It's awfully sad that Mr Costello calls knee-jerk anti-Americanism 'Left'.

It's not Left at all - its pseudo-left. Or, it's just plain right-wing.

The Left wants to take over from the bosses run the world in a better way. The psuedo-left just wants to hate its 'Great Satan'.

For a discussion and survey of the term pseudo-left:
http://www.lastsuperpower.net/disc/members/568578247191

Thanx to all who made comment on my 'whackem with a length of 2x4 about loyalty' comment :)
It opened up some new avenues of thinking and reflection.

Ranier.. don't u know NZ is part of Australia ? :)

Yes, loyalty based on who you barrack for can be a bit of a twitter and bisted yardstick, except...... when you look at the track record of some clubs, and games, and see that the loyalty translates into riots at soccer games between say Greeks and Macedonians or Serbs and Croats.
Strayan, I'm more concerned with your remark, about u saying you would not pick up a gun out of loyalty... not even in defense of this land ? or..would you pick up a stretcher and assist wounded soldiers ? or.. would you take a quick trip to some other country and avoid it altogether ?

One might wonder how this relates to the topic of leftist academics.
It does really, when you connect the general 'left' attitude of supporting our enemies and ripping into our allies.
So, a leftist .. or psuedo left as per David, is quite a worry in academia.

For those who want to run things better, the real left, they don't bother me because socialism has already been shown to be fatally flawed as much as rampant capitalism. Problem...'us'. Solution 'redemption'.

"Its not what goes into a man which corrupts him, but what comes out from the heart- murder, greed, adultery, lies etc" (Jesus)

I had a great chat with my new Iranian muslim friend at gym last night. Taught him "Fair Dinkum" -He eats pork sometimes and drinks beer :) and would even come to my place for a meal without a problem
I'd say he is almost an assimilated Aussie already, after only 2 yrs since departing from the "Muslim" regime in Iran which executed his brother in law for the wrong politics.

Leftists have a worse record of supporting despots than do right-wingers in the last 30 years, so how can they claim the moral high ground? Many leftists supported Mao in the 1970s and some even supported the Khmer Rouge at that time. Most supported the Sandanistas in the 1980s as well as supporting the appeasement of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, the US withdrew its support from Marcos near the end in 1986 and strongly criticised the abuses of the Soeharto regime in the 1990s. Most recently some leftists have found comfort in another nearby despot Alkatiri recently deposed under pressure from his own people.

rogindon, I could easily come up with a list of Right wing support for some of most horrific despots ever and provide supporting evidence. Its seems that no such evidence is required when slagging off at the Left and also no definition of what is Left.

For your information the Left usually distinguishes itself from the right because of what it claims to be a dedication to personal liberty, social justice and secularism.

I support social justice, even for ning nongs like you. Its what we Lefties do.

Rainier,
Forgive me for butting in.
What definition of "Social Justice" do you subscribe to?

Horus, Social Justice: The belief in an equitable, compassionate world where racial and cultural difference is understood and valued, and where human dignity, the Earth, our ancestors and future generations are respected. As with other posts in OLO I don't value racial discrimination or cultural xenophobias. My beliefs come first,so if this fits into the political definition of social justice and Leftism (it could be called anything for all i care) then so be it. But I'd rather believe in something than fall for anything.