From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20,FREEMAIL_FROM, MAILING_LIST_MULTI,REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,dbd35bb508093bd9 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-12-05 19:27:03 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!canoe.uoregon.edu!logbridge.uoregon.edu!fr.usenet-edu.net!usenet-edu.net!enst.fr!not-for-mail From: "Smooth Sailor" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: RE: OT Hatred (was Re: New Ada compiler for .NET) Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 21:28:05 -0600 Organization: ENST, France Sender: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org Message-ID: Reply-To: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org NNTP-Posting-Host: marvin.enst.fr Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: avanie.enst.fr 1039145222 16490 137.194.161.2 (6 Dec 2002 03:27:02 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@enst.fr NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 03:27:02 +0000 (UTC) Return-Path: X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.2627 Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4910.0300 X-RBL-Warning: This E-mail came from 67.251.191.229, a potential spam source listed in OSDUL. X-RBL-Warning: Not supporting abuse@domain X-RBL-Warning: Not supporting postmaster@domain X-RBL-Warning: Weight of 15 exceeds the limit of 12. X-Note: This E-mail was scanned for spam. Errors-To: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org X-BeenThere: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13 Precedence: bulk X-Reply-To: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: comp.lang.ada mail<->news gateway List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org X-BeenThere: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:31477 Date: 2002-12-05T21:28:05-06:00 > "Why do so many people hate America." > > Ignorance. Honestly, hatred of people of whom you do not > know can only be the result of ignorance. It is irrational > to hate a country. It may be rational to oppose a > government's policies or an individual actions, but to hate a > group of people is simply irrational and the first step > towards handing out blanket judgements. I don't understand your claim that is irrational to hate a country. Many (including me) *love* America, so why can't it be hated by others. I believe we (America) have done many things to engender hatred from people in other countries. We have gone in places that were not our country and coerced, forced, and killed to get our way. I'm not talking about "wars", and not even the "war" on terrorism. I'm talking Nicaragua, Somalia, and various middle east countries. Yes we have also done a lot to love. But I don't consider it irrational for someone to hate a country or a government that has killed their family or taken their land and made them refugees or propped up a puppet government their country that did those things. It actually seems rather rational. I believe as part of my love of America I need to ask "Why do so many people hate America." and even more, try to *hear* what the response is. It doesn't weaken me or America to listen. We need to mend our ways when we do hateful things, and the first step is understanding those things. Sweeping such questions away with the claim of "ignorance" or "irrationality" begs the question. There are legitimate reasons for dislike and even hatred of America. If you truly love America (as I do), then you will want to take steps to eliminate any unnecessary actions that engender hatred of this great country. (Now we can debate what actions are *necessary* and what actions are not. :-) ) Oh, by the way, hating (or loving) America does not justify vicious acts against innocents, whatever country they are from (America, Somalia, Afghanistan etc.). Retribution against people who have visited violence against us is semi-defensible, but when taken to extreme (going beyond simple defense) it just escalates. One of the parties has to de-escalate the actions and that party is the morally stronger one. I'd like America to be the morally stronger party in this world of escalating violence. > > "What have America done to the world." > > Furthermore, what has the world done to itself? This is too defensive for my blood. We are arguably the strongest nation in the world. I believe that makes it incumbent on ourselves to lead the way by doing the right thing, not blaming others, nor trying to justify past errors that are unjustifiable. Personally, I like to take responsibility for my actions and, when necessary, make it right. I'd like America to do so as well. > The American governments have made mistakes, but they have > also benefited the world significantly. We seem to be making more mistakes lately. Our focus on eliminating the negative (as we perceive it), rather than emphasizing the positive, has actually created more negatives, not less. Some day this great nation will grow up and become a responsible world citizen rather than just the strongest nation that can push others to our will. I intend to work towards that goal because I think America is worth it. Time will tell.