Posted on 12/29/2001 9:27:49 AM PST by Demidog
I am not an America hater by any stretch of the imagination. Nor are the plethora of folks calling for a re-examination of our foreign policies. But that's what we're called.
I wish I knew why.
I really don't want to be against any American. I don't like being on the butt end of insults. So if there were a way to somehow explain what it is that bothers me about our foreign policy without the resultant cries of "traitor! treason! Islam firster!" I would.
One of the main problems apears to be that any "agreement" with bin Laden and his band of murdering thugs is seen to be support. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is probably true that bin Laden knows that water is tantamount to life in the desert. If I agree with this, I am no more supporting bin Laden than you are by agreeing.
When we decry any actions taken by Israel, we are "anti-semites." When Israel admitted that they had set a booby trap near an area where children played and 5 Palestinian boys died when it went off, you couldn't get near the topic without being ridiculed.
This is puzzling to me. There is nothing wrong per se with Israel and certainly not Jews, but for certain they are not perfect. For some, Israel is perfection and any criticism is tantamount to racism. Those who disagree are shouted down with such fervor it makes one pause.
American policies aren't perfect either. It is arguable for instance that John Wayne's death from cancer could be attributed to nuclear tests performed back in the 40's. Movie locations happened to be in the area where tests occurred. Many film industry professionals who worked on movies filmed in Nevada died from cancer including that great American we called "the Duke."
Many soldiers who were in the vicinity of those tests also died from cancer.
Why is it an indictment on all of America to bring such mistakes to light? In general, the American population has no say so in the slightest regarding these sorts of activities nor do they have much say in our foreign policy.
But as usual, it is the American population that has to accept the consequences of Policy mistakes made by the government. To say that those who object to this "hate America" is completely absurd.
The truth is quite the opposite.
I love America. And those who decry our foreign policy blunders and the theft of our hard earned money that is necessary in order to carry out these blunders also love America. We're simply tired of having to pay the price for those mistakes, while those who carry them out never have to suffer the consequences.
One of the most bizarre claims by those who are calling us "America haters" and "Islam firsters" is that terorrists are simply angry that we are so democratic as a nation and love freedom. These terrorists "hate freedom" and thus hate America and Americans. They're "jealous," in other words, of our prosperity.
This is about as brilliant an analysis as claiming that Timothy McVeigh was upset that he was no longer an employee of the federal government and thus took out his jealosy and rage on that same federal government.
It is the analysis of the simpleton.
The fact is, we only know what the terrorists claim. Not that it matters much. The opinions of mass murderers are not that important. Clearly however, this is not what any of the terrorists are saying. What they are saying is that they believe themselves to be oppressed by our foreign intervention.
When students took Iranian embassy employees hostage, their reason given for such extraordinary measures was American meddling in Iranian internal affairs.
The Shah of Iran was our personally hand-picked leader for their country. The CIA had, in the time period between the time we basically annexed Iran during WWII, purposefully destroyed opposition to the Shah by using tactics they had learned in South America.
None of those tactics were even remotely related to "freedom" or the principles upon which this nation was founded. They were the actions of a government that believed the Iranian people were chattle and were not worthy of chosing their own leadership.
So what happened? A number of Americans paid the price for our meddling. When we allowed the Shah to enter America to receive medical treatment, the last straw was put upon the back of that proverbial camel.
And that is not to mention the American lives that were sacrificed in a botched rescue attempt. For some, these lives are expendable. They are the price a nation pays for being a "super power." I agree with that assesment. But I don't think we need to be a superpower. I don't think we need to meddle in the affairs of other nations in order to protect our borders.
As is proven time and time again, such meddling has a high price.
And therein lies the rub. Dying in order to defend this nation from an attacking force is national defense and is noble. Sending young men and women across the globe to secure oil fields and preserve the "American way of life" is a sick project. I for one, am not willing to lose a single American for the cynical goal of sub-dollar-a-gallon fuel for my SUV.
If that is the measure of value for an American life then you can call me an America hater all day long and I will be proud to wear that badge.
I criticize our foreign policies because they result in the deaths of American soldiers and citizens at home and abroad. In no way do I criticize Americans. In the aftermath of the Trade Center attacks, it wasn't the government that responded with such ferocity and bravery. It was the average American.
