DeltaCat

07/22/2005 02:09:20 AM

One last point to clarify what I am trying to say. The only reason why I feel this way is because no matter what has been done to stop the war, it seems as though the efforts are not being taken seriously. Even when offering alternatives to war and torture. Expressed ideas outside of the pro-war idealists is considered liberal un-patriotic and un-American rhetoric. Perhaps it's time to let go and let God handle the rest now. The prayers have already been given to him for peace. sometimes learning the hard way is the only way to wake up the stubborn headed. it's just unfortunate that it is leading to the loss of more lives to get the point across.

DeltaCat

07/22/2005 01:49:28 AM

When it comes to protesting the war I don't want to sit down and shut up, but if that is what it's going to take to wake people up than so be it! War is only going to create more terrorists from angered families who've lost innocent loved ones that died at the hands of soldiers who supposedly thought they were actually picking off insurgents. War may be impersonal through the sights of sniper rifles, but the loss of family members lasts a lifetime. Come to think of it, so does the loss of liberties that used to be guaranteed within our Constitution within the Bill of Rights when the PATRIOT Act was passed.

WaywardSon81

05/12/2005 01:02:41 PM

The problem here, with most of the posts and in general, is the fact that people worldwide do not restrict their disagreements and hatred to the policies of the United States government. They broaden it to the whole of the people. It's not the Middle East, it's the entire world that hates us AS INDIVIDUALS. It's a form of global prejudice that assumes that Americans are all one way, and that's that. We're not listened to or reasoned with, by and large. The assumption is that Americans have nothing to offer. Circular logic will say "that's because they don't. When they do, we'll listen." The fact is that the rest of the world has made up its mind about America, and we can't win. That may be (I can't be sure) why some Americans make no attempt at civility. I certainly do, and was well-received abroad due to my efforts to meet others on their own terms. Some of my fellow Americans do not; I don't excuse them. But I do understand that it's hard to be nice when sometimes, it doesn't get you anywhere.

child-of-god-the-mother-and-father

04/13/2005 12:43:19 PM

The sad truth is that our political representatives in the U.S. have incurred the intense hatred of peoples the world over (not least'allies') in the name of 'democracy'. Our primitve, Cowboy Empire won the west and continues to disrespect the sovreignty of countless nations in order to secure resources to which they have no honest claim. It is a natural response to fight against oppressors who refuse to reason with the 'little'people they ignore & trample for their own spoils. Would you respect a war-like nation which uses might to justify global bullying? Hypocrisy engenders hatred, & salt is poured in the wounds by the in-your-face arrogance of said nation's daily outpouring of affluent effluent media monologues addressed to other players, ignoring the real-life plight of the 'little people' even at home, nevermind abroad.

Beeparoni

03/22/2005 08:15:29 PM

MyHumbleContribution, You missed the point. I do not agree with the war on Iraq, I abhor the deaths of all innocents, and I did not (and would not) vote for Bush. (I would not have voted for Kerry either, but that's political and not theological.) I don't hate all Afghanis for the acts of Bin Laden, and I don't hate all Iraqis for the acts of Hussein. Why should I accept being hated by all of THEM? I will not accept personal guilt for the actions of a "majority" of Americans, who may or may not have understood what they were promoting by electing Bush! ~Namaste~ Beep

myhumblecontribution

09/15/2004 10:19:31 AM

Well, Thank you Mr. Telushkin for finally clearing my mind: I do not approve how the US handles world affairs, as I grief the tens of thousands of innocent people bombed to death in retaliation for the deeds of a view. So I must be evil! As well as the millions of people who took to the the streets around the world to urge America to be just and measured in its actions. Sorry it's hard not to be cynical about this. Please consider, something must be wrong when you refuse to search your soul by deciding to be right upfront. That's what searching one's soul is all about, no? And, another point, do not mistake hate for American politics with hate for America as a whole. This will only be the case after Bush is re-elected in November and therefore the US majority has approved this kind of actions. Then you might rightfully feel, that "they" really hate you. And there will be a lot more of them.

Gary0

04/08/2004 11:02:56 AM

Quote Shortly after World War II, Golda Meir, who later became Israel’s prime minister but who was then a member of the Jewish Agency, met with a high-ranking British official (at the time, Britain ruled over Palestine). In the course of their meeting, the man commented in passing to Mrs. Meir, "But don’t you agree that if the Nazis hated the Jews so much, the Jews must have been somewhat responsible for provoking such hatred?" Mrs. Meir walked out and, to the man’s utter astonishment, never spoke to him again. End Quote Hello ? Look this over here, this is chalk. And this here, this is cheese. If you must chose an situation to illustrate a point, might be worthwhile making sure there is sufficient similarity. Otherwise you will end up closing your eyes and understanding little.

mistakendreamer

01/27/2004 11:25:56 AM

Ok, I don't think that the innocent people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks were the problem with America. They, unfortunately, were innocent victims. That doesn't mean that America didn't have it coming! Don't get me wrong, I am well aware that the very country I am criticizing right now is the same country that allows me to do so, but I plan on exercising that right to it's fullest. Saddam has "weapons of mass destruction." Yeah, so do we. Does that mean Bush will destroy OUR weapons? Of course not! What hypocrisy! Americans ARE arrogant, and until we realize that and stop interfering in other countries, things will only get worse. We went against the UN to start this war on Iraq, which had NOTHING to do with 9/11! We were the last major world power to abolish slavery, we are the only major world power that doesn't allow gays to serve in the military, and we have a higher incarceration rate then China, a communist nation! C'mon people, wake up!

Crystalclearone

01/14/2004 07:04:47 PM

Hypocrisy, Dishonesty, Delusion, Gore Vidals Book Banning, Design, Development and Deployment of Genocidal Biological Weapons(HIV/AIDS), Profitting from resulting pandemics, looting Arab oil, bombing Iraq for the pleasure of US reconstruction firms and Cheneys Haliburton oil pipeline. CIA pretense at a War on _ every month to suck funds and buy senate, congress, presidential, UN and every other democracy in the world. Targetted (character) assassinations of foreign elected official, appointed generals, prime ministers, premiers. Stuffing ballot boxes in Canadian and Florida elections recently. Ignoring these potent reasons is one excuse. Refusing to investigate the Put-Call differential on United and American Airlines stock in the week prior to Sept. 11 Prosecuting Martha Stewart instead, does not improve my sense of homeland security, nor corporate America's accountability profile.

