Hi Mike:
> Maybe people just don't agree with your notions of >freedom. For example,
ask the Chileans who voted >democratically and freely for a government led
by
> Allende and who were soon defeated in a military coup >led by Pinochet
with the aid of Kissinger, William Colby >et al under the guise of
'restoring freedom'. As Kissenger >said, "I don't see why we should have to
stand by and >let a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of >its
own people".
It's easy to sit back now from an armchair view and discuss something that
happened 30 years ago in the present context. I doubt any of us our experts
as to why the U.S. took the stance it did at the time or whether it was wise
or not. I just mean this generally and am not looking to discuss the past
situation in Chile. The thing that I don't think some non-Americans realize
is that we are usually criticizing ourselves very much as we go along. The
way we handled the situation in Chile was dissented in the U.S. at the time
as was our involvement in Vietnam. There is a certain smugness in
non-Americans that irritates us because it always acts like we are
completely clueless and unknowing about our effect on the world. As for
people living under communism, we have had millions of them flee to our
country and many of us work alongside them. I used to work with Vietnamese
refugees who came here after the fall in 1975. They used to ask me
despairingly "why did you ever leave us??" All the refugees who have come
here from Communist countries have been given special aid, interest-free
grants to start businesses or attend college, housing, and public
assistance. How many Communist countries are left at this point? Most have
fallen. They have all proven to be brutal - remember the Cambodia
holocaust? China maintains its top position on Amnesty International's list
of human rights violators.
> Yes they do, absolutely, and my response to your statement is 'Why is
that?'
They have a better chance because they have an oppotunity to improve their
lives and the lives of their families and break out of the cycle of poverty.
The Latinos who come to California are given free school education for their
children and free medical care. The Bush administration has legislation on
the board to give all undocumented workers in American amnesty, like Reagan
did back in the 80s. This will give them the chance for citizenship and all
the protections as far as wages, public assistance if they need it, etc..
>I was merely saying that success comes at a price and >that there is a
causal relationship between wealth and >poverty, not just in terms of the
present North American >and Latin American economies but historically and
>globally.
I only told you my background because it really is not that different than
anyone else who starts at the bottom here and works their way up. Just
because I was a citizen didn't mean I was any less burdened in supporting
myself and making a living. I might also add, that I know many Americans
who had to struggle as I did - it's not that unusual. It's not fun but at
least we have a way out eventually - something that people in many other
countries never have. They are usually stuck in their "caste" or
circumstance for life.
Kakki
