[FreedomPoster]

Europeans paid tribute to the Barbary pirates, because it was cheaper than confronting them. Jefferson was unable to create an international coalition to rid the world of that problem, so, Guess what? He acted "unilaterally". One result is in the first line of the Marine Corps hymn.

[spetznaz]

Europeans paid tribute to the Barbary pirates, because it was cheaper than confronting them. Jefferson was unable to create an international coalition to rid the world of that problem, so, Guess what? He acted "unilaterally". One result is in the first line of the Marine Corps hymn.

Hey Vab, you need to post the hymn pronto.

There is something about the USMC that is so amazing. I respect all branches of armed service in the US, but i seem to hold the Marines with an almost fanatical sense of reverence. I have met my share of marines, and a couple are friends, and all are the craziest but bravest son-a-guns one could ever find. Either the Marines attract a certain type or it converts enlisters to a higher form of manhood.

Either way, although i have not earned the right to say it, 'Semper Fidelis.'

Semper Fi.

[kitkat]

***Europeans paid tribute to the Barbary pirates, because it was cheaper than confronting them. Jefferson was unable to create an international coalition to rid the world of that problem, so, Guess what? He acted "unilaterally". One result is in the first line of the Marine Corps hymn.***

Great post.

[xkaydet65]

Actually the second line, but your point is well taken. Western Europe gave humanity the Enlightenment and Capitalist thought. Two milestones of civilization, but in doing so they discarded any aspect of the spiritual for total belief in the purely rational, and they tied this rational ideology to the capitalist quest for profit. If it made more profit to pay protection to pirates, so be it. If it made more profit to use their tentacles of power to bring millions under colonial rule, so be that as well. It has been a very long time since a European government made a decision based on the concept of right and wrong, Churchill and Blair excepted. Why should we expect any of them to do so now.