Even if our choices were limited, and we made the best of a bad situation back then, why not just say that now? As it's being handled it comes off looking like the US decision makers are hiding something. One day the Taliban and Bin Laden are brave freedom fighters, and the next they are unquestioned evil doers in serious need of having 5,000 lb bombs dropped on their heads. Something is not right. Either back then, now, or at both points.
Probably you are correct (if this is what you're saying) that this is just the result of the very complicated real world in which sometimes you have to choose, say, the lesser of two bad choices. Fine. But I wish we could be a little more upfront about it. A little less haughty. I think it would help our national character to engage in a little more self criticism. Or to just speak something a little closer to the truth. One result I'd hope for (if we could admit that things aren't so clearly divided into "good" and "evil") is that it would be harder to work up the head of steam required to lay complete waste to another country.
But I guess that's exactly the reason why we spin the story the way we do.
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Probably you are correct (if this is what you're saying) that this is just the result of the very complicated real world in which sometimes you have to choose, say, the lesser of two bad choices. Fine. But I wish we could be a little more upfront about it. A little less haughty. I think it would help our national character to engage in a little more self criticism. Or to just speak something a little closer to the truth. One result I'd hope for (if we could admit that things aren't so clearly divided into "good" and "evil") is that it would be harder to work up the head of steam required to lay complete waste to another country.
But I guess that's exactly the reason why we spin the story the way we do.
- jim 1-15-2002 5:24 pm