A_Simple_Wiccan

09/06/2003 07:28:19 PM

I find the author's answer to be oversimplistic and hypocritical. The Jewish did not interfere in German political affairs the way the United States has interfered in world affairs. The two issues are not parallel, thus a fallacious conclusion is reached. Also, I distrust the morality of a man who would imply simply that because some anti-americans are killing innocent Americans, that we Americans should not have to do any soul-searching to determine whether we provoke the actions taken against us. Blessings, Chris

WeAreWillBeFree

08/06/2003 04:00:26 AM

You know how they say Canadians are polite? Well, I'm through being polite. Here's the world-view of the United States of America in a nutshell: Many Americans are ARROGANT. No more words than that are needed. Even the posts on this page show it: i.e.: "We are God's chosen people." "pure hatred, jealousy, greed and lust for our great country" also taking credit for winning both world wars, destroying the Taliban, comparing the U.S. to a chastising parent of an unnapreciative child (the world), the list goes on and on and on. Obviously, not all Americans are like this. But the problem is, you can't seem to keep the most ignorant amongst you from pissing off already angry religious nutcases from other countries. THAT's why the terrorist attacks happened. Not because "they were jealous of our freedom" or better yet, "they were jealous of our culture" (me: the U.S. has culture? Mickey Mouse and Golden Arches are CULTURE?!?)

rwingmom

08/02/2003 12:02:35 AM

I can't believe what I'm reading. Am I to believe that a 20 year old college student knows anything about the real world?? How absurd. And the non-Americans know nothing about us. Personally, I don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us. Mr. Telushkin has it exactly right. We are not the cause of all the problems in the world and there is no justification for 9/11. It is pure hatred, jealousy, greed, and lust for our great country. Some of you really need a hobby.

matthew_d_wilson

05/09/2003 10:10:43 AM

kniebolo - I don't fear you, personally. Americans are not god's chosen people. Your dollar is failing. You have the highest level of personal and public dept in the developed world, and the flow of foreign investment currency is slowing as the IT confidence boom slows and US corporate governance comes under scrutiny. What will you do to maintain your standard of living? I'm curious to see ... will you start shooting at people who have the things you want? Like, oooh, say, oil? Prepare to be chastened ;-)

matthew_d_wilson

05/09/2003 09:51:46 AM

Oh dear - this is so much palliative sophistry! Are citizens of america even VAGUELY aware of the history of their own foreign policy? Joseph - I think your comparison with the holocaust missed the mark. A more useful question would have been "were ordinary germans responsible for the actions of their government?" American citizens are currently NOT the victims in this story - they haven't (comparatively) suffered very much at all from the actions of beligerant foreign governments. For that matter, neither has my own country (australia) - but our prime minister seems to be doing his best to change this :-/

ThinkingGirl

04/16/2003 01:52:17 PM

I don't think it is a bad idea for Americans to re-evaluate themselves. Since when do we discourage asking questions? I don't think we should feel guilty for our mistakes, but rather should try to gain wisdom from the wrong we have done and make better policies for the future.

kniebolo

04/09/2003 07:02:24 AM

we are hated, because they fear us. American's are God's chosen people. We are strong, and proud. they are weak, and jealous. their jealousy makes them impotent. We must stand together and ignore their squabbling, much like a parent chastens a small child. The child knows not what is best for himself, though he claims differently; thusly, is the world. Sadly enough, noone will thank us for the prosperity that will come, like spoiled children, they will never be happy, until they mature. May God grant them wisdom.

acolytejohn

03/27/2003 07:28:16 AM

So America is evil?What a bunch of trash!Just look at the evils of the nations who bash us.japan and germany are lost in the war what we do? rebuild them.Its like punching some one out and they give up and you help them up.what nations do that?If they won the war do you think they would have re build us?probaly not.We have fed many and give them our money and they spit in our face.In afganistan they sided with sadam my what a short memory we got.forgot all about the taliban?

justicerajeeallah

03/19/2003 09:28:58 AM

Our government meddled in many nations affairs for its own ends then just left without fixing problems we had a hand in creating, its ugly, I don't think anyone wishes to absolve the 9/11 hijackers of wrong doingm, the thing is that most Americans sincerly believe that no one on the planet has a legitimate beef with our country and that is just not true. people in desperate circumstances turn to drastic actions that are not always positive and they should not be pardoned for it, but life is for the living and the only way to prevent it is to change the way you impact those people and what they know of you. we are liked and disliked by "good" and "bad" people alike. Peace

justicerajeeallah

03/19/2003 09:28:45 AM

As American Citizen I live here and I will protect it as long as the treat me right. Study of history will show that the good coming to save the poor villagers from the oppressive, communist, socialist, theocracy, you name it, is just not true. It in most instances is a bold face lie intended to keep a happy face on the primary holders of greenbacks.

ElGabilon

03/17/2003 11:36:25 PM

Also, it is a sure bet that one who denies freedom to all, seeks some kind of control and power over others. Still, those who are free should always remember that freedom does not mean doing what you want to do when you want to do it. Attached to freedom is responsibility to live according to ethical principles. As Confucious once said (and many after him) Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

ElGabilon

03/17/2003 11:30:44 PM

As an American we could care less whether the rest of the world, or even our fellow Americans hate us.We are concerned with living a good life according to ethical principles, and obtaining as much as we possibly can to provide a good life for ourself. As long as we do this in an ethical manner, we are not concerned what others think. It is they and not us that have a problem. Those who hate are using God as a crutch for their own inadequacy, or grab for power. As the last paragraph of this article states "It is the bombers and their supporters who should ask themselves "How can I claim to belive in God and treat other of God's children so evilly?" The answer of course is that they themselves are evil and attempt to support their own evilness by stamping it upon those who are not.

greyotter

03/17/2003 05:14:42 AM

'They' hate America's arrogance. Also: greed, disdain, and a (false) sense of superiority over other nations. I'm an American and I don't like our isolationist and arrogant attitudes either.

light1o1

01/25/2003 07:27:07 PM

Geetings of Peace. It is not our creed, our belief, or our religion that make us sin, it is our nature within. Can those who kill in God's name present a decree from Him, giving them direct command to carry their actions, as he gave the prophets and messengers before?If not, and I know it's negative, then what are they really doing? Let us all think about that, and try to see God, and Satan, working in the backstage.

light1o1

01/25/2003 07:20:29 PM

Greetings pf Peace. As for the reasons that made the Taliban and those of similar ideology, As a Muslim woman, I do not know where they've got their teachings. The Qur'an is God's words, and a living proof, that fourteen hundred years ago, He spake in that matter, giving women a status that has not been given to women before, in any nation. God commanded respect for them, and appreciation of their nurturing nature. Those who see women as men's slave today, are those to whom the Qur'an came, to save the new born baby girls that the Arabs of Quoraish use to commit to the dirt, out of fear of shameful reputation. No Muslim in a the sense of the word which means 'total submission to God's will' would have done or would do such a thing as killing a soul without due proper justice, 'an eye for an eye, and an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life..., but if you forgive, it is much better for you, in the end. So said Allah.

light1o1

01/25/2003 07:09:27 PM

Greetings of Peace. If Jesus (Peace and blessings upon him) rejected being called good, with all the good he did for mankind, how can anyone less than him in righteousness, call themselves good?

youngercoils

01/15/2003 09:26:36 PM

america, ive lived here my whole life. every year it seems like another face is thrown up on our television screens. "this is the man to hate right now". everyone gets all gung ho and throws their american flag out on the front porch, and then it just turns into a contest, who can get the most red white white and blue shit flapping in our highly poluted air. everyday people tell me this is the greatest country in the world, its not going to be so great when its nothing but fall out. and its going to be nothing but fallout because our bully of a government cant seem to stop sticking its smelly finger into the eastern world. and thats the truth. im gunna split before that happens, im goin to europe.

