That's fine. Who is elevating one over the other? Certainly not I.
Attempting to equalize somewhat perhaps. That's fair and appropriate. I'd like to know when exactly in the past 6 years did America become so high and mighty as human beings in their views towards other countries?
One could argue US foreign policy has become quite a disaster.
Roland, it is my opinion that, right now, with our current foreign policy (and past policies), the US has not taken the moral high road. I share your frustrations in that regard.
I just don't think it helps our cause to uplift a man such as Ahmadinejad or make excuses for him. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to state, 'oh, Ahmadinehad was misquoted or misunderstood' when it is very clear where that man stands on many issues. Does that give the US the moral high ground concerning their foreign policy? Absolutely not! Just because one believes Ahmadinejad to be 'not a nice person', that does NOT absolve the US of their failings.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
Roland, it is my opinion that, right now, with our current foreign policy (and past policies), the US has not taken the moral high road. I share your frustrations in that regard.
I just don't think it helps our cause to uplift a man such as Ahmadinejad or make excuses for him. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to state, 'oh, Ahmadinehad was misquoted or misunderstood' when it is very clear where that man stands on many issues. Does that give the US the moral high ground concerning their foreign policy? Absolutely not! Just because one believes Ahmadinejad to be 'not a nice person', that does NOT absolve the US of their failings.
Great post. I share your feelings on this matter. It seems that many left leaning individual have been doing what you stated. We do not need to make a man like Ahmadinejad into a hero in order to criticize American foreign policy.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
Roland, it is my opinion that, right now, with our current foreign policy (and past policies), the US has not taken the moral high road. I share your frustrations in that regard.
I just don't think it helps our cause to uplift a man such as Ahmadinejad or make excuses for him. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to state, 'oh, Ahmadinehad was misquoted or misunderstood' when it is very clear where that man stands on many issues. Does that give the US the moral high ground concerning their foreign policy? Absolutely not! Just because one believes Ahmadinejad to be 'not a nice person', that does NOT absolve the US of their failings.
I'm not making excuses, just identifying some of the blatant propaganda being spun around heading into this new Iran war.
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
Roland, it is my opinion that, right now, with our current foreign policy (and past policies), the US has not taken the moral high road. I share your frustrations in that regard.
I just don't think it helps our cause to uplift a man such as Ahmadinejad or make excuses for him. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to state, 'oh, Ahmadinehad was misquoted or misunderstood' when it is very clear where that man stands on many issues. Does that give the US the moral high ground concerning their foreign policy? Absolutely not! Just because one believes Ahmadinejad to be 'not a nice person', that does NOT absolve the US of their failings.
Great post. I share your feelings on this matter. It seems that many left leaning individual have been doing what you stated. We do not need to make a man like Ahmadinejad into a hero in order to criticize American foreign policy.
I do not believe I've promoted Ahmadinejad anywhere in this thread.
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
I do not believe I've promoted Ahmadinejad anywhere in this thread.
You may not have promoted him but when asked about the fact that Iran executes homosexuals your first response was to criticize the way the US treated blacks in the past.
The US is guilty of some pretty fucked up shit even in this day and age but to try to compare the US to Iran is absolutely ridiculous.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
You may not have promoted him but when asked about the fact that Iran executes homosexuals your first response was to criticize the way the US treated blacks in the past.
The US is guilty of some pretty fucked up shit even in this day and age but to try to compare the US to Iran is absolutely ridiculous.
I did make references to the fact that they are indeed different. In fact I said exactly that a couple times and made comparisons to apples and oranges.
You see, the western media is in the process right now of spinning a significant amount of hatred towards Iran with hopes of passing off another war by belittling and demonizing the entire situation.
The saying let he who is without guilt cast the first stone comes to mind
Just casting some light on reality.
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
I did make references to the fact that they are indeed different. In fact I said exactly that a couple times and made comparisons to apples and oranges.
You see, the western media is in the process right now of spinning a significant amount of hatred towards Iran with hopes of passing off another war by belittling and demonizing the entire situation.
The saying let he who is without guilt cast the first stone comes to mind
Just casting some light on reality.
I agree that the media is using anything it can to demonize him, but guess what the man isn't exactly a saint. Should he be criticized for his words and his actions, Yes. Are his words and his actions worthy of us taking military action against him, NO.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
I agree that the media is using anything it can to demonize him, but guess what the man isn't exactly a saint. Should he be criticized for his words and his actions, Yes. Are his words and his actions worthy of us taking military action against him, NO.
If he actually said wipe Israel off the map etc... by all means. So far all I hear this guy talk about is peace, and wanting to live in peace, and have more discussions and talks. They were ready to ban the guy from speaking at Columbia. Not only that they smeared him before he got a chance to speak even (brutal!) Bush has also previously refused to communicate with the guy, when asked to initiate communication.
I have no affinity for the guy, it's just that I have less affinity for blatant misinformation with a hidden agenda behind it.
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
I'm not making excuses, just identifying some of the blatant propaganda being spun around heading into this new Iran war.
