Kakki wrote >>>But then I can also read his points again and say to myself "but this isn't the whole story." Does he really think he can sum up 50 years of problems so easily? The fact that he has addressed his letter to Nigthline is also kind of telling. Does he think it is the media who have the sole duty to "educate" Americans? <<<
You are right. It is not easy at all to sum this situation up briefly. However, I believe this article was written in reaction to the way the media is handling the current situation. I believe the writer was asking for an honest discussion of the situation as opposed to the rhetoric that distills the issue down to a simple war of good vs. evil. I do not think the writer ever said that it was the media who had the sole duty to educate us. He did say that they had the duty to act as the Fourth Estate which means to use critical thinking as opposed to being an mouthpiece of the government. I think that was his main point. I posted this article because I hoped for some discussions on this issue among people who I highly respect. >>>But it IS very, very complicated and the actions taken were not the exclusivity of the U.S. Many other countries have just as much culpability in the problems in the middle east, including the countries involved. Let's talk about ALL of it so that we can get close to the truth, even if we offend OTHER countries in the process.<<< Absolutely, lets talk about all of it! >>>I wish people would come up with more constructive ideas as to our future foreign policy, however, rather than hit us just because it may make them feel superior. I'm not sure that it is patriotic for anyone to say we *deserve* what has happened to us since Sept. 11th and those are the sentiments that I will continue to take issue with.<<< I do not think that anyone is trying to act superior here, nor have I ever heard anyone ever say that we deserve what has happened since 9/11. Looking at root causes does not tranlate into a support of terrorism. I do agree that constructive ideas are called for. But first we have to understand the other cultures from a non US-centric point of view. Understanding other cultures is a lot harder than it seems. Listening. Not demonizing. Here is my contribution to a constructive idea. I have always believed that anyone in our government who is making foreign policy decisions should have a background in, or at least advisors who are knowledable about, world religion. Why? Because if you study religions you learn so much about a culture's point of view. Here is another idea- the US should not be arms dealers. This creates a lot of world problems when we sell or send war machines to other countries. Medical & food aid- yes. Education- yes. Arms-no. It is my belief that terrorism recruits people from poverty, people who see very few positive options for themselves or their world. Start along the road of getting rid of poverty & I believe you will begin to alleviate widespread terrorism. I believe in order to make postive changes, you first have to have a vision of the way you want your life, or your world to be. So these constructive ideas are given in that frame of mind. The politicians can work out the details ;~) ******************************************** Kate Bennett www.katebennett.com sponsored by Polysonics www.polysonics.com Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html ********************************************