purple333

11/12/2002 02:54:40 AM

An Australian view; people object to Americans due to their arrogance(America is bigger,better, newer, nicer)your belief that Americans saved the world in WW1 & WW2 when in fact you came into both wars late & only because you were attacked & that many other countries were also involved.Your movies & T.V. about war - basically it is you & more you. Many Americans overseas show a lack of knowledge about the places, people & food & they complain in loud voices. I've also been to the States & I know there are many nice, decent Americans, unfortunately they don't get noticed. So don't just blame your government. Blame also your lack of education about other people & countries e.g. Australians speak English, have large modern cities, we do not have kangaroos & koalas wandering down city streets, few of us have tasted kangaroo meat & no we are not a part of Austria. These are questions we are asked by Americans.

davidian

09/06/2002 01:05:28 AM

Americans are (generally) a peaceful people. The government is not - that is why military interventions are usually secret and/or lied about in the name of "national interest." 9-11 cannot be justified, and I know of no one that would seriously suggest it. But don't make the mistake of the terrorists and confuse America with U.S. foreign policy and geopolitics. Below is a list of CIA/military interventions since WWII. Some you may be aware of. Some may have had noble intentions, but almost all were primarily over corporate interests and geopolitical power. It is all the more striking when you consider there is virtually no government on the planet that has not recieved military aid from the U.S. government. No civilian death is justified for political/military gain - whether it is smart bombs, firebombs, nuclear bombs, dirty bombs or suicide bombs.

davidian

09/06/2002 12:58:57 AM

GREECE 1947-49 PHILIPPINES 1948-54 PUERTO RICO 1950 KOREAN WAR 1950-53 IRAN 1953 GUATEMALA 1954 LEBANON 1958 VIETNAM WAR 1960-75 CUBA 1961 LAOS 1962 PANAMA 1964 INDONESIA 1965 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1965-66 GUATEMALA 1966-67 CAMBODIA 1969-75 OMAN 1970 LAOS 1971-73 CHILE 1973 ANGOLA 1976-92 EL SALVADOR 1981-92 NICARAGUA 1981-90 LEBANON 1982-84 HONDURAS 1983-89 GRENADA 1983-84 LIBYA 1986 BOLIVIA 1986 IRAN 1987-88 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 1989 PHILIPPINES 1989 PANAMA 1989-90 GULF WAR 1990- SOMALIA 1992-94 YUGOSLAVIA 1992-94 BOSNIA 1993-95 HAITI 1994-96 CROATIA 1995 SUDAN 1998 AFGHANISTAN 1998 YUGOSLAVIA 1999 COLOMBIA 2000 MACEDONIA 2001 AFGHANISTAN 2001

pcallioni

07/03/2002 09:09:26 PM

It is wrong to blame the victim and there is no excuse for 9/11 or for suicide bombers who murder and maim people in Israel or, for that matter, for what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. However, as long as America and Americans continue to behave as if the USA were the centre of the universe and the home of all that is good, then certain consequences will follow. True strength expresses itself in humility and understanding, rather than the arrogance and ignorance which US authorities and, sadly, the American people often demonstrate.

uncertainbeliever

05/23/2002 05:33:42 PM

I am bothered that people compare the sept.11 terrorist attacks to WWII. That was a different time, and really, it was a different world. That was also WAR, and even beyond that, it wa absolute warfare. Sept. 11, was a terrorist attack. I do agree, however, that Americans are ignorant. The majority of us don't know much about the rest of the world, and I am not proud of this fact. I also know a number of Europeans and Asians who are just as arrogant. I am America, and I do not think America is the world. But I do find it disturbing that in this day and age, there are people being denied an education because they are female, and happened to be born in a certain part of the world.

Shirid

05/05/2002 11:28:04 PM

Come on... the whole argumentation of the writer is so cheap. Coming up with the "women" issue. And the "look at their beliefs" issue... playing the common media game. Well, Mr. Telushkin, I am Muslim. I am Arab. I am also European because my mother was European. I live in both cultures. And I can tell you, that Europe also has seen enough of the American hunger to dominate the world and the American arogance to think America IS the world. America is not the world. The average American doesn't know a thing about the world. And most of all : you don't know a thing about Islam, nor about the Middle East, nor about any country where Islam is the religion of the majority, nor about any Muslim on the entire globe. So before you begin to write "articles" on a website like this, may I ask you to get informed about the subjects you raise? Thank you. Salaam. Tix

Bohemia

03/15/2002 07:55:01 PM

Can all the protesters all be wrong? No way! Britain is helpingf America but if the situation was reversed would USA help Scotland,England, Ireland or Wales? What do you think?I think what happened on September 11th was horrible but who remembers what happened at the end of WW2. America dropped nuclear bombs on two Japanese cities. The death toll was much higher than September 11th, but for some reason no action was ever taken against America for this horrible deed. So everytime you think of 9/11 try to remember, America has done much worse.

annabr

03/12/2002 01:47:39 PM

I think that the flaw in the author's argument is that he assumes that people are angry because they dislike our "culture" or "way of life." This isn't true--people are angry because of our policies, which have affected them negatively. I do agree that anger is different from hatred and violence, though. I think that acting out in this way against innocent Americans is very wrong. But the US 'does' need to do some soul searching and realize that the source of discontent in many areas in the world are truly valid and need attention.

smilenseeu

03/12/2002 08:01:10 AM

No there is no excuse for September 11th, yes American politicians are somehow responsible for those attacks… they know who they're dealing with, they know what this people are capable of, then why don't they do the right thing? There's only one reason to that question, interest, their own interest. American politicians have the right speeches, and the American people believe them, if only education in America was higher, people would be more educated and would understand what goes on in the rest of the world, and by understanding, would not allow their government to make such mistakes. This is not a new issue, it's older than you can imagine, but does the average American care to know… I wonder. Education is one of the main keys to all these problems, but America is not ready to educate it's population, why? It is dangerous to have people understand and know what really goes on. Anyway, how about finding something positive in all these horror, and do some real soul-searching, it can't hurt.

yaldabaoth

03/06/2002 07:40:25 PM

1949--Syria Defeat in the war against Israel discredits the ruling French-allied civilian regime. American agents and interests take the opportunity to provide support to Colonel Husni az-Zaim in a coup against the civilian regime. American agents call az-Zaim "our boy" and "Husni," but when they arrive to inform the new dictator whom to appoint as his ambassadors and cabinet, az-Zaim orders them to "stand at attention" and to address him as "His Excellency." Syria turns against the U.S. and descends into a series of coups and counter-coups and police-state government by quasi-military regimes.

Kadazan

02/09/2002 07:28:58 PM

The problem with America is that it has a set of rules it feels the rest of the world should follow. But when it is not in America's interest to follow those same rules it changes them. There are many examples of this. The other fault of America is it does not know when not to use it's considerable military arsenal.

