Norman Geras takes me to task for my comments about Alan Johnson's guest post on his blog. He says:
"he was reacting to a report of widespread anti-American attitudes, and *against that background* saying, 'Well, this is what I love about America.'"
To which I can only say 'so what?' A riposte to anti-americanism that lists some nice things about America simply misses the point. The fact that America has produced Ellington and many other great things says nothing about US behaviour in the world at large and writing as if it did only reinforces the stereotype of insularity and self interest.
