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Posted by trintiy on Mar-29-2003 15:34:

Us against them!

This was written on another forum I subscribe to and I thought it was worth sharing.

All Arabs are terrorists. If you are an Arab, you are a
terrorist whether you know it or not. The disconnect is in
place.

All Americans are imperialists who greed after Arab oil.
If you are an American, you are an imperialist whether you
know it or not. The disconnect is in place.

These are two extreme opposing viewpoints that have
absolutely nothing to do with reality. However, many
people perceive each other in these black and white terms.
As an American, I�ll admit that when I hear the word "Arab"
or "Middle-East" I instantly envision terrorists.
Especially after 9/11. Is this justified? Is this a
correct perception? Of coarse not.

There will be no peace until there is understanding. If
fact, peace is pointless without understanding. With this
in mind, a dialog that leads to understanding needs to take
place� not between governments, but between people. This
is a dialog that could not have taken place until now�
until the Internet. Both Americans and Arabs have a chance
to meet each other half way.

In America, we think in terms of freedom, liberty,
opportunity, capitalism, religious freedom, and democracy.
It�s in our blood. It�s how we came to be. Was there
imperialism at points in our history? Sure there was.
Just ask the Native-Americans. But don�t even try to
compare us to what the British have done. We were never
that bad. Not even close. We have no interest in it. If
you doubt what I say, just ask the Japanese if we colonized
their nation after WWII. We did not, but we did give them
the gift of democracy that has helped turn them into a very
successful and powerful nation. The best thing is that
their culture is still intact.

Another important point needs to be made about America. We
are a people in constant evolution. The past is only as
important as the lessons that are learned. Most Americans
look toward the future with promise, hope, and optimism.
That is who we are and the environment in which we live.

When it comes to war, the people of America only act if
there is a perceived threat. Combine that with the noble
cause of freeing an oppressed people and Americans will
back war at all costs. An example of this is how we
entered WWII. America didn�t really want to be involved
even though we knew that Europe was being devastated by
Hitler. It took a sneak attack by Japan to get us to act.

What is the parallel with the war in Iraq? I�ll tell you.
It was 9/11. If that never happened, we would not be
spilling our blood to destroy Saddam Hussein no matter how
cruelly he oppresses his people. The effect of 9/11 tore
us off the fence. We can�t be isolationists anymore. Is
this good or bad? Will this lead to a greater
understanding or less? Time will tell. I will say this�
change is uncomfortable.

Please no flamming if you have something to debate do it as an adult.

Posted by JohnSmith on Mar-29-2003 17:13:

An excellent post.

I agree with everything up until the end where they say that they attacked Iraq, because of september 11th.

The wto events are unrelated (and no claim is made that they are) but it is this which stopped america from being "isolationists"

I argue that they never were. American foreign policy and particularly in the middle east is what CAUSED sept 11th, and now they are going back for more. If america wants to fight terrorism, the best way is to lock down it's borders, stop selling weapons, and pull it's armies out of the middle east.

Posted by melech_mike on Mar-30-2003 02:50:

quote:
Originally posted by JohnSmith
...If america wants to fight terrorism, the best way is to lock down it's borders, stop selling weapons, and pull it's armies out of the middle east.

So you think running away and hiding from your problems will solve everything? If you leave them alone they will only multiply, get stronger, and come back and rip your borders right open!

That's the problem with you liberals, you just don't see the bigger picture.

Posted by occrider on Mar-31-2003 04:47:

quote:
Originally posted by JohnSmith
I argue that they never were. American foreign policy and particularly in the middle east is what CAUSED sept 11th, and now they are going back for more. If america wants to fight terrorism, the best way is to lock down it's borders, stop selling weapons, and pull it's armies out of the middle east.

So you're saying that we should abandon Israel, don't let anybody into the country, and don't honor the request of foreign countries to base troops in their borders for protection?

If you ask me, the whole "examine the causes" of why these things happen doesn't necessarily work. So should Britain have relinguised northern Ireland altogether?? Should Europe have allowed Germany to invade Poland because they needed lebensraum?? Should the US have allowed the South to secceede because slavery was essential??? That's ridiculous.

Posted by malek on Mar-31-2003 04:49:

quote:
So you're saying that we should abandon Israel, don't let anybody into the country, and don't honor the request of foreign countries to base troops in their borders for protection?

No no! this doesn't apply to Israel. Forgot your Americans double standards? i.e. Doublethink? [/sarcams]

Posted by occrider on Mar-31-2003 05:00:

quote:
Originally posted by ahlamalek
No no! this doesn't apply to Israel. Forgot your Americans double standards? i.e. Doublethink? [/sarcams]

I don't understand how I'm guilty of doublethink. Johnsmith was saying taht we needed to reexamine our policies that lead to 9/11. One of those policies clearly is our support for Israel.

Posted by malek on Mar-31-2003 05:01:

*bangs his head*

I'm sarcastic

Posted by occrider on Mar-31-2003 06:05:

quote:
Originally posted by ahlamalek
*bangs his head*

I'm sarcastic

Sorry ... it's so hard nowadays on these forums to be able to tell . Don't hurt yourself too much ... if you lose too many brain cells that will be one less person I have to argue with every night . I might have a life, and we can't let that happen.

Posted by capricorn15 on Mar-31-2003 06:39:

quote:
Originally posted by occrider
I don't understand how I'm guilty of doublethink. Johnsmith was saying taht we needed to reexamine our policies that lead to 9/11. One of those policies clearly is our support for Israel.

agreed