The other day I heard Bush say that the American people were the chosen people. They are special he said. No people in the whole world are as great as the American people, he claimed... -That's fine Bush, lets all hope your god and great flag can save your ass and bless you! just as you forget about that the god you speak of, made all human beings in his own image. The son of god, called Jesus said he didn't want us to make churces and worship him. He was a man. He believed in men. Yet men drag god with them, onto the battle fields every time they want to make an excuse for their greed.
This is the reason why I dont go to church. It's those people that want god to bless a certain country and destroy another. I dont want to be in their shoes. They can have their pride, their flags, their churces, their politicians and their dead soldiers to themselves! I will never suck up to this. I know what they have turned it into...
I think it's difficult to be a human... I dont like humanity... I am passionate about it... I feel sad for it... I wonder if he would feel like me...
In my opinion. All people are just as much worth. It's truly sorry for the Americans to have a president like Bush. It's truly sad for the Iraqian people to have a leader such as Hussein.
If you care about the truth. Read the article on: Bath Stop The War Coalition.
From Anti-Capitalism to revolution: Left Turn.
These comments are taken from the site, where I used to keep my journal, before I moved it here. You can add replies to the entry, or the comments below.
From Gard: I believe that it is everyone's duty to stand up and be counted, in every way we possibly can, all over the world. For starters, sign up for "Uniting for Peace" (link). Then, demonstrate in any way you possibly can, from sending letters to the US Embassy, to the White House, to walking with anti-war T-shirts, carrying banners in front of the US embassy, if you have one nearby. Anything and everything that can be done. Set up your permanent message on your web site. Condemn war and violence in any way, shape or form you can. Let history record that WE were against it.
From Rick Matheny: I was really wondering if Europeans thought of us as American's as an evil people. In all honesty, I don't blame you if you do. Bush is nut job, and has engaged another nut job in a juvenile pissing contest. Granted Hussien is a person that probably shouldn't have power, but I really wish that it didn't have to come to this. I just hope the rest of the world doesn't use Bush as an example of what the majority of American's are like. It's really funny, the media here portrays our war hungry President's as heroes, and try to bring down good President's such as Clinton by delving into his personal life. Everyone made a big deal that Clinton almost smoked a little marijuana, but the media seems to have hushed the fact that Bush experimented with cocaine. Thank you for realizing that not all of us like Bush. Gore won the majority vote, not Bush.
From Kelsey: I completely agree with just about every word you said. I disagree wholeheartedly with what Bush is doing. He is making us seem like horrible horrible pigs that pick on smaller countries so we can get what we want! It's a mockery of what America was intended to be. It was intended to be 'land of the free'.. hows this for free? Wait, can only us be free and we can have whatever we want in the world, but anyone else anywhere in the world cant? It doesn't make any sense. I feel horrible for even living here..
From brittany: what people forget is that this country was created out of war. Men and woman shed their blood fighting for this country, for our independance, for our right to have freedom of speech, and the right to assemble and protest. They forget that the American life was built on bloodshed. I think Bush is doing a great job given the hand he's dealt. Sometimes war is nessesary. And this time, it is nessesary. Is everyone so quick to forget 9/11? Not everything is peace, love sex and drugs. I, for one, applaud Bush as he is doing the best he can. If Gore were president, it would be ten times worse. Keep on keepin on brittany (marshmellow).
From blanketman: bush is a silly old man, never liked him, John Lennon - Give Peace a Chance. there are good americans out there, I know, and peace will come with love :)
From Kristina: To Gard: I agree with you, we must stand up for what we believe. I signed the "Uniting for Peace" and I will add a permanent No message on my site. I'm thinking about putting it on my front page and maybe one on my diary, I'll think of something good.
To Rick Matheny: In my entry where I talk negatively about the politics of USA, I feel it is important to state that I think there are a lot of great Americans out there. I feel no hate in any way towards the Americans as people, even though I think they should kick Bush out of the White House, we have bad politicians too. Shitty politicians. Every country have that. I also hope just like you that the rest of the world doesn't use Bush as an example of what the majority of American's are like. We should be friends, stand up for our opinions and support eatch other.
To Kelsey: Ah, I really agree with you, America is not the land of the free, but we all hope that it would be that. America is considered futuristic and modern all around the world, yet it's politics are very often old fashioned and conservative. Sometimes I feel shitty about my country's politics too. However, dont feel bad about being an American. It is are people like you that make the difference.
To Brittany: Yes, Americas history is full of blood, lies and ignorance. Most white Americans are originally French people and so on. They showed no respect to the native population that lived there, but we all know that. Columbus was just another Bush. A man with a big ego and little respect for differences and life in general. No one have forgotten the 11 of September, America talks about it all the time, so how could we forget. War is never a solution! it's an excuse for those with a stupid head and nothing to grow on. What about the countries that America have attacked and helped destroy?, have America forgot those countries? What about the deaths in Afghanistan? What about the Gulf war? all those innocent children and that damn ignorance of the USA. America have supported millions of innocent lives killed and they never speak of it. You know what? Now is the time! America have done much much worse things to other countries that what was done to America on September 11th. So go educate yourself and try to make a difference. Or take the blood on yours hands and live in fear that they will come back. Because you know they will come back for you, and I will feel sorry for you then!
