[Cacophonous]

People don't hate abstractions, and freedom is an abstraction, especially to those that do not have it. It's like hating "hope". They may wish they had it; they may do what they can to get it; but they don't hate others becuse they have it.

[Fifth Business]

People don't hate abstractions, and freedom is an abstraction, especially to those that do not have it. It's like hating "hope". They may wish they had it; they may do what they can to get it; but they don't hate others becuse they have it.

My interpretation of what he was saying, or intending to say, is that the leaders in those societies consider our societies to be libertine, resent it, and take drastic steps to prevent such liberties in their societies. They live in theocratic States. Do you think I'm being too generous? Or are you being too critical?

[=Intervention=]

Yes they do. Let's look at the abstraction "capitalism", for instance. And you are also wrong as for them hating others that do have it. At some level many Arabs realize they are not free and hate those who are.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

My freedom, in comparison to those Bush was referring to, is not an abstract. Maybe yours is, but not mine. It's real.

[Avenger]

He did not say that they hate freedom. He said that they hate us because we are free: free to dress as we want, free to worship as we want, free to choose our leaders, free to listen to music, fly kites and shave our faces too. These freedoms are a threat to their way of life and therefore any successful example of a culture where these freedoms are exercised is also a threat. We are a threat to them because we are successful and enjoy the freedoms that they will not allow their own people to have.