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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (72029)	2/7/2003 12:56:45 AM
From: Jacob Snyder	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

I can remember, in the weeks and months right after 9/11, making a number of posts whose tone was a lot like yours. But I've come around to the opinion, that the U.S. is in danger of losing the War on Terrorism, if we (as a nation) don't change that attitude. I mean the extroverted, strident righteousness, that shouts, "We don't need to do any self-criticism, introspection is for sissies, we're better than everybody else at everything we do, and always have been. So just get out of our way or you'll be sorry." Right after 9/11, that kind of talk was necessary, perhaps, to pull the nation together. But now, it makes it impossible for us to examine our mistakes, or even understand why anyone would join a terrorist group. It alienates crucual allies. If we don't understand our opponents, if we just demonize them, we'll never defeat them. Flag-waving, no matter how energetically done, isn't enough.

To: LindyBill who wrote (72029)	2/7/2003 1:30:31 AM
From: frankw1900	Respond to of 281500

This is the freest, wealthiest, best, country in the world. Nobody else comes close. Nobody. You can "Badmouth" if it makes you feel better Lots of people in many places feel exactly that way about their countries. You may feel they're mistaken but there's no point in rubbing their noses in it. It won't make them come around to your point of view. Some years ago, honest to God, an American visitor said to me, "When are going to join us?" He seemed to think it would be a marvelous for Canada and Canadians if Canada joined the US. As you know, I like the US and I like US citizens, but if I wanted to join the US, I'd live there. So, I said to him, "Why would we want your problems? We've already got enough of our own. Our problems aren't going to go away if we join the US." He seemed astounded by my answer. We had quite an interesting discussion.