I was watching the news this morning. Obama is sending an additional 4,000 troops to Afganistan, essentially making Bush’s War Against Terror his own.
Obama’s war against terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan will fail. Just as fighting fat is futile. And struggling against poverty will never overcome it.
If we resist an idea, concept or mental dysfunction, we only guarantee its survival. As Eckhart Tolle says, “Whatever you fight, you strengthen. And whatever you resist, persists.”
The more we fight terror, the more enemies we make. It’s wiser to cultivate a healthy lifestyle than to become obsessed with calorie counting. And instead of being against poverty, we should focus our efforts on creating abundance.
Whatever evils we seek to destroy we will inevitably become – and unconsciousness can not be defeated by unconsciousness. When we are in the tight grip of the ego, we warp the world to conform to our viewpoints – we are unable to see people, things and situations for what they really are.
When we rise above our egos, we discover compassion. We no longer need to feel “right” and we no longer need to prove others “wrong.”
Our war on terror only guarantees more terror – both in our enemies, and in ourselves – as we become that which we seek to eradicate.
March 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Definitely an interesting view point on the subject…
Will be interesting to see what happens with this war…
Ciao!
March 31, 2009 at 7:58 am
Sorry Davey, I think its a tired old line.
Philosphical and sweet, but life is not
always like that.
Our generations, I am 58, have not had
to fight against basic freedom, it came
to us gratis of our parents.
We may criticise, reasonably enough,
if constructive.the democracy
that is established.BUT the simple
freedom to vote is a basic building block.
Let’s not leave these poor people as slaves
to bigots.
As gay people we have reason to complain
about George Bush but that is our problem.
I live alongside some people who are real
terrorists.
Go and live in Afganhistan, Sausi or Iran
and you will soon realise how fortunate we are.
It amazes me too that many “liberal” or
“socialistst” people who
oppose this action, believe that the Iraqui
or Afgahan people are not capable of democracy.
Think of what life would be like
for the women and gay people if America
leaves too soon.
It will not be easy even when they do,
but at least with a democracy,
they can start to effect change.
A recent boyfriend came from the
Pakistan/Afghan border.
I know the realities first hand.
Beware of being “over protected”
from a cruel world.
Of course we should allow for differences
and work with other people.
But some groups of are only interested
in power and will accept only their own way.
America will leave once the people of
Afghanistan are able to at live without
fear and make free choices.
Have you not heard how the peaceful Sufi
Muslims were treated by Hezbollah and the
authorities in Iran? It was at Qom and
was because they worshipped differently.
Without democracy and freedom from being
bullied terror groups will flourish.
I am just glad that my own life does not
have to be on the line tehre, and thankful
to those who are prepared to make that sacrifice.
March 31, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Cliveey,
Much has been done in the name of the great American Democracy . . . murdering and dispossessing its indigenous peoples of their land, committing genocide and crimes against humanity under the colors of the red, white and blue, wrongfully attacking Canada on several occasions and stealing land from them, committing acts of terrorism aganst Mexico in a most cowardly fashion, murdering and dispossessing them of their land as they were recovering from fighting and winning their independence from Spain. American treachery, in the name of democracy runs deep . . . but the most current crime committed under the name of alleged freedom are the crimes against humanity committed by the Bush Administration.
If it is the freedoms of peoples that is concerning the leaders of this country so much, why then are we not taking the fight to Darfur? Well, simply we don’t care about the rights of women and gays, what we care about is oil and Darfur doesn’t have oil.
There is noting noble, sweet, or innocent in our actions. We only want democracy in those countries that stand to benefit us most,. so we can regain some control over the Persian Gulf. Seriously, open your eyes, and stop buying into the revisionist history of America.
It is not our job to make people over into our image. There are ways to fight for basic humane rights of women and gays without wrongfully attacking a country and killing over a 100,00 of its citizens.
When the Europeans came to this country, supposedly to leave behind the tyranny of kings, princes, and religion, they quickly set about establishing the same tyranny here, and wrote a hypocritical document . . . something about all men being created equal . . . and over 200 years later we still do not have separation of church and government, and the larger group votes on whether or not the smaller groups can have the same civil rights.
There is no one in Iraq, not even the gay soldiers, who are fighting for my freedom. They are not even fighting fpr their freedom since they are not free to serve openly in our country’s military, with pride and dignity.
What Davey says is not made of cotton candy. It is not naive. There is a long history of people fighting and losing their campaigns in Afghanistan with far more troops than we plan on putting there. There is no reason to think that we will do any better. That is reality.
And if one has to adopt the tactics of terrorists, become bullies, make up lies to invade another country, police the world while having a problem policing their own shores, then maybe they are not a people worth saving. Not until we show a higher regard for our own citizens, do something about homelessness, HMO’s making medical decisions, and have equal rights for all Americans, where the rights of a group can be decided by a majority vote of a larger group should we be setting our selves up as the halls monitors of democracy for the world, and certainly not a model for what the rest of the world ought to be like.
It takes more strength of character, courage, and a true moral core to do what Davey is saying. Maybe it just sounds less macho than throwing bombs at people at the slightest and nonexistent provocations.
Rico
March 31, 2009 at 1:23 pm
You lose proportion I fear.
You do not have a “revolutionary Guard”
deciding who may stand for election.
Tou do not live in a country where
only mebers of the Comunits Party may stand.
Whatever action Ameria takes your leaders
be criticised by people who would have no
qualms about human rights, justice or
anything else.
Show the courage of your convictions if
you really believe as you do.
Try and effect change for the better in Iran.
Tou will probably suffer the same fate as the
Sufi Muslims did at Qom.
How is it taht people are not aware of this.
Short memories of Saddam’s behaviour seeem
to go hand in hand with a beliefe that the
Iraqui people are not capable of democracy.
They, and parts of Iran, are ancient civilised
culture. Do you not think they are entitled
to democracy as a bare minimum.
**
You mention long past things.
Do you really beleieve that only the
UK and USA have dodgy pasts.
Yes our democracy is not without fault.
But lets be constructive and realistic
in our criticism of any democracy that
is established.
Realistic means establishing it and
letting the Iraqui or Afghan people use
it to work out their future.
Democracy is the foundation – not heaven.
**
America is not the only nation that acts in
self interest by the way.
Why do you think China is in Tibet?
China also had oil deals with Saddam.
They have extensive trade deals around Africa.
America under Bush greatly increased its
aid to Africa.
April 1, 2009 at 12:52 am
In fairness, we Canadians did – with no trained, standing military – win the war of 1812, in that we didn’t lose an inch of territory in the war and suffered fewer casualties. We also burned down the White House in the process. I’d say no harm no foul on that front
March 31, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Cliveey,
You presume that other nations want to be made into the image of America, so it is you, I fear that has lost proportion. It doesn’t work for me to compare ourselves to other country’s to make ourselves feel good about our own hypocrisy in revisionist history, or to make us feel good about our own atrocious “ongoing history.” There is complacency in such comparisons, and if we want to improve as a nation, perhaps as Americans we ought to compare our selves, not to country’s that understand less about freedom and respect of others than we do, but country’s that seem to do some things better than we do.
And finally, I don’t live in those country’s and must concern myself with the country I do live in, and want to make her the best she can be, which I wont do if I cover my eyes and my ears and buy into her propaganda. This country is less than three hundred years old. There are people who live past a hundred years old. That may seem a long time ago to someone who is only 58 years old, but it is by those standards three life times ago. Not so long ago. And if the crimes and hypocrisies of my country I delineated were a thing of the past, even as recent as a year, I would not bring up all the examples to support my argument that this country needs to tend to its own issues before telling others how they ought to govern themselves. And I can certainly bring up many much more recent inequities of a most gross and inhumane nature, but the past informs the present and the future when there are those who are quick to revise or cover up the past, to make excuses. Perhaps our crimes are not so remote as we would like to think if we are still so sensitive about them.