From Finesta: To Brittany: Well, US is not the only country that has been created by blood and war. Many smaller countries have, but no one knows them, just because they are smaller... and have you heard any of them going to war? That is not a good reason to go to war for. And ofcourse no one has forgotten september 11, but should you really punish innocent people of Iraq, by going to war with them, by making them lose their homes for that? I think, that htere has to be some other way other than killing many innocent people. They havn't done anything bad, Saddam Hussein has.
PS! Please don't mind my spelling, I know, that it is really bad, but it isn't that easy to spell in english when u rn't born in a country, that speaks english.
From Kristina: To Brittany: It was something in your comment that I forgot to comment on. You say that not everything is peace, love sex and drugs. I thought that was what America preach about all the time? That so called free country with sex love and drugs. Peace is a lot more complex than that hippie philosophy, but you know freedom is also a lot more complex than war. Americas morality is that you can win freedom with guns, but it has never worked like that. Look at Gandhi, he was not an American hippie, but look at what he did. It shows that the best deeds, those that really matter are nonviolent. America is a superpower nation that acts like it's the only place that really matters. We get pissed you know! You lose respect and wins nothing.
From Kristina: To Blanketman: Yeah, Bush is a silly old man. Give Peace a Chance is a great reply to him.
From xgreymousex: i agree...war... it's terrible! there are no words hard, heavy enough to describe such horror.
From Kristina: To xgreymousex: Absolutely, there are no words to describe how terrible war really is. The crazy thing is that people still agree with it, we haven't changed much since the first man on earth. We should really know better. I guess humanity is still in it's early stages, hopefully it will mature before it ruins everything.
From Kate: Bush amazes me. He started the war against Iraq because they violated a UN resolution... and by starting the war, America too disregarded the UN. We have asked Iraq to disarm even though we ourselves probably have ten times as many "weapons of mass destruction" (I AM SO SICK OF HEARING THAT PHRASE) as they do. Also, Bush started this program that gives government funding to religious programs. A correspondant on "The Daily Show" (a satirical news program) spoke with a government official and almost received funding for "The Faith-Based Faith of Stephen with a "ph" and their program entitled "Late Afternoon Foosball for Wayward She-Males." In addition, I find it odd that apparently over half of the country supports Bush according to polls, but almost everyone I've spoken to disagrees with him. He condemns terrorism but then tries to use fear to convince us that war is the only answer. Awhile ago he requested that American soldiers not bomb oil wells, as they are "a source of wealth for the Iraqi people." Oh, yes, the lies! I can't wait until his term ends. And regarding what you said about early American settlers being foolish and what-have-you? Thanks for sending over the best and the brightest. =P But anyway. I completely agree with you and I sincerely hope that Europeans don't think that the American people, like Bush, have the intelligence of a bouillon cube. It seems like England is having a similar problem with their prime minister not supporting the majority's views. Live the good life. Kate
From antihero: you say on your site that if someone would want to read the truth that they should clink these links you've posted, but how can biased propaganda be the truth. I also don't get the feeling you've educated yourself on the subjects you speak of on a whole, instead it's focused on one side of an issue so there doesn't seem to be validity to your statements just a biased and influenced opinion. also to the person who signed above, her name being kate i presume, educate yourself as well, yeah we have weapons of mass destruction, but you we don't use them to destroy, and i'm sure you wouldn't be happy about a damn thing we're doing now until saddam dropped a fucking bomb on your head.
From Kristina: To Kate: I always thought the USA would attack Iraq or someone else after they had those planes crashing into their sky scrapers. America have always had stupid presidents and violent solutions and of course that's sad for the people. I think there are a lot of bright Americans out there, people that dare to let their ideas go beyond the president. I wish you the best and take care!
To Antihero: Propaganda is a word that people use when someone disagrees with them. I always thought that it was better to explain what I believe, than naming the things I disagree with. I could of course just say that CNN is propaganda, Bush have brain washed you and so on. It doesn't really say much.
In the sites I link to, you get some info on things that the American rulers dont like to talk about. It's really just basic facts, things most of us know. I could have added them here in my diary, but I like to say what I feel here, things that doesn't have anything to do with the facts. My feelings.
I have actually read a lot about these subjects and I find it interesting to discuss. In my entry I say what I feel, without really sucking up to a side. Because I dont agree with Bush and I dont agree with Hussein. I think my entries should tell you that I am not a side picker.
I really dont need to make my views valid, because mostly I really just talk about my feelings and they are mine, and it has nothing to do with what you think. It has little to do with the political facts. Call me an outside the window peeker. The politics in this case are really not interesting to me. This is all about how I feel about murder and war. I disagree with it, always, and then there are some that always agree with it if it comes from their government. This is all about how you are as person. Why is it so? It is because war is very old fashioned. I guess you could say that I'm a modernist. Some people think we can change times by living in the past, doing what they did in the middle ages. I think that we have tried that over and over again. Things doesn't change by that old fashioned moral; "Eye for an eye".
