[Le-Roy]

Okay, to use your analogy (but change the question) - which would be more in keeping with the principles we, as Americans, espouse

• To offer a helping hand to those who wish to be helped?

  - or -

• To shoot half the passengers and crew so you can get to the captain and kill him, because you just know it's his fault the ship is going down, all the while ignoring those you could have helped, because you have your mind fixed on a particular agenda?

[KDD]

Okay, to use your analogy (but change the question) - which would be more in keeping with the principles we, as Americans, espouse

American principals often stand on shifting sands.

To offer a helping hand to those who wish to be helped?

You mean like with Mexico?

To shoot half the passengers and crew so you can get to the captain and kill him, because you just know it's his fault the ship is going down, all the while ignoring those you could have helped, because you have your mind fixed on a particular agenda?

Japan...WWII? Whatever it took.

The Northern Suppression of the South?

The history of this nation and it's policies are more bloody then they are benevolent.