I have not forgotten the crimes of Saddam Hussein, nor am I forgetting that it was our government that toppled the Ayatollah and put Hussein in power when he failed to follow our agenda. We did not react to Hussein’s crimes against his people . . . those have been ongoing, going back three decades. We didn’t care about his crimes. What we did care about was that he ejected American oil companies from the Persian Gulf.
Neither America, or the U.N. made any attempts to depose Saddam until he ejected American oil companies. WE attacked Iraq when he went into Kuwait . . . an oil rich country. If you think democracy and love of people has ever been the goal of our leaders in attacking and killing over 100,000 Iraqi’s than I am concerned that you who do not understand the true motive of the past several administrations, and have forgotten how we came to be where we are now.
I am not for the proliferation of nukes in our world, but if we took a vote in the U.N. asking any country who has unleashed that horror on another nation, raise your hand. How many nations would raise their hands?
One, only one hand could go up. Who would that country be? Gee . . . no, it couldn’t be America? The same country that wants to lecture others on the responsible use of nuclear power. What goes around, comes around. Maybe that is what is concerning us, because we are the last country on the planet to lecture others on the responsible use of that power.
We dropped two bombs, and both on highly populated cities. Talk about crimes against humanity. What? Were their military targets hiding in those cities? Perhaps we would have less to fear as a country if we started owing up to our mistakes instead of always glossing over them.
If I seem not to bring up the horrors committed in other places in the world, it is as I already stated, that I need to concern myself with my own country and making her the best she can be . . . and because no one else is going around calling other countries “the axis of evil” and telling others how they ought to live. If America had the guts and moral fortitude to enumerate her many crimes and apologize for them, burn that piece of hypocritical clap-trap, the Declaration of Independence that refers to her indigenous peoples as “Savages” and made an “honest” attempt to separate the church from the government and establish “true” equality” and “civil rights” for all her citizens, and make good on all the “blank checks” they have floating around, then we have it in our power to effect real change. And if we were a nation that had that kind of moral fortitude, than we would be in Darfur, and at my age of 52 . . . I would be right there on the front lines.
The United States has gotten to big for its britches. If the U.N. does not agree with us, we act like the kid who has the basketball and threatens to take his ball and go home if people don’t play the way we want.
If you want to influence others, than do so by example. Show others how a healthy democracy works . . . oh thats right! We don’t have a healthy democracy. The church has tax exempt status but is very involved in legislating our lives.
Think on an individual level. Are you going to listen and take advice from a hypocrite? You’re not, which is why people are becoming less inclined to listen to our BS any longer. It is not just the Middle East . . . the whole world is turning against us. If your child came home from school and complained that all the kids at school didn’t like him, you would have to get that child to examine him/herself and not the other kids.
If one forgets their history they are doomed to repeat it. That is why I make a point of remembering it.
The majority of people do what they have always done . . . and repeat the specious rhetoric of the pastors in their churches, and the leaders they elected into power. Any “true” greatness that can be attributed to this nation cannot be attributed to the majority or the government that represented that majority.
All moments of greatness, and what greatness we may have are all attributable to those we like to call “dissenters” the Quakers, and anyone who ever had the guts to stand up and say “This is Wrong!!”
Do you think women would have the vote, or blacks their freedom had things left in the hands of the majority of the people or its government? Really do you? The minorities have always been the moral compass for this nation. They wrote a Utopian document, those waterlogged Europeans, than issued a bunch of rubber checks and people had the temerity to say: “Make good on this check!”
It is 2009, and the LGBT community still has a rubber check.
Seriously wake up!
4,000 troops in Afghanistan is just a large target that says, here we are!!
If we are to deal with criminals, then it is going to take intelligence “Not made up intelligence” and small special ops.
Finally . . . let me assure you that if I was an Iraqi citizen and a foreign cam in and occupied my country, and my government submitted to that foreign power, I would kill every American I could, and I would kill any govenment official who handed my country over to them.
How do I know I would be what we like to call an “insurgent’? I know because that is what I would do if China or any country invaded our shores and my government simply turned over my country, my rights, my democracy, such as it is, to that power. I would kill every soldier I could that occupied my home, and I would kill any government official who handed us over.
I am a patriot, but a patriot who prefers the truth over a comfortable lie.
Rico
March 30, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Your view is really interesting Davey. I think you share a very enlightened and modern point of view. The old mentality of our parents was that we have to get them before us, but now more than ever those tactics no longer work. No war is ever clean cut, but never more so, than now. Unfortunaly when it comes to Afganistan, not even Canada is free. I have had many debates about what we should do against terrorist if we don’t fight them, and I am unable to come up with an answer. So I ask you Davey, what do you think we should do. Because I agree with you, but also feel worried that if we stopped defending outselves, we could lose our way of life. I am lost on this topic. What would you do Davey, if you were President or Prime Minister?
March 30, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I understand what you are saying. However, we don’t necessarily have to stop defending ourselves. I believe what Davey is trying to say is that we shouldn’t attack terrorism. By attacking, we’re exposing our image more to the terrorists, which could possibly provoke them to terrorize more. This is what I think, anyhow.
March 30, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Thank you Tyler. That is true.
March 31, 2009 at 8:12 am
Appeasement did not work at all with Hitler.
the British people really did not want to
go to war.
They knew the cost all too well.
When Neville Chamberlain came home
and said “Peace In Our Time ”
“I have a piece of paper here,
signed by Herr Hitler” people so wanted
it to be true.
It would be the same here.
To do nothing would be to live Afghan
women in housebound slavery.
Have no doubt about that.
Not allowed an education, not allowed
out in public, not allowed to work or
any independance.
I do know first hand from my
Pakistan/Afghan border ex boyfriend.
He had to work long hours to send
money home to pay the dowrie
of 7 sisters.
These good people deserve at least some of
the freedom we enjoy,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
ABOVE ALL REMEMBER things will not change
overnight. It has taken us decades and
the journey is not complete.
April 1, 2009 at 1:12 am
The flaw in your logic is that people will not change – societies will not change – because someone else forces them to do it. In fact, they will likely resist change whatever the cost when it is being forced on them by an outside influence. My sister smokes a couple packs of cigarettes per day as well as a good bit of pot. For YEARS I would bombard her with all literature and verbal tirades about the health effects of smoking. I would even guilt her that our mother had died from it and so would she if she didn’t quit. Do you think it helped?
If a person – or indeed a society – is going to change, the change must be their choice and not forced or influenced by outsiders. Newton taught us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is as true in philosophy and psychology as it is in physics. The more you push someone the more they push back. The more you push a society the more they will push back. What you resist persists. And when you expel all your energy resisting something you have less energy to focus on the things that are really important – education, healthcare, social security, etc.
Consider that us trying to force our advanced ways on other societies is a lot like cooking chicken in the microwave. When you cook it in an oven it takes a good 45 minutes and it turns out tender, moist and tasty. When you cook it in a microwave it takes only about 8 minutes but I wouldn’t want to eat the finished prouct. There are just some processes that take time to really work properly.
It’s true the people in the middle east don’t have many of the freedoms we enjoy here in North America. But our freedoms evolved over time and so will theirs. They will eventually come to realize that their current ways are not working so well for much of their population and when they do they will change. But we have no right to force change on another society just because it isn’t analogous to our own. In truth it just won’t work.
March 31, 2009 at 11:07 am
Tyler-you are so wise-your words are so true.
April 9, 2009 at 12:40 pm
There had been a whole series of attacks
on American and western targets before 9/11.
