2001-12-17 Is this for real? I never heard anything about this in our local press. I am shocked. You mean if American soldiers or citizens commit war crimes in a foreign country, the US government would go to this extreme to prevent such a person from being tried?
This is a criminal act in itself. Do you have any further info on this? Where did you hear this or read this? I don't know why I am so surprised, I shouldn't be, It is so typical. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Han Maenen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, 2001-12-17 13:51 Subject: [USMA:16691] Re: I give up, I dont understand Americanattitude! > Jim Ellwell, all the others on this list and many other Americans I am sure > are not among those who want to meddle in the affairs of other nations. > Things are going from bad to worse concerning those who do. The Netherlands > will host the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The USA does not > recognize it. Further, a law is before Congress now that will allow the USA > to impose sanctions on nations that support it and even worse, to attack and > invade (!!) our country in the very unlikely event that American soldiers > should be awaiting trial before that court in The Hague. This means that we > may have to train a special elite force to counter attacks by an ally! This > is an exceedingly dangerous development. The USA could become a terrorist > nation if this goes on! > > We must support the USA in the war against terrorism. It is our war too. > This Islamic fundamentalism is a global threat. A few years ago some > Algerian fanatics wanted to crash an airliner on Paris, but the plane was > stormed in Nice before it could take off. But as Brazil showed recently, in > other cases we must be prepared to make a stand. > > And of course, the TABD campaign against 'metric only' was a blatant case of > meddling in the affairs of other nations. > > Han > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ma Be" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 3:28 AM > Subject: [USMA:16665] Re: I give up, I dont understand Americanattitude! > > > > Tsk, tsk, tsk, Jim. Perhaps mostly due to your "zealousness" to defend > your libertarian views you really "pisou feio no tomate" this time, my dear > friend!!! I'll explain below. > > On Sun, 16 Dec 2001 13:19:51 > Jim Elwell wrote: > Kilopascal writes: > ... > The US is nothing more than a spoiled, rotten, arrogant child. Instead of > the attacks on 2001-09-11 humbling this nation it made the US even more > arrogant and full of itself. > > Right or wrong, John's statement above is how most people around the globe > have grown to perceive Americans, Jim. It's just undeniable fact, > unfortunately... I'm not saying I condone with that perception or agree > with it, but that if you talk to many "on the streets" around the world > frankly and blatantly, this is the kind of reaction one would get indeed. > > I'm starting to think some of you guys don't have a clue about the concept > of individual freedom versus nationalism. The above is just as much > stereotypical hogwash as what Wizard writes. > > I'm afraid it isn't. And actually if you could read many editorials of > important media individuals outside of the US, this is definitely not > "stereotypical hogwash" at all, but a reflection of other people's > perception of America. > > What happens, Jim, and what seems to be your failure to realize is that > (right or wrong) the "nationalistic" component of America's society is > speaking a lot more loudly than the "freedom" aspect that perhaps you think > is the kind of image that America would allegedly be wanting to project > abroad. What people actually hear more loudly, sir, is the "terrorists will > taste the justice of the USA" (Idiot Bush's own words), the singing and > showing of US' national anthem every and anyhow they can, "how the US is > such the defender of freedom for all and bla-bla-bla-bla-bla (e tome hino > nacional americano! :-( )!!... How can one deny that, my friend??? > > I, for one, am sick and tired of this rhetoric, sir! Yes, the events of 11 > Sep 2001 were terrible and all, but, by Golly, let's move on, shall we??? > Enough is enough is enough! Why should my country, Canada, for instance, > spend 7 G$ to increase security here? We don't need such waste of money at > all! We have never suffered any kind of similar attack here and (good > grief, hopefully!) never will! This war, sir, is yours, and ONLY YOURS!!! > Don't try to make it mine! (Not that I do not want to be perceived as not > having solidarity to your problem, cause and grief, but that we have our > problems, too, you know?!). > > I am an American, and I know plenty of them, and not ONE of them considers > themselves any better or worse than any other people in the world. What we > consider ourselves is sovereign individuals who, as long as we do not harm > others, should be left alone, by our own government, let alone foreigners. > > Perhaps so, Jim, but, please understand, that that's not what your > "propaganda machine" has been trumpeting everywhere and anyhow it can! As > for "being left alone", that comes as a huge surprise to me (honestly!). > Eh, how so??? You are the ones who interfere in everybody else's affair!!! > So, let me get this straight, you "want to be left alone", and yet, you want > to poke and meddle in everyone else's affairs?!!! HHHHmmmmm... > > And being "left alone" does not mean having others (whether Americans or > foreigners) forcing us to use some particular ruler. > > The use of a "particular ruler", Jim, for your info, is a matter that > "global leaders" around the world have come to accept and agree on as being > something that *everyone* would benefit. Except that the US does not want > to do its part in that program and ultimate goal! How sad and > depressing!... :-S > > Now, if some of you would help educate Americans as to why metric is better, > then you will find some converts. But just climbing to the top of the > mountain and screaming "Metric is better and if you don't use it you are an > idiotic, arrogant American" is counter-productive. > > Here I agree, but only in part. Truth must be told, Jim, and this to > *whoever* is on the "other side" (which unfortunately includes most > Americans and some folks of anglo-saxon nature, British and Canadians, > usually (with rare exceptions), for instance, included)! It *IS* idiotic to > continue using ifp units, *p-e-r-i-o-d*! However, the message should never > be a personal attack on any country or particular people though. So, I > guess we sort of agree on this one, mostly... > > So, also, yes, let's get the message out (education), but let's also be > very forthright with it and not hide the truth about the issue, either. > With tact, prudence and wisdom, but truthfully, nonetheless! > > In fact, if we ever have a serious effort to force metrication in this > country, you can bet your last dollar that this guy will be paraded all over > the country as an example of what will happen if such laws go into effect. > It will DESTROY any chance of having forced metrication in the USA (and > thank God for that!). > > A system of measurements has *always* been imposed on peoples, Jim. The > burden of proof is on you, my friend, to show otherwise. Even on your case, > the ifp *has been dictated on you*! Only that since it's now so rampant, > widespread and accepted there that, given people's natural unwillingness to > change, also (among other things and misperceptions), it's anathema to > *change* that in favor of the SI system!!! ;-) > > Finally: (below) > > The only way for the US to be put in its place and become a team player and > not the neighbourhood bully is for someone bigger and stronger to come along > and put the bully in its place. > > Yea, and the only way THAT will ever happen is if some of your respective > countries actually give their citizens enough freedom from over-regulation > and brain-dead central planning that they can become as economically as > America is. I'd be delighted to see it happen, but I'm not holding my > breath. > ... > Sigh... Here you're (understandably) letting your "libertarian voice" > within you speak louder than reason. Just as a reminder that your assertion > above is not entirely accurate I'd offer the example of Germany, a country > that has one of the most stringent and 'over-regulated' environments known > to us, and yet, it's arguably one of the most advanced societies in our > planet (No?... ;-) )! > > I'm for the German "model" anyday, anytime! (Now this is probably my > German blood speaking louder, I know, but... what the heck! :-) ) > > Warm regards, Jim. > > Marcus > > > > >