About your other comment. USA used the atomic bomb on Japan 1945, so you dont have to say that they dont use it to destroy, because that's ridiculous. Today USA is the country that owns the most nuclear weapons in the world (at least the statistics say so), why would they not use it again? We know that using it will destroy, even if it's used in defence. The USA dont have a defence military, it has an attack military. They have never had any proof of that Iraq have nuclear weapons, we know USA have it. I say, lets get rid of what USA sits on. A nation where most civilians own their own gun, guns that most of them cant even control. If I was an American I wouldn't trust my new next door neighbour, if my life depended on it. So why would we trust the USA? The talk or researching in who and what has nuclear weapons is really not interesting, when those that we know has it dont want to give it up. This war is obviously not about safety, it's about trying to gain more power and controlling other countries.
Saddam Hussein have been around for a long time, if he owns nuclear weapons he have probably also had them for a very long time. Usa have not really cared so much about the conditions of the people in Iraq and Afghanistan before. They didn't manage to get Osama Bin Laden, but they managed to do what the USA do best when they get their ass outside their own country; destroy and ruin and then run off and blame someone else. The rulers in America doesn't care about anybody else but their asses and glorified power. The American people will eventually suffer for this, just as they did when the sky scrapers went down. The world is sadly full of America haters that are ready to die in an attack against it, now it's even more.
From Kate: Antihero: Just because I don't share your opinion, I'm not educated? I go to school, listen to the radio, watch TV - it's everywhere. How could I not be educated? I would rather die than have countless others die for selfish reasons. Bush doesn't care about the people of Iraq. He just can't control Saddam and thus wants a "sane" leader that's predictable so he can buy oil and other natural resources. He doesn't even care about the American people. He said in a speech that the government can't help Americans. The administration fails to realize that everything they do has an effect on us. This isn't a game.
From Kristina: To Bill F: Thanks for your guestbook entries. Since you had so much to say, I guess it would be easier to have written it in my comments section instead. I reply to you here.
In my country people can also express their opinions. They can do that everywhere, they can do that in Iraq, it doesn't mean that someone will listen. Everyones opinion is just as important, it's just that the government usually dont think so. If they did, they would do so much more for the little man in the society. Mostly politics is all about money and power, we know that. There are some good politicians here and there, but when most things is industry it's obviously difficult to manage to do something for the people.
Ibe is ignorant to the fact that America is nothing to be proud of today, nor has it ever been. I also assume that Ibe can speak for herself. Or maybe her American shiny glittery flag on her site will speak for her? It's build upon violence, slavery and ignorance and none of the rulers have done much good for the people. It's funny how many of the Americans cling to their flag, their political god and their president. Somehow it reminds me of those fancy American cultish religious groups that scream, sing hallelujah and try to get the weel chair guy to walk. When he cant do it or the people are not cured, they still suck up to the white plastic cross and the well polished minister. Somehow it's just strange. I think the facts speak for itself. The cross doesn't mean a shit in such an environment. It's just a tool to give the simple-minded a plaything and the smart a free ride. The flag is something to cling to when there is nothing more to stand for. In my eyes a bad president that only gives the people a nice flag, is not different from that crazy minister that points on the cross and screams. America is a country with a lot of fanciness and a circus to run it. It travels around everywhere.
Yes, Hussein have done terrible things. It's really not interesting when it comes to these issues, because America have never cared about this before. Also many of the war supporters have supported the terrible things Hussein have done, sucking up to it, so that thing about doing it for Iraq is the biggest joke I've ever heard.
Why dont America stay the hell out of trying to help other countries and do something for their own people? America isn't exactly good looking from an outsiders point of view. All that poordom, crime, strange ways of justifying murder, people buying themselves out of criminal convictions, children that get money from Disney World to pay for their hospital visits, guns and we could just go on. The way America never wants to learn from other countries, but always try to sell or push on us their own ways. It doesn't look good.
When and where did United states liberate people? I have never heard of such things. I guess we dont get the info you are feed with. Also anything good that happens outside the USA, are quickly turned into something that America was doing. Anything bad is a mistake, a tragedy or someone elses fault. Warheads and criminals usually work like that. America wants to look good, always. I would be open to look at some of the good things they have done, if they would admit to all those terrible things.
In the long run, it doesn't matter, because people doesn't change. They love the fight, the blood, the war. It's good entertainment and people will have a reason to get their dusty old flags and banners out of the attic. Cheer, cry and fear. It's humanity. It's been doing this for as long as we walked the earth. The ones that have it best in these days are probably those that manage to think of it as a show. Those that manage to enjoy the fancy light shows from Iraq that they send on the news. Those that doesn't care who wins or lose. In the end it probably will be the same. People are people to me, if Americans die it is sad, if the people in Iraq dies it is also sad. That's why the news doesn't matter so much, the outcome will be the same no matter who wins. I heard Bush say that the American people where the chosen people on a Norwegian news channel. It was a serious interview. I can try to see if I can find it, maybe someone else know what interview it was?
From Childofdark: I'm American and i totally agree with u. Bush is an ass hole and he's making America look really stupid by saying dumb things. He has no idea what he's doing or saying.He is greedy and full of extreme nationalism(not the good kind, the better then everyone kind).He doesn't really look to see how what he's doing is affecting other countries. His holier-then-thou attitude pisses me off and makes me glad i'm not really christian.
From Kristina: To Kate: You say it well!
