Please consider that my views are not anti-American, although they do oppose the foreign policies of the current US administration. Just like it is possible to oppose Sharon policies without being anti-Semitic.
I have nothing against Americans or against the ideals and way of life of Americans. It is the current Administration and its bullying attitudes that I oppose, which, incidentally, I do not believe are justified just because America has seen a big terrorist attack.
I would not consider myself "pro-European" either, although most European countries seem to agree with me on these points, for which I am glad. However, I certainly do not remember defending the past of European countries, nor do I remember blaming the US for its past.
> On the American side you dredge up anything
> from our past you can find.
Not really. Had I been so inclined, it would, admittedly, be a target-rich environment (slavery, annihilation of the native Indians, anyone?) but I have not mentioned any of past errors. Those things are in the past. Now, however, we pride ourselves as being "modern" people who would not repeat those hideous acts, because we are much more humane and we have higher ethics.
I see a regression in US politics to the days of brute force making everything right, and the stronger countries invading others with no regard for human costs to get what they want. This really scares me. It also scares me to see, even in SI discussions, that most Americans are not conscious of the possible repurcussions of their leader's foreign acts - occupying countries, killing thousands of their people, etc is a very sure way of increasing the animosity towards the US, which, in turn, will surely lead to other terrorist acts.
I believe in more humane solutions to international conflicts. And, definitely no, the fact that America has been grounds to a horrible terrorist act does not give it the right to go charging to any country it wants to. That's my opinion, anyway. And it is not anti-American. |