Di you remeber the poor people who dies in
the Bali bombing.
People tend to have short memories.
Simple, unthinking paiifism did not work
with the polivy of appeasement towards Hitler.
Pacifism needs careful thought – not tribal
dislike, or class jealousy, or youthful
idealism or any of our own internal problems.
**
We only invaded Iraq after Saddam invaded Kuwait.
People insisted that we did not move on and take
control of the country. Western Imperialism would
have been the cry.
So we tried leaving things alone, even though
the marsh arabs were attacked,
We left no fly zones to protect them. These were
always being challenged.
We imposed sanctions for ten years and for ten years
the Iraqui people suffered while Saddam found
plently of resources to build grandiose palaces.
The torture of dissenters was well documented, as
was the fate of the Kurds.
I think Saddam wanted to be a Napoleon figure.
He gave plenty of reason for suspision and delighted
in toying with his adversaries.
The behaviour of members of his family is also well
documented.
No the decision to go to war was not an easy one.
It takes time to ahnd over power. People do not learn
to run an administration overnight.
Many of the people who complain would be a disaster
were they to take power,
We need to withdraw slowly ad carefully otherwise the
lives that have been lost will not have their sacrifice
serve the purpose they intended.
Criticise, realistically, teh regime taht is established.
Do not criticise the Iraqui peoples right to decide their
future in the ballot box rather than at the end of a
warlords or terrosts gun.
Give them time to work at their future.
It will be the future they decide on for themselves.
Sadly it will probably be a long time before Iraqui
people get Gay Rights.
March 30, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Sometimes it seems that something’s gone too far, beyond the point of no return and any new effort to change things for better seems futile. I think this is the case. There’s no specific plan, although “The Powers That Be” are trying to convince us there is. Or if there is, it’s always about someone else’s, maybe even private interests. Obviously they can’t or won’t or even aren’t allowed to find solutions for common interest.
March 30, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Don’t you watch Rachel Maddow ( the bomb ) these 4000 are different. They are not combatant troops but trainers.
They are there to train the internal peace keeping forces so that we may have a transition plan out. Not the same as Bush.
March 30, 2009 at 6:53 pm
The Middle East unfortunately will never see peace. Hate is engrained in the blood of too many. This just shows you that Obama is no different than GWB. Sorry I stand corrected, he is different in that he’s a Democrat doing it instead of a Republican. Thanks all!
March 31, 2009 at 1:26 am
“The Middle East unfortunately will never see peace”.
That’s quite a statement Derek. Zero basis to it, but quite a statement.
Just in case you’re too young. Europe was in was pretty much non stop for the better part of 1500 years. The English and the French and the Germans and the Spanish and the others… Wars going for decades at a time – some of them longer than the sseventy-something years that the middle east has been in war.
And we are not talking ancient history here. It went well into the 20th century.
And now all those guys live together like best mates, use the same notes and the same flag.
It’s just a matter of maturity, and they all mature, eventuallyu.
April 1, 2009 at 5:51 pm
You assume too much Shane. So don’t assume my age! Also we are not talking about Europe or another part of the world. Additionally it is a different type of hate. As I stated it is engrained in the blood of those in that part of the world. Also, maturity is also spoken by not speaking; or for thinking before one speaks. Maturity just like respect it not a given. There will be no reply to any comments made here on out as maturity also shows one it is sometimes not worth the effort but to move on… Davey the blog is great! Many thanks!
March 30, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Dave, once again you amaze me. I’ve been in another depressive episode, that is until I heard the podcast interview with you. I feel much better, and I need to go buy a yoga mat.
Do you really have to have all “these” ads on the sides? It’s like expensive candy that you can’t touch.
March 31, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Davey wants to go to Australia.
March 30, 2009 at 10:32 pm
What do you propose we should be doing about these violent non-state actors (VNSAs)?
I think you will find that the Obama Administration’s approach to Afghanistan is concerned with not only catching and prosecuting known VNSAs but also with stabilizing the region with economic development, rule of law and government.
In fact the Administration has gone so far as to no longer refer to the ongoing military efforts as the “Global War on Terror” or “War on Terror” in favor of “Overseas Contingency Operation”. The change in rhetoric is powerful. See also Obama’s recent overtures toward the Iranian people, and other efforts to engage instead of vilify actors who may have divergent interests from ours.
April 1, 2009 at 1:21 am
If I might interject – Do nothing with the VNSAs. Do absolutely nothing. Turn the other cheek. Dodge the blows when possible but never return them. Soon enough people will realize that you are not an enemy to be attacked but a society that collectively just wants to live and let live.
March 30, 2009 at 10:34 pm
If it’s true that “If we resist an idea, concept or mental dysfunction, we only guarantee its survival. As Eckhart Tolle says, “Whatever you fight, you strengthen. And whatever you resist, persists…,” does that mean that when we resist the war, or all war, or violence, we guarantee the survival of the very thing we oppose? Just musing. Glad you’re speaking your mind, as always!
April 1, 2009 at 1:29 am
Mother Teresa was invited to be the keynote speaker at an anti-war rally in NYC some time before her death. She refused. When asked why she wouldn’t do it her reason was that the focus of an anti-war rally is still on war. Instead, she countered their offer. She said that she would attend and deliver the keynote address at a peace rally. The goal of non-resistance isn’t just to do nothing. It’s to be very much for something you want as opposed to being against something you don’t want. Focus on what you want and it will multiply. Focus on what you don’t want – even if you are against it – and it will persist and likely thrive. It’s the reason diets don’t work. People are so set against excess weight that they focus only on that. In the end the people that are against the weigt will gain it all back and more. While the people who focus on good health, nutrition and vitality will end up being healthier, better nourished and more vital.
March 30, 2009 at 11:00 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXF3NXk5E3Y
I mean, this is why people are fighting in Afghanistan… slightly different than what/was going on in Iraq.
March 30, 2009 at 11:13 pm
like they say “if a man meets a force he can’t not destroy he destories himself instead”
April 2, 2009 at 6:00 am
… you cannot know the cndition of men’s
hearts.
Somebody who acts to prevent a helpless person
being hurt may be very afraid themselves
and not want to fight at al.
To do nothing may simply be cowardice.
I would be really frightened, but would like to think
that I would act.
I will certainly not criticise those who do have the
courage and self sacrifice to act to stop others
being bullied in the way that Afghan women were being bullied.
**
That was certanly how it was with the second world war.
People really did not want to go to war, but felt it necessary.
Certainly in the end Hitler offered no choice.
Had they not made that sacrifice our chat would not be taking place.
**
After America leaves Afgahn women will at least get the chance to get
an education and should they choose, to work.
Women hold up half the sky said John Lennon.
By treating women as the do the Taliban keep their country poor.
They are locking up half the vital intellectual ability
and skills of their country.
**
The Afghan people could not have withstood a force like the
Taliban without help.
They were no more able to do so than the Warsaw Ghetto Jews
were able to withstand the Nazis.
Lets pray that non corrupt leaders emerge in Afghan.
The eyes of the world will be on the result of our efforts.
Lots of people besides USA will have selfish eyes on the country.
But some form of democracy is the least the people there are entitled to.
**
Those who speak of Karma are happy to demonise George Bush,
Dick Cheney and Tony Blair.
There may indeed be some questions about Dick Cheney.
But Tony Blair summed it up best I think.
He said something like “I am perfectly prepared to accept that many people
who oppose the war do so from sincere motives,values and beliefs.
I wish that they would have the grace to understand that I have
similar genuine beliefs etc of my own.”
It is always easier to list others shortcomings than to deal with our own.
