I tend to disagree. I do not believe all Muslims are extremistst.
I am speaking from my own experiences. I served my country for eight years, five of which were spent in the security field. I lived in the Middle East for a year and lived in Europe for 3 years. Unfortunately I was less than 20 miles away from the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, and actually felt the shockwave from the blast as it carried across the desert. I live in New Jersey, less than 15 miles from the WTC tragedy. Fortunately I was not in NY when it happenned. I also sufferred losses in both incidents. If anyone has a right to be angry and want revenge I think I am somewhere near the top of the list. If you read my previous post (69) I am trying to provide a realistic viewpoint without going overboard. Lets not start typecasting entire races and start looking for complete eradication.
******************************************* those who claim that "we brought this upon ourselves" by supporting Israel, I think you fundamentally don't understand the nature of the Iraeli-Palestinian conflict. Who attacked whom in the first place? The Palestinians are terrorists, terrorists who believe that Israelis have no right to exist. That's the fundamental issue here. The latest spate of violence in Israel began as Israeli leaders offered the greatest comprimises ever in the history of their conflict. Offering a peaceful solution begat violence, sustained Palestinian violence.
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But who cares? If we "stand firm with Israel" as Al Gore used to say, we Americans will have to expect to live like Israelis: deal with terrorism on a day-to-day basis. Is it worth it? I don't think so. Today's Israel is more than powerful enough to defend itself. Let's take a more hands-off approach and let the Israelis and Palestinians sort things out themselves.
re: Wall Street Aghast at Tragedyunlike in Christianity, all Muslims are fundamentalists, or they are not Muslims, period.
ownstock, if you're trying to say that all Muslims support this, why don't you try telling that to all those muslims who expressed their outrage and compassion for the victims? There was enough of those on my local radio, and there are millions around the world.
Fundamentalists are not just muslim, in fact you have some very dangerous ones preaching hate in your own country, using this terrible tragedy as a tool:
"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" - Rev. Jerry Falwell, Sept 13th
As much as he does not represent all christians, none of these muslims preaching hatred can claim to represent all muslims.
Bigotry is omnipresent, I'm glad some of us can still see that people are the same everywhere, and that killing innocents in retribution for other killings will just lead to a perpetual circle of violence. Give it a few years and no one will remember what started all this.
re: Wall Street Aghast at TragedyLike I said before, my family and friends were in the line of fire. All escaped from the WTC, some in the nick of time.
Every death due to the attacks is a tragedy.
I was born in this country, I was educated here, I pay lots of taxes and support the economy, I am very grateful for the opportunity and prosperity. I admire the order, the safety and the entrepreneurial spirit.
But my parents were not born here. They saw their democratically elected leader being toppled by a *coup* supported by the US military (which provided soldiers, weapons and training). They have seen their democracy handed to a dictator by the US. They have seen their dictator use foreign slave labor and violate human rights while stealing and appropiating the country's wealth. Then thay have seen corrupt government after corrupt government loot their country.
Very few Americans know that the US Government does exactly what any imperial power would do: use whatever means necessary to achieve our interests. In a democracy, people have to compromise. In a marketplace people have choices of who to buy from and who to sell to. That is the America we the citizens see (even though you should also realize that not all americans see the same America, see http://www.cjcj.org/colorofjus... but that is another matter).
America as a superpower does not compromise when it can bully other people. We and our allies create institutions that further our interests (delibrately restraining development in other countries!!!) That's especially apparent under the new administration, but it's not a new attitude. Breaking or walking out of treaties, walking out on conferences, not paying UN dues... and these are only the 'symbolic' things the US has done recently. Iran Contra, anyone?
That is the america many non-americans do see. To the middle east we are more likely seen as 'oil addicts', doing whatever it takes to get our fix than a freedom loving nation. We act as if it's OUR oil and they are just getting in the way.
Many people I know are shocked, they don't understand why anyone would do this. Many others have asked the very same question about OUR government. The problem is that, like someone said before, Americans don't want to know what the US does outside its borders. We are in denial that we act 'outside the house' much differently than we act 'inside the home'. We are 5% of the population but control 60% of the resources. Think about that! We have incredible competitive advantages, but they are not necessarily benign, fair or independent of violence.
Make no mistake, many americans are not in denial about what we do. Many are cynical and say, 'whatever it takes to promote our national interests'. Others are frustrated and more vocal about this.
Well, all I can say is that you can't have it both ways. If you will not go to the bargaining table, if you always (well, often) impose your will on others to their detriment, then you will always be defending your throne from all the enemies you've made along the way. An insult to a country will long be remembered, pride is as much a national emotion as a human emotion.
Our tax dollars and votes give power to our government. There are thousands of innocent victims from someone else's attack. We need to protect ourselves. Strength and intelligence are our only ways of achieving it.
This has been characterized as a colossal 'failure of intelligence'. Indeed, we need to demand intelligent actions from our government. From what I can see, Powell et al. have a very good plan, the human risks might be worth it if the threats are eliminated.
At some point, though, we need to stop creating them. Instead of assuming we can just contain them.
re: Wall Street Aghast at TragedyLast night here in the UK, a TV team interviewed some destitute Afghani families fleeing Kabul GÇô mums, dads and their little children in ramshackle shelters. They were begging not to be bombed.
The point IGÇÖm making is that theyGÇÖre just the same as you and me. TheyGÇÖre human beings. TheyGÇÖre unlucky enough to live in a country thatGÇÖs in a total mess.
Please, focus your hatred on the real perpetrators of this awful thing thatGÇÖs happened.
As a former New Yorker, I have been deeply wounded by the events of last Tuesday. I found this very well-written, and a sentiment (and criticism) that I would say as well.
re: Wall Street Aghast at TragedyExactly! This reminds me of the liness from Sting's song....
"..How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy There is no monopoly of common sense On either side of the political fence We share the same biology Regardless of ideology Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too.."
Do we want to create more orphans?
Killing innocent people is not justifiable under any circumstances. Human beings all over the world want only one thing - happiness.
This does not however mean we let go of the few who try to destroy peace in the world. Be decisive and final, but be careful and critical of who you punish.
I tend to disagree. I do not believe all Muslims are extremistst.
I am speaking from my own experiences. I served my country for eight years, five of which were spent in the security field. I lived in the Middle East for a year and lived in Europe for 3 years. Unfortunately I was less than 20 miles away from the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, and actually felt the shockwave from the blast as it carried across the desert. I live in New Jersey, less than 15 miles from the WTC tragedy. Fortunately I was not in NY when it happenned. I also sufferred losses in both incidents. If anyone has a right to be angry and want revenge I think I am somewhere near the top of the list. If you read my previous post (69) I am trying to provide a realistic viewpoint without going overboard. Lets not start typecasting entire races and start looking for complete eradication.
Be Safe, and Take all Necessary Precautions...