America

[Zoratunic]

What if careful diplomacy would have been the answer?

I doubt that the terrorists would actually listen to diplomacy.

[MasterKeyX]

There's something though, that I myself also has never thought of before I my classes "Philosophy of Law". We, the first world countries, think we know what's best for everyone. We were the ones who "created" human rights, decided what belonged to that category and what not. We "encourage" people and countries to use OUR democratic system. We "free" people from systems and situations that WE consider bad. But who are we? God? The World? Or just a powerful part of it that always thinks it knows best?

This is actually an excellent point, and one that I agree with entirely.

As for Iraq, we cannot leave and cut our losses, that would be, as said before, immoral. We'd be abandoning the people who we freed in the first place, and to me, that is a terrible terrible thing to even consider.

While attacing Iraq was indeed a stupid idea (for the most part) we cannot pull out and I have a feeling things will get better given time.

[Fishalicious]

What if careful diplomacy would have been the answer?

I doubt that the terrorists would actually listen to diplomacy.

It's all about presentation and choice of words. While, yes, many are steady on their opinions, probably at least one will be changed by it.

And... is a war no one can win really that much better?

[MasterKeyX]

I have to disagree. Terrorists are really insane, diplomacy won't work with them. It didnt work with Hitler, did it? Im sorry, but it won't work with Jihadists either.

North Koreans? Yes, probably, seeing as how they are more civilized.

[Zoratunic]

I really think that the terrorists aren't about to step down any time soon, no matter how nice we are to them. I remeber this political poll they made us take in my school, and on the question regarding terrorism, the most idiotic of all the possible answers stated "If we leave the terrorists alone and treat them kindly, they will all stop their activities and immediately become law abiding citizens." I don't think even an optimist would say that.

[darkphantomime]

The word 'civilized' is meaningless and opinionated because it reflects a personal bias in relation to who we deem to be 'civilized' and who we deem as 'savages', with questionable merit on what defines each. You think they'll run up to you hoping to cut your throat in half a second? Such biases and misconceptions are reminiscent of the west's point of view that people strange to us are 'savages' without any better idea as to who is really the savage.

[Zoratunic]

I wouldn't call the terroists savages, just insane jihadists.

[wiizard]

Just to make the observation: how can you call U.S.A America? There are like more than 50 countries in America, the rest of America has more geographic territory than U.S.A, there are like Panama, Cuba, Paraguay, Colombia, Canada, Mexico, etc.

[DW]

That would be North America and South America. How about I live in Britian and walk around calling it the United Kingdoms the whole time? It's just easier. Nobody living anywhere else in North/South America calls their country America, because we're the only country with America in the name.

[Commodore Axilon]

Semantics. Is it really a problem? It's not like nobody understands what we're talking about. We call ourselves America, the rest of the world calls us America, I just don't see the problem. And it certainly is easier if we call ourselves "Americans" instead of...what? "United Statesians"?

[wiizard]

Sure I understand, but America is a continent!! it is not only a single country I understand is the only one with America in their whole name but there are too many countries in North, Central and South america, that isn't fair that a single one takes the name of the continent they are in.

[DW]

We don't call ourselves North America. That's the continent. The continent is NOT called America.

[wiizard]

And combined with central and south, it is America!

[Commodore Axilon]

Do you call yourself an American? On a regular basis?

[wiizard]

Not even once.