Gia77

02/09/2002 04:02:54 AM

I see no reason to apologize for Hiroshima/Nagasaki for the same reason I feel the US is justified in its military actions in Afghanistan. Everyone/thing is entitled to self-defense; surely no one is suggesting we ignore an unprovoked attack. Both Japan and Afghanistan had the opportunity to surrender to protect their citizenry. Which is certainly more consideration than the US was shown before either attack. Obviously, it wasn't a priority with either.

steveinoh

01/17/2002 07:51:27 AM

Again it seems that many of you have failed to place yourselves in the shoes of other nations. Lets see, how many thousands of men, women and children were disentagrated in Nagasaki and Hioshima that were civilians? If we want to dish it out, we have to be able to take it.

jmmevolve

12/23/2001 10:55:47 AM

To belittle a rassional mind with a legitimate questions, is to close a mind to thought and question. Keep an open mind! The policies of the US all over the world have been in question for a long time....does this justify violence? NO NO NO Does this justify some soul searching for answers to world issues? YES YES YES The problem lies in how the answers to all problems are found....so far, historically the weapon of choice has been violence (from all nations). Isn't it time to find another solution to disagreements? and perhaps find peace in the whole world! No action happens in a vacuum....all aspects must be considered....painful as that may be!

worldlygood

12/11/2001 11:11:00 PM

That Golda Meir story is a good one. Now consider this: Suppose you're living peaceably in your own home. Suppose that foreign powers give half your country to people you're not real fond of. Suppose that the biggest reason these people are given your country is terrorism (example: Menachim Begin blowing up the Star of David Hotel, killing hundreds of British policemen). Suppose that these people conduct a campaign of unrestricted terror against you. Suppose you see your father and mother shot dead and their bodies tossed into your burning house. Suppose you wind up in a "refugee camp" in the middle of the desert where you watch your children being lured into rifle range by your guards and shot. If you asked Golda Meir if she had the right to inflict such evil on Muslims because of what Christians had done to Jews, what do you think her answer would have been?

worldlygood

12/11/2001 10:53:47 PM

Mr Telushkin, To help you clarify your thoughts, consider this: Smoking two packs of cigarettes a day does not justify cancer. It does not make cancer a good thing. But it sure as hell _causes_ cancer and if smoking gives you cancer and you somehow beat the disease and then keep on smoking, you're the biggest fool in the world. In the same way, US actions towards the Islamic world don't justify Sept 11 or make the murders good, but they sure as hell caused it and if we don't (to use a religious phrase) repent of our sins and change our ways, there will be future attacks and fuzzy thinking people like you will bear a large part of the responsibility.

worldlygood

12/11/2001 10:48:58 PM

ProudDuck: When I heard about the Oklahoma City bombing, all I had to hear was "federal building" and I knew that we were witnessing the flowering of Conservative thought. All those decades of conservative attacks on everything decent in America, the destruction of the Constitution, glorifying violence and giving government ever more power over the citizens had finally born terrible fruit. I was not the least bit surprised to find that a violence loving conservative son of a conservative was responsible for the crime.

Bowen

12/10/2001 03:57:49 AM

Newspriest, I have no doubt that we may be proud and perhaps a little arrogant sometimes but I don't see why our "World" Championships have to do with it. If other countries want to name championship events after world then let them. Are you not proud to be an American? I know I am! :-)

newspriest

12/08/2001 07:03:20 PM

It's our pride (the kind akin to idolatry), our bravado, and hypocrisy that the rest of the world, (including our best friends and allies)detest! What other county has a "World Series" and so many other "World" championship sporting events played only among themselves?

TheProudDuck

11/07/2001 08:40:13 PM

I wonder whether those who insist that "the chickens have come home to roost" (with the implication that American policies caused/justified the attacks of September 11 and therefore ought to be changed) sang the same tune after Timothy McVeigh let off his bomb in Oklahoma City. Surely they didn't then suggest that America ought then to have become more racist and paranoid to suit McVeigh and his ilk?

TheProudDuck

11/07/2001 08:35:00 PM

Iawa, if anybody's head has entered his gastrointestinal tract in a contrary direction, it must be yours. America has kept "these countries" poor by buying their oil? Think, man. Where would Middle Eastern economies be without Western purchasers of their oil? What would they do with it, if they couldn't exchange it for food, steel, medicine, Land Rovers, etc.? Grease their hair?

lawa

10/28/2001 02:22:27 AM

Are you all dillusional? do you all seriously believe that the taliban are "just jealous?" America, get your heads out of your arse, and take a good hard look at yourselves, for years america has kept these countries poor (oil, etc) and this is part reason why they despise you. i love america and what it stands for, i love the people, i love the whole country,. but gee whiz when it comes to international relations you cant seem to see past yourselves, there are other people in this world, not just you! No, the jews didnt do anything specifically wrong to recive the treatment that have received throughout history, But the same does not go for the entirety of the american nation, im not saying you have deserved what has happened, and im not saying that you deserve what you are being put through, but for Gods sake, get your head out of the sand, stop thinking youre so wonderful, and start looking around, your are not the only nation in the world, so stop acting as if you are!

kerouac

10/27/2001 03:10:31 PM

rodrigue22 - you sound just like the enemy you abhorr.

rodrigue22

10/26/2001 03:38:21 PM

I am an American Neo-Pagan Gay White Male, and a believer in agressively supporting human rights. I believe in science, freedom and the human race. I believe in peacefully changing foreign policy, but in violently defending rights to live as we deam fit. I oppose Fundamentalism in all religions. I therefore oppose Islam, Islamists, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and any diplomatic or humanitarian contact with Fumdamenatlist Islamic Regimes. I believe that Islam, Nazism, Fascism, and all forms of coercive politico-religious belief should be violently opposed. Islam like Nazism and Communism is a movement that intends to dominate the world(spiritually, politically, and socially). All non-Muslims should oppose Islam, for it is a greater threat to Humankind and freedom then Communism and Fascism combined. If opposing Islamic Terror and Islamic Theocracy means genocide against all Muslims then so be it.

jkeeling

10/22/2001 08:52:51 PM

Joeseph Telushkin- Don't we have to take some responsibility for how people feel about us? It seems to me that you are saying that we can completely blame the person who dislikes us, for not liking us. I don't buy this, because if I hurt someone, I naturally expect them to be wary of me. I am responsible for my behaviour, and how it serves to cause others to be wary of me.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 08:37:56 PM

Telushkin invites us to consider that the perpetrators and supporters of these hideous acts might not be the best moral barometers; as I've said, that their pathological hatred says more about who THEY are than who WE are. Should we blindly follow the government? Of course not. Should we change international policy? Some. But should we be asking moral advice from the very people who conspire to murder innocents? No. And that, I think, is the heart of Telushkin's point. I find it a lot easier to listen to the insights of Rachel and other polite seekers of truth than the strident propogandists who often populate this board - just as Telushkin says.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 08:29:32 PM

Here's what seems to be happening, frankly. Everyone with a political agenda is trotting it out to "explain" 9-11, because people are so anxious for explanations. For Republicans, the problem is our defunding of the military during the Clinton Years. For peaceniks, the problem is our militaristic foreign policy. And for Anti-Zionists, the problem is our support of Israel. Any one of the three of these explanations is upsetting to me, because I see them less as intellectually honest inquiries (such as the one that you are undertaking) and more like propaganda attempts on the part of the various polities. The reasons "why" this happened are incredibly complex and not easily reduced to a couple of sentences. This shouldn't stop us from making the inquiry; but it should caution us against simplistic conclusions. (more)

