John,
1. While you rail against Americans, you fail to identify your own national allegiance. 2. Americans, as well as many other nationalities, are not responsible for the acts of their government. If one has no power to effect a situation, one has no responsibility for it. We only get to elect our leaders if we're lucky, and for about half of us the fellow we voted for did not get elected. So the elected officials usually represent the choice of only a minority of the people. 3. It is untrue that "all (Americans) claim to believe in the Bible". While the bible does state "a soft answer turns away wrath", pirate attacks are motivated by avarice, not wrath. The bible also recommends "an eye for an eye, an ear for an ear". You can find anything you want in most religion's manuals so as to leave the interpretation to the priests to make as it suits them. 4, A recent report of piracy happened in Middle Eastern waters so the attackers were most likely Muslims. Furthermore, considering the how heavily armed and aggressive they were it seems likely that the victims survived only because they opened fire with more effective firepower than the pirates. 5. In the many reports of piracy I have read, none were repulsed by soft words. Norm S/V Bandersnatch Lying Julington Creek FL 30 07.72N 081 38.4W ----- Original Message ----- From: John Christensen To: [email protected] Sent: 12/1/2007 10:28:07 AM Subject: [Liveaboard] Weapons aboard I just recently joined the new list it seems to work very well, thanks to all who made that possible. Though I rarely take part in the ideological discussions that pop up from time to time, I do have a comment regarding the weapons issue. It seems that most posters to this list are American, and often forget, that we are a few at least, who do not, and cannot pay allegiance to the American flag or way of life. We do not support your troops as someones heading so boldly encourages us to, and we do not have the same worldview as most of you have. I have lived in most mid east countries, including Iran and Afghanistan and Pakistan for more than 20 years, and in each of these I have worked with Americans and Europeans as well. It is my experience that most Americans are somewhat handicapped when it comes to socializing and problem solving, in very stressed and dangerous situations. They often resort to threats and violence as a means of solving a conflict, very soon after the conflict has developed. Europeans appear to be much better suited to diplomacy and compromise, which is imperative if one wants to survive in the big wide world. Most Americans put hard against hard almost from the get go, and though most claims to be from Gods own country J they forget the small verse in the book they all claim to believe in, the Bible, which says a soft answer turns away wrath. I find this a bit troublesome and rather significant. I would encourage all Americans Cruising in international waters, to refrain from carrying weapons, for the obvious legal reasons, and instead try to read a few books on problem solving and diplomacy. If however, you cruise in American waters you will encounter mostly your own kind and a Mossberg 12 gauge with a 45 for a backup, seems appropriate. Maybe throw in a AK 47 and a rocket launcher just in case you need to sink the Pirate schooner, after you killed everyone aboard, for having the balls to come within 100 feet of your vessel. ( I knew he was a pirate, I heard the Parrot J ) I also apologize ahead of time for having offended some of you. By the way that is another thing that you could brush up on all of you Americans, Humor and a bit of self irony. A good sense of humor , stirred in with friendliness and kindness will often solve a good many of the problems that you encounter out there on the high seas. Regards John SV FreeSpirit
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