Harold Mayo
March 2, 2003, 10:31 PM
Why is it that the anti-war people...well, the left in general...don't seem to "get" things?
1. The thought that violence never solves anything
Violence, or the threat of violence, solves virtually all problems. Most people don't even realize that the reason that they obey certain laws and pay their taxes is because of the implicit threat of violence from the government to them as individuals. It's a matter of weighing priorities...do I pay my taxes or do I go to war with my government? Gee...I'm one guy...I think I'll go ahead and pay the taxes.
2. People in other countries are NOT simply Americans who dress differently or look differently and can't be judged based on what we know about dealing with other Americans.
Middle Easterners are not simply guys with darker skin than most of us and towels wrapped around their heads. Their motivations are different, their upbringing is different, their goals and outlook on life are different. How few Americans are actually fanatical enough about their religion to die for it?
Asians are not simply smaller guys with a different skin tone and slanted eyes. They, too, are products of a different society and religion. They don't think like your friend whose great-grandparents happened to immigrate to America from China.
African blacks are not just like your local guys who join the NAACP because its something to do. Many of them still hold longstanding tribal rivalries to heart and many of the older leaders of various factions were born in grass huts even though they might have been educated in British, French, or American universities. They are NOT Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, or Whoopi Goldberg.
Our ideas of what is right and about how to deal effectively with others don't necessarily translate well to dealing with any other group. That's why we have diplomats and specialists to deal with them rather than just picking Joe off the street to be an ambassador.
3. Few actors or musicians have any real clue of the realities of foreign diplomacy or policy
Sheryl Crow was quoted a few days ago as saying something to the effect that having no enemies is the best way to avoid war or something like that. Well, Sheryl, that's true. It's a nice thing to wish for but it's like any socialist ideal in that it's never going to happen. We, the U.S., are the "haves" and most other countries are the "have-nots". We are going to have enemies whether we want to or not. Since we're going to have enemies, we might as well make sure that they fear crossing us rather than thinking that we, as a nation, are a bunch of pansies who can be pushed around.
Martin Sheen only plays a president on television. He is not one in real life. Judging from the behavior of his children, I cannot help but believe that he shouldn't be trying to guide anyone else.
I liked M.A.S.H. but Mike Farrell has no idea how to deal with a potentially hostile foreign power and so should just continue luncheons with Alan Alda and keep quiet. What are we going to do? Appease other countries? That really works. What happens in the schoolyard when you keep giving the bully your lunch money? Is he going to respect you? No. He'll see you as an easy mark and so will others as time goes on. If he presses you for your lunch money and then you give him a blood nose, will he respect you? He might still take it from you if he's tougher but he'll likely hesitate before trying it again.
4. If you don't deal from a position of strength, then you don't deal effectively.
Other countries don't deal with the US on friendly terms because we're a good bunch of guys. They deal with us because of one or both of two reasons-we have something that they want or they fear us. There is nothing else. If we don't have anything for them and they don't fear us, then there is no reason to deal.
In a situation like we have now, with a couple of potential fronts and all eyes upon the US, we can't afford to back down. Regardless of how we got to this point, we CAN NOT back down now. That opens up a HUGE can of worms for the years to come.
Ahhh...I feel a little better now. Thanks for listening. Anyone care to disagree with me?
1. The thought that violence never solves anything
Violence, or the threat of violence, solves virtually all problems. Most people don't even realize that the reason that they obey certain laws and pay their taxes is because of the implicit threat of violence from the government to them as individuals. It's a matter of weighing priorities...do I pay my taxes or do I go to war with my government? Gee...I'm one guy...I think I'll go ahead and pay the taxes.
2. People in other countries are NOT simply Americans who dress differently or look differently and can't be judged based on what we know about dealing with other Americans.
Middle Easterners are not simply guys with darker skin than most of us and towels wrapped around their heads. Their motivations are different, their upbringing is different, their goals and outlook on life are different. How few Americans are actually fanatical enough about their religion to die for it?
Asians are not simply smaller guys with a different skin tone and slanted eyes. They, too, are products of a different society and religion. They don't think like your friend whose great-grandparents happened to immigrate to America from China.
African blacks are not just like your local guys who join the NAACP because its something to do. Many of them still hold longstanding tribal rivalries to heart and many of the older leaders of various factions were born in grass huts even though they might have been educated in British, French, or American universities. They are NOT Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, or Whoopi Goldberg.
Our ideas of what is right and about how to deal effectively with others don't necessarily translate well to dealing with any other group. That's why we have diplomats and specialists to deal with them rather than just picking Joe off the street to be an ambassador.
3. Few actors or musicians have any real clue of the realities of foreign diplomacy or policy
Sheryl Crow was quoted a few days ago as saying something to the effect that having no enemies is the best way to avoid war or something like that. Well, Sheryl, that's true. It's a nice thing to wish for but it's like any socialist ideal in that it's never going to happen. We, the U.S., are the "haves" and most other countries are the "have-nots". We are going to have enemies whether we want to or not. Since we're going to have enemies, we might as well make sure that they fear crossing us rather than thinking that we, as a nation, are a bunch of pansies who can be pushed around.
Martin Sheen only plays a president on television. He is not one in real life. Judging from the behavior of his children, I cannot help but believe that he shouldn't be trying to guide anyone else.
I liked M.A.S.H. but Mike Farrell has no idea how to deal with a potentially hostile foreign power and so should just continue luncheons with Alan Alda and keep quiet. What are we going to do? Appease other countries? That really works. What happens in the schoolyard when you keep giving the bully your lunch money? Is he going to respect you? No. He'll see you as an easy mark and so will others as time goes on. If he presses you for your lunch money and then you give him a blood nose, will he respect you? He might still take it from you if he's tougher but he'll likely hesitate before trying it again.
4. If you don't deal from a position of strength, then you don't deal effectively.
Other countries don't deal with the US on friendly terms because we're a good bunch of guys. They deal with us because of one or both of two reasons-we have something that they want or they fear us. There is nothing else. If we don't have anything for them and they don't fear us, then there is no reason to deal.
In a situation like we have now, with a couple of potential fronts and all eyes upon the US, we can't afford to back down. Regardless of how we got to this point, we CAN NOT back down now. That opens up a HUGE can of worms for the years to come.
Ahhh...I feel a little better now. Thanks for listening. Anyone care to disagree with me?