In my next entry maybe I should write about my Socialistic minature collection!, all those tiny non-violent feminine housewife type of decorational things that I have?
Did you all know that I am against boxing on television. Sometimes I even think that I'm against sports. It's so violent!, I love horror movies and Star Wars though and sometimes I feel a nice shiver when I see explosions on TV.
We can always turn these things into a political discussion. Anything and anyone is good enough to question.
To Childofdark: I agree with you of course. Lets hope that there will be more American people that think like you in the future! They could sure need it.
To staremotionz: You wrote to me in my notes and I reply to you here, as it's easier for me and I have written so much in your guestbook from before.
I have no reason to disagree with you and this has nothing to do with being open. It has to do with that I am against war and that I will never support it. It has nothing to do with god or religion either. Lets leave god out of this.
Many people have found things in the U.S. Government yes. Not just your teacher.
Now I will say something that will upset many Americans greatly. It's called irony. The USA have filled up jails full of hardcore criminals that they execute. Why not use them in war battle? Wouldn't that be nice? You say that you dont want the Americans to die over there, say they shouldn't be there in the first place then! They are dying in this very moment, their life is a waste. If America had any sense at all they would keep those soldiers out of school, let them stay at home playing with their toy guns till they turned sixteen and then ship them out there. At that point, age and experience they would be perfect for it. Other people could get the school position that they should have gotten, people that would actually benefit from it and get a job later on. It's useless to waste time and money on soldiers that are going to die anyway. And please dont let those people get any children before they leave, they will just end up sitting there with one parent. What do you say to a child that has a father that thinks it's better to go blow up people than being a parent? -"Your dad did it for the country, because our country is so nice that it helps people by blowing up the bad guys. Be proud of your dad for blowing up things and then dying in the process".
I'm glad I will never be in that position. Here in Norway we dont have much of a military left and I dont really know many people that have actually been to the military. Here we are either what some people will call naive hippie lovers or smart looking Right winged people that suck up to the super nations. We have more trees than we have people. If anyone attacked us we wouldn't have a chance, but I guess sucking up to the super nations makes some people think that we would be less fragile. It doesn't seem to be a lot of fear here though, I guess it's because we are not a country with a lot of fancy things for any nation to want to get their claws on.
I said that there is a god for every man, this is because religion has a lot to do with culture. If you dont think so I would say that you are very uneducated on the subject. There are different types of muslims and different types of Christians depending on what country they live in. Every culture, trough experience, times and so on change the religion depending on economic changes, laws and etc. This is just a common sad fact. Nothing to argue about.
I absolutely agree with you when it comes to what you said about being a believer though. You do not have to be a believer with your heart just because you know all the "rules" and the history of your religion. There are those that believe with their heart and those that believe in the rules and facts. As I said; I spoke of religion as a political institution, I dont like it when people use god to defend their political beliefs. I totally respects the individual believer that believe with the heart. That's something else. Religion and politics being mixed makes people go crazy and it removes the spiritual aspects.
From Bill F.: Kristina, you asked, I'll answer. We liberated France, Poland, Czech Republic, The Phillipeans, China, and Korea in World War 2. That Wasn't the US was it? One Million dead americans paid for that. We also kept the Soviet Union from rolling over Europe. Maybe we should have let them. Frankly I'm actually tired of the US paying for keeping other people 'free'. Maybe isolationism isn't so bad afterall. They say religion is the Opiate of the masses. You make it sound like someone being religious is a weakness. LIke it somehow removes logic from the picture. I agree with you. I do not want God being used as a reason for anything. I don't think President Bush is fighting a Christian Crusade. He say's "May God continue to Bless America." in his speeches because he thinks God is blessing america. America has had that 'feeling' for quite a while. If you have a problem with that, that's OK. We all have different God's and guess what? In America we probably have more people believeing in more different God's in more ways then anywhere. Our culture is unique. We come from everywhere in the world. Our ancestors and our immigrants speak a polyglut of languages. We are all colors and all religions. We are all free. There is a mosque a half mile from my house. Also a Catholic Church a Catholic High School, and probably 10 other churches of different faiths. We have every color living on my block. I live in Chicago, which is often touted as one of the 'most racist' cities in America by people who don't know shit. I don't live in a 'cool neighborhood'. No I live in a working class neighborhood. We have Black's, Hispanic's, Whites, Polish Immigrants, Irish Immigrants. All on the same block. Yes we even have Moslem's living here. They go to that Mosque over there. What do we have in common. We're all american's. Our diversity is our strength. We don't worship this country, we ARE this country. Every person is important. Especially people who disagree with the majority. The rights of the people who don't agree are especially protected. Yes we have criminals. Yes we execute murderer's. My state doesn't however. We had one man decide that he'd had enough and commuted all the death sentances to life in prison. We are a violent people. Some are, most aren't. I haven't had a 'fight' since I was a kid. I guess one of the differences between you and me is I believe that some things are worth fighting for. We at least have a criminal justice system. One that could use some improvement, but we have one. The rights of the accused are given far more protection then the rights of the victim because the system says that the accused is PRESUMED INNOCENT. Yes rich people have bought their freedom. There's also a ton of them in jail. Some things can't be easily purchased. If there was one injustice in the system it would be that rich people have a better shot at