London bombing

[beautifulblue]

More bombings...on a day for Peace.

It's all just so...I dont know.

Sometimes the state of things just makes me want to sit down and cry.

Comments

[vanderduff]

I'd agree that many in the arab and muslim worlds have legitimate grievances with the U.S. We've supported a lot of bad governments over the years in the name of "stability", because they were our dictators and not someone else's. There are legitimate ways of expressing those grievances however, and blowing up civilians is never one of them. Once someone crosses that line, the only way to deal with them is through force, because its the only way to be sure you get them before they get you.

Thats the big difference between the Afghan and Iraq wars, because in one we were responding to a threat that had already killed thousands of our civilians. The other was an unprovoked invasion. But if Al-Qaeda has gone to Iraq now only because there are Americans to kill there, then they have made themselves equally vulnerable to us in the process, and we will target them there as well.

I would vehemently disagree with your suggestion that these islamic fundamentalists are fighting for "freedom" as Americans understand it. One of the statements made by Al-Qaeda is that any democracy is inherently evil because it involves the freedom to choose your own religion, something that under their breed of Islam is punishable by death. They wish to force everyone to convert to their religion or die, and they're more than prepared to help anyone with the dying part. By definition, you can't peacefully coexist with people like that, and the only place fit for them is a jail cell or a grave.

[sarcasticchick]

i agree and at the same time disagree.

by my own ethics and morals i agree with what you say.

however, to argue your point, how is what they believe any different than what americans believe when considered at it's most fundamental? we believe in democracy and freedom via the american way. we believe this to the extent we go to other countries and attempt to instill democracy into their government policy (or anarchy, as it might be). this is not without war, violence, or attempts in retaliation. is what america does correct?

just because i don't agree with their goals doesn't mean that i don't understand that they believe just as strongly in their ways as i believe in mine and that they believe what they do is -right-. obviously, i find logic flawed if they think death is an answer, but then again, one could argue that the crusades support this flawed logic and that draws us back to a square i don't necessarily support.

if we condemn them for their beliefs, we are no better than them as they condemn us. doesn't make it 'right,' killing in the name of religion to me defeats the concept and idealism of religion and spirit(uality).

but if it's in the name of democracy, does speaking that name give us any more right to kill/imprison/battle those who don't practice what we preach?