Originally posted by totalia
Bush needs to be removed.
I disagree with every statement you made in your post except for the one where you stated that you don't have to agree with our current government. You are correct--you don't have to agree with our government. That's one of the beautiful things about living here-- and in Canada and elsewhere-- isn't it? Hopefully the entire world will one day know that freedom.
The bomb that obliterated Hiroshima was weak by today's standards, Totalia. With the current knowledge that there are people that would do anything to get their hands on WMD in an attempt to kill us, I am certainly for keeping a well-stocked arsenal of weapons and for funding research to improve our weapons in addition to funding defensive programs.
Bush has firmly stated there will be no draft.
As for those hot button topics you mentioned, let me just say this: Some people don't think aborting pre-born babies to be alright. Some people believe that life begins at conception and that the life of an innocent baby should supersede the comfort level of the mother. After all, when the woman wants the child, it's a baby. When the woman doesn't want the child, it's fetal tissue. The only difference though, is the desirablity of its birth. Removal of what you call choice is the addition of what we call life.
Although I am personally for civil unions, I do want to remind you that everybody in America is permitted, by law, to marry. Gays and lesbians CAN marry just as heteros can marry. All of us can marry anyone of the opposite sex. There is no discrimination occuring.
Your fear of Bush is far more irrational, imo, than the Republicans' fear of terrorists. I've seen that a lot these days. The fact is that there are people that desire our death. And, this matters. The truth is, though, we don't walk around fearful . . . we walk around angry. Some people blame America for attributing to the root causes of terrorism. Bush and his supporters are not of this mindset. We want them stopped and to do this, we believe, we need to send them a strong message. That's what we're doing. Libya has changed course and others will follow.
We have been extremely lucky--blessed, some might say--that we have "had the barest taste of what other countries in the world have experienced for millenia". Would you rather we have a bigger taste? A larger bite? Would that make it more fair, more just in your mind? Personally, I want to make sure that our taste of terrorism has occured and is over. Of course, this is really unlikely, but it is no reason to stop trying to make it so. It's true--Americans are spoiled in the sense we live in--what some of us believe it to be-- the best country in the world. That is NOT a put down to Canada or any other country. Many Americans love America. That isn't arrogance, either. It's the knowledge that we live in the land of freedom and opportunity--something we want to continue to be able to take for granted.
I don't know what you are talking about regarding China. I'd really appreciate some clarification regarding your statement that Bush has talked about invading China. I could have missed this, but it's more likely you misunderstood whatever you heard. Please provide a statement and link.
We are not a world community in the sense that each government has the same values and laws. We are a world community in the sense we have world trade. We want to live peacefully with all, and hopefully one day we will. However, how can those that keep reminding us that we are a world community say this when there are so many oppressed people in the world? Don't those folks count, too? In light of the fact that the UN has been completely dishonest and unethical and anti-American, what kind of community is there, really? Our world is made up of many different governments with many different laws, cultures, values, legal systems, etc.
Your statements regarding the US invading India, Russia, Italy, England or Canada doesn't have any basis in reality. And, your post was so thoughtfully written, I really don't want to dismiss your feeings. But, i can't come up with anything to say without sounding sarcastic--which I want to avoid. So, please bear with me.
There is a growing threat in the world and it's not the United States. We want to put a stop to terrorism and make it known that it will no longer be acceptable at any time. Before Bush, it was acceptable to commit terrorist acts against Americans and American interests because the response the terrorists got in return for their murderous deeds was practically nothing. That has now changed. And, please, I don't want to get in to an Iraq debate. I already know your point of view--that it was wrong, that Saddam had nothing to do with 9-11, had no WMD, etc. Let's keep this, if you don't mind, a general discussion, not an Iraq debate.
I don't think that "if you're not with us you're against us" is a bad statement, although I know many find fault with it. Bush stated that this is a GLOBAL threat (nod to your global community), and is recognizing that this is an issue in many parts of the world.
Nobody I've met thinks of Canada or France or Germany or these other countries that won't join us as the enemy. As much as France won't join the coalition, they have a real threat in that country and the ban on headscarfs and other religious symbols is an indication that many there recognize this threat even though they are hesitant to do anything about it. Some think they are frightened of what can accurately be called a fifth column.
I'm sorry I can't do anything to alleviate your fears. I STILL get stunned when I hear people say what you've said about Bush--and worse! I just don't see this at all. And, his religiosity to me isn't an issue. You're Wiccan, right? Why is that considered acceptable to you but not Christianity? Why was Christianity okay for Carter and Clinton but not for Bush? Because Clinton wasn't a good Christian? Because Carter had a different interpretation? I'm not even a Christian, but I admire the fact that Bush humbles himself before God and prays he's doing the Right thing. That's antithetical to arrogance--at least in my book.
Three cheers for free speech in the land to the North.