freedom then poor ones. Ask OJ Simpson. Then talk to Robert Blake. Or we could talk about Roman Polanski, who managed to get bail and then fled to France. He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in the ass. He should be in prison, instead he's got another academy award. You think France would arrest him and send him back here but NO. Apparently they have problems with our criminal justice system. That would be the same country that just got rid of their last Guillotene (spelling). Please! Lets talk about the flag. Do you know what the flag represents to the American People? Its only been 227 years since we freed ourselves from the British. It took a war. The flag is a symbol of this country. There are 13 stripes. One for each of the original colonies that made up this country. This in itself was a unique concept. Why 13 different colonies? Because all of those people came and settled for different reasons, were of different religions, different economic classes. Red is for hardiness and valor, white is for purity and innocence, and blue is for vigilence, perseverence, and justice. The stars were in a 'constellation' and congress said (at that time) that we were a new constellation. Since then we've just added a star for each state. The US is a Republic, not a democracy. In the US the people are the masters and the government is the servent. The framework on which this works is the constitution. The first words are "We the People". This is not a majority rules anything goes society. It is a society of rules. Bush could not just Wage war, he had to have the consent of Congress. Congress works for the people. So, yes some american's take this vilification of Bush seriously. He's doing the will of the people of the US. This war is about justice, both for American's and for Iraqi's. We're gonna take out Saddam and his core of Madmen and put that country back on its feet. There is no reason in the world why a country of 25,000,000 people with that countries weath should have a MILLION people starve to death unless it was intentional. And it WAS intentional. I think killing a million people might be a crime. And he accused the US of doing it. Not hardly. He did it. This is why you have seen very skinny people waving those yellow packages at the US troops as they drove up the highway. Look at that country. Its a damn desert and it get 140 degrees in the summer. Not a garden spot. If we wanted territory, and we don't, there's better places on earth to get it. We're about to spend 200 billion dollars to root that bastard out and put his country back in order. Why? Because it needed doing. Because injustice was being done. Because people were dying, because we could have prevented it. I'll take that guilt, and the responsibility for cleaning it up. What's the UN ever done?
From megan (staremotionz): to Bill f.: ---> I agree with you. Especially with the fact that we had to go to war to get that flag with all those stars for each state..and so on. I agree. to Kristina: ---> Im happy you agree with some of what i said. Maybe you should come out into th world a little more and whats out here. Maybe you living where you are is the reason why your eyes aren't open enough. And I am educated anough..for "14". I am sorry you still won't understand me..and me not understand you. Thats the way it has to be I guess..im giving up..but ill be praying for you. antihero:--> how did you get a hold of this?
From Kristina: To Megan: I dont agree with you on your war views and your war god. I said that I can see where you are coming from. You are still very young and it's not strange that you sound like a typical braindead American.
To inform you; Antihero got the info from his dick.
Another thing; if you mention that American war god of yours once more, I will send over my big insane brother to bomb you.
It is you people that should get your ass out of the USA a little more. I assume you have never put your foot outside your country one time. You have probably never ever talked to someone that isn't American. You have probably never seen the news from another source than American CNN. I have been around different places, so dont try to sound smart.
And isn't that special, getting a star for every war you started? I think that says everything about what your flag really stands for.
Also save your prayers for yourself, nobody wants them and you will sure need them yourself when they come for you.
From megan (staremotionz): ok.But no..i will not keep my prayers for myself. I will shut up now...i hope you are happier.
From Kristina: To Bill F: You say that you are tired of the Americas "freeing" other countries, I think everyone are pretty tired of that. That's not what this war is about though, Hussein have been around for a long time. No one gave a fuck.
And Nobody really cares about those dead Americans either or remembering what you have done. People are not thankful. So maybe it's time for America to do something for themselves?
Like I said; I really dont care what good they have done, it's not interesting, because for me it cannot justify war and murder. So you save your time telling me about what USA have done. I have heard it before, in school. Sometimes we hear it differently than you. In my country we was not always told that the Americans did good in those issues you mention. You think about that.
Being religious is not just sometimes a weakness, it is a disease. It is in those cases where people use their god as a tool for political issues and power. Bush use it, by refereeing to god and the flag all the time. Shame on him. Spirituality has been raped by politicians. It's not god or religion there is something wrong with, it is what many people make it into.
I think it's rude of Bush to say that god should bless America and not mention those countries they say they want to free. It kind of looks selfish. Extremely selfish. It looks bad in retrospect of everything that has been done. The American people have "felt" that god have been on their side for a long time? What kind of attitude is that? Why is god with America? because they are gods people? Isn't that what Bush said? The American people are the chosen people, I heard he say that. To me it sounds like those Muslims that reefer to holy war. It's no difference really.
I know that America is muliticultural, so you dont have to mention that. If Bush wants respects from more of his people, it's really just another good reason for why Bush should shut his mouth about god.
Your culture is not more unique than other cultures. We have mixed cultures all around the world, besides those countries that have few cultures isn't less unique than the multicultural. Some would even claim that they are more unique. This is uninteresting in my idea.
America is not necessarily more free than other countries. America is one of the countries on the top list to Amnesty International of breaking the human rights. So that talk about USA being free is a scam and you know it.
