My Wake-up Call

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
1

I have never been interested in politics. I never got involved in any
political discussions, and if I would classify myself, it would probably
be as a conservative or libertarian.

However, after watching the news, reading online opinions, and listening
to other people talk, I have quite simply had enough.

Today I looked up the addresses for my representatives, and sent them
the following letter.. I also attended a vigil last night, for peace.

It probably won’t do a lick of good, but I’ve decided that I’m not gonna
sit back anymore. Hopefully there are others like me.

Greetings:

I am writing to express my great concern with the current direction the U.S. is heading with respect to foreign policy. I believe that we are creating both instability and world animosity towards the U.S. These policies include:

? The U.S. operations in Iraq, with its enormous human and economic costs
? The U.S. support in Israeli bombing of civilians and infrastructure in both Lebanon and Gaza
? The U.S. criticism of countries such as Russia and China, because they don’t completely follow a Western-style democracy
? The groundwork being laid to support a possible nuclear strike against Iran, who currently has no nuclear weapons

Further, I believe that the U.S. should concentrate on some serious domestic problems that will weaken our infrastructure and our position as a world power. These problems include:

? Global warming, which is likely linked to a rash of severe, casualty-producing weather
? Our dependence on oil, and the rising cost of energy
? Our loss of competitive edge due to deficiencies in education, trade imbalances, loss of our industrial base, and outsourcing of jobs

Please do what you can to help make our country strong, both at home, and in our ties with neighbors on this planet.

Sincerely,

A concerned taxpayer

2

You’re a hippie, not a conservative.

3

More power to you brother. Good job.

“If you don’t turn on to politics, politics will turn on you”

  • Ralph Nader
4

[quote]doogie wrote:
You’re a hippie, not a conservative.[/quote]

Why is he a hippie?

5

[quote]doogie wrote:
You’re a hippie, not a conservative.[/quote]

…with paleo-conservative undertones.

6

Democrat=hippy
Republican=hick

Gee, which is better? How about thinking for yourself as opposed to labeling yourself :slight_smile:

7

I don’t know if i’m a hippie or not. I know that I am pissed off.
Why? Here’s one reason:

Currently in America, people gleefully cheer when innocent people are
bombed to death in the name of terrorism. Yet a mass-murderer such as
Bin Laden goes free, free to make propaganda tapes which are then played
and discussed in U.S. news.

Hmm, I wonder what kind of message that sends to the terrorists?

But to hear people talk, Bin Laden is not to blame for 9/11.
It is really the fault of the Taliban/Iraq/Saddam Hussein/North
Korea/Hizballah/Syria/Iran/Islam/The Arab world.

The “war on terror” is now looking to me more like a transparent justification
for whatever policy the U.S. wants to make.

To me, terrorists are simply criminals, that should be brought to justice. Instead we are making them folk heroes.

To me, transferring the blame from evildoers to innocents is cowardice.

Guess I’d rather be a hippie than a coward.

-Greg Matous

8

What I want to know is how being a hippie is in any way shape or form a BAD thing.

9

[quote]knewsom wrote:
What I want to know is how being a hippie is in any way shape or form a BAD thing.[/quote]

not safe for work:

Things we can all do to fight this menace:

10

[quote]knewsom wrote:
What I want to know is how being a hippie is in any way shape or form a BAD thing.[/quote]

Have you ever smelled one?

11

[quote]Dutchmo wrote:
I don’t know if i’m a hippie or not. I know that I am pissed off.
Why? Here’s one reason:

Currently in America, people gleefully cheer when innocent people are
bombed to death in the name of terrorism. Yet a mass-murderer such as
Bin Laden goes free, free to make propaganda tapes which are then played
and discussed in U.S. news.

Hmm, I wonder what kind of message that sends to the terrorists?

But to hear people talk, Bin Laden is not to blame for 9/11.
It is really the fault of the Taliban/Iraq/Saddam Hussein/North
Korea/Hizballah/Syria/Iran/Islam/The Arab world.

The “war on terror” is now looking to me more like a transparent justification
for whatever policy the U.S. wants to make.

To me, terrorists are simply criminals, that should be brought to justice. Instead we are making them folk heroes.

To me, transferring the blame from evildoers to innocents is cowardice.

Guess I’d rather be a hippie than a coward.

-Greg Matous[/quote]

How would you suggest bringing the terrorists to justice? Serious question.
We are currently using the military. Whom would you suggest would be better suited to do so?

What blame is being transferred to innocents and what are you referencing? Innocent people are killed in wars all the time sad to say. First world nations don’t target civilians. The rest of the world unfortunately do not share that virtue.

Killing an innocent person to satisfy your need for revenge is a cowardly act. However cowardness is often wrapped around the virtue of pacifism.

The hippie ideal of being anti-war is idealistic and naive.

Welcome to the world of politics.

12

[quote]Marmadogg wrote:
doogie wrote:
You’re a hippie, not a conservative.

…with paleo-conservative undertones.[/quote]

Hey, ChuckT…that was sarcasm.

13

Being pissed off at the current administration’s idiotic foreign policy doesn not make one a hippy.

Dustin

14

[quote]Dustin wrote:
Being pissed off at the current administration’s idiotic foreign policy doesn not make one a hippy.

Dustin [/quote]

You’re right, it doesn’t.

Getting pissed at an administration for not solving a ton of issues that have existed for decades does.

I didn’t vote for Bush, but I am not so silly to blame his administration for all of America’s troubles.

