Now I would like to ask my fellow freepers to pause a moment and consider what these world-wide voices are saying and how they understand what we Americans view as our role in the world.
There is a natural self-defensive tendency to discount what these people are saying. I think that a reflexive denial can be delusional, that's not to say I agree w/ the general sentiment, but rather that we should give their concerns due weight.
Obviously the US cannot impose its will on the whole world, I don't believe that anyone at FR would even want that. That is NOT freedom. But if our rhetoric and our actions signal that we are dividing the world into two mutually exclusive camps of client states and enemies then whether that is our intent or not we have a problem.
WE must understand that the ever more integrated infrastructure and support systems that we are building is frieghtening to many people (people like me). The powers that the state has taken unto itself via the Patriot Act are rightly viewed w/ alarm. Furthermore, there are many things associated w/ this modern world that are, quite frankly, anethima to human happiness and the US is leading the way.
I think those people have every right to be scared.
I think that what the US wants to do is honorable and necessary, but unless we can proceed w/ a proper and truthful modesty that bears witness to the community of nations (I know that's a corny phrase) the end result of all our actions could be terrible and disasterous, both to everyone else and to ourselves.
Let us pause, dear freepers, and think these things through.
I agree that HOW the message is put is just as important as the message it's self. BUT this is something we must try to do, as the world is a very small interconnected place and getting more so all the time. We simply cannot leave vast parts of the world mired in tyranny, as sooner or later it will impact(?) on us.
Now what shall we do? This message needs to be broadcast not just once in a while and by one person, but often..everday and by many(memo to the State Dept., Get with the program).
While I don't agree with your feelings on the Patriot Act, I do agree with these :
"we should give their concerns due weight.
Obviously the US cannot impose its will on the whole world"
"I think that what the US wants to do is honorable and necessary, but unless we can proceed w/ a proper and truthful modesty that bears witness to the community of nations (I know that's a corny phrase) the end result of all our actions could be terrible and disasterous, both to everyone else and to ourselves."
Thank you.
bravo!