I don't have a problem with the doctrine in concept. But I don't agree with all of the ways it has been implemented.
For example, one of the two darkest spots on American history is the slaughter of Native Americans. I'm not sure how I would have accommodated Westward expansion if I had been president back then, but I would have wanted to find a way that protected innocent lives. There is no excuse for what we did then, however. (The other blight on history -- I said one of two above -- is, of course, slavery.) And any Manifest Destiny policy now needs to improve on the mistakes of our forefathers. Keep in mind, however, in this case, I'm not espousing colonialism or imperialism. I'm talking about a moral obligation to free people. Speaking of colonialism, one interesting proposal I saw for dealing with countries like Somalia, where there is no effective government, is that the U.N. declare the country has no government and needs to be governed effectively -- the U.N. then would appoint a group of Western governments to become the temporary administration, possibly for a couple of generations, until the rule of law could be established and new, indigenous leaders trained. H. -----Original Message----- From: Larry Lyons [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 7:43 AM To: CF-Community Subject: RE: jihad for kids .. wheeee And that has caused all sorts of problems for neighbouring countries, ie, Canada, Mexico, most of the countries in the Caribean etc. Generally I think that the US would have been far better off if it never came up with such a jingoistic/imperialist doctrine. larry -- Larry C. Lyons ColdFusion/Web Developer Certified Advanced ColdFusion 5 Developer EBStor.com 8870 Rixlew Lane, Suite 204 Manassas, Virginia 20109-3795 tel: (703) 393-7930 fax: (703) 393-2659 Web: http://www.ebstor.com http://www.pacel.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chaos, panic, and disorder - my work here is done. -- > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 10:54 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: RE: jihad for kids .. wheeee > > > Another term for it is Manifest Destiny. > > H. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jon Hall [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 1:31 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: jihad for kids .. wheeee > > > That's been the stance of the US since it's very begining. > > "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created > equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain > unalienable > Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of > Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted > among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the > governed, > --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these > ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to > institute new Government, laying its foundation on such > principles and > organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem > most likely to > effect their Safety and Happiness." > > When Bush said you are either for us or you are against us, he was > saying the same thing, just with different words. If the > people do not > want or have the ability to alter or abolish it themselves, then it > becomes this peoples duty to defend itself. > > I think that form of government Thomas Jefferson spoke of, today is > extreme Islamic fundamentalism. It was communism yesterday, > and facism > before that. I think Bush is standing up for the right thing here, I > however am still unconvinced of his ability to do it right in > the long > run. If Bush decides to start a greater conflict, I hope he realizes > that he wont be the president to end it. It's going to take a > long time. > I would say that, compared to the governments that supported > communism > and facism in the past, though were much tougher than the fundamental > Islamic nations are today. That however is bound not to last. > To sit by > and watch as one of these nations becomes powerful would be a mistake. > > jon > > Benjamin Falloon wrote: > > wow. Are you really right? Is your way the 'right' way? > > > > So what you're saying is essential "it's our way or the highway"? > > > > What happens if they choose the highway? Do they get the bomb? > > > > Benjamin > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Macromedia ColdFusion 5 Training from the Source Step by Step ColdFusion http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201758474/houseoffusion Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
