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Originally posted by Isaak i think ya'll should get some common sense ... eat smaller portion size meals and listen to Dr Phil and Opera ...
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Originally posted by Dan_ref
If you don't like it get the f*** off my planet.
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Both statements greatly uncalled for. Must we Canadians always act the part of peacekeeper?
Isaak, the theme of your posts are valid, but there is a big difference between challenging the imperalism and ultra-right wing agenda of the Bush Administration, and just plain America-bashing. If you are from Israel, I think you and Romano should remember that if it wasn't for the US, you would all be saying "Yes, Master" to Yassar Arafat. America has much improving to do on the world stage, but they are still fundamentally good people. After all, they don't fly jet liners into buildings on purpose.
Dan, your attitude is exactly what is at the root of America-bashing in the first place. You have a valid point about the US being an economic, political, and military saviour to many countries. Believe me, as Canadian, I am grateful to have you folks as neighbours. But what you have to also realize is that it's easy to give when you got the most.
While there is no justification for 9-11 and the extremist Islamic movement, the US has itself to blame for much of its tarnished reputation. America has consistently picked and chosen its battles, and limited its benevolance to only those situations from which it can profit.
If Iraq's main export were bananas instead of oil, Saddam Hussein would still be in power today.
Although this week has revealed major US commitments to Africa, its reluctance, even outright refusal to address the plight of that continent over the last 20 years is the biggest crime of all. Dozens of regimes, all of them much worse than Iraq, have thrived there for decades, with little or no leadership shown by the US to bring them down.
The poorest, sickest person on America's streets still lives like a king compared to someone in Ethiopia, Congo, or Rwanda. Don't forget that.
With wealth and power comes responsibility. There is a balance to be struck between individual liberty, free market, and the sharing of resources to benefit the entire planet. America seems to thumb its nose at this. That is the problem.
BTW, I am not some bleeding-heart liberal. Where I come from, people are so conservative they make you look like Ralph Nader.
Just one man's opinion.
And incidentally, I've reffed both FIBA and NCAA, and NCAA is way better.
[Edited by canuckrefguy on Jul 11th, 2003 at 01:21 AM]