Steve Mentzer sent me a very well written response to my blog entry. I wanted to respond to some of the points he brings up here. Hopefully any quotes I attribute to him will not be taken out of context. Steve, if they are, please email me and I will add what you think is the correct context to make it representative.
Steve points out that I blog about 'facts' relating to anti-Bush. I don't. I never have, and I never will. 'Facts' are meaningless. I blog my opinion on anything, if its George Bush, or mono, or whatever. I honestly couldn't care about 'facts' because anyone can make any situation prove whatever he feels it should to make his point. 'facts' are not my intent. Voicing my opinion is my intent. Its like using stuff from CVS, when it breaks, you get to keep both pieces.
Steve writes:
However, I *do* believe that the 'war on terror', which I agree to be a poor choice of words, is absolutely necessary.... but possibly in a different context.
Yes, I can understand why you would feel that the 'war on terror' is necessary. However, that belief is incumbent on your belief in American imperialism. I happen to be a huge follower of the Monroe Doctorine, and part of me wishes we had stayed a nice isolationist country. Who appointed us the peacekeepers of the world? I hope we didn't, and I doubt anyone else has. And if you remove American imperialism you remove a lot of what makes the terrorists 'hate' America. Now, I don't blame George W. Bush, or the other one, or Republicans or anyone group or person in specific for American imperialism. And removing George Bush from the white house will not immediately (or potentially ever) stop this. That is how it is today, but I don't think it was the right decision. Yay for isolationism. Yay for Monroe.
Steve also says:
The key difference is that educated U.S citizens are not bound by strict religous dogma that sentences them to death and eternal damnation for counter-culture beliefs.
Really? Because I have met many many educated U.S. citizens bounded by Christian religious dogma that sentences them to death and eternal damnation for counter-culture beliefs. Homosexuality anyone? Abortion much? Education has no bearing on being stupid.
These people know nothing more than what they have seen in their lives. They do not know the benefits of advanced medicine and technology. They do not know the luxury of abundant electricity, food and water that all americans take for granted. Their own religous leaders often do not want these influences. They would represent a deviation from the islamic belief system, and would threaten the purist culture they strive to achieve.
Woh there buddy. This is where you cross the line for me. The minute you tell someone else that you know better than them, you are a fascist. Plain and simple. Maybe these people like their lives. Have you spoken to them? Talked to them? Asked? No. Imposing your belief structure, be it social, religious, or anything else is fucked. Pure and simple fucked. Sure, I love the all those things about America (Remember, I'm not anti-american. I'm anti-Bush, anti-baby eating and anti-stupid). That doesn't make it the 'right' way, and it *absolutely* doesn't make it the only way.
As long as religous extremism and violence is being rewarded in middle-eastern culture, these people will have no hope.
What about religious extremism and violence in western culture. The only religious based violence I could accept would be Ralph Reed's spleen on a spike on top of some tall building. Fuck that guy. Prolifers blowing up abortion clinics and killing abortion doctors is now acceptable because they read your bible, follow your faith, and come from western culture? Not in my book.
The bottom line is that 'peace through a gun' is a fallacy. And I believe we can all agree to it.
Yes. Absolutely. But so is peace. When was the last time in the history of the world that the human race was at peace even on the international level. I don't like that. But I do accept it as the reality. It sucks, but its what is going on.
These people are clearly incapable, unwilling or afraid of overthrowing their leaders and moving forward. That is where the U.S. can provide assistance.
Fuck yeah, I need to get my secret Iraqi national decoder ring so I can get these memos. Your ability to decide how an entire nation of people you have never met feel astounds me. Is this something you get when you reach some degree in Freemasonry? What do I have to do to get this super power?
As much as the zealots would like us to believe it, the U.S. military occupation in Iraq is one of defense. We are not agressively rooting out rebel strongholds without cause. We are simply trying to defend the core infrastructure that will eventually promote and support the ideals of a new nation.
Defense? Dude, a war of occupation is never fought in defense.
Anyway, felt like I had to respond somewhat openly, because some of the points were at least well articulated. Thanks for your time, and remember, a vote for Bush is *still* a vote for baby eating fascism. Yay!
Posted by tberman at September 8, 2004 07:29 PM