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July 12, 2003something to ponderIf we develop the technology is it really an ethical question about whether to use it or not? I think it's more a question of WHEN to use it. One thing I really like about living in the USA is the fact that our might is tempered by people who vote. We are not a bloodthirsty nation bent on world domination (no matter what some leftist asshats say). We prefer to be left alone, but if you FUCK WITH US, we'll open the most awesome can of whoop-ass you ever saw and feed it to you in one big bite. With that kind of power comes a LOT of responsibility. You open that awesome can of whoop-ass ONLY when you have to. You don't do it for shits and giggles or just because you can. Our ELECTED government can never do that unless we become a bloodthirsty people, and if we didn't after 9/11, we never will. I believe my government is picking my pocket right and left, and I believe that it pisses away money the way drunken sailors piss away beer. But I DON'T believe that we will EVER be run by a dictatorship that can get away with murder. The same people who fight our wars go to church, send their children to public schools and VOTE. They have a vested interest in keeping us from being something like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union under Stalin. We will not be picked on, but we don't pick on others, either. Not many countries in the history of the planet can say that and be telling the truth. We can. If we develop a "take you OUT in two hours" weapon we should produce it and advertize the fact that we have it. We should demonstrate it when the time is right, just to prove that we are serious. That will make a LOT of assholes in the world think twice about trying to bitch-slap the "Great Satan" when they want to pitch a hissy. I went to school with bullies, fought bullies on the playground and worked around bullies all of my life. I understand bullies. Implacable, inevitable force is the only thing they understand. They exploit your lack of will to confront them. The only way to handle a bully is to make him FEAR you. Teddy Roosevelt said it best: "Walk softly, but carry a big stick." Bullies may not know why you walk softly, but they damn sure understand that big stick. The USA is NOT a nation of bullies. But we are not a bunch of wusses, either. We can get along if you behave in a civilized manner. But if you CROSS US, we'll open that can of whoop-ass on you, every time. We need to send that message loud and clear to the bullies of the world.
Comments
Amen. We are also, in a sense, a nation of siblings. We may fight among ourselves, but, by gawd, no one else best mess with us! Posted by: Kat on July 12, 2003 11:08 AMA little off topic (OT) but you just reminded me of a billboard put up by a very upset farmer in a town outside of this city. About 5 years ago, the farmer made a satire quote for Klinton: "Walk softly and carry a Big Mac" Posted by: serenity on July 12, 2003 11:12 AMI agree with you that most Americans just want to live in peaceful freedom - but will kick ass if messed with. You know, I've developed a theory about this, too. Fanatical muslims claim that Americans are lazy, decedent and have no binding religion, but what they don't understand is the American archetype of the cowboy, and how most Americans revere those traits. Every little boy (and most little girls) loved the cowboy as a hero. We all grew up watching the "Good Guys" cowboys, independent, freedom loving, good-hearted souls who helped their neighbors, carried packages for little ol' ladies ("Howdy mam,can I help you with that?"), and worked hard to start their own spread. A cowboy was a man of few words, and great action. But if some mean badass showed up, the cowboy stood up to the badass, especially to defend the helpless. If pushed, the cowboy would kick serious ass! But he fought fair and would allow the badass to repent his ways and reform. That classic American archetype is deeply imbeded in most Americans. I really believe most Americans carry this archetype's behavior as an ideal - even if we don't act this way all the time. Maybe that is why people react so strongly (both positively and negatively) to George W - coming from Texas, having a ranch, he personifies the cowboy archetype. And he talks and acts like one too! By the way, Muslims have their own unique archetypes too - and understanding them is critical in these post 9/11 days. Posted by: Selky on July 12, 2003 11:39 AMThose who carp the most about us demonstrate an enormous inner jealousy they dare not express out loud. If we are really as terrible as they say, it seems MOST strange that there are many thousands clamoring to come here to live. We did develop a take you OUT in two hours weapon. Actually, it's a take you out in two seconds weapon. It's called the atomic bomb. I'm still of the belief we should have lobbed a low-yield weapon into a certain cave complex in Afghanistan. Nothing says "Don't Fuck With Us" like mushroom clouds on CNN. Granted, taking out the "impossible country" and the pride of the Arab world in a grand total of five weeks wasn't bad, either. Posted by: Mr. Lion on July 12, 2003 01:30 PM"I understand bullies. Implacable, inevitable force is the only thing they understand." Truer words were never spoken. Posted by: Kim du Toit on July 12, 2003 01:38 PMWhat concerns me is that if we have the ability to create it, so does someone else. There is not a license that you have to have sense when it comes to weapons like these, it's about who has the money to pay for it...and the person who does could be crazy as hell. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone. Posted by: Tyme on July 12, 2003 05:08 PMIf somebody else can do it, you had better do it first. That makes bullies pick on somebody else. Posted by: Acidman on July 12, 2003 05:44 PMI served in Europe during the cold war era, it always astounded me, how even twenty years ago they were crying for us Yanks to go home, out of one hand, while screwing every GI who would promise them a ticket to the USA, out of the other. I agree, there is no ethical dilemma, as long as we are the tallest dog, someone will try to push us around, better to be prepared. The devastation and technology it took, to knock a hole in the USS Cole was enough to flatten a few countries. We still are too soft on terrorists. Obviously someone didn't get the message, and needs another smart bomb up the ass. I love the unmanned drone technology, it's getting better all of the time. Posted by: SASSY on July 12, 2003 08:27 PMThis looks like a fitting link http://64.177.83.63/liberty/email.htm Remember the blood of Heroes, WTC attack, good photos Posted by: SASSY on July 12, 2003 10:37 PMRonald Reagan called it "peace through strength." That's the formula that ended the cold war ... without a shot being fired. Posted by: Robert on July 12, 2003 11:41 PMHeh, this thing has most of the stategic usefullness of a IBCM without the political The reason Americans don't like war is that Peace through superior firepower sounds far better. So this thing is like a cross between the Predator and a cruise missile. Posted by: Jack on July 18, 2003 10:23 AMPost a comment
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