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 08:23:31 PM

Rachel - You are absolutely right. The process of introspection should always be relentless, now more than ever. And the search for understanding is absolutely a part of the healing process. I don't know that Rabbi Telushkin wrote too quickly or what, since I can now see how easy it is to read his point as going against that. I think, because I'm a big Telushkin-phile, I took his point a bit differently than did others. (more)

sartre

10/22/2001 04:58:11 PM

Dear god_is_in_the_tv and everybody :The American people vs the Amedican governement: I wish that it was true that the "Americans" are trying to make the world live like it does, I really do, because I could have lived the same life anywhere else in the world and didn't have to be in states to live this great free life. I think the American PEOPLE think that their government is trying to do that, but the truth is that the American government is only trying to keep the living standard in the states as high as possible in the states whatever the price other nations have to pay. If you have seen the movie" good will hunting" you will see that thats what smart interested conscientious AMERICAN people think. They(government) don't care about democracy in other places, the only thing they care about is STABILITY, so that the oil from those keeps coming in a cheap price.

RachelAB

10/22/2001 03:37:06 PM

Ian - thank you for your responses. You are raising some very important questions. After trying to argue my point, I realized that what I think needs to be done, is just that: ask questions and try to understand. And, yes, look at the vast cultural differences (and maybe also our commonalities). One pressing question in my mind is why are a lot of the Islamic interpretations now more oppressive, by our standards, than some of the scholarly work from the Middle Ages? Islamic scholars then were calling for equality between men and women! What ever happened to that? I think in a lot of ways, we are all trying to understand - why did this happen? Isn't that a question that is always asked in the face of, well, incomprehensible acts? So, maybe, rather than immoral, asking this question is part of the psychological healing process? And, again, trying to understand does not mean that we have to accept another viewpoint as correct.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 03:13:25 PM

(posted too soon, sorry) While Americans are being challenged to be the apologists for our culture, isn't it equally fair to bring up the lack of representative government across the Arab world? How many Arab nations are even imperfect democracies? How many Arab nations afford women equal civil rights? The right to choose one's reproduction or sexual partners? I am not criticising these practices - perhaps they work well for their practitioners. However, anyone who thinks that the current dispute is ONLY about "domineering foreign policies" and not at all about "freedom and democracy" doesn't seem to be looking at the vast cultural differences between the players.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 03:07:37 PM

Finally, it is getting said over and over that "they do not hate our values of equality and freedom." While the reductionist argument of "they hate us because they hate freedom" is just silly, I don't think we should soft-peddle the enormous cultural differences.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 03:06:11 PM

Nor was Telushkin saying that we need to liberate Afghanistan for the Womens' sake. He was saying that if we are supposed to introspect on "why" we are hated, and if one of those reasons is our equal treatment of women, then are we to reconsider such treatment? The answer is such an obvious "no" that it calls into question the rationale of introspection on "why" we are hated. Look, of course we need to lead the examined life, much more so than we're doing. But we don't need to do it on the terms of a hostile and adversarial culture.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 03:01:31 PM

To Rachel AB - I don't think that you are evil "according to Telushkin," I assume you are making an overstatement. Do you really believe that *no* American is innocent? Little children? Those who because of mental impairment lack the capacity for introspection? Do you really not see those people as innocent? If so, I would think that an evil thought, but I assume you are merely overstating your point, which is certainly a reasonable one - we are of course complicit in the circumstances that make up our world. (more)

RachelAB

10/22/2001 02:27:32 PM

Regarding the issue of women raised by Rabbi Telushkin: The Northern Alliance are just as oppressive to women as the Taliban. Why do we think that removing the Taliban will bring freedom to Afghanistan? Removing the Taliban will neither rid the world of terrorism nor make Afghanistan a democracy, whatever that is. Plus, like someone already pointed out, they do not hate our values of equality and freedom, they hate the domineering foreign policies that are more comparable with imperialism than with freedom and democracy.

RachelAB

10/22/2001 02:20:46 PM

First, let me tell you that according to Telushkin, I am evil. I believe that no American is innocent, myself included. (Innocent of what? Of looking the other way. Of consuming more than we need. Of not trying to understand). Second, I find it astonishing that Telushkin is comparing the murder of 9 million people by the Nazis with the murders on 11 September. While I agree that blaming Jews and other victims of the Nazis for their own deaths is not right, I don't think asking "why did this happen?" is immoral. In fact, understanding the dynamics that brought someone like Hitler into power is crucial to prevent this from happening again! Just as it is important now to understand the anger and hatred against the U.S. Declaring something "evil" or "immoral" doesn't make it go away. Someone once said something like, those who do not remember history are bound to repeat it. Part of remembering is understanding. Trying to understand something does not mean that you are condoning the acts of another.

god_is_in_the_tv

10/22/2001 01:05:16 PM

"It is a shame that our cultural enemies have forced our hand." There you have the crux of the whole matter. The US is not willing to have its culture and ba happy. We in the US tell the world every day through our actions that we will not be happy until every person on the face of the earth lives the way we do, regrardless of how well their own culture serves them. The US is a land of cultural and economic imperialism. Nothing less than the total sublimation of the world to the tenets of capitalism will please the powers behind the US government. We can call those who hate us "evil" if it helps us sleep at night, but the fact remains that our actions (and inaction, in the case of Israel's terrorism against her neighbors) have created an environment where hatred of us flourishes. Blame the victims if you must, Mr. Telushkin. You only prove their point.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 11:27:03 AM

Many Americans have no desire for war, myself among them. It is a shame that our cultural enemies have forced our hand. If they were so concerned with dialogue, with painful introspection, with eliminating the "root causes" of terror and strife, maybe they should have tried talking rather than warring. Now, they are gonna reap the results of their own aggression - as they did in Iraq, in Sinai, in the West Bank - and blame it on those that they attacked. Newsflash! If you want to preserve your territorial sovereignty, stop making incursions into other sovereigns! If you don't want to be attacked, stop attacking!

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 11:20:45 AM

Response to half-truth V If there's any doubt that some of the virulent hatred of America is cultural and not political in any sense, one need only read nanooooo's posts in this same thread. "The decadence of the college campuses! Scantily clad women!" Yep. We can argue the why's and wherefore's of Telushkin, but let us reduce his argument to its central point - our current extreme enemies hate us with such passion not because of what WE are, but because of what THEY are. At it's simplest, this seems perfectly plausible. Other posters to this thread, attempting to seem logical and cool of thought, reveal their inclinations. Again, see nanooooo's posts. Beyond the politics, there is something to the logic and the approach that, to an American sensibility, seems a little off-kilter.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 11:10:01 AM

Response to half-truth IV Israel's occupation of the Sinai peninsula, like it's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, was occasioned by wars started AGAINST Israel by her enemies. The notion that Israel has some sort of imperialist interest in the Middle East is nonsense. Israel wants to live, unmolested, along the tiny sliver of land that is her sovereign. The displacement of Palestinians - 50 years ago - was unfortunate, although the numbers and means are subjects of legitimate dispute, especially since no one called themself a "Palestinian" at the time. An equal number of Jews were displaced from Arab countries at the same time, but this doesn't seem to capture the attention of the Arab polity. Not that they dislike Jews, of course.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 11:01:48 AM