March 31, 2009 at 1:22 am
“…essentially making Bush’s War Against Terror his own.” Come on, Wavey, jump the gun much? Obama’s sending additional troops to Afghanistan because we let the country fall to pieces in our foolishness in Iraq. That’s our mess and we owe it to the Afghani’s, let alone our own security, to clean it up. The only good thing about the whole fiasco is that we’re already there.
And I’m disturbed by wording like there being no way to end war or fat, that we only need embrace it. We need to understand why it happens – breakdown of communication, excessive calorie intake, for whatever reason – but to say that they will always be with us sounds defeatist and irresponsible.
I’m hoping you mean the way we deal with these issues is what needs to be rethought, not the need to deal with them. Otherwise, one wonders how truly connected you are to this “perfect” world.
And to the poster who said there’ll always be war in the Middle-East, I sincerely hope not. I think there will come a time when Israel and a formal Palestinian state will be more interested in selling each other goods than blowing the other off the map. I’d rather see loathsome local capitalists trying to feed off each other there than fanatical religious zealots trying to kill each other.
March 31, 2009 at 1:28 am
davie
the last thing I wanna do is defend Bush’s or Obama’s wars, but you young man, you are miles out of your depth.
Miles.
March 31, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Why? Because he believes something that you don’t?
April 6, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Because to make peace with the Taliban is
to allow bastards of the first order to
beat a young girl with sticks and ignore
her cries of pain.
This has happened in Pakistan where they
cinceded Sharia law in certain areas.
You do not have to live with consequence.
The poor women resident in the areas of
taliban control do.
Not allowed out of the house without their
husbands permission.
Forced to have sex at least every four days.
(sorry that is the Shia Muslims)
Not allowed an education.
Not allowed to work.
forced to accept their husband habing
other wives
But subject to beating or stoning to death
for adultery if they try the same thing.
…
It sounds like scare mongering but sadly
it is a reality.
If they reprot abuse it is them and not the
man who abused them who is disgraced.
**
I do not know how to deal with them but simply
being nice or making them nore prosperous will
change nothing.
Unfortunately.
March 31, 2009 at 2:02 am
SO TRUE, DAVEY!
March 31, 2009 at 4:41 am
I quite hope you are wrong. As I understand it, the troops are only there to stablize the situation and defend the people in the villages so the real help can arrive. We need to be helping those folks build schools, wells, and roads, so they can be healthy and run their own lives and country. There has to be some alternative to growing poppies, and war is obviously not providing that. Greg Mortensen offers a real answer at http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ .
March 31, 2009 at 1:39 pm
We can barely afford to take care of our own country. We can NOT babysit the entire world.
March 31, 2009 at 2:44 pm
America have no choice…
Where people do not have any say over
their future – are helpless – they are
open to manipulation.
That is shere extremism and terroism breed.
Consider….
We are free to doubt and criticoise, even to
deride our leaders.
Different viewpoints are allowed and
accomodated where possible.
**
That is not so everywhere – no Facebook or
open internet in China. Join a blog like this
and you would be in danger.
You can convert to Islam but change your mind
and your life could be in danger.
*
Be very glad, to live in an imperfect, but free country.
March 31, 2009 at 5:32 am
Amen! We need to set our sites high. We need to BELIEVE there are other ways to resolve issues/conflicts besides having to put others down, to destroy people. We really need to BELIEVE this and STRIVE for this. When our aim is power, control, war . . . are we not becoming what we are trying to prevent: tyrants, trying to impose our will, our power, our control on others. The time may come when we need to defend ourselves and to fight the evil head on in ways that leave us fewer options. However, until that time comes, there are other ways to freedom, to peace. We need to BELIEVE, we need to STRIVE for other ways . . .
April 2, 2009 at 6:08 am
Do you honestly believ people like Hitle,
Stalin, Mao or The Taliban would be in the
least bit interested in your “Strivings”.
**
I agree with your aspiration but while you strive
the poor Afgahn women would lead a life of
hell on earth.
**
Would you care to organise a Gay Rights event there?
Please advise me of the flowers to send or charity to
support at your funeral.
March 31, 2009 at 6:17 am
Davey – thank you for this post. It is greatly needed. I beleive in this way of being with all my heart. And, I beleive that more and more people will begin to accept the truth of this enlightened way. I believe we are in the midst of a soul revolution where more and more will ‘get it’. It’s a beautiful thing. And, whatever Obama decides to do is what he decides to do. It’s how I choose to relate to that experience that can continue to create change in the world. Today, you created change in many people Davey. Thank you. Steve
March 31, 2009 at 6:30 am
hi, davey please dont be angry if i ask this:do you masturbate?
March 31, 2009 at 8:21 am
Silly of course he masterbates. Everybody masterbates, the question is not “do you?”.. but “how often do you”?…
April 1, 2009 at 1:33 am
I’m not sure what this has to do with the post. If you really wanted to know if Davey masturbates, don’t you think the Contact Me section would be a little more appropriate venue to ask?
April 3, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Do you want to visit a pretty good site where the guy is
charming, inteligent and pleasantly flirtatious
- or do you just want a porn site?
There are a boring host of money making porn sites.
Let Davey continue as he is.
Don’t drive him towards the dreay slope of porn.
It makes a nice change to view clips of a lively, jokey.
attractive, guy who doesn’t just go the same dreary way.
March 31, 2009 at 7:22 am
Naive Davey. Go back to thinking your other thoughts, which are far more appropriate and rewarding for us all who (nearly always) like your site.
March 31, 2009 at 7:53 am
Davey! You are so correct! The law of attraction is so simple, yet so few understand it. Until people become aware of ego based fear and engage their inner spirit, we will only attract that which we percieve to be real (which is only our illusion)and the negativity will continue. Let’s hope for a brighter day!
Tim
March 31, 2009 at 8:16 am
The Bible says you reap what you sow. If you plant tomatoes you won’t get apples If you plant hay you won’t get wheat, you’ll get hay and lots of it. As God spoke to King David You sow the wind you reap the whirlwind (Tornado) It is Karma Mutlplied we can NOT use our enemies weapons We escalate and Karma ESCALATES. Like that movie with the actor from Ferris Beuller Wargames with a self aware computer that the kid hacked and started the computer in a game of thermal nuclear war.
Finally the computer learned their was no way to win the only winning move was to not play.
It is said that a definition of a fool is some one who does the same same thing over and over and each time expects a different outcome. Viet Nam started with us sending soldiers to train Vietnames soldiers how to fight we were only there as advisors not combatants.
March 31, 2009 at 8:45 am
Returning an assault on ourselves with peace is right enough.
It is not the same as turning our backs on teh opporession
of a whole people.
Would you really have liked us to do nothing against Nazi oppression?
We criticise our own leaders, that is part of the freedom that was fought for.
Stalin and Mao Tse Tung were equally oppressive leaders.
the left wing and liberals gently side step such things.
This is not a kids movie,created by wealthy Hollywood “socialists”, it is real life.
**
There is much constructive criticism that could be made.
But that does not take place.
Instead people get involved in a childish tribal type of
campaign against George Bush.
He may be wrong on some things (like understnding gay people)
but onj increased aid to Africa and the right for the Iraqui and
Afgahan people to feely vote for their future (and live without fear)
he is right on.
Remeber simple things like the destruction of
the ancient Bhuddist stastues.
We are not in Kansas now Dorothy….
sorry that was not meant to be sexist.
Communists were out for world domination by the way.
Let’s make criticism of our leaders constructive not tribal.
March 31, 2009 at 12:19 pm
very well spoken.
April 3, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Do we get out now Mike?
I really wonder if we should leave Afghan.
Their President has signed an order effectively
permitting rape within marriage.
There are a nuber of measures.
They can only leave the house with the husbands
pernission I think.
