Posted on 11/07/2001 10:35:33 AM PST by Jethro Tull
18:30 2001-09-13
HARRY BROWNE: WHEN WILL WE AMERICANS LEARN?
The terrorist attacks against America comprise a horrible tragedy. But they shouldn't be a surprise. It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth – that during any war truth is forsaken for propaganda. But sanity was a prior casualty: it was the loss of sanity that led to war in the first place. Our foreign policy has been insane for decades. It was only a matter of time until Americans would have to suffer personally for it. It is a terrible tragedy of life that the innocent so often have to suffer for the sins of the guilty.
When will we learn that we can't allow our politicians to bully the world without someone bullying back eventually? President Bush has authorized continued bombing of innocent people in Iraq. President Clinton bombed innocent people in the Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Serbia. President Bush Senior invaded Iraq and Panama. President Reagan bombed innocent people in Libya and invaded Grenada. And on and on it goes. Did we think the people who lost their families and friends and property in all that destruction would love America for what happened? When will we learn that violence always begets violence?
Teaching Lessons
Supposedly, Reagan bombed Libya to teach Muammar al-Qaddafi a lesson about terrorism. But shortly thereafter a PanAm plane was destroyed over Scotland, and our government tried to convince the world it was Libyans who did it. When will we learn that "teaching someone a lesson" never teaches anything but resentment – that it only inspires the recipient to greater acts of defiance. How many times on Tuesday did we hear someone describe the terrorist attacks as "cowardly acts"? But as misguided and despicable as they were, they were anything but cowardly. The people who committed them knowingly gave their lives for whatever stupid beliefs they held. But what about the American presidents who order bombings of innocent people – while the presidents remain completely insulated from any danger? What would you call their acts? When will we learn that forsaking truth and reason in the heat of battle almost always assures that we will lose the battle?
Losing our Last Freedoms
And now, as sure as night follows day, we will be told we must give up more of our freedoms to avenge what never should have happened in the first place. When will we learn that it makes no sense to give up our freedoms in the name of freedom?
What to Do
What should be done?
First of all, stop the hysteria. Stand back and ask how this could have happened. Ask how a prosperous country isolated by two oceans could have so embroiled itself in other people's business that someone would want to do us harm. Even sitting in the middle of Europe, Switzerland isn't beset by terrorist attacks, because the Swiss mind their own business. Second, resolve that we won't let our leaders use this occasion to commit their own terrorist acts upon more innocent people, foreign and domestic, that will inspire more terrorist attacks in the future. Third, find a way, with enforceable constitutional limits, to prevent our leaders from ever again provoking this kind of anger against America.
Patriotism?
There are those who will say this article is unpatriotic and un-American – that this is not a time to question our country or our leaders. When will we learn that without freedom and sanity, there is no reason to be patriotic?
Harry Browne was the 2000 Libertarian Party candidate for President. You can read more of his articles at www.HarryBrowne.org, and his books are available at www.HBBooks.com.
Harry Browne
HARRY SAYS THE TERRORIST ATTACK WAS A TRAGEDY.
A TRAGEDY?
IT WAS A FREAKIN ACT OF WAR COMMITTED BY THE VERY ILLEGALS BROWN AND HIS FELLOW LIBERTARIAN CULTISTS WANT IN AMERICA.
BROWNE, YOU'RE A DISGRACE....
HARRY ALLOWED THIS SWILL TO BE CARRIED BY PRAVDA.
But the Libertarians aren't the answer.
They run on a party platform that calls for "open borders", then they wonder what went wrong.
You understand the dfference between libertarian and Libertarian. The latter being the strange cult masquerading as a poltical party Harry Browne represents.
As far as this Libertarian is concerned, Harry can bite me. Most of us feel this way, but there is a small minority of pacifist libertarians who agree.
You tell me?
It's the first time I've seen it.
Only unlike the Republicans we will mean it.
In order to be a candidate for major office, the candidate will have to put all of his assets in a trust. He will then sign various pledges regarding his positions. If a pre-determined group of people decide that he has broken his pledges, then the candidate loses all of his assets. The money raised in that regard will then be divded up among the other Conservatives who have taken the pledge as a Christmas bonus.
OK.
I enjoy swimming.
Thank-you and good night.
They seem to know it.
But, I have come to the conclusion that they never really have been serious. I think itnis more a religion or cult where the goal is not effect poltical change or participate in the political process but generally fufills a deeper more personal need in the way faiths do for many people.
I think they are happy sitting back and carping and "knowing" how they really have the true answers and understandings.
If they actually dirtied their hands in real poltical processes they would be awoken from their nice reveries.
So do I.
A lot.
I like cheese.
I, coincidentally, really like cheese on toast.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.