My wife subcribes to a newletter called reporternotebook.... here are two of
their articles re todays' tragedies, if anyone is interested:
"Most Americans are unaware of how profoundly their government
antagonizes much of the human race."
Why should anyone want to hurt us?
By Joe Sobran
It was predictable. For years I've been writing that
the U.S. Government has been making more enemies than
Americans really need, all over the globe, and that one
of these days some of them would have a nasty surprise
for us.
In fact it nearly happened a few years ago, when
Islamic radicals tried to blow up the World Trade Center.
But of course they made a botch of it and got caught.
This time, though, someone pulled off what must have
been an extremely cunning conspiracy, a criminal feat for
the ages. They managed to execute a secret plan calling
for four simultaneous hijackings of airplanes. Those who
committed these coordinated deeds -- in spite of all
security measures -- also had the determination to die in
hitting their targets.
This wasn't "terrorism." This was war. It wasn't a
random attempt to scare people with an arbitrary
atrocity, like the bombing of a pizza joint; it was a
serious attempt to kill as many people and do as much
material damage as possible at two strategic targets, the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
But, as I write, hours after the attacks, we don't
know who is at war with us. We may never know. Who has
reason to hate this country? Only a few hundred million
people -- Arabs, Muslims, Serbs, and numerous others
whose countries have been hit by U.S. bombers.
Imagine hating a country so much that you were
willing to cross an ocean and carry out an elaborate
revenge against its people, killing yourself in the
process. This is something far more than the sort of
ideological anti-Americanism that leads student mobs to
throw stones at U.S. embassies abroad; that's kid stuff.
This is an obsessive, fanatical, soul-consuming hatred.
Foreigners aren't quite real to Americans, and most
Americans are unaware of how profoundly their government
antagonizes much of the human race. We are easy-going
people who generally have no idea how bullying we seem to
foreigners. Until now, we have had no experience of what
the U.S. Government has so often inflicted on others.
Now, at least, we have an inkling of what it feels like.
Government spokesmen have responded with their usual
cant of "cowardly attacks" by "terrorists" who "hate
democracy and freedom." Rubbish. A fanatic who is ready
to die is the opposite of a coward, and nobody can "hate"
such abstractions as "democracy and freedom" with that
kind of intensity.
It's dangerous to belittle your enemy, especially
when his courage and cunning have already proved as
formidable as his hatred and cruelty. The first question
you should ask about your enemy is why he is your enemy
in the first place.
You may be deluding and flattering yourself if you
assume he hates you for your virtues. But our "leaders"
assure us that our enemies are unnaturally evil people
who hate us only because we are so wonderful. And they
manage to utter this nonsense with an air of tough-minded
realism.
True realism, on the other hand, doesn't mean
blaming Americans for bringing these horrifying and truly
evil acts on themselves. It does mean trying to imagine
alien perspectives from which our government's conduct
might appear so intolerable that some people might be
driven to take atrocious revenge.
"To understand all is to forgive all," says the
French aphorism. Not true. But understanding all can at
least teach you how to avoid making enemies, and avoiding
making enemies is the best defense -- better than a $300
billion "defense" budget that didn't defend the World
Trade Center.
The great director Jean Renoir was once asked why
there were no villains in his films. He answered simply:
"Everyone has his reasons." Your bitterest enemy may have
his reasons for hating your guts. You may not think they
are good or sufficient reasons, but you'd better take
them into account. If he has any brains, he may find a
way to hurt you.
The United States is now a global empire that wants
to think of itself as a universal benefactor, and is
nonplussed when foreigners don't see it that way. None of
the earlier empires of this world, as far as I know,
shared this delusion; the Romans, the Mongols, the
British, the Russians and Soviets didn't expect to rule
and to be loved at the same time. Why do we?
=========================================================
=========================================================
We hope you and all your loved ones are okay. And if you know some of the people
who have been effected by this tragedy we at Reporter's Notebook are praying for
them.
If you need a place to stay or know a friend who does, because you (or your
friend) are stranded in Manhattan please call me at home 212-787-7891. I can
help with temporary housing.
Michael Santomauro
RePortersNoteBook.com
212-787-7891
====================================================
RePorterNoteBook@aol.com
>From ......RePortersNoteBook.com
What sort of Truth is it that crushes the freedom to seek the truth?
RePortersNoteBook.com........... Bulletin Board
Add your thoughts or start your own discussion...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: aaan@aaan.org
ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK
MEDIA RELEASE
CHICAGO ARAB COMMUNITY CONDEMNS ATTACK ON WORLD TRADE CENTER, AND
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
CHICAGO--Sept. 11-- The Arab American Action Network condemns the
horrifying attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York, the
Pentagon, and several civilian airliners. Arab Americans in Chicago,
like all Americans, are shocked and angered by this brutality and
are feeling all the emotions of our fellow citizens. Our community's
thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this enormous tragedy.
These attacks are targeted against all Americans.
At this time it is unknown what individuals or organizations carried
out these attacks. No matter who is responsible, the Arab American
Action Network considers them to be reprehensible and condemns them
in the strongest possible terms. We urge the public and the media to
refrain from rushing to judgment. Irresponsible speculation can only
contribute to a grave and unfolding tragedy.
Arab American Action Network, Chicago, IL 60615
Telephone: (773) 436 6060
Email: aaan@aaan.org
====================================================
We hope you and all your loved ones are okay. And if you know some of the people
who have been effected by this tragedy we at Reporter's Notebook are praying for
them.
If you need a place to stay or know a friend who does, because you (or your
friend) are stranded in Manhattan please call me at home 212-787-7891. I can
help with temporary housing.
Michael Santomauro
RePortersNoteBook.com
212-787-7891
Andy Levy wrote:
> A lot? We're one of the most despised nations on the planet. We have more
> "enemies" than "friends" I'd wager.
>
> kwreimer wrote:
>
> > I can believe it, Remember we the AMERICAN people, are hated by alot of
> > countries, includes Russia.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <PoohDog629@aol.com>
> > To: <aol@dakota-truck.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 9:22 AM
> > Subject: DML: Off-topic:One of the sickest things I have ever heard!
> >
> >
> >> In Palestine thousands of people passed candy around after the attacks on
> > the
> >> World Trade Center. I guess this is a custom of celebration in their
> > country.
> >> I have never heard of a group of people being so inhumane. I read this on
> > a
> >> news update link on AOL so I don't think it is a lie. I just can't
> >> believe people would celebrate so many innocent people dying. It's
> >> unbelievable!!
> >>
> >> "In total disbelief."
> >>
> >> Mike R.
>
> --
> -andy
> andylevy@yahoo.com
> Maintainer, DML FAQ - http://www.dakota-truck.net/faq/
> http://home.twcny.rr.com/andylevy/dakota/
> '99 CC 4x4 318 auto
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