[Arnfinn Madsen]

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I really don't think our fundamental views are as different as you think.

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They really are, not easy to find matters on which we agree anymore.

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I think a lot of it is either exaggerated by Europe or based on current excesses by the Bush administartion (excesses which I think if you polled people on they would come out against).


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The fact that Bush could get elected and then reelected shows how deep the disagreement on fundamental issues are. He would be unelectable in Europe due to fundamental issues.

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We still think democracy is the best system,

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Strong belief in this and i.e. freedom of speech we share.

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torture is wrong,

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Then why do you keep torturing people?

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all men are created equal, etc.


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No, here lies much of the disagreement. In US philosophy all Americans are created equal (Afganis can be held without trial etc.), in Western Europe all men are created equal.

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Do you really think you have more in common with the third world? That seems crazy to me. Most of the cultural and political systems there are way off compared to western europe and america. It isn't even close.

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Third world is a bit too wide. But in general we have more common mindset with the third world population (if you disregard the moslem world) than the US population. However, many third world governments acts against the will of its people.