reply to post by JesterMan
YOU SIR SOUND LIKE A THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY!
Assuming you weren't being facetious...come on, how in the world are we to understand other view points if we simply shut off the things we don't
like to hear? National Security issue? Give me a break. While, I don't completely agree with the O.P. (I feel he was a bit overboard with the over
generalizations and instigatorial language), he did however make his points.
Having read all the posts in this thread, I agree with ALL of you. This means however some give and take. More credit is needed for the good that
the US does, but Americans need to also open the eyes to the bad done as well, and support positive change in direction that might lead to policy
changes in the future that will address some of the grievances and ill will that some have towards the US. (I find it completely obsurd that formal
talks with some of the nations are not going on...this is crazy, why the hell aren't people talking? Also find it odd that Congress is not in
session at a time such as now with crisis in the mid east, falling dollar, floods in the mid west, and energy crisis, to name a few serious issues
that need to be adressed now)
One of the major fundamental building blocks that this country (USA) has been founded on is on free speech. This man (I'm assuming it's a "he"
based on avatar and the head dress suggests Eastern regions as well, but for all we know it is a woman blogging in Grand Cayman!) is simply stating
his view point, and as Americans, we aught to trumpet that, rather than have the knee jerk reaction that he needs to be shut down.
I believe we all would have a much better understanding of things if we actually talked to people more who are from the middle east and from differing
cultures. We need to understand that the population in terms of numbers, completely trumps ours here in the west, and that the culture is very vast,
spread out and diverse. Yes there is the fundamentalists there as well pushing a radical agenda that is counterproductive in terms of liberty and
freedoms, but that is not the whole mid east. From what I understand it's only a small percentage of it. There are vast areas, for example Du Bai
UAE, where markets are thriving and many places are actually quite developed and modern. Many people are a bit surprised to learn how modern and
sofisticated Iran is for example. I think we often dismiss the entire region as a bunch of nomads riding camels on sand...not only that but Persia is
the cradle of civilization, and many folks don't think of these areas as being modern civilized societies but indeed they are.
Anyway, my point is, try and listen to people from other places and different cultures. Yes, they may express frustration and sometimes use the wrong
words (and often there is a language barrier to deal with as well so be lenient and patient...really try to understand the person) but often there is
some real legitimacy to what many have to say, and if we don't listen to them, how are we going to know how they actually feel? I mean we see the
polls and know how unpopularthe US is (due mostly to policy no doubt), but how many of us actually understand why? Also, when we don't listen, we
come off as arrogant and I hate to say it, but "stupid" for being such. I know there are some real cultural barriers there, but you can't let
yourself get ticked off to the point you refuse to listen and try to understand them from their vantage point.
I think if we really do recognise these things and communicate with oneanother more maybe people can learn more peaceful ways to coexist.
Bravo on exercising free speach. The security problem, if any, is an attempt to impede free speach (infringment on Consititutional rights, and the
spirit of it all), in my opinion, and we don't have to agree with everything someone says, but we should at least listen and try to understand.
[edit on 23-6-2008 by skyshow]
I sit here in middle America, I eat bacon, drink beer, and have half
naked woman on boat out on the lake during the weekend. If you think I would not kill even the innocent to protect that way of life you are crazy.
Thankfully one day you crazy bastards will piss off Israel for the last time and they will clean that part of the world out with a push of a button.
For this post go ahead and ban me or whatever.....It was worth it
