I try to not get involved in any discussions --
especially when it comes to politics. But because of the times and especially
the passions, I would like to comment, and I do hope I do not offend anyone,
that is not my intention. Perhaps I just don't have as many warm and fuzzy flag
moments as most. And I am not as articulate as many on the list -- but a few of
my thoughts. . .
We all agree the attack on New York was horrific and without
reason.
Number #1-- "when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to
lose" and I understand Afghans probably fall into that category.
I am sure that people in Northern Ireland, Palestine and
Israel react with the same amount of passion as we have when civilians are
killed. And they have lived for years with violence around the corner or in
their face. Is that the way we want to live? There is absolutely no way to keep
terrorists from retaliating and the violence just escalates. The burden might
not fall on military troops. What are we willing to sacrifice? Wifes,
husbands, mothers, or worse, our children?? When going to work, or school, or
even shopping, is not safe how will we feel?
The Arabic world, or whomever, understands our wonderful
culture as much as we understand theirs. In school, one of our assignments, was
to trade e-mail with people from a foreign country. I e-mailed with another
college student in Australia, Australia -- for gosh sake. He also thought
America was a land of sleazy, gun-toting, amoral people. He hated Americans.
Just think, most of the world learns about our country through films and TV.
Which show represents your community? I watched the premier of "Philly" on TV
last night -- lawyers having sex on a desk in the courthouse in exchange for a
lighter sentence, a lawyer stripping in front of a judge and jury, were just a
few of the many moments in the show. We know these kind of shows aren't real --
but people in other countries don't.
Not to mention that Salvador Allende's family is suing Henry
Kissinger for ordering the assassination of their father. Or the morality/ethics
of Nixon, or Clinton, or Iran-Contra. Or even the fact that campaign finance
contributions that we feel fall too close to bribes, and our Supreme Court
considers "freedom of speech." These are what other cultures remember. They
don't know Granny, they didn't belong to the Boy Scouts, and most have never
gone to a baseball game or church on Sunday with dinner with the family
after. And these are the things we remember.
All too often our government has not decided
issues based on ethics or what the average person would consider the
"right" thing to do, but on "best interests."
Whatever they are (you lay down with the dogs, you get
fleas).
I have not a clue what our government should do, nor am I sure
that I trust them to do what's best. It's very upsetting, I don't see a good
solution only bad alternatives.
Do I think the perpetrators should pay? Of course, I just
don't know that I want to.
Jackie Saturley
|