Posted by Gob at spider-mtc-tb083.proxy.aol.com on March 23, 2002 at 14:42:55:
In Reply to: I don't know about that. posted by Smalls on March 23, 2002 at 13:55:01:
: : This is exactly why we were the victims of this terrible act of terrorism in September.
: Did the people of Iraq steal those planes? Hell, did the government of Iraq even do it? Did even the people of Afghanistan or Pakistan do it?
: No. A dozen brainwashed fundamentalists did it, as orchestrated by a couple of thousand awful murderous warmongers. Should we capture that cabal of warmongers and make sure that they spend the rest of their days in solitary confinement in supermax prisons? Of course.
I only meant that perception of a whole race of people, provided you have not visited their land, is usually based on the high profile people of that nation. Wrong as it may be, it is a reality. Take the people of the former USSR. They were all bamboozled into thinking that we (Americans) were all wild and wasteful degenerates, rich and care-free. Is this the case...no, certainly not. We have our good and bad, our poor and wealthy, our smart and not so smart, our decadent and our meek as all countries do but, unfortunately, the people you hear the most about are the people who do the less and admirable. When was the last time you watched the nightly news and saw nothing but reports about what is good in this world. My guess is, never. Perception is, most often times, reality.
: Does that make attacking the innocent people of Iraq... the vast majority of whom want Sadaam out even more than we do... "funny" as targets of nuclear holocaust? No, man, no.
I agree, but I think you are missing my point. And at this point, I think it is best to agree to disagree because to belabor this point is, in fact, pointless. Debate over taste is a no win situation. All this over a joke, a joke, in your opinion, in poor taste. You are certainly intitled to your opinion in this matter and I respect your right to have that opinion. But it was a joke and certainly not worth making an ememy over.
: : But, here on this web board, I think no one means any harm. It was meant to make you chuckle and to I am sure Norman was using this bit of humor to show his red white and blueness...not his ignorance.
: If joking about the mass slaughter of innocents shows ones American patriotism, I'm moving to fucking Toronto tomorrow.
: It's letting this kind of insensitivity occur that makes us as bad... not as bad as the terrorists... but certainly as bad as the people who cheered in the streets after the planes hit. Probably worse.
: : We can't solve all of the problems of the world here but it is good to know you are thinking about them. More should.
: But... lets not exacerbate them here either.
I don't think exacerbation (ooooo, that sounds kinda nasty)was the intent.
: Lets not... justify it and support it, either.
I didn't justify or support anything...I just giggled at the joke. It was, after all, a joke.
At this time I would like to offer a hand of friendship to you and offer a suggestion...it is a beautiful day here in Jacksonville, Florida and if it is as beautiful where you are, go outside and enjoy God's work. It will do your soul good.
Laura