Juan Cole discusses international terrorism, its new cousin, white American hate, and courage in 1776 and 2003 and how they all interconnect. It all has to do with two quotes, Susan Sarandon and John Hancock.

Sarandon recalled how she was labelled a “bin Laden lover” for raising concerns about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Oscar-winning actress, 59, said the way she and her family had been targeted for her moral stance by newspapers, radio phone-ins, teachers and people on the street was “horrifying” . . .

“I don’t think I ever thought someone would ever really kill me, although there were some people who said ‘I’d like someone to knock her off’ on the radio and stuff like that,” she said. “I don’t think I thought I’d really never work again, but when there is nobody else, when you look out on the field and everybody is quiet and they’re all looking away and nobody’s saying anything,

Here is what John Hancock really did say about his defiance of King George:

' May that magnificence of spirit which scorns the low pursuits of malice, may that generous compassion which often preserves from ruin, even a guilty villain, forever actuate the noble bosoms of Americans! But let not the miscreant host vainly imagine that we feared their arms. No; them we despised; we dread nothing but slavery. Death is the creature of a poltroon's brains; 'tis immortality to sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of our country. We fear not death. '

John would have been mortified that over two centuries later some poltroons among our co[u]ntrymen should have acted like the rowdy redcoats in trying to revoke an American's liberty, and in making death threats against Susan Sarandon.

The war bravery of cowardly George Bush’s Legion of Cowards. I guess that's the 32% base that find their courage in anonymous telephone threats.