Sorry for your loss, but take it from a different view point. Over 1 million dead in Iraq and the death toll is still rising.
Do you call that a proportional response? Why didn’t America go after the Saudi regime when 17 out of the 19 hi-jackers were from Saudi Arabia?
I don’t think we’ll ever get a memorial day for the millions who died in Iraq or the thousands killed in Vietnam, Loas, Sudan, Somalia…the list is quite long.
What country used the Atomic bomb? Not once but twice, do you have a memorial day in America for those innocents? You proudly display the Enola Gay as some heroic symbol of American pride.
The so called “War on terror” to catch the bogeyman Bin Laden hasn’t really acheived the results desired. Instead, American Imperialism has cost Trillions of dollars resulting in not only the crash of the American economy but of the global economy as a whole.
The brave Mujahideen who were once portrayed as noble warriors by your western media in their fight against the Soviet war machine are now branded terrorists because they refuse to bow down to western governments.
You want an end to the Troubles? Get out of Palestine, out of Iraq and out of any other country that doesn’t want you there.
1400 women and children murdered in Gaza by the Nazi Israeli’s. Did American media even report this? Can you imagine what the response woould be if some Arab militia murdered 1400 Jewish women and children? You would build monuments to the sky and tell your children about for it Millenia to come.
Wake up America!!!
Once again i’m sorry if it was a bit Harsh Steve and i’m sorry that you lost someone you cared about.
It seems like kind of a stretch to call any Israelis Nazis.
Maybe you’ve forgotten the history you were taught, but I seem to remember that it was the Nazis who were trying to exterminate the Jews. To call them Nazis themselves is an insult of the highest order.
I realize I don’t know you at all, and I’m trying not to be harsh or judgmental. But you’re doing a good job of offending me.
I think if anything America has woken up, that is why when went to do something about it. after seeing what terrorism had done for 30 years we went to put a stop to it.
We would prefer not to be unilateral and go after any one race, but then we are more looking for those responsible for their actions and in taking up arms against Americans and we know where they came from. it would be a lot easier if they would just step up and take their punishment and all just get along. The trouble is when you start doing a job, you have to finish, looking back at WW1 and WWII, the state of which the world left Europe and Germany after WWI was what created the environment that set the ground work for for WWII. when you clean out a country’s military, and leadership it is best to leave a solid group in power. Preferably one that does not take up arms on their neighbor to gain more power.
Atomic bombs? you think those were a quick and easy decision?
They did do their Job correctly they brought an end to a war that would have claimed many more lives, American, Japanese or other races, (Philippians, Russian, etc). as Japan was slowly taking over the world.
Forcefully taking others under your government’s power is bad, I don’t care if it is Russia, China, Japan, Iraq, India, Korea, Madagascar or Sweden. The United Nations(UN) (the Replacement for the impotent League of Nations) has the job of Policing actions, and imposing sanctions, because no one country should say yes or no to attacking another.
As for the Atomic Bombs, that was the biggest bluff in history, we dropped the only two we had on Japan, and told them we would keep dropping them until they pulled their Military back. You know What, it worked.
The trouble is having weapons, is that someday you might have to use them. Which is Why the UN does not stand for countries developing Nuclear weapons or moving forward with designing weapons of Mass destruction.
Fortunately I live in a country where I am free from the government coming in and silencing me for saying “Our President is a Wuss, for going around the world apologizing for America’s past actions” But then that does not mean someone will not slap me for saying something or others around me will not persecute me for this action; because they have the same right. I can even say “I am going to take my guns and go to Washington and start shooting” the government can come and investigate me, but until I actually start getting guns or when I make explosives and strap them to myself and go to the mall or other public place, then anything is fair game.
Going back to your post that started this civics lesson,
I think some people take way to much offense to the words of others, People say things, and feelings get hurt, some are sorry it happens, others are not.
Currently I am feeling a very strong racial bias forming in America, and this time the minority is the white person.
Would I actually do anything listed in the above, no, not likely I was trying to make an example that would be believable. but I would stand up for my rights if needed. I have no bad bones with our elected officials, I did not vote for any of the ones who are Currently working in Washington DC, and I plan to vote the same way next chance I get.
I do need to start going to the “Tea parties.”
Many people forget that the acts of a nation don’t burn down to individuals. Even if you find the certain way a country is run and the things they do internationally vile and cruel (I’m being obejectional and removed here) - you should never EVER find joy in the death of an individual. And that’s what this was. Many individuals dieing - not for something they, themselves had done.
It is completely your opinion whether or not the attacks were warranted or unwarranted - but there is absolutely no excuse for saying innocent people deserved to die or that you were happy it happened.
I’m of arab ethnic descent and get pulled over at airports and searched constantly (though I’m not complaining - that is hardly an equal consequence to losing a family member or friend on that tragic day). Even this year, while travelling domestically in New Zealand - I get searched before (and sometimes after) every flight. It upsets me how people’s perception of Islamic and Middle Eastern people has become a negative one - Islam contains many similarities to Christianity and Judaism - yet it’s viewed as a violent and unforgiving faith. But just because of the actions of a few - it should not alter or hinder your faith or your perception of others of that group/race. If that were the case - there would be no love left in this world. Every group and race has had it’s misrepresentation - where the actions of a few has affected the many somewhere throughout it’s history.
No matter if you thought America deserved the attack or not - or how much hatred you do have for the country. It should not be excused nor acceptable to rejoice at the death of individuals. I do hope for your sake, Reaper, that you see the errors in your thoughts as soon as possible.
Agreed. Each human life is a precious, unique and unrepeated miracle.
Those of us who did not have a personal stake in that tragedy may find it easier to remain cold to what happened.
But I’m confident that if it had been your own brother, mother, spouse, child, or other loved one that perished on 9/11 you would not be so callous to the devastation that so many felt.