15

[quote]Dustin wrote:
Being pissed off at the current administration’s idiotic foreign policy doesn not make one a hippy.

Dustin [/quote]

Anti-War = hippie.

We could do what the left loves to do - negotiate, and give away nuclear technology as an incentive to leave us alone.

16

[quote]Dustin wrote:
Being pissed off at the current administration’s idiotic foreign policy doesn not make one a hippy.
[/quote]

Time for some thoughtful analysis.

“Don’t completely follow a Western-style democracy.” Understatement of the year. Conservative? No. Hippy? Yes! You get -10 for complaining about “criticisms.” Unless “criticisms” are followed up with “bombs”… get over it.

It’s a known fact that hippies hate to plan, and are never on time. Conservatives have far too many golf games and business conventions to attend to NOT have advanced nuclear war plans against their neighbors and in-laws. Many conservatives were boyscouts. They know to be prepared.

Come on, you can’t get more hippy than that, even if you put a fake plastic tear on his cheek and called him ‘Flower.’

17

[quote]Marmadogg wrote:
Marmadogg wrote:
doogie wrote:
You’re a hippie, not a conservative.

…with paleo-conservative undertones.

Hey, ChuckT…that was sarcasm.[/quote]

Caught it! (Easy to get the two confused when it comes to foreign policy, though.)

18

The British show us how to fight terrorism

The discovery of a terrorism plot by the UK was, in my mind, a great victory.
Somehow the UK was able to stop these terrorists without:
a) killing a mess of civilians
b) bombing, invading, and occupying Pakistan

In fact quite the opposite, they were able to use their diplomatic and
intelligence ties with Pakistan to work together and shut down the
terrorist plan. Genius.

I believe that some of these terrorists were probably inspired by 9/11,
and inspired by the fact that Bin Laden was allowed to go free and thus
became a folk hero.

This is how I believe terrorism should be fought:
a) better intelligence and security
b) better technology to detect illegal explosives
c) diplomacy with all countries
d) development of alternate energy sources so we cannot be held hostage
by foreign oil

This is how NOT to do it:
a) Bombing and occupation of other countries
b) Refusing to deal with countries we don’t like in the hopes of
isolating them. Terrorism comes from people who feel isolated.
c) Spreading an ideology of hate against Muslims

Representatives of the far right are now saying that it is “Armageddon”
and we are in “World War III”, in an attempt to justify the US
occupation in Iraq. Pure desparation, its simply laughable. Imagine if
we had spent 300 billion dollars in developing new energy. Where would
we be today?

19

[quote]Dutchmo wrote:
I have never been interested in politics. I never got involved in any
political discussions, and if I would classify myself, it would probably
be as a conservative or libertarian.

However, after watching the news, reading online opinions, and listening
to other people talk, I have quite simply had enough.

Today I looked up the addresses for my representatives, and sent them
the following letter.. I also attended a vigil last night, for peace.

It probably won’t do a lick of good, but I’ve decided that I’m not gonna
sit back anymore. Hopefully there are others like me.

Greetings:

I am writing to express my great concern with the current direction the U.S. is heading with respect to foreign policy. I believe that we are creating both instability and world animosity towards the U.S. These policies include:

? The U.S. operations in Iraq, with its enormous human and economic costs [/quote]

Human costs? Economic Costs? Yes, war costs money and people die sometimes from it. Freedom isn’t free…there is a heavy fuckin fee.

[quote]
? The U.S. support in Israeli bombing of civilians and infrastructure in both Lebanon and Gaza[/quote]

So you’d rather see Hez take over Isreal and the whole the area…yeah that will bring peace.

[quote]
? The U.S. criticism of countries such as Russia and China, because they don’t completely follow a Western-style democracy [/quote]

This is just plain stupid. You suggest we support them…but why? They have helped CREATE this situation with UN blockages to Nuclear based resolutions and indifference toward US Policy. They detest us in many ways. This means we should follow their lead?

This is already being done. Grow some corn to help out!

Again, you don’t understand business today.

[quote]
Please do what you can to help make our country strong, both at home, and in our ties with neighbors on this planet.

Sincerely,

A concerned taxpayer[/quote]

Even funnier. This is a dangerous world and your eyes are blind to it.

20

I have always believed in looking outside the US to find indicators of how we are doing.

In countries such as China and India, students are encouraged to go into
science and engineering at an early age. These students are far more
capable than those in America.

In the U.S., basic science is ridiculed as unnecessary. Worse, the
global warming theory (which has almost universal acceptance in the
scientific community) is labeled “junk science” or “a fraud”. Americans
now think that science is just a “political viewpoint”.

My father taught university physics for 30 years. He received his PhD
during the golden age of science and engineering in the U.S. Many of the
discoveries during that time fuel our modern world.

Yet, he became discouraged about the decline of basic science.

I myself went on to get an M.S. in physics, and there was only one other
American in my graduate class. There were 3 Germans, a Russian, several
Chinese and Korean, a Jordanian, and others.

In my own current
field of computer science, it is more common to see Indians and Chinese.
The Indian and Chinese run the gamut when it comes to abilities. But if
I had to pick a “top ten” of people I have worked with, the majority of
them would not be American. (I can out-bench all Indians and Chinese,
but I can’t beat them at ping-pong).

Why does India and China not spend billions fighting a “war on terror”?
Because they realize it is not in their best interest. In the modern
world, wars just as often economic and political. These countries are
not lightweights.

The U.S. may still be the greatest country in the world. But now we are
coasting, rather than moving ahead.

People like me are now waking up. I just hope it is not too late.