They are obliged to grant him sex every four days.
The detail may be important but it souunds pretty bad to me.
The aim was to appease the Shia Muslims therem so the report said.
These are elected leaders.
It is hheir country.
IF this is the way they behave towards theri women
then I really do not see the point in helping them keep
their regime in place.
The law is signed but not enacted.
Personally I think that if it is hen we should leave.
YES I would like to impose a more civil regime on them.
BUT if they are to behave that way, then it is their choice.
That is why we wanted them to have democracy.
They can defend their regime with the lives of their own people.
I don’t see that it is our job to enable them to opress their wommen.
Perhaps if a 70% majority vote of men and women decided they wanted
things that way in a referendum, then we could help them.
But generally we have made a big enough sacrifice of lives lost.
We have to change our approach according to circumstances and this
makes me wonder. What would we be achieving.
March 31, 2009 at 8:32 am
Poor Obama is in a no win situation. He is now in the vortex that is the White House. I believe he would like to find a way to defuse the situation in both Iraq and Afghanistan. These seem impossible to effect at the moment. It is almost as though he is compelled to act in ways against his beliefs because of the actions of the previous administration. The sins of the father being imposed on the son, as it were. There is no easy way out of those two countries for a foreign power as the British proved. History showed that clearly but Bush and Cheney ignored these indications and now Obama must suffer with their decisions.
Practically speaking I wonder what Tolle would do to change the situation? Would he be able to suggest a way forward with practical advice to open the door to understanding and resolution? If he has more than a philosophical suggestion I bet the White House is looking for answers. The problem is not only that Obama must act one way or the other but that he must be seen to act, which complicates everything and could compel him to do things he thought unthinkable during the campaign.
Poor Obama. There must be a parable or fable in here somewhere. This is clearly a case of, “be careful what you wish for”. He got the presidency but many would have seen what was down the pike and turned around. It is clear that the vetting process is not yielding the best and the brightest for the posts available. The ones who do begin the process and are turfed for “tax reasons” are likely the third, fourth or fifth choices. The top pics, willing to serve though they may be, can see a ‘no-win’ situation and don’t take the challenge.
March 31, 2009 at 9:04 am
You are right.
People love to talk of the way things should be in their dream world.
The Taliban and such people cannot even agree to differ with and accept
their differences with each other.
Still less can they accept that other people have sincere beliefs.
They simply will not listen to their ideas being challenged by reasoned
argument in the way that we woulkd counter racism.
You either abide by their wishes or you die as a worthless infidel.
You are allowed to adopt Islam but risk death if you leave it.
That is why teh Bhuddist staues were destroyed.
It is similar to the Chinese efforts to destry the Tibetan culture.
Why does the Dalii lama have to live here.
Some people simply cannot tloerate different ideas to their own.
I am sure there have been more deaths fron Sunni Muslims attacking Shia Muslims
in Iraq and vice versus, than resulted from tehAmerican bombings.
they even kill each otehr at funerals and when people are on pilgramages.
They are mostly kind and often attractive people – why not go an live there.
Be careful not to be a “useful idiot” when you attack the actions of America.
You are right -lest hear some solutions.
Myself I would love to see a pirate ship “Radio Peace” station or a Dismenyland in the area – so people can actually have some fum.
Part of the dissent is because they have so little to enjoy in life.
And that suits the people who want to manipulate them into terror.
(Seperate days for men and women though to avoid upsetting Muslim sensibilities).
March 31, 2009 at 8:53 am
So we just let the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden just walk away and escape with the atrocities they committed on 9/11?
Seriously?
Davey, I am usually one to never ever question the wise prophetic musings of the amazing Davey Wavey, but now you really pushed it. Yeah war sucks, but when you are attacked, you can’t always resort to peace.
So since you are the wise one and are enlightened by a power we obviously have no connection with, what do you suggest we tell all those people who lost a love one on that day?
You got a lot of nerve sometimes.
April 1, 2009 at 1:51 am
The want for revenge and ‘justice’ is ingrained in us. We want it so badly we can taste it. When 9/11 happened my immediate reaction was that Bush should level the middle east entirely. I didn’t give a s**t who was hurt, killed, whatever. I wanted them all gone to ensure it would never happen again. But what would it accomplish? What would it have said about western society? The Bible contains great wisdom on this issue. If a man strikes you on one of your cheeks, turn him the other as well. If a man asks you for your cloak, give him also your tunic. If a man asks you to walk one mile, walk a second also. The Taliban and Osama are doing the things they’re doing because they see America as a threat. And I would say that America has shown itself to be quite a threat. If America had turned the other cheek and mourned 9/11 but made no retalliation whatsoever what could the terrorists possibly say about you? They certainly couldn’t say you were trying to impose your way of life on them if you just took it like a man and did nothing in return. They would have no fuel for the fires of hatred that burn in the hearts of so many right now. People would see that the US is not a threat and is willing to leave others alone so that it will also be left alone. And that would be that. I have no doubt the terrorists would commit further attacks trying to stir something up and rouse the sleeping giant but after a while it would be obvious that America doesn’t merit being attacked because they are not a threat. People would see that the U.S. is ducking and dodging the blows but not retaliating. Eventually the furvour to destroy the U.S. would dissipate and you would be respected for having the courage to be steadfast in the face of extremism. You can be strong and yet unthreatening.
At the time I would have wiped out the middle east in one fell swoop. But I realize that violence begets violence and the more you return fire, the more somebody else is going to come back at you with equal or greater force. Now I say let them be and eventually they will let you be.
April 1, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Dave I fear you are moving in too small a circle and
have become insular.
The quickest way to ensure western powers move from
both Iraq and Afghanisatn id to grant free choice and
control of their lives to its people.
The justification for them remaining will then be gone.
Would you prefer them to be under the power of bigots and war lords?
**
We are alloweed dissent derison and active campaigning
against our political leaders.
How long do you think you would be able to do that
within Iran, ubder the Taiban, or even China and Russia?
Do you know what happened to teh Gay Pride rally in Moscow?
What do you think would be your fate?
//
Let these peoples at least be able to have a vestige of freedom.
All will not be wonderful overnight.
Why do we have so many refugees from these coubntries in the UK.
**
If we leave do you honestly believe taht these two countries
would be left in peace?
We might be pacifist when it comes to our own suffering……
but is it right to simply leave more than half a nation suffering?
(the female and gay half at the very l;east in the case of Afghan)
**
Even Jesus got wild at the behaviour of money changers etc
in the temple…. some say becaus eof how it affected people who
were excluded.
What is sadly clear is than many Davey bloggers care little for Karma and are
actively engaged in Class War.
There is an old phrase “Be careful what you wish for”.
**
The obscene wealth of some people in all countries
(not least Arab States, Russia and China) really has gone too far.
Complaining of that would be constructive criticism.
But be in no doubt that many people who complain of American action
are only cocerned that they are the ones with wealth and power.
They have no objection to wealth and power itself.
When it comes to imposing a way of life try the Taliban – not the USA.
March 31, 2009 at 9:18 am
As just beginning my journey down this political road of darkness, (I voted the first time this past year) I am learning slowly about what sides I prefer. In the past I would avoid politics. I am a pacifist and internally prefer the zen buddhism religion to others but I’m not hugely practicing. Your blog posting has a lot of buddhism ideals I believe inside of it. I feel where you are wanting to go with this. Yet. . .
it’s different when you have first hand understanding. I am against war. I have learned from my older brother who was stationed at Getmo. . and in the middle east about some of the true natures of war. There is a reason. The media expels a lot of the exaggerated truths outwards in a spiral effect that lets society elude to the military’s true intentions. I will read the news and listen to the morning stories, but I know that that is just a small portion of the actual truth out there. I trust the judgement of men in these powerful positions. If I did not trust them I would make movements to change that. I would push to change those positions. I would take action. However. . . I will admit that I choose not to take action. I will still get saddened by an attack, deaths of fighting soldiers, suicide bombings, etc. But with all of the “fights” that we as a gay community are currently battling on our home front I would like to think we should straighten out our own closet before trying to clean out the neighbors. Let’s set the example and not become hypocrites.
