posted 09-17- 02:27 PM               

Yes, most Americans (of which I am one) are fairly insular. Would we have reacted like Europe is if this had happened in Berlin or Rome? I don't know. Yes, I think the almighty dollar plays far to big a role in our lives. What American CEOs make compared to those elsewhere in the world is nothing short of obscene when there is so much need in the world. Yes, our society and our foriegn policy is often flawed. Etc., etc., etc.

That said, the use of the word, "blame" is grossly misplaced. Its use absolves those who actually carried out the attacks of responsibility. Every disaffected person in the world has not risen up and killed Westerners. Most Humans don't react that way. They work within the system, or they try to change the system peacefully. Regardless of foreign policy this and decadent Western society that, no one deserved what happened on Tuesday.

The best anology I can think of is this:

- I'm walking down the street and I see someone being beaten up.

- I intervene to stop the violence.

- Later, the person I stopped from pounding on someone else comes and beats me up.

- Then, others "blame" me for getting beaten up since I intervened in the first fight.

My example is simplistic, but you get the point. The use of the word "blame" also implies that one has done something wrong. For example, is our support of Israel, the only democracy in the region, something we should be ashamed of? We don't give them a blank check. Until Tuesday, we strongly protested some of their more heavy-handed tactics. Geo-politics is very complicated, and knowing when to intervene is often a case of trial and error. But the greatest error would be not to try. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" (sorry, I don't know the author of this wonderful quote).

Should we have seen Tuesday coming, certainly. Are many of our policies and actions, like those mentioned at the start of this post, causes of the resentment felt by the perpetrators, indeed. However, they are not the causes of the act itself. The responsibilty for it is theirs and the "blame" lies with them and their supporters.

Despite being a card carrying liberal, I am disgusted by the way in which much of our society seeks to absolve people from responsibility for their actions. We all have free will.

Please choose your words carefully.

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Be seeing you,
3dp
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