What Fires You Up?

10/11/2002

 

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BJ 10/11/2002 04:25:00 PM

 

Amazing! Six hours ago, the Nobel Peace Prize for 2002 was awarded to Jimmy Carter! BBC News profile on Carter More European stories on this: BBC News Radio Netherlands: From South Africa: Independent Online: No Peace in Nobel Committee after Remarks and this following article: Jimmy More Nobel than Bush? From Austrailia: Sydney Morning Herald article And now, for something completely different: Congress votes for Bush war plans on Iraq * * * * * * * cobalt * * * * * * *

BJ 10/11/2002 09:47:00 AM

 

Now, on the far more serious side, this post contains only some of the questions posed in an Episcopal Sermon that has just gone around the Net this week, from "Brother Edward, BSG" of the guardians@world.std.org "Why Iraq? The response might be that their leader is a despot. A dictator that kills and abuses his own people. That he has terrible weapons that could be used against his neighbors and against us. All true statements. But the same could be said about Iran and Syria both of which have closer ties to terrorism then does Iraq. The same could be said about North Korea, China, Burma, and many other countries of the world. The same could be said of the new Republics of Central Asia that were once part of the Soviet Union, and our new allies in the war on terrorism. The same could be said of Pakistan, a country that already has the atomic bomb, and a country where Christians are killed for their beliefs on a fairly regular basis. Even Saudi Arabia, our friend and ally of many years, has closer ties to Al Qaeda then does Iraq. So I ask again, why Iraq? My answer is that our people are still angry and somebody has to pay in a substantial and visible way for 9/11. Iraq is simply the easiest target. We already control their air space and we destroyed a good portion of their army in the Gulf War 10 years ago. They have never been able to rebuild it to its former strength. Unfortunately, Al Qaeda still exists and their leaders are still at large after more then a year. The other countries I mentioned would be much more difficult to invade or are our friends and business partners. Iraq is easy and a pariah in the world." What is the actual threat to the United States and the purpose of the war? How many American lives will we expend to punish Saddam Hussein? How long will public support last, if hundreds, or possibly thousands of Americans are killed? How, militarily, do we plan to fight this war? How many Iraqi citizens do we plan to kill in order to bring them democracy? How will we govern a defeated Iraq? How does the war against Iraq contribute to winning the war against terrorism? Ask yourself, what's the bigger threat to our nation? Iraq, or 40 million people without health insurance? Iraq, or schools that can't teach our children to read? Iraq or CEO's who rob their stockholders of their savings and their employees of their pensions, and go unpunished? Iraq or senior citizens who can't afford their medication? What's a bigger threat to our nation, an unnecessary war or peace? Do we really want to squander our resources on this war? If anyone wants the full copy of this sermon (and it is well worth reading!), please email me and I will send the Word file... * * * * * * * cobalt * * * * * * *

BJ 10/11/2002 08:37:00 AM

 

Recommended blogs for the day: stark daving mad.com and Pick Up Your Own Damn Socks, a weblog for wives and girlfriends. Now, in the first blog, scroll down a few days and see the image of his "brand name flag" - he's got a few lines quoted from "The Star Spangled Banner, and you then select from drop down menus for two inserted phrases. "Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the (detainees,legal fees, GDP, GOP's, gum disease,MTV,"more for me", more debris), and the home of (brand slaves, crime waves, lattes, depraved, enslaved)" In the second blog, which Dave recommended, it does get pretty funny - check the archives, too. He says "don't laugh, are you sure your wife or girlfriend is not one of them???" * * * * * * * cobalt * * * * * * *

BJ 10/11/2002 08:29:00 AM