March 31, 2009 at 9:43 am
The bit about tidying our own closets is good…
Jesus said about dealing with the plank in your own eye
before moaning about the speck in someone elses.
**
We do have our own problems as gay people but should be aware how much greater the suffering of gay people in other countries ie – including Rissia.
**
We had Muslims campaigning in my area who advocated throwing Gay people off cliff tops.
We had colour posters proclaiming 9/11 a great day in history.
Under Sharia law gay people can be stoned to death.
**
Muslim and socialist sources will always welcome us if we attack our own
administartion.
The comics who love to poke fun at George Bush would not be allowed to deride leaders
if they were in Iran.
Militant young Islamists appearing on a TV program in teh UK were told in no uncertain terms taht their rude, agressive behaviour would not be tolerated in an Islamic state by a visiting Muslim cleric.
(Still less under Sharia law).
Yes we should not be uncritical of our leaders.
But lets not be fools –
lets not just help people who are far worse by unthinking comments criticing our own leaders.
Big business and wealthy people do need to learn to be less gready though.
But there are many wealthy Muslims!
let’s pray for Peace and Justice and Freedom.
March 31, 2009 at 9:31 am
Didn’t your President say that he was going to use diplomacy with the Taliban as well as increasing the US presence? This approach will surely set him apart from the Bush administration’s approach.
March 31, 2009 at 2:58 pm
.. that is a less tempting idea if you are a woman
living under their control.
No life, no power, no education, often no right to refuse
your husbands advances even though he has taken
a second or third wife.
Risking stoning for adultery if you show any interest
in other men – still less so if it is an interest in women.
Think of the misery gay men must endure there.
March 31, 2009 at 9:58 am
NO, it’s not “we’re terrorists.”
I wonder where our international gay brothers and sisters are…why they aren’t coming to the aid of gay americans. Where is the boycotts against Mormons and conservatives who call us the terrorists? Why are you letting your gay brothers and sisters be attacked? Where is the international outrage? You all have more power right now than you realize. Help us.
March 31, 2009 at 3:04 pm
How?
There is the International Lesbian and Gay Association.
*
http://www.ilga.org/
March 31, 2009 at 12:15 pm
“When we rise above our egos, we discover compassion. We no longer need to feel “right” and we no longer need to prove others “wrong.””
I love the statement listed above from your article but the rest of the articale borders on bullshit.
mike
March 31, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Well said Davey . The onlt thing our
continued pressence in the middle east
will cause is more resistance and more
loss of life . The more we push against
them , the more they will swear to fight to the death against us .
Conflict will never bring about Peace .
Will
March 31, 2009 at 3:16 pm
You say coonflict wll never bring peace…
Partly true but…
neither has Israels withdrawal from Gaza
(forcing its own people out)
likewise the earlier evacuation of Lebanon.
These were seen by the enemy as simply giving
up of vantage points for attack.
That is why Israel occupied part of the Golan heights
- they were regularly shelled from there while
working in the fields.
**
Israel is tiny and threatened by massive neighbours.
The aim of Hammas and Hezbollah are their elimination.
The West Bank Wall may seem bad to us, but the number
of suicide bomber attacks on civilain targets has declined
since it was built.
Not everything is perfect about Israel, especilaly
West Bank Settlements.
But the six day war by the arab neighbours was not aiming
for peaceful co-exisence.
They wanted obliteration and failed,
The only objection from some “victim” people is
that they did not succeed in driving Israel into the sea…
They do not object to the use of power pain and force for their own ends.
They are just irritated that they failed.
They advance war then act as victims when they fail.
March 31, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Great post, and for once I agree with the whole thing. We are the terrorists and fighting these useless wars will only create more terrorists. Why do we get attacked? Because we’re over there in their countries wreaking havoc. We should mind our own business.
I’m waiting for the politicians in Washington to figure this out. The only one I know of that gets it is Ron Paul.
March 31, 2009 at 3:29 pm
If only it were that simple.
Does China being in Tibet upset you the same way.
Tibet has big mineral and ore deposits.
Thei culture is being eliminated.
It is fashionable to attck the motives of
the USA and West.
But it needs more caution.
China alos had trade deals with Saddam.
**
Be careful America has done much good in
the world. Aid to africa increased a lot under
George Bush.
Others only help people to control them
for political reasons – like NORAID did
in Northern Ireland.
**
To be continually critical of your country
- to demonise it – is just as suspect as being
an unquestioning patriot.
You are lucky to live in USA (most of it) and
not Russia or Iran.
**
Theer are loads of gay would be refugees from
each of these.
March 31, 2009 at 3:10 pm
This sounds like half baked spiritual babble.
The world politic is extremely complex, as is our own understanding of ourselves and others.
Of course we should consider removing ourselves from the middle east, but our leaving will not help to create a more peaceful world. It will, however, create a situation where another power will move in. Therein lies the dilemma.
March 31, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Free you say! Really? Lat time I checked over thirty states made ammendments to their state constitutions so they could deny a group of people their civil rights to get married.
Free you say? Last time I checked, our gay soldiers had to risk their lives quietly to assuage the homophobic concerns of another group of people.
Maybe we have some freedoms that other nations don’t. That is irrelevant. Our constitution states that all men are created equal, and equally entitled to her protection and her affluence, so forgive me if I am not satisfied with having freedom that is better than other remote parts of the world, but want the same freedom as those other people who live in this country . . . where I live.
Freedom is a tenuous thing. Don’t think there are not people who would have queers executed if they could. You better stop being so complacent about your freedom, comparing it to Darfur . . . you better compare it to the only standard that matters to us as Americans . . . her precepts and laws . . . because those are the ones that are most immediate to us.
Rico
April 1, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Being denied the right to marry is small fry
compared to risking being stoned to death of flogged
simply for showing gay affection. never mind being actually
having gay sex.
Its a cruel world.
You will not be taken seriously by the people
you wish to accept and understand you, if you are
motivated by a tribal hatred of your country.
It takes time and earning peoples respect to effect
change.
It is not acse of being complacent – just not appearing
to be eternal whingers.
America has done a terrfic ammount of good in the world
you know.
The world you love to complain of may change soon.
We may have powers who make no pretence at democracy
and freedom for their people, having a major role.
Be careful what you wish for.
March 31, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Cliveey,
are you a straight man pretending to be gay? Obviously, from your past postings, you are trying to rewrite George Bush’s legacy.
Stating the facts about a person or a country is not demonizing that person or that country. If you even are a gay person at all, and you are content with just a portion of the rights accorded to straight people, then I am happy for you.
I am not. And I am not like you. I am not going to heap praise on my country or a person. Neither people or countries are improved by deluding one’s self.
Again, I don’t care about Russia or china or anywhere else. I care about the rights that are being denied to me HERE in my country. You can be sure if the rights of straight white men, which I am beginning to suspect you are, were challenged and someone, say you, pointed out to them their relative freedom compared to other much more horrendous places in the world they would tell you to go frak yourself.
Straight white men, and religious zealots would never compromise on any of their freedoms, unless of course a low-life president, lacking a moral center, told them that taking away some of their freedoms would make them safer . . . and they would never – never – never settle for half the rights of gay people.
