Thanks to Bush, there are fewer people around who think America should be the world’s Sheriff. We went into Iraq drunk on WWII “greatest generation” nostalgia. (Saving Private Ryan, 1998. A Band of Brothers, 2001) It was America’s job to “put a boot in (the world’s) ass” according to the 1999 Toby Keith song lyrics. I like to think that we are a little less sure of the virtue of global American belligerence these days. Anyway, this Eschaton post got me thinking about the possibility that Bush did one good thing.
We. Are. Superhero.
I’m sure this isn’t a never-been-made-before point, but we seem to have this sense that unless the US of A puts on the tights and cape the world will fall apart. The buildings (with people inside) that we knock down in the process can be conveniently ignored.