Just a quick dip-in to agree and question our right to arbitrarily police the counrty of our choice. Mary, I couldn't agree more with your much calmer and intellectual response, than I could ever muster. I am a pacifist, at least till all avenues have been exhausted. And if a cause be precise, clear and a matter of survial, I can on occasion get behind the right to defend with force. However, I have to ask - why are we not attacking Saudia Arabia? Why not? They don't have a democracy, they treat women like shit, 8 of the 9 terrorist from 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia? Why not them? We could got to probably 3 or 4 other Arab countries and find more evidence that Iraq, So lets just drop the big one on all of them. In another 5 or ten years, it'll be someone else we were once in bed with that we'll be turning on. Let's just take care of all business now. <sarcasm>
And while I agree with your intentions Sarah. It is just not our right to decide what form of government is in place in other countries. In rare instances we have been involved and rightly so. But this idealism that we are what everyone wants to be is the very reason we have so many enemies. And many of these differences are religious based. Being an atheist and a feminist I have huge problems with these religions and their treatment of women. Funny how women's rights surfaces as a part of the reasoning now, in a more moderate Muslim country than most, which Iraq is. Why do we demonize everyone who isn't just like us. I understand that in this instance we have been attacked and if you think my first instinct even as a pacifist isn't one of anger and rage, let me tell you it is and was. But in a civilized society and world you have to look beyond the instant "gratification" of revenge. If we are a world leader than let us lead! And Sarah and Mary, we can continue to collect articles from both sides, we all have evidence for our slants. Personally I review a bit of both sides and then see what fits in with my own morality and sense of what is right or wrong AND what do I believe about what was written in a particular article. So I am not impressed by throngs of text and articles, not that you two have done this, but we do have a culprit or two here who believe this is the end all, it's not - I have my own mind, something I get to have here in America. And hitting on Iraq or not hitting on Iraq, I would bet isn't gonna change my right to think freely one iota. But violence usually begets violence, wars have different names, but they are all threads of a rope/noose we are hanging around humanity's neck, till we finally put an end to civilization all together. Thanks for listening to my ranting - again. Peace, Susan > Sarah wrote, in her very comprehensive and thought-provoking response: > > "A question for you: what facts would convince you that this is a just war?" > > It's very simple: a clear, undisputed link between Iraq and the terrorist attacks >against the > U.S. on September 11, 2001, or a much more foreful statement than any I have heard >from those in > the know that such a link exists, but that sources can't be revealed for obvious >reasons. And it does not give the U.S. carte blanche to attack another nation, whose link to the September 11 attacks is unclear at best, in order to further its own domestic and international agenda. To me, such action cheapens the memories and lives of all those who lost their lives that day, and is a travesty. There. I've felt that for a long time. Now I've finally said it. > > Mary. Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
