[Diogenes Of Pumpkintown]

Originally posted by Silver Cheetah: My heart goes out to the people who died in NY and Washington, and to the families who mourn them. I do NOT see this as some kind of joke, nor do I take it lightly. However, the idea that this is some inexplicable attack on freedom and democracy which has no basis in past actions by the American government and previous US governments is simplistic and uninformed, in my opinion. I do not condone these atrocities. On the contrary! However, there is such a thing as cause and effect, and it is useless to condemn actions out of hand without looking at the historical actions that led up to them. As you are very likely aware, the US must bear its part of the responsibility in creating Islamic terrorist groups. For example, during the cold war, the US financed a number of extremist groups, including that of Bin Laden, to use against the Soviets in Afghanistan. What I'm saying is less warmongering rhetoric, more looking at the background, what led up to the events. That's the only sensible way to construct a strategy to move forward. There's such a thing as learning from mistakes, but to do that, you need to be aware of what they are. I am not singling out America for special treatment here. Exactly the same can be said of Britain and the rest of Europe with regard to the colonies. There's a large element which still refuses to accept that we bear any blame for what has happened in the ex colonial countries. 250's post did not come across as being particularly distraught - it was the big 'PUNKS' comment in bold that did it for me. If people want to rant, then fine, go right ahead. But I'm entitled to my opinion too, ok? Rhetoric is what Saddam uses, what the Ayatollah used, what dictators everywhere use. All those emotive words. I'm always worried when I see it. To my mind, it's no replacement for thought.

Silver Cheetah, I love you

Well said as usual.