There it is again, on the front of the Post; out of politicians' mouths; "COWARDS!" This comes after every terrorist action. How can you call people who give their lives for a cause cowards? They may be fanatics, some may be crazy, but they've got legitimate concerns, and no matter how much we may disagree with their means, they certainly aren't cowards. As long as we use false language to talk about these matters, we will never say anything true about them, and we will not move towards any amelioration. Coming to terms with Islam is one of the great challenges for the West in the new century. Do we expect them to become like us, crying crocodile tears, and lamenting the loss of our Traditional values in the face of our own capitalist expansion? These are people trying to fight that trend, using the resources of the powerless. If we want them to act like us, we're going to have to pay them a lot of money to give up their values (it works here). If we want them to at least behave themselves, we'll have to find honest ways of talking with them. Reactionary rhetoric cannot support progressive policy.
I think it is some sign of our (America's) arrogance that we think we can send these heavily armed military forces to patrol the entire globe, and never suffer any casualties. That doesn't seem like a reasonable expectation, and that could spell trouble. Any loss of life is sad, but let's be realistic about this. George W. Bush has killed more American's this year than were killed in this explosion. Do we really hold life so sacred? Or do we just not like to look weak? I feel sorry for the victims and their families, but isn't this part of the deal when you join the military? Hello? Now both candidates are calling for swift and effective (?) retribution, so what will we do? Send hundreds of millions of dollars of cruise missles into various soverign nations (violating international law) destroying a bunch of poorly defined targets? Remember what happened the last time we did this (on the eve of the crucial Monica Lewinsky decision?) We knocked out an old CIA training camp in Afganistan where our arch rival Osama bin Laden (who we trained and armed!) was supposed to be (but wasn't.) A few missles missed their target and fell on the nuclear bomb possessing Pakistanis (not too smart.) And we blew up a chemical plant in the Sudan that turned out to be producing medicine, and although the Sudan (our supposed ally in the region!) demanded that the US turn over evidence supporting their claim of bacteriological weapons production at the facility, the US never did. The UN called for the evidence too, but we have never turned it over. Clinton says we have soil samples to prove our case, but he won't release them! And now we're going to do it all again? Just to placate the American public who has come to expect that NO American soldiers will ever die? Who is in charge of this ride? I want to get off.
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- alex 10-13-2000 4:37 pm
I think it is some sign of our (America's) arrogance that we think we can send these heavily armed military forces to patrol the entire globe, and never suffer any casualties. That doesn't seem like a reasonable expectation, and that could spell trouble. Any loss of life is sad, but let's be realistic about this. George W. Bush has killed more American's this year than were killed in this explosion. Do we really hold life so sacred? Or do we just not like to look weak? I feel sorry for the victims and their families, but isn't this part of the deal when you join the military? Hello? Now both candidates are calling for swift and effective (?) retribution, so what will we do? Send hundreds of millions of dollars of cruise missles into various soverign nations (violating international law) destroying a bunch of poorly defined targets? Remember what happened the last time we did this (on the eve of the crucial Monica Lewinsky decision?) We knocked out an old CIA training camp in Afganistan where our arch rival Osama bin Laden (who we trained and armed!) was supposed to be (but wasn't.) A few missles missed their target and fell on the nuclear bomb possessing Pakistanis (not too smart.) And we blew up a chemical plant in the Sudan that turned out to be producing medicine, and although the Sudan (our supposed ally in the region!) demanded that the US turn over evidence supporting their claim of bacteriological weapons production at the facility, the US never did. The UN called for the evidence too, but we have never turned it over. Clinton says we have soil samples to prove our case, but he won't release them! And now we're going to do it all again? Just to placate the American public who has come to expect that NO American soldiers will ever die? Who is in charge of this ride? I want to get off.
- jim 10-13-2000 7:05 pm [add a comment]
it all seems fucked and hopeless--the buddhist say this reality is an illusion--what a cosmic joke--but what am i doing about it or anything--all i can say i do (nothing) is give 1000's of $'s to what i believe are good causes...
- Skinny 10-14-2000 5:36 am [add a comment]