Response to half-truth III "What about the right of Arabs to exist?" There are 22 (?) Arab nations, and one Jewish nation. If the existence of Arabs is in question, it is certainly not at the hands of the Israelis. What ABOUT the right of Arabs to exist? Israel has said from her inception that she would make peace with any nation willing to recognize her existence. Not many takers in the Arab world. This is Israel's fault? If the Arab nations actually cared about the Palestinians, they would offer them homes, not empty political rhetoric. By and large, Arab nations seem to care about the Palestinians only to the degree that they can be used as a propaganda tool against Israel and the US.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 10:56:56 AM

Response to half-truth II Why do people blame America for what is happening in Iraq, rather than the government of Iraq? If the government of Iraq complied with the terms of the cease-fire - allowed its chemical plants to be inspected by UN observers - the embargo would end. The misery of the Iraqi people is caused not by America, but by the arrogance and uncaring of the Iraqi leaders.

Ian goes West

10/22/2001 10:55:01 AM

Response to half-truths I There is a difference between accidently killing civilians in wartime and DELIBERATELY targeting civilians. America's response to the terrorist attacks is not the moral equivalent of the terror attacks themselves.

faziz

10/22/2001 08:28:02 AM

To mysticblu, actually when the older President Bush used the term "new world order" in 1990, he was just repeating a statement made by a crusader movement more than a thousand years ago. Te crusaders hoped to accomplish "a new world order" by eradicating Muslims from the face of the earth. We take comfort that while we may lose this world, we are certain to win the other one (heaven). We need to continue to be patient for Allah has promised us that He will gave us victory over the unbelieving folks.

mysticblu

10/22/2001 04:35:11 AM

The angry Muslims are not against America's freedoms. They are not very bothered the parts of American life that don't impact their own lives. They are upset at America's foreign policies. That is why the attacked the WTC, because it is the symbol of America's economic might that funds their policies. They also attacked the Pentagon because it symbolizes America's military power.

mysticblu

10/22/2001 04:32:00 AM

- There are many examples of how the Americans installed, supported, and sustained the world’s most horrific regimes. Latin America is full of such instances. - The Americans claim to be “anti-terrorist”, yet are allies with Middle Eastern states run by “terrorist” rulers. Most curious of all: - The US vetoed the UN resolution against terrorism in 1987. There were 153 votes in favor of the resolution, and two - US and Israel - opposing it.

mysticblu

10/22/2001 04:31:46 AM

- From 1967 to 1982, Israel held on to the Sinai Peninsula. The US remained silent about this, in spite of the UN asking Israel to honor their neighbors’ boundaries a number of times - Following the bomb attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, killing 256 people, the US destroyed the Shifa pharmaceutical factory, which produced more than half of the country's medicine requirement. The Americans said it was a nerve gas producing factory with Bin Laden links (they later retracted that statement). Sudan wanted a UN fact-finding team to visit the destroyed factory. The Americans, however, made sure this never happened. - During the Kuwait crisis, Madeliene Albright said at an occasion when certain US proposals were resisted in the Security Council, "The US will act multilaterally when we can, unilaterally when we must, in an area important to our interests."

mysticblu

10/22/2001 04:31:30 AM

- The Americans forced the UN to implement a resolution demanding that Iraq withdraw from Kuwait in 1991, but have not bothered with UN resolutions asking Israel to withdraw from their occupied territories. Israel still occupies the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights. - Israel withdrew from South Lebanon last year after 22 years of occupation. When the Hizbollah resisted Israeli occupation, they were called “terrorists”, but Israel’s occupation of South Lebanon was perfectly acceptable. - On March 14, 1974, Israel invaded south Lebanon killing 400 and forcing four hundred thousand people to flee to Beirut. On March 19, the UN asked Israel to withdraw its forces immediately. In 1982, they invaded the country, chasing Yasser Arafat out of there. By the time the Israelis withdrew, around 20,000 had died.

mysticblu

10/22/2001 04:31:11 AM

Dear Sir, Thank your for your perspective on the anti-American protestors. While I value your opinion, perhaps there are other ways to look at the issue. I come from a neutral country and am neither Christian nor Muslim nor Jew. While I have both American and Arab friends, I am under the impression that the "voilent Muslims" (as opposed to the peaceful Muslims) are not against America's freedoms or democracy or Chrisianity. Were they to object to such things, they would have targeted the Statue of Liberty or perhaps the Vatican. The angry Muslims are upset at America's foreign policies. Here are some events that might have upset them: - When the soviet block collapsed, the Americans declared a “new world order”. When asked what exactly this order was, the president simply replied “What we say goes”.

redrocker1

10/22/2001 02:09:11 AM

Thank you faziz for your thoughtful reply to Telushkin's article. There has been so much blah blah blah in the last month - but your well-presented opinions, historical references, semantic clarifications (e.g., hatred vs evil)were very refreshing, informative and actually enlightening! Are you a writer??? I want to hear more. I agree with you that we are not "evil" for wanting to know more about the history of our international interactions. Whatever happened to the idea that if we ignore history we'll be condemned to repeat it? I'm looking to learn more & would appreciate any input regarding sources. I honestly can't see any alternative to our current reprisal against the Taliban/Bin Laden but agree with dplatt's concern about future US policies.

dplatt

10/21/2001 10:07:56 PM

I have a serious problem with one of Teluskin's statements in particular. He writes: "In short, people who believe that no Americans are innocent have told us something profoundly important about themselves; they are evil." I find this statement repugnant, especially in light of the U.S.'s military action, which in effect state that no Afghani is innocent. As Americans, we are more complicit in the bombing of Afghani civillians than any Afghani civillians were in the Sept. 11 bombing, in that our tax dollars support the military. The point for me is not whether or not the U.S. "deserved" this attack. It's how this will affect our policies in the future. It is very easy to say that people who don't like us are "evil." It's harder to understand why they dont' like us.

Bravo88

10/21/2001 09:46:11 PM

I would like to add a message to those who follow the faith of Islam. As followers of the one true GOD, we should all be renouncing strongly any violent action whether by the U.S. or an "Islamic" nation. Perhaps Bin Laden isn't responsible for this attack but it is understood he has supported terrorism. Or is it defence of the faith? I suggest that Bin Laden should be strongly censored for any wrong doing. He is, rightly or wrongly, considered a friend or ally of nations that claim to follow Islam.

