Posted on 03/14/2005 6:42:28 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Patience, things are progressing nicely...
I was talking to a German banker who's been living in the US for the past 20 years a few nights ago, who proceeded to tell me with a straight face that as a European they understand better than AMERICANS the cultures in Middle East, and that they have more "respect" (his exact words!) for the cultural differences of "those" people -- the same ones they referred to as "THE NATIVES" throughout their sophisticated, long centuries of colonialism -- who don't want democracy and even freedom the way we all enjoy in the rest of the world.
"Status Quo" is anti-freedom, anti-democracy code word.
Geez...who looks more stupid now. We really don't know the outcome for all of this. However, one thing we know for sure is people anywhere even in the Middle East do value freedom as their God given right.
My German friend is a boor, too. If it's American, it's "stupid." Only Europe knows how to do anything. Only the Euro way is "civilized."
Did you know that not long after 911, beaches were opened along the Seine in Paris? I heard nothing but complaints that the French were spending their country's money so wisely but all we could think of was "killing innocent people," in Afghanistan and Iraq. So I asked, "You mean President Bush should have decreed some beaches open in response to 911?" Silence. But I'm quite sure she thought so.
Those so-called Middle-East "experts" are the remnants of the last World War (the Cold War of last Century). They just refuse to grow up.
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