The Beaurocrats were busy playing CYA and letting us know that none of this was their fault. In the meantime, Americans came up with over 60 million dollars in cash and even more in valuable resources in spite of the fact that they are taxed to the extreme in order to pay for the very policies that helped to incubate the attacks of 9/11.
America proved it's greatness in the response to the attacks. The government proved it's complete disregard for human liberty by passing laws which violate the spirit and letter of the Supreme law of the land. Even while the fires were still burning.
America is a great nation and is full of great people. Unfortunately its leaders have no respect for its people or its laws. Pointing this out is not showing hate for anything but the lawbreakers who do so.
More "taxation is theft" zealotry. Anti-American stances flow naturally from such cultic beliefs..
Perfect analogy.
Butch Reno would be one that I'd want to see all the papers on!!For your info....in the Front Page section here at FR, on the right hand side......take a look at COURT REVIVES EX. OFFICIAL'S CLAIM (Notra Trulok)---as I recall, the FBI was involved in investigating him over the DOE thing....funny, it appears he was whistle blowing for some time over secrets....funny how all these whistleblowers get all the s**t tossed their way.
ANY politican or bureaucrat who does not want to get to the bottom, the truth, about our nuclear secrets and China IS A TRAITOR--and that includes the current 'can't we all just get along President'!
Or do like Johnny Walker and take up arms against the United States.
exodus,
You're exactly right. The U.S. has spent the last half-century creating and supporting tyrannical dictatorships around the world, so why should we be shocked when the people who've suffered under those repressive regimes tell us they hate us?
Unfortunately, there are some flag-wrapped "patriots" on this forum who don't see anything wrong with a U.S. foreign policy that brutalizes innocent peoples abroad. They can't see or think beyond their own superficial jingoistic beliefs. They are the "useful idiots" Lenin referred to.
There are a few of us on this forum who still support the ideals of freedom and liberty, not just here but also in other countries.
You do your share of name calling too.
The meaning of words are flexible in the hands of Libertarians. Didn't Bill once claim to be one?
I am not complaining about where Bush is sending money - YOU ARE. You are the unhappy camper.
Here is another statement that needs clarification. Are you saying that Islam does not consider the west to be a decadent society and a threat to their way of life? Are you further saying that The Islamic world does NOT have it as their goal to have the world submit to Allah? Why is it not rational to take them at their word especially when they act on it? Do Islamic nations not "hate freedom"? Is it your contention that the Islamic world is not "jealous" of our relationship with Israel? Why is that a simplistic analysis? The United States Government has never sent troops to fight for Israel, however we did send troops to fight for the Muslims in Kosovo, we did send troops to protect one Arab nation against a non-Arab nation in the Middle-east, We did, under Clinton, force Israel to agree to submit to 90% of Arafat's demands and he then said it was not enough. Now you tell me, who have we actually sided with more?
Marx is dead, but his rhetoric lives on in the hearts of a few True Believers.
Or do like Johnny Walker and take up arms against the United States.
You've got it all figured out.
< ignore >
Agreed with some of what you had to say, but, frankly, this comment is entirely unfair. To make such a nonsensical generality detracts from your commentary.
I think most of our leaders try to do what is best for the country. They live here, their families live here and they want our country to be safe and prosperous. Because you and I may not agree with some of the conclusions they draw as to achieving those goals, does not mean they have "no respect" for the citizens or our laws.
Ahhhh, but there wasn't an internet (or a FreeRepublic) back then. Therein lies the rub.
That says alot about your moral conviction. As long as Bush doesn't support the abortionists it's OK. Supporting regimes that kill grown women is different. It's not abortion.
Yet, you use the word "nationalist" as an epithet. Seems to me you don't really know what you believe.
Who is claimimg that American foreign policy is insane?
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Roscoe, that's not the point of demidog's article.
Criticism of certain actions of our government
does not mean that we hate America.
Our government was wrong to kill Vickie Weaver.
Our government was wrong to interfere with California's legalization of marijuana.
Our government was wrong to deliberately murder the Branch Davidians.
Our government was wrong to destroy the farmers in the Klamath Basin.
Our government is wrong to nationalize airlines.
Our government is wrong to interfere with our childern's education.
Our government is wrong to tell us how to raise our children.
If I didn't love America, I wouldn't be calling
for accountability, and an end,
to those evil actions.
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