tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3145245885758209612.post8863336291964831399..comments2017-10-15T23:38:27.714-07:00Comments on Postcards from Scotsylvania: Step 1: admitting you have a problemDeppityBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739975299662947480noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3145245885758209612.post-79130692616871046592010-01-16T18:50:25.926-08:002010-01-16T18:50:25.926-08:00You have a point that we may be too self-satisfied...You have a point that we may be too self-satisfied, and it is always a good idea to look at ourselves in a dispassionate way instead of simply assuming an entitlement to spread our wisdom throughout the universe. We have much to learn from other nations, it seems to me, about an enlightened health policy, education, and a host of other topics.<br /><br />Unfortunately, you have taken our foreign policy and come up with the usual leftist knee jerk reaction. There are, in fact, very good (and liberal) reasons for not abandoning Afghanistan to its fate. For one thing, the last time we did that, Afghanistan not only descended into an awful despotism whose treatment of women was sufficient to recommend it for regime change, but it also became a haven for those who slaughtered thousands of Americans in a single day on 9-11. Retaliating for that is not imperial overreach; it is self defense, a right every nation has, even powerful ones like ours. Additionally, since we have thrown out the previous rulers, we owe the people an attempt to help them overcome their problems and rule themselves. Your attitudes have more to do with the sort of isolationism which often overtakes America and which in its original incarnation just before and during the beginning of WW II almost led to the triumph of Nazi Germany and its allies.<br /><br />You suggest that our reaction to being attacked was a case of anger and confrontation over our "bruised egos." To equate our was in Afghanistan with a temper tantrum is childish, as even you seem to realize: after calling us a bully who lashes out because of a deep insecurity, you admit that "this is really all boilerplate psycho-political musing." You should have read what you wrote and acted on it by writing a more reasonable post.John Wengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368930634136477638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3145245885758209612.post-28639929768191780072010-01-11T23:46:48.062-08:002010-01-11T23:46:48.062-08:00So essentially what you're saying is, America ...So essentially what you're saying is, America is Quark.<br /><br />(The layout program, not the Star Trek character.)<br /><br />If that's the case, I can only hope Canada or some other non-oligarchy is InDesign.cinderkeyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578961959712679966noreply@blogger.com