express your views are no longer available.

5. You may be branded a fascist, a communist, hapless dupe, or worse.

6. You will find the worst arrive if you somehow deign to resist and persist in speaking out.

At this point you become a de facto enemy of the state and some sex crime accusation will be arranged to blacken your name. There need be no basis to it. It must merely sound bad enough to get widespread exposure.

In the land of the free, home of the brave there is scant more liberty to be critical of the powers-that-be. Oh you can say what you like... but be ready for the consequences. The brickbats awaiting those seen as traitors and foreign agents and the pitfalls made ready for their future footsteps are many and used regularly to smear, to trip up and to denigrate, to shred reputations, deny inclusion and send to virtual professional exile.

The prevailing conditions are those of a war. If you know what’s good for you, you watch your step and mind your ‘p’s and ‘q’s. Don’t rock the boat, keep your head down and your mouth shut, keep taking the money and stop thinking so much. And especially not that enormous beast standing right behind you breathing its hot exhaust fumes onto your neck.

Never, ever turn around.

The extremely large blood-stained, star-spangled elephant right there in the room with you may never be looked upon. It’s eyesight is very sharp, its hearing extremely acute and its memory exceedingly long. Those tusks just out of sight have been sharpened to needle points and those enormous feet are perfect for crushing those it deems as enemies.

Be mindful of in what ways you benefit from being blind and in which ways your life and that of your family could be made miserable... as you are speedily ejected from the elite gravy train.

Is it worth it to speak out? This is the calculation made by those in media who have managed to retain at least some part of the conscience they once believed would help them make the world a better place. The calculation usually comes down to self versus the greater good... and self usually wins... or you lose your job.

The star-spangled elephant we’re talking about takes no prisoners, it requiring an abiding, unswerving loyalty, no matter who it decides to crush next.

And if those looking in the window at you standing there with hordes of others in front of, and all around the beast, points at it you must not admit a thing, indeed you must deny its presence to your last fetid breath.