It's good though, that you say you dont worship the country, you ARE the country. That's the only line you have written here that I actually like.
In my country as in most other countries we also have a criminal justice system. Most criminal justice systems needs improvements. In my country though, you cannot buy yourself out of a case and you can pretty much pick any lawyer you want for free (of course the people pay for it).
Honestly I'm not really interested in the flag. We got the info in school, so I know. To me it's just piece of cloth that people like to hide themselves behind when they dont know what to say. Actions speak for itself, flags needs a voice to speak for it.
The war is not about justice, it's about killing and getting away with it. Plain and simple. Justice would be if all those soldiers died in Iraq and no one came back. That would be justice for America, because it would be in support of that American moral "eye for an eye". In my opinion I dont agree with justice twirled around murder and destruction. It will never be my moral. I see myself ahead of such animalistic behaviour.
America didn't manage to get Osama Bin Laden, they just hurt the civilians, just as they are killing them now in Iraq. Why should we believe that they would manage to remove Hussein? Maybe America can get Afghanistan back on it's feet after they bombed them too? Will they get to that?
USA have killed a hell of a lot people too and believe that was intentional too. War is usually about getting peoples brains blown out, intentional.
I guess if you kill them they wont need to worry about starving. I guess that's humane.
UN is just shit and the US too. Maybe they both will grow and change in time and experience, I hope so. They dont really care, it's just that the Americans are feed with things that just isn't always correct. We get news from Iraq that CNN are censoring.
The difference between you and me is not that you believe that some things are worth fighting for. If I didn't think that my opinion was worth fighting for, hell, - I would never get into these conversations in the first place. I feel my issue about being against war will always be worth fighting for. There will always be people like me. The difference is that you think it's okay to kill people for your cause and country. That's the difference.
To Megan: I dont give a shit what you do with your war god or your prayers. I dont care if they will lead you to heaven or not or get you than fancy prize you talked about.
Only you and your family will care about that, because it's about you.
-And why would I be unhappy :) Another thing. This is for the warlovers out there. Words can say many things, pictures can speak for itself. There are more where than was coming from.
From Wiley: This is more of a reply to your reply to Brittany. You claim that America has forgotten about countries it has destroyed - but what of the countries it has rebuilt? What about France? What about Germany? The US (and Allied forces) destroyed Germany, but we went in and rebuilt it only to be ridiculed today. We liberated France from the Nazis, and they spit on Americans and swindle our tourists. I'm not saying they owe us anything, we did what we did without expecting any return. The US gives billions in loans to developing countries, and often, years down the road, those countries are exempted from paying the loan back at our expense. Afganistan... HA... we tried to help them, we are still trying - but they already love to burn our flag. Good for them - they're already exercising a right the US gaurantees by law. What about Iraq and the rape camps set up in Kuwait? chemical weapons used on their own people? starvation - lack of medicine. Sure, blame the US for it's sanctions - but do you also blame the courts when a murderer is imprisoned now that his children are starving? I am in the military, and I speak Arabic (the soaps on Al-Jazeera aren't that great). I joined to protect freedoms. I gave up many freedoms to protect those who speak out against me. But I curse the violent protestors for peace. What a crock! I can't even say what an imbecile I think Bush is now that I'm in the military. Even in the military we are not blood-thirsty war mongers. My friends are in the dirt right now, and I worry about them daily. Only the ignorant boys join for blood, and they usually find their own first.
In closing, I'd like to refer you to a great sight by an Iraqi citizen in Baghdad, he's critical of both the US and Iraq. Check out Salam Pax's Blog.
From Kristina: To Wiley: Well, to me and to a lot of other people it do seems that America likes to forget about what it has done. The bad things. If you do one good thing, it doesn't make the bad things you did look better. Things should stand for itself. A killer might say that he was good to his family, it doesn't change the fact that he was not always good to others.
Also, since humanity dont really want to take lessons from the past, then what happened doesn't really matter in connection to what happens now.
We are talking about war here and in past experiences it has proven to be more negative than it is positive. America didn't liberate those countries you mention, it played a part in something lots of countries played a part in.
Destroying a country (world) and rebuilding it was the dream to Hitler. Power loving people and nations goes for this, because they want full control.
Hitler was a dictator. It doesn't mean that he didn't care about the people. I am a Socialist as you may have guessed. I used to know a Nazi and he taught me that the good people are not always on your side, or on the right side. I think we must understand the dictator to make him fall. He will not go away on his own and if he is removed, the people will either ask for a new dictator later, or get one they didn't know was a dictator when he was put to lead. Why would they ask for one you might say? They would because there is something about dictators that attracts people and it would take time to change that. Hitler had his philosophy and many people that would never see themselves as Nazis would find his philosophy to be great (I dont). There are good ideas behind every political beliefs. It's simply to easy to say that some things are right in every way and some things are not. It's naive. It's also naive to think that we can just destroy something and then it will go away. We must give people a chance to change, a chance to help themselves, instead of trying to play god for the sick and poor at all times.
As I have said before; I do think that Hussein should have to go, it would be great for the people in Iraq. It's just that I think that there will be more damages done because of the war, than it would if USA didn't attack. Now many countries have been put in a position where they may be attacked by Hussein supporters. It could lead to a world war or things we wouldn't imagine.
