A modern oppinion

#1 11-19-2005, 09:38 PM

We are taught that there are sides of a battle. Many of the greatest popular stories of all times, the Bible, Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter books all deal with the battle between good and evil. Right and wrong. Us and them. This is a very modern viewpoint; it is also a very ancient one.

Patriotism, fuedal loyalty and family all stem from this sort of belonging. We divide people into us and them. A common statement heard amongst the leaders of today is "you're either with us or against us". It seems reminiscient of the childish manoueverings of grade school drama queens, but it is a fundamental part of our social structure.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century it was NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Democracy versus the evils of communism. Before that, America vs The Natives. Before that it was Europe vs The Colonies. And so on, and so on.

It is easy to see things in shades of gray. To see muslims as bad and christians as good. To see our side as "right" and their side as "wrong". To see our guys as freedom fighters and their side as terrorists.

The united states is directly responsible for millions of deaths and indirectly responsible for millions more. Nicauargua, where death squads reigned terror on a nation that was an economic miracle of recovery, because they would not be subjected to American Economic Imperialism. Iran and Iraq (not this time, but before, when they bought the guns that fired the bullets that fueled the war). Afghanistan not this time, but before, when they trained Osama et al to fight the bad guys. Their bad guys.

There is no dividing line between us and them. There are no sides. There are injustices here and abroad. That is the enemy. Death for profit is the enemy.

We are not freedom fighters.

theweatherman · #2 11-19-2005, 10:05 PM

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We are not freedom fighters.

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This is almost entirely true. The history of the US is based on economic profit and capitalist greed. Almost every action that has been taken by the US stems from the interests of the ruling classes. Even going back to the revolution, the founding fathers onyl decided on revolution when they saw that their economic well being was being seriously impacted by british rule.

Freedom is great, but money is America's master.

nothumb · #3 11-20-2005, 04:15 AM

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We are taught that there are sides of a battle. Many of the greatest popular stories of all times, the Bible, Star Wars

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0 for 2, I stopped reading right there.

NT

Darryl_P · #4 11-20-2005, 07:45 AM

You might as well have just said "I'm a lefty. Righties are wrong and I'm right [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]"

MMMMMM · #5 11-20-2005, 10:36 AM

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There is no dividing line between us and them. There are no sides. There are injustices here and abroad. That is the enemy. Death for profit is the enemy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tyranny is worse than injustice. The enemy is tyrannical, totalitarian governments.

#6 11-20-2005, 07:01 PM

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We are taught that there are sides of a battle. Many of the greatest popular stories of all times, the Bible, Star Wars

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0 for 2, I stopped reading right there.

NT

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You might note I said popular.