[Rhodes22-list] Politics - Quaint notion.

[SVGravityLeak at aol.com]

Bill,

I understand Rummy was referring to the list.  I was just trying to extend 
his premise to the national political forum.  

Unfortunately, the politics of America confronting terrorism is becoming the 
same as the old politics of confronting communism.  That is, those who seek 
profit and political power are driving the discussion as well as the policy.  

Too few in this country start with the understanding that people all over the 
world are just like us in wanting self determination.  Our revolutionary 
leaders called it "Liberty".  During our revolution, there was very little talk of 
democracy--mostly talk of liberty.  True democracy came years later, about as 
long as it took the Russians to achieve democracy after their revolution in 
1918.

In forcing our will on other people by either invading their countries or 
coercing their governments to join us in oppression, we violate the principles of 
our founding fathers.  People deprived of liberty will sign up with whatever 
the prevailing "ism" is to get back their liberty.  We saw that with the 
Germans, the Vietnamese and now we see it with the Iraqis.

Fred

In a message dated 10/8/2004 11:34:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
bill at effros.com writes:
Fred,

I interpreted Rummy's remark to mean that this list would stop being 
dominated by Politics in 3 1/2 weeks, not necessarily that things would actually get 
better.  If that was what Rummy meant, I agree with him.

Bill Effros