Socialists in Congress? Click on the zeppelin, Grasshopper.
Posted on 10/13/2001 9:42:06 AM PDT by TheOtherOne
I am grateful that our government has chosen to show an extended hand of friendship to the people who have been used as pawns by thier "leaders." Should we stop because a few may not accept that hand or because some of the rations may go into the wrong hand? I, like my president, think not. The sustained effort reflects our sincerity and may actually change hearts. The effect of Christ's teachings have always been more profound than the sword.
The food drops are concrete examples about what is right about America. Mothers who are seeing their children starve are most likely picking those packets up with gratitude. In most cases, parents would sacrifice their own food when in a starvation situation--even when the sacrifice won't make much of a difference in the outcome. These packets will make a difference. This country is accustomed to beans, lentils and grinding their own flour without electricity (our culture would be the one turning up our noses at the fare). Many cultures actually share the bounty when good fortune runs--perhaps that is why that woman is carrying so many packets or perhaps she is wise enough to gather since she does not know when the opportunity will occur again. I support my president in the air strikes and in the food drops.
I don't know if those people will appreciate us, in fact I doubt it.
But, these food drops are the right thing to do, for AMERICA.
That is what they have left hands for. That is also why it is so terrible when they get their right hands cut off for punishment because all they have left is their toilet hand.
Is it just me, or is Free Republic overrun with way too many half assed wannabe comedians these days?
Shhesh. I see a thread started with a good article, and then it degenerates to one liners.
Or is it just me?
Socialists in Congress? Click on the zeppelin, Grasshopper.
Not for anything, but maybe he wanted to make sure his donkey didn't keel over before eating it himself.
Sure.
I guess it translates into fear and uncertainty rule, even here.
But, I ain't scared at all.
I am flying in two weeks, and I do not plan to be scared about that.
I am not scared, and I am getting weary with all the 'fraidy cats.
While I thank you and others (yes, you too, EdZep) for the kind words regarding the humor, the cruelty is done for a reason - though you may argue that the methodology is flawed. We as a nation are engaged in a variety of humanitarian initiatives that are based on some implicit assumptions. I regard those assumptions as wrong - and hence, the conclusions are wrong too. The cruelty is an attempt to shake people awake.
Our first assumption is that the people are starving. These are people who, we are told, are able to climb through 14,000 foot high mountain passes, able to out march our special forces troops, and able to survive with minimal support. Yet they have livestock. We can see pictures of the livestock on television. If they are in fact tough people - which I believe they are - and they are in fact starving...why are they not making use of an available resource? Yes, I realize that a donkey may represent an important possession from their perspective - but if the choice is the death of one's children or the consumption of the animal, what is the rational choice? And, despite my other rhetoric, I believe that the Afghans are far more rational than the members of PETA. Poverty makes pragmatism.
The next assumption is that large numbers of innocent, harmless people are being oppressed by outsiders - bin Laden and his followers. Yet we are also given to understand that the Afghans have sent both the British and the Soviet armies packing over the years. Now, let's think about this. They were able to kick the USSR out, but they can't get rid of bin Laden and a few hundred lightly armed followers? They can go toe-to-toe with a superpower, but they must submit to a few thousand Taliban driving around in Toyota pickups and armed with light arms? Does anyone else find this odd? My conclusion is that they are not nearly so oppressed as the media would have us believe.
Third, we assume that those who get the aid will appreciate it and therefore will think better of us. I have strong doubts about this. Just because we have short attention spans, we should not assume that everyone else does. People remember hurts and imagined slights far more aptly than they recall kindness.
And now we come to the fourth and most dangerous assumption. Which is, if we give humanitarian aid, the moslem world will see us as not attacking islam and hence will not rally to bin Laden and sheikh Omar's cause. This is still in play, and from a purely selfish perspective, I hope it works out. But the images I see of demonstrations in moslem countries suggests that the masses aren't buying it. Perhaps we are providing just enough cover for the various governments to avoid widespread islamic revolution. In the short term at least, that makes the aid worthwhile. I suspect this is the driving force behind the effort. The humanitarian aspect must then be relegated to mere propaganda.
Lastly, we assume that we will be perceived as both strong and compassionate. Perhaps. But we might also be viewed as being so weak and afraid that we dare not arouse the wrath of the moslem world. Our aid might be seen not as compassion, but rather as the attempt of a rich, fat old man trying to bribe his way out of trouble. And that would be very dangerous indeed, for such a perception would surely lead to more terrorism.
So, by all means, let's have some fun and not get too serious - but I ask that we keep in mind that the aid we provide may well be feeding those who will kill our grandchildren...the sons and daughters of those very young people responding to our President's call.
Images you see?
Can you spell agenda?
Think
The important point is that he's had it, sooner or later. Each meal that he has from this point on is very likely his last.
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