I think that you are wrong about this. What happens is far more endemic to
people that a single culture. Rather it's a fundamental part of humanity. I
provided a few links earlier that discussed the mechanisms involved. Read
them, they might provide better understanding.
That said, look at the situation - Iraq has underwent over 50 years of this
sort of thing, since Britain relinquished its post WWI mandate. Torture,
arbitrary detention, etc have been commonplace since the 60's. While such
has existed in the US, its rarely been condoned by the country as a whole,
and it is very much against the ethos of this nation. That is why many
people find it quite shocking.
Think of it, the US made this information public, the military justice
system investigated, and it was made public. To its credit, the US made this
information public. That in itself speaks volumes.
Would the Saddam Hussein regime have done that? Would the B'aathis regime in
Syria? How about Egypt or Algeria.
You are equating the US with other places that do not share its values.
Don't. While not perfect at least the US makes an effort to live up to its
values and ideals. It mostly succeeds.
larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Angel Stewart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 6:55 AM
> To: CF-Community
> Subject: RE: Who are the animals now?
>
>
> This is why the western world is against these regimes and
> this Muslim Sharia law to begin with.
> This is the culture that cuts off people's hands for stealing
> and hold public executions where women are stoned to death by
> children.
> These aren't democracies, they are what most in the west
> would typify as backward almost stone age cultures that have
> not changed with the rest of the world
> and embraced the values of freedom, human rights and
> equality. In short you expect this animalistic and inhumane
> behaviour from these groups.
>
> Shock is from something you don't expect. I think someone
> would need to be particular myopic not to have expected this
> coming out of that culture. The world would be far more
> shocked if some Europeans did something like this.
>
> Are you suggesting that the abuse of those prisoners is US
> Culture and everything the United States stands for, and thus
> no one should be shocked by soldiers raping women?
> Or standing around laughing while another man is mauled by a dog?
>
> I find it even sadder that some would try to compare America
> to these brutal militant terrorists and dictatorial regimes.
> It suggests a level of desperation to defend the despicable
> actions of these men and women that I think should not be there.
> What they did was wrong, inhumane and before now it was
> unthinkable by most that US Soldiers would do that. No matter
> if the entire world starts skinning people alive or
> butchering babies while they sleep,
> *NOTHING* will change that fact.
>
> But then you fully understand all this, thus one wonders why
> the pointed question. I hope you got the answer from me that
> you were searching for. The part that matters to you most was
> probably in the first four words of this reply.
>
> I truly thought America stood for far, far more than these cultures.
> But from your words today, you as an American, I suppose I was wrong.
> I will no longer be shocked by such actions from US Soldiers,
> or moved to denounce them as animals.
> It's apparently par for the course? If I'm incorrect please
> let me know.
>
> -Gel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Dinowitz
>
> So Gel,
> You were shocked at the abuse Iraqi prisoners were put
> through. Can I hear your shock at terrorists parading around
> heads and other body parts in celebration?
>
>
>
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