Thomas L. Friedman is a master of language in my opinion. His subtle yet poignant wit is what first drew me to read his columns, and what brought me back to them with the beginning of this course. His most recent column, The Spies that Loved Us, is every bit of everything that I love about his writing and ideas. Right off the bat, he exudes an overzealous excitement at the fact that we are being spied on, generally something that would make people feel disgruntled at the least. However, the true direction of the article isn't spying, or the Russians. It is not intended to create fear, or discomfort, but oddly, a sense of pride in his American readers. What Friedman feels are our greatest commodities are "a commitment to individual freedom, free markets, rule of law, great research universities and a culture that celebrates immigrants and innovators" aren't what we seek to protect, or what others seek to take from us. I agree with what Friedman is implying. I agree that not only have other countries missed what makes the U.S. what it is, but I think that many of our own citizens lose sight from time to time, and take for granted what is here, and what we are built on. I know that I have.
