> That's very demeaning to your own intelligence. Do you categorize > everyone in that manner to qualify your own sense of self worth and > argumentative justifications? If that's the type of hypocritical > generalizations that you sincerely believe are true, then I have to > question your ability to discern truth from fiction. The dignity of your > service is tainted by your prejudicial statements, and I'm a bit ashamed > to have even acknowledged this as a worthy comment, as it's certainly > not an intelligent argument, only the sadly mistaken comment from one > who can only criticize, condemn, and complain, while offering no > substantiative solution of their own.
While I don't disagree with you, Andrew, the fact that he served the military during Vietnam makes his stance a little less difficult to understand. He no doubt caught a lot of pain both in Viet Nam and after his return to the bloodsucking fools who dishonored our veterans once they returned. Unfortunately I view those people in the same light as the wonder-bread who are protesting in the streets, blocking major bridges. Let's hope they have the decency to treat our troops with a lot more respect. By the way, many thanks to those countries who have given their most precious natural resource to aid in Iraq: their people. Many in our country don't understand that our freedoms we enjoy were bought by such honorable blood. I only wish that we all lived up to the moral standards which have been used to cause other countries to hate us, as someone pointed out. We DO have a lot of cruft in the US, something that is not really in dispute. I understand that the "Great Satan" is being served by many in our country and throughout the world. I'm sure that we are compared to the former great Babylon. However, that is a separate problem. Freedom until it conflicts with the freedom of others. That is how our country's government is set up. There are immoral things which a great many people avoid, but which is not directly affecting the freedoms of others, so our government does not step in. I agree that there are some areas which our government could be a lot tougher on. But the basis of the US government is that my right to disagree with the government is protected, and yes, even Llama's as well :) McDonalds' and other "western influences" are dealt with by each government around the world. It's the reason each government has their own laws about business. If there's a problem with McDonalds and other companies (or yes, even drugs) it is up the the local government to deal with them. They have that right, and nothing we do will take that right away.... The problem is that Drugs are a global problem. The US has their problems with them just as the French or Germans do. But the US gets the blame, even though most drugs come from problematic second- and third-world countries... not the US. But it is because of us that they get into your country. BULL SCHMIDT! It is because the people in other countries are no better than those in our country that drugs get there. It isn't because we push them, it is because there is demand. Porn is the same way. The problem isn't the US (although labeling us as the big bully and great Satan sure doesn't help us out), it's in mankind. So does this make democracy a bad thing? No, although democracy (or a republic) is not perfect. Nothing is. But from there it becomes a religeous debate and I really don't have the time to rehash that one at the moment. Much respect to all of you, even if I don't respect your opinion. Matt _______________________________________________ General mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linux-sxs.org/mailman/listinfo/general