In my eyes USA bombed Afganistan for selfish reasons. A poor country they haven't cared about before. There is a reason for why people burn the American flag you know, they dont just do it because their bored.
There is nothing golden and futuristic about war, it drags us all down in that old dirt pile we call the past. I like to see new ideas, I would like to see people evolve and change the past by learning from it and in that way shape a future, that wouldn't just be an image of the past.
Thanks for the link, it looks interesting. I will add it to my favorites. You wrote; do you also blame the courts when a murderer is imprisoned now that his children are starving? My answer: Yes of course. It's a governments responsibility to protect a childs rights. A child shouldn't suffer for it's parents errors.
From Wiley: You're absolutely right, if we could learn from the past then we wouldn't have to dig into this crap again. However, it's because of past experiences that we are trying to stop this man before he becomes such a threat that world safety is threatened. It's terrible that we have to resort to this kind of dealing. War should be avoided when it can be - but I don't think we could avoid it any more. Dictatorship aside - Hitler and Hussein have in common that they are not out for the benefit of their own people. They only want to help themselves. Despite being biased towards democracy, I would have no problem with a dictator who actually respects the needs of his people - and that is how a dictator comes to power. Hitler promised the people that the value of the Mark would return, the Germany would rise again. He promised them greatness. Do you think he really got up there on day one and started preaching anti-semitism? Do you think that Hussein got up on his first day and said I'm going to take this country, rid it of the Kurds, and rape the Kuwaitis? Of course not. They may have started with good intentions (though I doubt it) - but the power got to them. I'm also not saying that doing good deeds excuses bad deeds. I know the US has messed up, but most countries have. All people have. Nobody is perfect. However, on the same note, you can't judge a person by a single mistake they made (multiple, yes). Afganistan was not selfish - we had nothing to gain. What does Afganistan have that the US would want? When the US stopped the Taliban regime I saw images of smiling women, revealing their faces in the public for the first time. I saw a 12 year-old boy wrapped up in an American flag, smiling, and giving the sign for victory. Now they spit on the flag. I guess we could reinstate a real puppet government like the Taliban - hand out new veils to all the women and keep everyone in submission. Sure it's chaotic right now - but out of chaos comes order. From Yin to Yang. You cannot blame the courts for the suffering of a child. It was the father who messed up, not the court. Yes, it is the moral responsibility of society to help the innocent child, but the child never would have needed the help if it hadn't been for the father who messed up in the first place. Thus, the US is taking it's moral responsibility in removing the criminal "father" and taking care of his "children." If we weren't, I don't think you'd find Iraqis in US military hospitals in Europe. We played a major role in rebuilding France and Germany. I've seen the scenes of Germans in Munich welcoming the soldiers with hugs and handshakes - and now what? We will rebuild Afganistan and Iraq at our expense. They will flourish and someday spit on us. So what does the US have to gain? Moral High Ground.
From Kristina: You agree, so maybe we should try to find other solutions than war. Try together, not as the USA do; go ahead and do as it please. By this decision they have just managed to stir up even more hate and resentment towards USA. In the end it will lead to trouble.
If USA really wanted to learn from the past, they could just try to remember what was done to them on that September day. History repeats itself over and over again. We dont get any smarter because of it.
Yes Hitler and Hussein have in common that they are (were, as Hitler is dead) not out for the benefit of their own people. A lot of other people have that in common with them. Another one of them is called Bush.
I agree with you about the things you say about dictators, this is what I see in them too. Maybe their idea was good, but the power got to them. I think that's a good reason to always be critical with all rulers, not just think that this one is good and that one is bad.
I can see what people think about when they say that they would agree with a dictator if he respected the needs of the people. Usually they dont of course, as we know. I would not feel good about a dictator in general, but that's just me. I think it's important to try to understand what a dictator is really about and why people dont do more to get rid of their own dictators. I think that's more important than trying to kill the dictator, thinking that will solve the future problems with dictators.
Also since I dont like killing in general, I dont even like the idea of killing Hussein. I think it's wrong. It's not justice. The right thing would be to bring him to a court system and put him trough trial there, it would be something we all would agree too. We would work with this together. It would a more modern truthful justice. We would get ahead of that old fashioned cowboy and indian way of getting rid of the bad guys. It's just not right that one country decides to do it what it wants outside it's own country.
Yes all countries have messed up at some points. Yes, and you must see the person or country for all that it is, not just the bad or good things. No one are perfect, but we should try to work together. Find new solutions that are less violent and bring in a modern court system that all war criminals and political criminals in general must be brought into. I think that's fair and it will not destroy countries or the lives of people.
USA wanted Bin Laden and they believed, a lot of countries believed he were in Afganistan. So they bombed it. He was probably not there, maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. Bin Laden is a wealthy guy, wealthy people usually have a lot of friends, he can probably get around everywhere.
They smile for a reason, just as they spit on the flag for a reason.
