Quote Originally Posted by JSE
Karl,

"but in the end, it's all about whose side of the fence are you looking from."

Uh, I'm looking from our side of the fence. Who's side are you looking from?

Why are you so afraid of what others think? What are you afraid of?

What do you want our Country to do? Bow down to everyone else so we can feel good about ourselves? I for one feel pretty good about my country. Do you have any idea how much foreign aid we give out, how much food, money, etc. It's hundred of times more than any other country. I don't see France, Germany, Saudia, Iran, Syria or others going out and helping the the less fortunate. We help others, why should'nt we expect a little respect in exchange.

"Sure the governments are supportive, but only because they have to be to remain in power. Other wise, we might go in and remove the old and replace with someone that's to our liking."

Yeh, I heard we are getting ready to overthrow France! They better start liking us or else! Germany? Are you guys listening? The fact that you make such a statement really shows you have a completely naive and uniformed notion of how this nation conducts it's business.

I guess people like yourself would just assume our nation keep to itself and ignore everyone else. That way we don't offend anyone. And that what it's all about anyway. Being everyone's friend and being loved. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Just think, I thought we needed to watch out for ourselves and others is some cases. That crazy Suddam, just ignore him. We really should not bud in. Sure he's killing hundreds of thousands of his own people, but we don't want to offend. What would some other countries think?

Me personally, I would rather go stomp out terrosim now on our terms than let terrorist hit us again and again. Because if we don't, they will keep hitting us. Minding our own business won't make it go away. They don't think we should exist on this earth. I am not going anywhere soon, are you?

Here I provided a link that may help you.

http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/realestate/

JSE
I fear what our reputation and credibility will be like if we continue solving our problems in a half cocked manner! I am afraid of what others might think and you should be too. After all, we are only a small part of the world and how we live is DIRECTLY dependant upon how well we interface with others in the neighborhood.

Sure we give and give, but you should know by now(and if you don't...you will soon) that respect is earned, not bought. I'm not saying we shouldn't give aid to help people live/survive... I'm just saying we do it more so for the benefit of our nation and not so much for the benefit of mankind. We do expect something in return and I believe it is what we expect in return that causes us grief with the worlds population. What are we getting for all the aid we give? We get the support from the governments we give aid to so why not the peoples support? Maybe because they only see pennies on the dollar out of that aid. Maybe because the aid keeps a leader in power against the peoples wish's? Maybe because the world see's our foreign policy as greedy and manipulative and not in the peoples of the worlds interest? Nobody likes a bully... everyone cheers for the underdog. Why?

Should we close all the doors and forget about the world? If you poke your nose in someone elses business enough times, you will eventually end up with a broken nose. Did your nose feel broken on 9-11? Mine did.

The palestinians are killing their own people... why aren't we sending troops to make them stop? They also harbor terrorists... why aren't we invading the west bank to stamp out terrorist there? Why aren't we capturing Yasser Araphat and putting him on trial for crimes against humanity? It's this double standard the world see's and the only justification they see for our actions in Iraq is economics. If we were to remain consistant in our actions, and they were noble in nature, we wouldn't have to "buy" respect and we wouldn't have some of the problems we have today. IMHO

Am I going anywhere soon? I don't know. I'm sure there are a fair share that beleive I shouldn't exist on this earth. I suppose I should watch my step and what I say or someone might decide to invade my house and stomp the s**t out of me for being un-American! Maybe instead of locking my doors and barring the windows, I could just go over to my neighbors and kill him in a pre-emptive strike in the name of personal security!