Posted on 09/18/2001 1:19:22 PM PDT by Ganymede
Idiot.
We may be up against many things. But our
response is not a religious war, nor a crusade.
I have been critical of Bush's speech writers
for some time and this is just another example
of poor choice of symbolism.
To characterize our response to this religious (?)
murder as a crusade, is to counterpose
what Christians did in the Middle Ages against
what the terrorists are doing now. I thought
it had been clearly stated that nothing similar
to the attacks on America had ever been
perpetrated by organized religion before
in history. Perhaps I was mistaken.
The fact that Bush felt the need to
apologize should be worth something,
shouldn't it?
The elder George misprounced Saddam incorrectly for a purpose..and I am not going to tell you why.
I want to see how the Islamic countries respond to the call for war that the Taliban realeased yesterday [or Monday?] If they denounce it I will agree with you.
Keep compartmentalizing OWK and maybe, just maybe, you can maintain your precious focus. But it's so messy ain't it? Collateral history, like collateral damage, laying all over the place with all it's untidy implications bleeding over into your pristine little enlightened judicial procedure and spoiling the view.
We're fighting to avenge the actions of Sepember 11th. And we musn't think about any other dates in history because that will blur our focus. Or worse cause us to foucus too well and start seeing beasties from the past luking in the shadows with glimmering eyes and sharp teeth.
And we mustn't allow ourselves to indulge in the mindset of the bombers because that will muddy the waters. We armed, trained and funded the Taliban--and used Osama Bin Laden on occasion--with this exact splendid intellectual isolatonas our guiding principle. That worked out beautifully didn't it?
If it weren't for the events of the past week you'd merely be laughable. As it is you are positively dangerous; both you and our government which reflects your values so well-- shouldn't be allowed outside the womb without a guide.
Oh, by the way, I see that our great allies in this careful, rational, response against those who have harmed us, or seek to do us harmhave been busy laying off workers in order to shore up stockholder confindence.
Still focusing with all my might.......
Well, they needn't...
They are chilling.
In a climate of grinding poverty and repressive mullahs, youngsters (and there are hundreds of thousands of them) are taught the most ridiculous, 7th Century bullshit I've ever heard tell of. This may not be a war against Islam qua Islam, but it may very quickly degenerate into a war against Radical Islam which is a force to be reckoned with. In some sense, we might be involved in a religious civil war of sorts, with moderate muslims enlisted in our "crusade".
But, read a few of these pieces and I think you will have just cause to re-examine your view that this is "simply" a war against "terrorism".
Ah. And here's another hearty little grunt in the Army Of One--one point of view going forward into the future; one textbook of history to guide us into the turbulent waters of the past--apparently a Cliff's Notes textbook; one clean, clear imperative.
Do you know exactly why Urban called the First Crusade? Of course Mr Wolsely's History won't tell you. Perhaps that's why it remains so beloved. "Why" is always a messy question and best left up in the Ivory Tower.
Urban was a political leader, in those terible, dark ages when church was not separated from state, and was responding to the cries for action to be taken against attacksupon Pilgrims in the Middle East.
Urban, of course, did not have recourse to comic book, two-dimensional characterizations like "terrorist" to rely upon. He had to fashion the response in a global eternal way. No childish statements like: "Osama Bin Laden--Dead Or Alive". He actually had to enter into the mindset of the enemy.
And even so, he set in motion forces that would ultimately come crashing back upon the civilization he was trying to shore up.
Subltly, complexity, knowledge of one's own demons and an understanding of the enemies demons; the mere act of asking "who?", "what?" "when?" where?" and "why?" gets one burned at the stake as a heretic by the "reasonable" likes of OWK, sinkspur and friends.
"...The fact that Bush felt the need to apologize should be worth something, shouldn't it? ..."
A very profound question. One that desperately needs to be asked. Instead we get nothing but infantile cant, pep-squad cheering, and blind focus. Keep shouting at the eclipse and maybe it will go away!!
So, how are your stocks doing? Are you going to "buy American" as we are being exhorted to do? Oh that's right, nothing is made here any more.....
Here's a why for you. Why do most Germans object
to psychohistorical books that attempt to explain what drove
Hitler to be what he was and do what he did?
"...The fact that Bush felt the need to apologize should be worth something, shouldn't it? ..."
A very profound question. One that desperately needs to be asked.
I did. You didn't answer it.
So, how are your stocks doing? Are you going to "buy American"
as we are being exhorted to do? Oh that's right, nothing is
made here any more.....
If it's any of your business, which it isn't, my 401K continues
buying stock, and I have not touched my other stock holdings
in three years, riding down the bubble,and now this, all the way.
You would be better to discuss issues and leave the personal
snottiness aside, if that is possible. Posters with grace and
wit behind their responses have a lot more friends, even
while disagreeing over substance.
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