Quote:
Originally Posted by Stumper
Madlib, is it not more than apparent that it is nearly impossibile to conduct a conversation without personal assaults, half-truths and lies from those who hold opposing points of view ?
From what I have seen in many threads in this forum it is customary, and almost honourary, to assault each other in these and in other ways.
I have given up posting anything which I consider might offer a glimmer of enlightenment, or at the very least an alternative perspective on an issue. I am tired of the abuse and narrow mindedness that is exposed in many of their responses.
|
I still find there are more who
are open-minded than not, on this forum. There are a few who have their backs up when there are negative comments towards the US from foreigners. I rarely waste time with them as, like you say, they are unlikely to change their POV regardless of all the proof they are shown. By the same token, I also see this in others here but it seems to be more predominant because it
is an American forum.
Also there are those here whom I consider on the other side of the aisle from my politics but I can still have a great discussion with such as Tim (good to see you on more lately), Gort, even Matt and some others. They provide me with their views in a positive manner and I understand their positions better than when someone simply bashes right out of the gate.
As for the OP, the events leading up to 9/11 may have been the result of US foreign policy, but I also keep in mind that that policy, for the most part, was also backed up by Canada for the most part, and we shared similar interests even if we did not participate directly. For example while Canada did not directly get involved in Vietnam, we were certainly in support of it, not only because the US was involved, but also it was a former territory of one of our founding nations, France.
In other words I don't fault the US for its foreign policy because we (Canada) was behind them 99% in most matters. It has only been in recent years that Canada has diverged from this support (could have been the dissolution of the USSR) and looked at our own interests first. What I do fault them on is not recognizing that a lot of what happens today in the world is the result of previous policies and that there should be more foresight before getting involved.