So peddle your hetero-right wing republican rhetoric, and half-baked lessons of history to someone else. We will agree to disagree, you and I, and go our ways.
If you feel the need, like all straight, white hetero males do to have the last word . . . take it, let me have it . . . then leave me alone and I will do the same for you.
Peace out
Rico
March 31, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Evang. So it is.
There is an ancient expression in India,
“When a thief walks among the crowd,
if he comes face to face with a saint,
all the thief sees is the saint’s pockets.”
You have definitely opened a huge can of worms this time, Davey. Good on you for the courage to try to speak out on this.
Whether it is Bush’s war or Obama’s war is not the question. It’s still America’s war. Here in Canada, over 108 of our folks have died in Afghanistan fighting America’s war. Nearly 5000 of America’s children have died, 100′s of thousands more folks just trying to live their own lives are no longer among the living.
Blood for OIL!
Make no mistake about this. There is only one reason for all this tragedy. OIL.
The US needs a controllable pathway for it’s projected pipeline from the countries bordering on the north of Iran and Afghanistan (the other “Istans”)the last OIL supply as yet untapped in the region.
If almost all of the 9/11 suicide teams that flew into American buildings (the heart of the US financial and military worlds)were from Saudi Arabia, why wasn’t that country the target of the anger that Bush vowed would be felt “soon”. Why pick on Afghanistan and then Iraq? (By “chance”, both tactical game plans were in place before 9/11, and the Ben Ladens are the best buddies of the Bushes, both up to their ears in OIL money.)
To defend the downtrodden? To smite those who smote us? To bring “freedom” to the oppressed? To give girls in Khandahar an education? No. None of these.
To place our strongest pieces on the chessboard in the region, thus announcing our claim in that OIL! Beware Russia! Beware Chine! We mean business. Business indeed.
Yes, there are callous brutes who would harm the innocent in Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Yes, their ideas are retrograde and inhumane. Yes, they need help. But so do they in the Congo, in Darfur, in Uganda, and in Detroit, and in New Orleans, still, and in the tent cities springing up in the outskirts of American cities, where there is no OIL.
I am always amazed at how little practice so-called Christians have in their own teachers ways. Turn the other cheek, Do unto others…and there’s, Do no harm.
So, yes, Davey, we are what we think. We project hatred, hatred comes and bites us in the ass. We project Hope, and the world hopes with us.
So, as the thief watches out for pockets, if we watch out for love and kindness and helpfulness, we might just find some of that too.
Be well,
April 1, 2009 at 2:01 am
Well said. Thank you for that.
March 31, 2009 at 6:28 pm
The concept of terrorism always brings different thoughts to people’s minds. Although I wouldn’t want to live in any other country, the U.S. has committed more atrocities in the name of democracy than most countries combined. This country doesn’t always do it with guns, but we use financial pressure and tatics to bully other countries into doing what we want.
The U.S. doesn’t help out other countries unless we get some sort of financial gain from it or the people in our government are afraid of them. Just look at all the recent wars and embargoes, etc. There was always some financial gain in it for us.
Anytime you commit violence or push against someone else, their gut instinct will always be to push back harder. It’s human nature and a survival instinct. If we truly ever want to get along with other countries, we need to start minding our own business.
In the U.S. some people believe (and usually the ones in power) that democracy is the key to happiness and that living under any other type of government is wrong.
But you can’t change another person’s belief by going to war against them, killing innocent bystanders or threatening them financially. All you can do is try to understand where they’re coming from and what they believe. You also need to respect their belief even if every part of your being disagrees with their opinion.
In my opinion, our ultimate goal here on this Earth is to grow as individuals and to be happy. No one or no material thing can truly make another person happy. Happiness comes from within and it’s an internal job. You only have control over how you feel and how you react to someone else.
Once other people realize that, there will be no need for war. People won’t be worried about an adequate lack of resources, i.e., food, water, oil, etc.
There will always be disagreements since everyone believes something different, but respecting those diffences is the beginning of the work needed to make this world a better place.
March 31, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Personally I will never understand War being the best alternative unless the mission is to instil terror. So regardless of which “side” you are “on”, you are a terrorist.
April 1, 2009 at 12:58 am
Davey,
What do you SAY to those who lost loved ones on 9/11
Being free and happy can’t help those in immense mourning
April 1, 2009 at 5:44 am
How many right wing pundits are watching Davey. It has long been settled that 9/11 has nothing whatsoever to do with Americas wrongful attack upon the Iraqi people, so put it to rest.
As for the people who lost loved ones in the Twin towers . . . well they better than anyone should know what it is like to be an Iraqi citizen and have terrorists rain destruction upon your head, but at leaast they have not had to suffer the ignominy of a government that welcomed the terrorists with open arms as their government welcomed the United States.
And really . . . it is high time people stopped acting like America had a monopoly on suffering. Before 9/11 atrocious acts in the Sudan, China, the Middle East, Mexico have been committed, and many of them funded by American dollars, while Americans shopped and played, and many atrocious acts have happened since 9/11 and Americans continued to shop and feel sorry for themselves, as if they alone knew what it was to be wrongfully attacked.
I’d tell them to do what the Jews who survived Hitler’s death camps, try to move on, stop taking yourself so seriously, learn to laugh again. But maybe a warlike people such as ourselves are incapable of such nobility of spirit . . . maybe you have to be a people who have had genocidal attempts made upon your people, your language and your culture before you can develop a really great sense of humor.
I’d tell the people who lost a loved one on 9/11 to protest the war on the Iraqi people, to reach out to others who are in need, and are losing loved ones. They should be able to appreciate such loss.
Rico
April 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Rico, you are right in saying that Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11 but Davey is not talking about Iraq, he is talking about Obama being in Afganistan; which has everything to do with 9/11. we all know the war ON iraq is about oil, but the war IN afganistan is about terrorists. we are not increasing troops to fight the government of afganistan, we are fighting the terrorists in it.
April 1, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Davey was talking about Afghanistan, but like many political conversations this one has branched out.
It is difficult for me to separate the two wars, but I am able. But think of it. It that retarded, war mongering cowboy, George Bush had his way we’d also been at war with Iran, Korea, and Venezuela .
But I did address the issue of Afghanistan in an earlier posting when I remarked that deploying 4,000 soldiers was the best way of saying: “Over here.” I think I said that the best way to get at the terrorists is by means of “real intelligence” and special ops.
Historically no one has ever prevailed in such a campaign. Russia was in Afghanistan for nine years and with twice as many troops and failed. Other nations have tried ands failed. We are repeating their mistakes, and won’t fare any better . . . not with a large force.
Like a body builder flexing and showing off his muscles, we have been flexing our military and technical muscles now through three administrations, going on our fourth, and I think it is safe to say the world is unimpressed.
Rico
April 1, 2009 at 2:55 am
It ain’t flying Davey.Afghanistan’s cash crop is the poppy flower that is used in the manufacture of heroin. Hopeless situation here. I could go on. What about them trying to rewrite history by destroying ancient monuments. Or how about the boycott on the USSR for their version of Vietnam there on our Olympics which many of my friends got screwed out of. Politics affecting the Olymypics is just plain obscene.
April 1, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Compare the annual International Foreign Aids budget vs. the Defense budget, it would be interesting to find out where we are vs. other countries in term of focusing resouces in building a War machine in the name of Peace as if it is the only way to save the world. It is mind blowing… Yike!
April 2, 2009 at 6:22 am
It may always have to be thus.
That sounds bad I know.
There s no point having good hospitals,
care of the elderly and vulnerable,
education, cultural events etc…
If someone can simply move in
and take it all away from you.
**
Would you do overtme to pay for a
high spec LCD TV or sound system if
a thief could just walk in and take it?