Bravo88

10/21/2001 09:35:23 PM

Nothing justifies the cold blooded murder of innocents. However, the American government continues to act in a self-righteous manner toward other nations. They abuse both friend and foe and this is a fact. I do not hate Americans, I pity their poor choice in leaders. Whether democrat or republican, many of the most recent leaders have lacked the moral fibre and will to oppose the wrong doing of the C.I.A. and other government bodies. The American governments have wronged Canadians, Central Americans, South Americans etc. It is time that the U.S. government repents of its self-righteousness.

blacknight780

10/21/2001 07:42:25 AM

. less of a tornado in that region. i am glad that hizbullah set the israeli's on fire. one less terrorist influence in lebanon. the us used an event that never happened to justify killing hundred's of thousands of vietamese. the gulf of tonkin. evil IS as evil does. no one is denying the hate and evil that was done to NYC. but mr. telushkin, hatred begets hatred. if the us does not hate the middle east, does not hate muslims, does not hate asians (middle east is a part of asia, surprise! surprise!) then the us needs to stop acting like it does. and then maybe we can see a better relationship between the us and the rest of the world. until then, as long as the mighty power uses its military and economic machine to further its interests in the world, it should continue to be prepared against poor people with little means to use desperate and insane methods to lash back against the us.

blacknight780

10/21/2001 07:42:06 AM

if the lives of the americans that were in the WTC are innocent, they are no more innocent than the lives of iraqian children that were and are killed as a result of us policies. they are no more innocent than the palestinians that are killed on a daily basis. if OBL is the devil incarnate and the us feels the right to "make the world safe against terror". then remember what is good for the goose is good for the gander. i am glad that the lebanese were able to kick out american troops in lebanon.

blacknight780

10/21/2001 07:41:17 AM

what telushkin implies is a very smug form of self-righteous jingoism. so while it is okay to be "angry" at us policies. it still must be in the comfort zone that us policies, no matter how misguided and violent can not be responded to in kind. the belief that america is good is accepted a priori, and that muslims or arabs are bad is accepted in that same manner. therefore american foreign policy whatever that might result in, is okay. that is the unintended result of such a thought process. with that america has the right to bomb to the ground ANYONE. i am sorry mister telushkin.

nyima

10/20/2001 09:14:10 PM

part 2 And PolishCelt's response to a plea for America to turn to Islam: "If that is true, why is every nation on earth controlled by Islam a hellhole backwater run by lunatics?" Oh, Like Saudi Arabia?! Plenty of backwater hellholes on the planet. A look at history would show that alot of them have colonialism and the US and the CIA to thank for their misery. I don't hate America, only hypocricy. There's plenty of it in the US lately. Sad. Fundamentalist Americanism is as bad as any other kind of blind, unquestioning faith.

nyima

10/20/2001 09:13:44 PM

Joseph Telushkin wrote: "It is the bombers and their (apparently many) supporters who should ask themselves: "How can I claim to believe in God and treat other of God’s children so evilly?" I think that we Americans should ask ourselves the same question. Half million children dead in Iraq. How can we allow it? And his refrence to the Taliban's crimes against women. Please, this is not a war to liberate Islamic women. Plenty of oppressed women in the world. America doesn't lift a finger to help them, let alone American women!

Daveykins_FoxFire

10/20/2001 05:59:16 PM

I personally believe this: If after all that's said and done, and there's still an Afganistan *existing* in this planet, they should *thank* America, because the only reason it's existing is because America *allowed* it. And if I sound a bit harsh, imagine what we could have done at the end of World War II. Sure America nuked two Japanese Villages, but there's still a Japan to go to. Will Afganistan or any other country ruled by this embarrassment to Islam called the Taliban know the same mercy?

PolishCelt

10/20/2001 05:44:40 PM

"May God guide USA to Islam—God’s Way of happiness, success, and peace." If that is true, why is every nation on earth controlled by Islam a hellhole backwater run by lunatics?

afendi

10/20/2001 02:14:11 PM

Introspection and change is needed in America, so please Joseph don't avoid the main issue and cause of the problem.

afendi

10/20/2001 02:11:27 PM

Well said Faziz, as an American I question the blind support of the terrorist state of Israel, with a war criminal of the likes of Hitler as its Prime Minister. The question that Joseph is avoiding is Why did this happen? That is something that can't be avoided, to turn your head as if there is nothing wrong with the American's foreign policy with the Middle East is to be blind to truth. When an abnormal situation is created in that region, you get abnormal reactions, as is what happened on Sept. 11. When you terrorize a people, do you not expect to get terrorized back? Of course it is wrong to do so, but when the International law is not working for those that are suffering and there is no where to go to for help, a desperate group will take the laws into their own hands and take revenge for the justice that was no where to be found. The people in that region and in other parts of the world are justified to HATE American foreign policy!

faziz

10/20/2001 10:19:20 AM

Just as a conclusion. I have this piece written by one identified as AMaranatha re "The Palestinians have no right to Jeruselem! Period". This person wrote, "I agree with you. I think you are absolutely right. I'm not a Jew. I'm just a Christian that believe in the promise that God made to Abraham patriach of Israel. May God keep on blessing Israel. ps. Don't you think it would be nice for Israel to take over the entire Middle East? I think so. Maybe then there would be PEACE for ISRAEL. God bless everyone". Imagine the merit of having 4 million Israelis take over 175 million Arabs. That would certainly bring peace to Israel but this person is not concerned about the 175 million Arabs.

faziz

10/20/2001 10:05:53 AM

The reality is that the western women is not complaining and the Muslim women is not complaining. Therefore we should leave them alone to do whatever they wish. We have got to stop putting up smoke screens and deal with the only area of contention. That is the right of both the Israelis and Palestinians to exist in peace and what it would take to achieve that result. Until then, the future looks very dismal for all of us. We in the US can make a difference. The Palestinians will listen to us and if we are truly stern with the Israelis, they too will listen. They all need us and cannot ignore our influence. Our actions have to be balanced and fair. I pray that we do the right thing for the safety of all the people of the world not only us. Sincerely.

faziz

10/20/2001 10:05:11 AM

Israel will never allow this to happen and we the US will continue to support their illegal activities there. Because of this, those in the region will continue to hate the Israelis and the violence will continue. That hatred trickles down to us here in America. We keep putting up smokescreens about those people hating the way that we live and our prosperity and richness. People do not kill you for being prosperous. They try to be like you. Then there is the statement made by the person who responded to Joseph. He said that the Muslims there treat their women in an inferior manner. Where is it written that having your women cover herself completely is inferior? I used to work at a film school and one of the producer was filming a commercial and he had the women dress very skimpily and he explained to me that sex sells. Just as the respondent thinks that a Muslim women is treated in an inferior manner, so do I think that western are treated in an inferior manner because they are always used as sex symbols.

faziz

10/20/2001 10:04:19 AM

It is only after the Arabs perceived that the Israelis were threatening their existence that they started to resist them. After-all was it not the Arabs that shielded that Jews when the European Christians were persecuting. The Arabs took them in and sheltered them. The Ben Gurion episode was quite the contrary. His army terrorized and caused the Palestinians to flee for their lives. Today, they live in refugee camps in tents made of bags like we use to play sack race with. All the Palestinians are asking for is their land that was stolen from them and the right to return. Most of them are not demanding the destruction of Israel anymore. That is not an unreasonable request. If Israel was to return the land that they took illegally and allow the Palestinians who are living in refugee camps to return to their homes in Israel, I am sure that there would be peace in the region. WE HAVE TO REVERSE THE EVENTS OF 1948. JUST LIKE WE DID IN IRAQ A DECADE AGO.