I really really disagree with you about letting a child suffer for it's father's mistake. You might think about what you just wrote there you know. Most people that have any sense and respect for human life would disagree with you. What you wrote there is really terrible you know and it even shocks me that you can say something like that. A child do not choose it's parents, it's innocent. If my neighbour shot himself in the head and leaves his child to play in the street, I cant just watch that. It's my responsibility as an adult to help the child. If I dont help then I shouldn't either have children by myself. This is just common sense you know. That is just simply wrong you know. It goes against the human rights and it's the worst crime of all crimes. Nothing is more cruel than the crimes of the government. Nothing is more cruel than the neglect of care for children. In my country, if a sick child has poor parents, it will still be treated in a hospital. The children to criminals and drug abusers is the governments responsibility. In my country we blame the systems for the neglect of a criminals child. If you kill a man you also maybe kill a dad. In my country criminals have the right to be a dad even if it is a killer. In my country we dont kill the killer. Like you said you have to see a person for everything that it is, not just the bad things or the good things. I know that USA have some really old fashioned rules, sooner or later it will change hopefully and they will learn from the more modern ways we have in Europe. USA have a long way to go when it comes to respecting the human rights.
Destroying and rebuilding is the works of idiots. USA have everything to gain from trying to be a little more open. They have everything to lose on this war. You will see.
From Wiley: I think I was misunderstood. I never said, in the instance of the child, that the government was not responsible - morally it is, but the gov't is not at fault or to blame. In the US, we do take care of the children of killers. We put them in good homes and raise them to be moral, upright members of society. We stop the killer and care for the child. As I said, this is what we'll do in Iraq. We'll stop the killer father and take care of his children. The court is not to blame for the suffering of the child, the court did not cause it, the father did, but the court will ease the suffering, because, as you said, the child is innocent. We do agree.
I am all for working out solutions, but I don't think that the US went into this blindly on it's own. We've been discussing and negotiating for the past 10 years! There was no solution - Saddam just became stronger. You say there are no WMD, no connections to terrorism - this, I find ridiculous. Simple math. If Iraq, in 1992, said we have 10,000 bombs; and today they show proof of destruction for 3,000, that leaves 7,000; however, Iraq claims to have none even in the face of simple math. As far as no terrorist connections, well, terrorists are the only way that Iraq could touch the US across the ocean without bombing our ships and embassies in Africa and Europe.
Iraqi soldiers (not civilians) are cowards. They shed their uniform and hide among children, women, and elders. They use suicide bombing, but I insist that it is easy to die for a cause, it's harder to live for a cause. This is terrorism. They terrorize not only the US, but their own people.
From Kristina: I didn't misunderstand you, I read what you wrote. My opinion is that a killer is not only a killer, he is more than that, you said so yourself. A war creates murderers, just because a man is a killer doesn't mean he cant be a caring dad. That's the difference between the American system and the systems of Europe. America kills the dad and this will of course make the child suffer, even if it's taken care of.
Murder is not more right if it's done by the government or a soldier, it's the same cruelty and I will never ever support it. Country, numbers, excuses or fancy words would never change my opinion.
Hussein is a human being too, just as the serial killer is. I dislike their actions, but I will not lower myself onto their level and become what they are. Modern human rights says that the fair thing is to bring these people into a court system. I am a member of Amnesty International and I believe in their work. Things must change, the people of war must be put into a court system because of their crimes, just as another killer is.
As I have said before, I think USA likes to dig it's own grave. They will not get away with this and honestly they dont deserve to get away with it either. I just feel sorry for the average person in Iraq and the average person in America.
There was no connection with Hussein and Bin Laden. Besides we know that USA have nuclear weapons. Why should they have it and not Iraq? If America really cared, they would also get rid of their own nuclear weapons. You know, these things are silly to us that look at it from an outside perspective. America, Bush is saying things that doesn't make sense. It's stupid.
This is what I think and I believe many people from where I come from also thinks; The only reason why some Americans think this is okay is because they are Americans. I really cant see how anyone can be so stupid. I dont think they are, I think it's that they are brought up in a nation that makes people think that everything American is good. If it was done by someone else, they wouldn't agree. America is a super nation that loves itself and nobody else (I'm not talking about the people in general, but USA as a nation).
You dont really know what the soldiers of Iraq is like, you just say what you are told by the American news. I think most soldiers are cowards, peculiarly those that attack and try to change things with a gun. I have no respect for that and they will never have my sympathy. Bush said that the sucide plane pilots that hit the planes in the sky scrapers, that September day, was cowards. Bush is a man with few good words, he will call anyone that are against him for cowards, criminals or terrorists. He is a terrible spokesperson. Say the same things over and over again. Personally I wouldn't call the sucide plane pilots for cowards, they knew they were going to die. In other wars before there have been sucide pilots and bombers. Some call them heroes, others call them cowards, depending on what side they are on. It says little about the sucide pilots and bombers and their motives in general.
To me USA is the terror really, a super nation that loves it's nuclear weapons and want to take away everyone elses. Personally I dont like to hail any soldiers, to me it just seems immature.
From Helen: hello... today I had a conference at school about war. Everyone ended up hating Bush. I can't believe a person like that exists. Not all americans support Bush, you know. I mean, I'm not american or anything but I feel that in a way I should support him. But no, most of the people I know hate him too. Because he's like a little boy playing war in order to get more money. And to become more powerful, which is not gonna happen as america is going to lose political power that way. Agh anyway I have to go so I can't write everything I wanted to say. But you pretty much got the idea. =)