On Sunday 16 March 2003 09:46 pm, Jay DeKing wrote: > On Saturday 15 March 2003 09:36 pm, Leon Brooks honored me with this > > communique: > > On Friday 14 March 2003 03:56 am, Francisco Alcaraz Ariza wrote: > > > 1) I don't think that American people that would buy Mandrake won't buy > > > it now, because all the American not Windows user were antipatriotic > > > before. If you are a good American, you must use windows, musn't you? > > > > No. It's a risk to national security. > > > > http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,5264,00.asp > > > > Straight from the horse's mouth. > > > > And now they are sharing it with China and Russia. D'oh? > > > > Just wondering how many Chinese and Russians are here who wet themselves > > laughing at the thought of this chuztpah. (-: > > > > Cheers; Leon > > I agree with Leon (especially about Windows being a security risk), plus > there are other factors: > > 1) Jingoism (the prevailing mentality, unfortunately) is not synonymous > with patriotism; > > 2) True American patriots understand the contributions the French have made > to our history, especially the important part they played in our fight for > independence, and > > 3) The freedom of speech and opinion that we Americans supposedly value is > worthless if we do not extend the same right to other nations. > > As an American patriot and history aficionado, I deplore the barbaric > attitudes displayed by some of my countrymen in the face of understandable > international disagreement. They clearly have little regard for history and > the basic tenets of our own society and government.
Up to this point, I would have agreed to agree with you. I am still in a decision mode, and think that there may be a good reason to go to war with barbaric sadists like Saddam. On the other hand maybe there are good reasons not to. It is not at all clear to me at this time. What I am finding disturbing is what I am beginning to sense is a 'polarization' of thought from both sides of this 'turmoil'. Certainly nothing can get resolved or decided as a group without clear dialog. This can't happen with this polarization. This saddens me. i.e. -> While it might be your true belief that it is a "...barbaric attitude...", it will win you no converts to label people with harsh words. IF you had merely left this out, then you would have gone a long way to convincing me that we should, as Americans, be willing to re-examine our actions to date. Also, those Europeans who also use such harsh and derogatory remarks about people in the U.S. might also consider that most Americans are, like me, upset about going to war, and would like to see a viable option, if that would be possible. Bob Finch > > However, this discussion has no place on this list. > > Jay De King > Tallahassee, FL > (Descendant of American Revolutionary War veterans - thank you France)
