Heyyyy Super Stunt.....sorry i didn't get back sooner, but i'm lazy!! ; ) ....you're RIGHT, we have a short history, and what i consider a 'short memory'....i think we could've learned more lessons in what we did to your ancestors. And your also right about our own gov modeled after the Iroqouis tribe (sp)....they had a confederacy of 6 tribes to worked closely together. Ben Franklin was very impressed with what seem to work very well, and i'm sure it was on his mind as the constitution was formed. Of course white dudes turned them on each other, making them choose British or colonists.
Exactly how far back are we supposed to brush off genocide as an act of the times??? I know you'll hate to hear this from some bleedingheart liberal, but we (America) are seen as the terrorist in many cases around the World.
1. When we kill innocent civilians, or blow their homes up in Iraq without so much as a mention, we are sometimes seen as terrorists.
2. when we throw our money n guns behind leaders, like Pinocet of Chile, who murder thousands, we look kinda bad,
3. When we shut off any commerce, travel or making it illegal for family to give money to thier family in Cuba, we look like terrorists.
Those people blowing themselves up in Iraq and Israel aren't doing it coz they love blowing up things...in their eyes, WE are terrorists, they are freedom fighters. You know history well, and you're damn smart, so you know throughout history that each side of a battle, or war, thinks God is on their side...Al Zarquawi is a war hero to many, he is fighting with no military...he is using beheadings as a 500 lb bomb. i hate everything he is doing, but let's understand what's going on. He sees us as the terrorists.
liberally yours....tony
In a message dated 9/20/2004 6:39:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Howdy,
>Yea Tony it's very ugly.<
No, it WAS very ugly.
Being about 50% Native American I'd like to ring in on this:
"I'm not proud of this horrible American history that never gets taught
in schools, and so i don't think we should be so quick to condemn other
nations...we were as brutal as most dictators 150 years ago."
A lot of "civilizing" has occurred over the short history of the USA.
Ethnocentric views might be better understood within the context of
history "when" it happened.
Discrimination does still exist, even though most of us understand how
wrong it is. As each generation learns through reviewing the mistakes
made by their ancestors and making a personal choice not to repeat
them, we evolve as a society.
Yet a minority of people will continue to pass on bias based on race,
religion, sex, or what side of the tracks one was born on.
When we look back on our short history, we should recognize how far we
have come in such a short time. (And yes we still have a way to go)
Do I harbor hate for my white ancestors for their ignorance?
If I would, I'd have to hate myself.
What is often forgotten is how many tribes fought each other for
territorial rights. Sometimes wiping out a whole tribe in the process.
Yet the "civilized nations" overcame this and formed a system that our
present day United States is partialy based on.
Am I defending butchers like Custer?
No. His attrocities were not even acceptable to most people living in
his time period. He got what he deserved.
My point is that our ancestors are not to be looked down upon for what
was the moral standards of their "time".
When one looks at Europes history during the last half century, their
cultures were lagging behind our's in many ways.
Now it is time to "modernize" the social culture of the "mid-east".
To not do so would be a reflection of our greed and or lack of modern
morals.
Why?
Because we have the ability to educate them out of the ignorance we
once suffered from.
Or should we turn our backs as they stone women for nothing more than
suspicion of Adultry, use REAL torture to subdue the masses, and murder
people because of the name they call the Creator?
Well 9/11 changed that choice.
It is now a matter of survival.
Truth is, Terrorists don't really care who they kill and don't need a
reason for their actions. For NOW, they target the perceived "infidels"
(which for those who don't know, means ANYONE not of Islam, but will
eventually lead to their sect of Islam) that would be the world outside
of the mid-east &Israel. Because the world has become a smaller place,
they can threaten anywhere.
We either destroy them or they will destroy us.
As you have probably noticed, they don't honor their word in
negotiations, so thanks to my Native ancestors, I know better than to
attempt any treaty with them. We can learn from our mistakes.
Stuntman