I do not condone all the actions of the previous administration, and am definitely not in agreement with the actions of the current administration.
But that political viewpoint does not change the fact that I am an American, that this great land is MY country, and I am personally invested here. This is my home, and the home of my children. To say ‘Burn it all down’ implies that there is no need to be forward-thinking about the future. It is a defeatist attitude that can bring nothing but despair and hopelessness.
The American people as a whole are kind, generous, decent people who hold freedom, justice and brotherhood in high regard. They would give their lives for what they believe in, and in many cases they have.
There will always be a few bad apples in the bunch, but that doesn’t mean that you have to let that rot infect you as well.
America is a democracy, the government acts on behalf of the will of the people. Therefore every american is guilty up to a certain degree. Do not deny this, it is the truth.
America is not a democracy.
America is a republic, and makes use of the democratic process for election purposes.
It is a horribly flawed system, particularly when it comes to presidential elections. The real will of the people is often not heard, because we use a ridiculous electoral vote system, instead of popular vote. If the popular vote had won out, we would not have the president that we have now.
So it is not fair to say that every American has a responsibility for the administration that we have. The majority of us didn’t want it!
The government does not act on behalf of the will of the people. Politicians speak with gilded tongues and make promises that they never intend to keep. Weak willed and uninformed citizens then gullibly vote for someone who is not telling the truth, and later on live to regret their choice. Once those jokers are in office we are stuck with them for the duration of their term, having to choke down whatever they decide to legislate. This system worked fairly well back when men were truthful and kept their word, and took their duty seriously. But that sort of man (or woman) is now sadly lacking in government.
To say that the government is acting according to the beliefs and interests of the people it is supposed to serve is illogical. If we were to follow your argument, I can then state that the ‘war on terror’ that you so easily condemn is your will that the government is carrying out for you.
So what? Whether it’s a democracy, monarchy, theocracy or whatever - it doesn’t change the fact that every human life is special and irreversible.
There is absolutely no need to celebrate the death of an individual. No matter their country or status.
No one “deserves” to die. Who are we to decide? What if one of your family or friends were visiting the WTC when this happened? Would you still have the same views that you do now? That they “deserved” to die?
No. No one deserves to die, regardless of what they’ve done.
All the people he allegedly killed, they didn’t deserve to die either, and it is sad that they did. However, wishing someone to death on any grounds - even due to murder - makes you no better than they are. “Thou shalt not kill”. It’s there.
And if someone does these horrific acts. Then we can only hope that they can see what they did wrong before their time is done. Kill them now - and they become martyrs. An imprisoned person is not going to be committing any more murders. So why seek to murder him?
If they do not see the error in their ways - then they will be held accountable by God (if you so choose to believe). But is there no greater punishment than someone seeing their wrong-doings for what they are, and having to live with that weight. Guilt is a very powerful force.
Suicide is seen as the easy way out. Why should murder be any different?
Oh, I hope you did not misunderstand me LeafStamp…I do not wish anyone dead…I hope that I am simply reminding ReaperVai of the Scottish lives lost from the Lockerbie bombing. And now the Scottish government has decided this person is allowed to die in comfort and peace with his family and friends around him. What a slap in the face for us all. Including the wonderful people of Scotland who cared so deeply for all of the victims and their families. That peace is a luxury that was not afforded to the bombing victims or the people who lost their lives in 9/11.
I almost became a widow and my children fatherless on that day. My husband has seen people burned beyond recognition. He has seen horrors from that day that I would never wish upon anyone to have to carry with them through life. And still, hate does not reside in our hearts. There is just no room for it.
Western victims of terror get memorials and public silences every year.I’m not asking for that, muslims want justice. Invading Iraq and Afganistan was not a proportional response to 9-11. Killing 1400 women and children in Gaza was not a proportional response for 8 dead Israeli’s and Israel did not acheive its objectives. Where were the comdemnations and the sanctions?
Please don’t try and justify western attrocities.
I think i’ve hi-jacked this thread long enough. I’m sorry if anyone who lost a loved one on 9-11 but i stand by what i said and my comment is not aimed at any one individual.
Nazism was a specific form of progressive political movement that used the idea of an Aryan master race to unify the population along with specific hatred of the Jews. There is very little in common between the two. So many people throw around Nazi comparisons with very little to back them up. sigh.
I can agree with you that what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan has been grossly out of proportion as a response to 9/11. See? We have found common ground.
Please do not confuse me with the elitist American who thinks that the rest of the world is beneath them, who desires to dominate the world scene at the expense of everyone else.
That is not who I am.
There are a few of those, and unfortunately, they seem to control the nation, but they are truly the minority among us.
Most of us sincerely desire to dwell in peace and harmony with the rest of mankind. The truth, however, is that people are inherently selfish and greedy, and dwelling in harmony is often a dream that cannot be realized. It is the nature of every human being to look first after their own interests, and secondly to see to the needs of others. It takes a continual act of will and determination to not put self first at the expense of others.
You have mistaken me if you think that I seek to justify any atrocities. To harm another individual in the process of seeking your own gain is unconscionable. It does not matter who is the causor of the atrocity, it should not have been done. Vengeance belongs to God alone.
How is it that the radical Muslims don’t realize that committing atrocities in Allah’s name renders them faithless. If Allah is an almighty being why don’t they let Him take care of the “infidels” of the world?
What about The Crusades? The Holocaust? The Inquisitions? Westboro Baptist Church? Al Qaeda?
Radicals will always be radical. Justifying their actions with religion (or whatever) and acting on that - skewing what has been written for their own personal benefits and agendas.
As for “Allah” - you can use the word “God” instead. Saying “Allah” when referring to “God” in english - is like referring to “cheese” as “fromage” in everyday speech.