Still worse if your partner could be
raped without some form of deterence.
**
Defence is not the same as a War Machine.
All countries need to trade.
Trade can assist the peace process.
The more open trade is the less likelihood
there is of war.
**
USA like all counties cannot simply lock itself
in and isolate itself from the world.
At least USA does not act exclusively in its
own interests.
The American people are big charitable donors.
Why is every American action always the subject
of criticism by some people.
U2 band member Bono, at least managed to recognise
George Bush increased aid to Africa.
April 1, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I’m not a terrorist because I live in mexico
April 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Bravo!
I am from Pakistan and I know the meanings of these words. Yes deprivation is the main issue. Unless life is lovable and livable you can’t win war against terror. Both USA and militants are responsible for creating such conditions.
April 2, 2009 at 6:29 am
Pakistan is a beautiful country
with some lovely and often very
attractive people.
But why are people like the Taliban
such … well appear to me to be …
such emmotional whimps?
There is no doubt that they are fierce fighters..
You have to have a certain respect there.
That is where I would be a whimp.
But why can they not accept that women may
actually be brighter than them.
It is really holding Pakistan back.
I know that not all of Pakistan is like that and
that there are some very clever Pakistani women.
You need a better woman than Benazir Bhutto
was though.
I would be interested to know just how many
woman hold positionsin politics and industry in
your country.
Concentarte on making women equal and your country
will really go places.
You have a lot to offer the world.
April 3, 2009 at 7:36 am
Sure Davey … open the can of worms why don’t ya!
For the sake of this discussion let us consider terrorism in the way that is commonly thought of these days: Iraq, Osama, Afganistan.
It is such an extremely complex issue there is no way to touch on every angle and a discussion of some of the justifications vs. the real motivations for these campains will be avoided.
As much as I connect with Davey’s philosophies and views I would not be one to jump on this bandwagon.
Unfortunately we do not live in a world where love and compassion are the answers to all situations.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)
These concepts are ones that humanity has struggled with for ages.
Do we not resist terrorism? Do we do nothing and allow terrorist organizations to build and plan and execute attacks without responding? As I write this an image crosses my mind: a soldier running in a zig-zag pattern up to a terrorist while the terrorist is shooting and then giving the terrorist a big hug and the war is over. Unfortunately this image does not represent the reality of our world.
Let us consider a situation that we can more easily wrap our heads around and consider how these concepts might apply.
Say you are walking down the street and you see someone being beaten in an apparent robbery. What do you do? Do you do nothing and just keep walking? Do you just call 911. Do you intervein? Let us say you decide to intervein. Do you just yell at the attacker to stop? What do you do if that does not work? Do you run toward the attacker to frighten the attacker away? What do you do if that does not work? Let us say that it does not work and the attacker continues to beat the life out of the other person — literally. So you decide that physical intervention is necessary. Should you hug the attacker in an attempt to stop the attack with love and compassion? Not likely. As you begin to intervien and simply try to place yourself between the attacker and the victim the attacker begins to attack you. Do you do nothing and let the attacker hurt you? Or do you respond in whatever means necessary to stop the attack? What if the attacker has a knife? or a gun? What if you are armed? Do you shoot and kill the attacker? Change the scenario a bit and add two more attackers. Change the scenario again and imagine the person being attacked is a friend, family member or other loved one. Does that change how you respond? While it would be a great thing to be able to stop the attack without causing harm to the attacker, this would not always be realistic. The scenarios are endless, but I think you get the idea.
As you zoom out from these scenarios to a regional, state, country or global perspective the scenarios only grow more complex and the responses needed to protect the well being of our friends, family, neighbors, etc. also grows more complex.
So what is the answer? My answer is I don’t know. But I do know that doing nothing is not the answer. And love and compassion is unfortunately not the answer either. That does not mean jumping right to fighting and war is the answer either. The answer likely lies somewhere near the middle path.
After reading it several times, my impression is that Davey is comparing apples to oranges. To compare terrorism with fat or poverty just does not jive. Nor does comparing fighting terrorism with food choices or growing more corn.
Resistance is necessary part of life (another random thought passes through my mind of the Borg and their moto “resistance is futile”). Our bodies resist illness and disease. I resist the temptation to eat more ice cream (a fight which I often lose to my delight). I do not sink into the ground because of the resistance between the ground and my feet. The handsome guy resists my flirtations (not to my delight). And so on and so forth. Non-resistance is a great concept and may be applicable to many situations, but it is not a universal truth.
April 3, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Well done, that is so refreshing – a thought out approach to pacifism.
So often people who claim to be pacifist are just people who hate their own country
without proper thought or consideration.
They would have no place for pacifism if the struggle was working towards the way they want the world to be.
The write large problems at home and dismiss the suffering of other gay people and people in general in the world.
This is just plain self centred.
**
It must be right to attempt peaceful solutions.
But the attitude people have towards it is facile and childish.
The saddest thing has just emerged though.
The Afghan president has just signed a decree legalising rape within marriage along with other serious measures that limit womens freedom.
This is to please the Shia Muslims.
And these people want equality in our country!
Here in teh UK young girls have committed suicide and been killed because they did not want to marry the guy their Muslim parents selected.
If this is the best we can achieve perhaps we might s well bring the troops home.
I want them to control their own destiny – but if this is how they behave they can watch their own soldier and police die, not our troops.
It is sad to see so many selfish Gay people who only live to hate their country though.
Its all a question of balance.
April 7, 2009 at 8:26 pm
You try being homosexual under Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and then tell me that it’s not worth fighting such people.
April 7, 2009 at 8:42 pm
People in Afghanistan believe what they believe. Going to war with them may ultimately change the type of government that they have, but it will never change what they believe. Although I may not agree with their beliefs, they are entitled to them.
April 8, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Sure the Shia women can actually decide
to stay indoors till their husband
determine they are allowed to go out .
So nice for your husband to be allowed to have
up to four wives while you will suffer the
severe penalty for adultery if you have an
interest in another man.
So nice to risk having your daughters taken away
from you because of mens power – or married of
in a commercial arrangemment at a young age.
**
So nice for women not to be able decide they would
like to choose to have an education.
Nice for women not to be able to decide
whether to seek a job and economic indepoendance.
It is only “not a problem” because they are not
allowed to learn of any alternative way of life.
**
I suspect that those having to actually live
under such pressures would like to learn
fresh ideas about the world and be really able to
choose the life they can lead.
They would love to have oportunities to use their
skills and blossom.
Thye would love to have some control over their
lives.
As a bare minimum they should have democracy
even if it is flawed it is a start.
April 7, 2009 at 9:41 pm
In the last couple of days, I watched Battle of Algiers and all the extra material included in the Criterion edition of this classic film shot in 1966. I really wish Pres. Obama had seen it too, because his remarks about our goals and methods in Afghanistan seem fundamentally flawed to me. What I take away from hours of film, biography, history, interviews, etc., is that you reap what you sow. If you use terrorism and force, you end up with chaos, which is what Algeria has now. The French used force and torture, and won the Battle of Algeria, but lost the war. The Algerians won their independence, but rather than a peaceful democracy, they are now fighting off religious fundamentalists.
We need to think more carefully about where to involve ourselves in the world, and how we do it. Because you reap what you sow.
April 8, 2009 at 1:44 am
I agree somewhat. I think the big mistake was going into Iraq in the first place, to find weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist. The war was based on a personal vendetta the Bush family had. Why didn’t they go into Afganistan, find the Taliban and hold them accountable for the attacks on 9/11. That should have been the number one priority at the time. The only issue for me here is that this isn’t a ‘War on Terror’ because you can’t fight fear, because fear comes with fighting. There is always fear when fighting, and one person terrorizes the other.