faziz

10/20/2001 10:03:49 AM

Since that infamous declaration by President Truman, every president has consistently ignored the issues of the Arabs in that region. We always hear about the right of Israel to exist. What about the right of the Arabs to exist? For example, over the past year, for every six Palestinians that have been killed by the Israelis, one Israeli is killed by a Palestinian. Yet whenever you see the news, you get the impression that the Israelis were really being tortured and terrorized by the Palestinians. Every elected official in our country that commented on the last 13 months of violence in Israel has demanded that Arafat put a stop to the violence. Israel is usually reprimanded by the statement that “their actions will not help the peace process”. I personally believe that the Israelis have as much a right as anyone else to live peacefully and history has shown that the Arabs felt the same way up until recently.

faziz

10/20/2001 10:01:49 AM

To understand this phenomenon, we must go back to 1948. The following was extracted from a book entitled “Arabs and Israel, Conflict or Conciliation”. “As far back as 1948, the late President, Harry Truman of the USA, inadvertently disclosed the secret of the Jewish power in his country. It was soon after the declaration of Independence of the state of Israel by Ben Gurion on Tel Aviv Radio on May 14, 1948 that the President of the mightiest nation on earth recognized the state of Israel. It is said that it only took him two minutes. At a subsequent press conference, a newspaperman asked President Truman about his inordinate haste in recognizing Israel. The reporter continued – “We could have recognized Israel in due time. What was all the hurry for? Do you not know that there are more than one hundred million Arabs there who would be offended by us?” President Truman responded – “There are no Arabs in my constituency”

faziz

10/20/2001 10:00:59 AM

I wish to commend Joseph for proposing this very provoking question. Many of us wish to dismiss this argument as evil and as such do not deserve any discussion. Let me say that I do agree with the respondent that nothing, absolutely nothing justifies the action of September 11th. That was undoubtedly an unspeakable crime on humanity. We need to separate evil from hate. Hatred could be a virtue when it is hatred against evil. Now that we have determined that the September 11th attack was evil, we can still discuss the reason for the hatred that may have prompted it. If we listen to the protesters in the Muslim countries, we will not fail to recognize that whenever there is a protest against the US, the protest is always against Israel too. Incidentally, it is not America that the protesters hate. Rather, it is the actions of the Israelis that they hate and the repercussions are felt by the US.

Payne

10/20/2001 01:56:50 AM

Apparently nanooooo has been watching too much of the evening news, Jerry Springer, maybe reruns of Miami Vice.

Payne

10/20/2001 01:47:18 AM

The logic goes more like this: All bad people dislike good people. Islamic fundamentalists are bad people. Americans and others who value freedom are good people. Therefore, Islamic fundamentalists dislike Americans and others who value freedom. A marketing analogy doesn't work here. Our policies are not a "product" for these bad people. We're not looking to please these bad people. However, hopefully our way of life is a "product". And since our way of life is the best in the world--(though not perfect) most of us have food, clothing, shelter, freedom; we have a government that does not oppress its own citizens--there is no need to make too many major changes in this "product".

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:46:25 AM

The US Deplete Uranium Bombs in Iraq peace be with you, Please read this to find out how evil, harsh, crude and uncultured, US really may be: http://www.answering-christianity.com/iraqi_torture.htm

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:43:59 AM

American Alcoholism, Drugs, Fornication peace be with you, The meaning of your life is to worship God, not to displease Him with beer, drugs, fornication and cigarettes. Pray to God. Leave alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, premarital and extramarital sex forever, and fear God. Repent before God and He may accept you. Visit any college campus in America to find out the corruption and immorality there. America is apparently wasting itself. May God guide USA to Islam—God’s Way of happiness, success, and peace.

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:43:31 AM

Ignorance in America peace be with you, Apparently, the US strongly supports homosexuality. Prophet Lot's people were destroyed as they were homosexual. In that is a great example for us. May God guide all people of the world to His Way, and save them from diseases such as homosexuality. Amen. God made male and female as a pair. He did not create a third gender, and this applies to other species as well.

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:42:29 AM

Let us Pray to God peace be with you, Let us pray to and worship God. The One True God of the universe. But let us not hurt the innocent people as the U.S is trying to do. Without any firm proof or evidence, the country is blindly attempting to hurt countless lives. Instead of being furious, let the U.S. fear God, and pray to Him. May the U.S. become God-fearing and merciful, for God is merciful to those who show mercy to those on earth. Amen.

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:41:37 AM

US has no proof against brother Osama peace be with you, According to the US and the Islamic (universal) law of justice, one is innocent unless he is proven guilty. But the US apparently wishes to terrorize, slander, defame, persecute or kill innocent people without any proof of their guilt. The US obviously has no proof against brother Osama or Afghanistan. The US seemingly attacked Afghanistan in madness that the US is apparently diseased with. The US should follow the Qu’ran to be free of its obvious insanity. Perhaps Bush was drunk when he started the war, and now regrets it and doesn’t know how to pull it off, with the arrogance that the US seems also diseased with. Again, the Qur’an can cure that apparent illness of America. God will do justice, and God may call the wicked liars to account very soon. Be very afraid of God. God will make the innocent win. And all praise and gratitude is for God indeed! May Allah make the people of the world use their commonsense. Amen.

nanooooo

10/20/2001 12:40:21 AM

U.S., Terrorism, Fear, Hypocrisy, Proof peace be unto you, Without any proof that Afghanistan attacked the U.S., how could U.S. attack Afghanistan so ruthlessly? Yes, the U.S. is afraid of Afghanistan, or Muslims in particular (while the meaning of Islam is peace and only God must be feared). But is it not terrorism to attack a country without a proof that it attacked you first? On top of that, the U.S. was throwing jam and butter for the innocent people it was hurting. What is the meaning of hypocrisy? The U.S. should be ashamed of itself. Is its future the same as that of USSR? Let’s wait and see God’s plan for the unjust.

maggieno

10/19/2001 08:26:26 PM

First, I don't think that disliking US policy justifies murder. That out of the way, I'll point out some faulty logic here. The article seems to be saying, "All bad people dislike me, therefor all people who dislike me are bad." Let's look at this from a marketing point of view: if many, many consumers dislike our product, it behooves us to at least examine WHY they dislike it. Maybe we'll change something, maybe we won't. But to dismiss all those opinions as stupid or bad is just...choosing feeling good over being practical.

Zero-Equals-Infinity

10/19/2001 08:13:11 PM

September 11th was a reprehensible act. Now, does ignoring the fact that people may have reason for hating the United States help matters? No. Without knowing the whys and wherefores, and what can reasonably be done to circumvent the building of hate, the hatred will continue to exist and will lead to terrorist actions.

Zero-Equals-Infinity

10/19/2001 08:12:28 PM

One means of attacking terrorism is to undermine its basis, and that means dissolving hatred by addressing underlying factors. Perhaps intelligence gathering should not be limited to identifying direct threats, but also to gaining an understanding of the relationship between the policies of the United States and the ways in which they either increase or decrease anger towards the United States. Without that intelligence and an understanding of how seeds of hatred take root and thrive, a harvest of horror may await. I sincerely hope that enlightened analysis in this area will provide a means to undermine the basis and appeal of terrorism towards the United States and her citizens.