Posted by john on September 11, 2002 at 06:41:50:
In Reply to: Re: This might not be good for everyone to read posted by Bob - the Alien on September 10, 2002 at 21:33:46:
: : I would write a poem for you any day. Any other poem. I am happy that we live in a country where our opinions can be expressed and accepted. I am not happy that we live in a society that is now viewed by some as a disease that is infecting the world, much in the same way we once viewed Communism. I don't support the way we act as the world's police force, and I will never see why sending thousands of innocent sons, fathers, and brothers to kill thousands of others is the chosen way to settle one government's disagreement with another.
: : While it saddens me that we have made Americanization synonomous with materialism, VD, and neglected children, any group that will brutally slaughter thousands of people because they are incompatible with that group's religion--like the Nazis--needs to be stopped. It's not retribution for me, it's an effort to halt the years of terrorism.
: : I'm torn. We've played Cops and Robbers with so many countries. We've let our money-holders govern who we kill. We're not pure, we're not righteous in our anger, we're not even right most of the time. But I can't write the poem. Right now, it would be confused and angry and idealistic. I can't imagine that it's right to kill both our young soldiers and theirs over an ideal, but I can't deal with the possibility that they'll do it again if we don't keep them busy defending themselves.
: : Geez, I'm kinda screwed up. And probably pretty unpopular. I don't have the answer this time. Like that's a first or something? Right.
:
: Yep, that's not an uncommon reaction. But its not really what I'm getting at.
: My point really has nothing to do with whether you support any actions, wars, or not. I know that some people agree with what is going on, and some do not.
: My point in sharing that link is that people outside this country are assuming that everyone in this country agrees with the actions of the government: As an example, I had folks visit from Germany who were honestly afraid to come to the US because they thought that everyone here would be violent towards non-Americans.
: And that is the reaction that I am afraid of.
: Believe me, I am in favor of minimizing the suffering and death. If war is the way it has to be done, I will be greatly saddened, but understanding, so long as the end result does decrease suffering.
: But I have problems with it being done in a way that implies that all Americans are pro-war. Some are, but not all of us. Let the decisions fall where they may, they aren't mine to make. But let the war not forget its purpose, and let the rest of the world understand that, I, and at least some others, are greatly saddenned by all sides of the violence currently in our world.
: *shrug*
You're very right Bob. I understand what you mean about being misrepresented to the world. And it isn't one-sided, the rest of the world is misrepresented to us. But we've (this board) already been down the long tiresome road of discussing the politics involved and frankly I don't want to do that again. I think we should make it known that not everyone supports the actions of the government like you said, but we can't spend too much time worrying about others' perceptions either. Though I often argue deep and difficult issues on this board, that is really no more than intellectual stimulation and a means to hone my beliefs and apologetics. I think such arguments have value, but more in the philosophical sense than in actually changing anything. In life I think we do better to adopt a paradigm in which we walk the path laid before us and make decisions as we must. None of us can determine how we would act in any other situation, nor can we alter physical reality, so on these issues, I prefer to focus on what I can change. And that is my relation to others. I may not be able to change the German public's opinion, but I can certainly influence the way I am percieved by the next German i meet, or anyone else for that matter. It is really just a matter of being true to one's beleifs and letting our actions speak for us. Of course a little disassociation from the negative things doesn't hurt either.