Now this I agree with, Roland. Recently, the Senate passed (76-22, I think) a resolution branding Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. To me, this appears to be a back-door way to declare war on Iran under the blanket of 'The War on Terror'. This concerns me greatly, as I do not support preemptive war. But Ahmadinejad...........you will not hear any words of support from me concerning him. I will, however, vehemently oppose any preemptive military action against Iran.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
If he actually said wipe Israel off the map etc... by all means. So far all I hear this guy talk about is peace, and wanting to live in peace, and have more discussions and talks. They were ready to ban the guy from speaking at Columbia. Not only that they smeared him before he got a chance to speak even (brutal!) Bush has also previously refused to communicate with the guy, when asked to initiate communication.
I have no affinity for the guy, it's just that I have less affinity for blatant misinformation with a hidden agenda behind it.
I'm focusing on Iran's policy of executing homosexuals here. I agree with you on every other facet. Iran has a horrorable human rights record and if the media or this administration wants to criticize him because of that by all means go ahead. What I disapprove of, as you stated as well, is using this as some preface for war.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
If he actually said wipe Israel off the map etc... by all means. So far all I hear this guy talk about is peace, and wanting to live in peace, and have more discussions and talks. They were ready to ban the guy from speaking at Columbia. Not only that they smeared him before he got a chance to speak even (brutal!) Bush has also previously refused to communicate with the guy, when asked to initiate communication.
I agree that the actions of Columbia before his speech were, well, very dumb and short-sighted to say the least. I believe the incompetence of the Bush administration is playing into this guys hands. And US current foreign policy certainly defeats any moral credibility in the eyes of the rest of the world. Ahmadinejad is very cunning and to many, he appears to be this man of love and peace. :rolleyes: So frustrating!! Which is why I usually avoid these discussions. But it has been interesting today, fellas. Until next time............
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
The irony of this story is that we now have conservatives in the US suddenly defending gays and liberals in the US glossing over the mistreatment of gays and pointing to other issues.
Again, this is why I think politics has become more of a sport where people are more concerned about their "team" winning than anything else.
Comments
Roland, it is my opinion that, right now, with our current foreign policy (and past policies), the US has not taken the moral high road. I share your frustrations in that regard.
I just don't think it helps our cause to uplift a man such as Ahmadinejad or make excuses for him. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to state, 'oh, Ahmadinehad was misquoted or misunderstood' when it is very clear where that man stands on many issues. Does that give the US the moral high ground concerning their foreign policy? Absolutely not! Just because one believes Ahmadinejad to be 'not a nice person', that does NOT absolve the US of their failings.
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
Great post. I share your feelings on this matter. It seems that many left leaning individual have been doing what you stated. We do not need to make a man like Ahmadinejad into a hero in order to criticize American foreign policy.
I'm not making excuses, just identifying some of the blatant propaganda being spun around heading into this new Iran war.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
You may not have promoted him but when asked about the fact that Iran executes homosexuals your first response was to criticize the way the US treated blacks in the past.
The US is guilty of some pretty fucked up shit even in this day and age but to try to compare the US to Iran is absolutely ridiculous.
I did make references to the fact that they are indeed different. In fact I said exactly that a couple times and made comparisons to apples and oranges.
You see, the western media is in the process right now of spinning a significant amount of hatred towards Iran with hopes of passing off another war by belittling and demonizing the entire situation.
The saying let he who is without guilt cast the first stone comes to mind
Just casting some light on reality.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
I agree that the media is using anything it can to demonize him, but guess what the man isn't exactly a saint. Should he be criticized for his words and his actions, Yes. Are his words and his actions worthy of us taking military action against him, NO.
If he actually said wipe Israel off the map etc... by all means. So far all I hear this guy talk about is peace, and wanting to live in peace, and have more discussions and talks. They were ready to ban the guy from speaking at Columbia. Not only that they smeared him before he got a chance to speak even (brutal!) Bush has also previously refused to communicate with the guy, when asked to initiate communication.
I have no affinity for the guy, it's just that I have less affinity for blatant misinformation with a hidden agenda behind it.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Now this I agree with, Roland. Recently, the Senate passed (76-22, I think) a resolution branding Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. To me, this appears to be a back-door way to declare war on Iran under the blanket of 'The War on Terror'. This concerns me greatly, as I do not support preemptive war. But Ahmadinejad...........you will not hear any words of support from me concerning him. I will, however, vehemently oppose any preemptive military action against Iran.
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
I'm focusing on Iran's policy of executing homosexuals here. I agree with you on every other facet. Iran has a horrorable human rights record and if the media or this administration wants to criticize him because of that by all means go ahead. What I disapprove of, as you stated as well, is using this as some preface for war.
I agree that the actions of Columbia before his speech were, well, very dumb and short-sighted to say the least. I believe the incompetence of the Bush administration is playing into this guys hands. And US current foreign policy certainly defeats any moral credibility in the eyes of the rest of the world. Ahmadinejad is very cunning and to many, he appears to be this man of love and peace. :rolleyes: So frustrating!! Which is why I usually avoid these discussions. But it has been interesting today, fellas. Until next time............
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
Again, this is why I think politics has become more of a sport where people are more concerned about their "team" winning than anything else.