Comments on: Anniversary Of 9-11: Needing A New Path http://www.diamondcutlife.org/anniversary-of-9-11-needing-a-new-path/ Sustainable Living: The Heart Of The Matter Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:24:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: richard pauli http://www.diamondcutlife.org/anniversary-of-9-11-needing-a-new-path/comment-page-1/#comment-15648 richard pauli Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:22:52 +0000 http://www.diamondcutlife.org/?p=1236#comment-15648 You are spot on. But Afghanistan is not really a war, it is a method of US self-destruction. Afghanistan just happens to be the selected theater arena. We will eventually wind down. Even military people know that the only way we will prevail is to engage in peaceful nation building. You are spot on.

But Afghanistan is not really a war, it is a method of US self-destruction. Afghanistan just happens to be the selected theater arena.

We will eventually wind down. Even military people know that the only way we will prevail is to engage in peaceful nation building.

]]> By: Evan Wilson http://www.diamondcutlife.org/anniversary-of-9-11-needing-a-new-path/comment-page-1/#comment-15500 Evan Wilson Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:20:05 +0000 http://www.diamondcutlife.org/?p=1236#comment-15500 I wholeheartedly agree with your stance on getting out of Afghanistan.... just a few points that I thought of while reading your post: 1. Regarding your very first point: not only is killing civilians morally wrong. Killing at all is morally wrong in my book! In my perfect world America responds with loving kindness to acts of hatred and violence (think Buddha or Jesus, and I'm not religious). So how do we (the pacifists) win the ideological war against the violent militants that are driving the agenda of this war and all others past and future (and justify doing so under a flag of patriotism)? I could debate with myself forever whether some wars (or even violence person to person) is justified out of self-defense - just a disclaimer before you reading this decide to go there. Secondly, whatever happened to bin Laden? Isn't that why we went in? Maybe I'm just missing any mention of this fact in the media, but I haven't heard anything about that guy in awhile. Which makes me feel (makes me certain) that Bush used (rightfully or not I cant decide) 9-11 as a sure-fire method to win the support of Congress (and us) in acting out some sick cowboy-indian fantasy in a dusty little country where the indians hate Jesus, oppress women and have no tolerance for democracy or freedom (its even hard for me to not want to "liberate" the Afghanis for these reasons - but I believe this is our cultural bias, which is a whole different topic all together!). One side point before I make my main point (thanks for bearing with me on this little rant): what about that loving kindness to push our cultural agenda in the world if that is what we must do instead of violent hatred? The results might not be so quick, but there is less gore. Okay, my main point is that Obama is continuing Bush's war. Sure, he's come up with some strategies of his own, but he's still ultimately trying to finish what Bush started (the Taliban part - Osama is probably in Tahiti sipping gin and tonics on the beach and crying about having to cut off his beard and the Western nose-job so no one will recognize him - or 6 feet under somewhere in the mountains). I think Obama pulled the wool over our eyes (I voted for him and will likely do so again). As President of the United States, he doesn't represent change from the status quo (maybe he personally does and maybe the system won't allow him to exert that change). And to me - case in point - he doesn't even represent a 180 degree change from Bush. Maybe just about 170. I wholeheartedly agree with your stance on getting out of Afghanistan…. just a few points that I thought of while reading your post:
1. Regarding your very first point: not only is killing civilians morally wrong. Killing at all is morally wrong in my book! In my perfect world America responds with loving kindness to acts of hatred and violence (think Buddha or Jesus, and I’m not religious). So how do we (the pacifists) win the ideological war against the violent militants that are driving the agenda of this war and all others past and future (and justify doing so under a flag of patriotism)? I could debate with myself forever whether some wars (or even violence person to person) is justified out of self-defense – just a disclaimer before you reading this decide to go there.

Secondly, whatever happened to bin Laden? Isn’t that why we went in? Maybe I’m just missing any mention of this fact in the media, but I haven’t heard anything about that guy in awhile. Which makes me feel (makes me certain) that Bush used (rightfully or not I cant decide) 9-11 as a sure-fire method to win the support of Congress (and us) in acting out some sick cowboy-indian fantasy in a dusty little country where the indians hate Jesus, oppress women and have no tolerance for democracy or freedom (its even hard for me to not want to “liberate” the Afghanis for these reasons – but I believe this is our cultural bias, which is a whole different topic all together!). One side point before I make my main point (thanks for bearing with me on this little rant): what about that loving kindness to push our cultural agenda in the world if that is what we must do instead of violent hatred? The results might not be so quick, but there is less gore.

Okay, my main point is that Obama is continuing Bush’s war. Sure, he’s come up with some strategies of his own, but he’s still ultimately trying to finish what Bush started (the Taliban part – Osama is probably in Tahiti sipping gin and tonics on the beach and crying about having to cut off his beard and the Western nose-job so no one will recognize him – or 6 feet under somewhere in the mountains).

I think Obama pulled the wool over our eyes (I voted for him and will likely do so again). As President of the United States, he doesn’t represent change from the status quo (maybe he personally does and maybe the system won’t allow him to exert that change). And to me – case in point – he doesn’t even represent a 180 degree change from Bush. Maybe just about 170.

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