########################################################################## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
Cornel, For the second time today I'm going to surprise you by agreeing with some, but not all, that you have said in this post. There is much to criticize the US for for policies throughout history. We who live in the US do it all the time as you would know if you followed the recent campaign. However, for being such an evil place as you try and make it out to be based on a few selected examples that you obviously think are critical to the overall record, the fact remains that it is one of the few places in the world that people risk their lives to get into, to the tune of around 3 million a year illegally, and a couple of million legally. If it were all that you would like to believe, people would be risking their lives to get the hell out. I will give you one example that will DRIVE YOU AND OTHER ANTI-AMERICANS NUTS, but it was spoken by a European leader who obviously disagrees with you, BASED ON THE TOTAL RECORD. Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy, said this and I quote: "We don't see the US just as a friend, but as the guarantor of our security. We don't see the Stars and Stripes as just the US flag, but as a symbol of freedom and democracy around the world". And at the Memorial Services at Normandy on June 6, he said again, and I quote: "These are people who gave thgeir lives to set us free. Visit any one of our military cemeteries in Italy, at Anzio, Montereggio, Palermo and all the others, and read the names on the headstones, names like Bradley and O'Connor, Jackson and Sanchez. Look at their ages. These young Americans came to rescue us and gave their lives so we could be free. Then come and talk to me about America". As an America-hater, Cornel, I will excuse so you can go puke. So, Cornel, I will now ask you the same question I am posing to those who oppose the action in Iraq. See if you can focus and respond with specifics if you choose to: a) We all know that Saddam was a brutal dictator, b) We all know that the US, using UN resolution 1441 as a legal excuse, formed a coalition and deposed him, c) We all now know that the key members of the UN that opposed the coalition had a conflict of interest and were involved with Saddam in looting the country to the tune of some DOUBLE DIGIT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO, WITH PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND ON BOTH SIDES, WHY THE HELL ARE SO MANY INDIANS, WHO APPRECIATE THEIR OWN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, NITPICKING EVERY DETAIL AND OPPOSING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO LIVE IN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY? IF THE IRAQIS ARE MASOCHISTS AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE BRUTALIZED THEY CAN VOTE THE BAATHISTS BACK INTO POWER, WHO WILL RELEASE SADDAM, AND EVERYONE WILL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. WON'T THEY? SO, WHY NOT LET THEM DECIDE? --- cornel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: ########################################################################## > # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact > [EMAIL PROTECTED] # > # Want to check the archives? > http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # > # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to > reflect respect to others # > ########################################################################## > > Mario, > Many thanks for your considered reply. > Unfortunately, I simply do not have > the time at present, much as I would like, to > pursue this thread of our > discussion. Clearly, we are poles apart about the > virtues of the USA as a > super power, minimally, because for me, the USA is > ready to uphold many a > tyrant and eliminate even democratically elected > governments it does not > approve of and Chile comes readily to mind. You may > recall the American > general saying about Samoza (or some other right > wing tyrant) that "he may > be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch". > As to spreading > democracy, Bush coos over this about Afghanistan but > all that has happened > there is that an American puppet has been installed > and the warlords are > really in charge. And do try telling the displaced > people of Diego Garcia > that Bush and his poodle, Blair, are promoting their > freedom!! > > There is much for America to be proud of itself, > even though it is unfairly > consuming the world's resources like there is no > tomorrow. I happen to share > the views of those Americans (almost 50%) who do not > share your rose-tinted > view of America but have hopes that it will change > for the better. > Regards, > Cornel > > > >