[Shotimes] Re: Baghdad has fallen bad america?!

[IdriveaSHO@aol.com]

Toolman~ You make it sound like you aren't proud to be an American(I'm sure 
you are, hopefully I just read it wrong or something).  As far as I know the 
only person who was ever perfect was Jesus(if you believe in him) and since 
then nobody has been perfect. Back when indians were being killed they were 
considered inferior by the people(bigots) that came here. The indians didn't 
want us here and they killed americans/british and neither of them wanted the 
indians here so they killed the indians. A mostly forgoten fact is that the 
Indians learned to scalp from the british, who were that ruthless back then 
to actually scalp people. Also the african slaves were considered inferior, 
property, and "sub human" but don't forget that the african tribal leaders 
were the ones selling those slaves to anyone that would buy them(basically 
tribes capturing people of another tribe and selling them). It wasn't just 
the "horrible americans" who had blood on their hands for that. Last I 
checked though none of the people I know have had slaves or fought with 
indians and it would seem our country has learned from our mistakes as I 
don't know of anyone who wants to go kill indians(or anyone else for that 
matter) for territory or own a slave(although a robot that cooked and did 
dishes would be nice). We have a military full of white/black/red/yellow 
people all fighting for our country and for us because they love THEIR 
country and want to help keep us, our families, and the rest of the world 
free to be who we want, pray to who we want, and have the ability to say what 
we want. To say we are something less because of a history of fighting and 
blood that our very distant ancestors had done and we had quit doing and 
learned from is dumb. We now see why being intolerant of someone because of 
race or religion is a stupid thing, that's why we're over there helping the 
Sunnis, Shites, Muslims etc to be free. Regan going against what alot of 
people(americans and others) and building up arms in the cold war and the SDI 
programs is what made the Berlin wall come down and get Germany to be a 
respectable country. We also liberated France in WWII. Now both of them, 
thanks to the USA have the right and freedom to disagree with us. Also I 
don't think anyone is trying to portray us as "some peace loving, all good, 
based on Christian values" country as you said. We started a war because 
Saddam wouldn't listen to diplomacy. Obviously Hitler and the Japanese 
Emperor were not going to listen to talking either. If you look back, this 
country has had war for most of its life, I can count 10 wars since this 
country was founded without any trouble and I know there are more. As for 
being based on Christian values, as a Christian I have to say that you'll 
find that Christian values are pretty much the same as values of most 
religions(and vice versa). Honor thy father and mother, do unto others as you 
would have done unto you, etc etc etc. Not exactly stuff that someone should 
be judged harshly for, those are all things you should do if you are 
religious or not. This country was founded for religious freedom, that's why 
you have Islam, Christianity, Judism(sp?), Catholicism, Mormanism, etc etc. 
Taking this time to compare the US to hitler or Saddam is just plain stupid. 
Yes there has been alot of killing in the past, we had a civil war for crying 
out loud, how can that be seen as anything but a failure of communication? It 
did help make the country better though(unless you ask someone from South 
Carolina  j/k) but just like Rome having the last of the gladiator fights the 
US has learned from history(ours and others) and I don't think we'd ever try 
and oppress any race or religion, and I don't think we'd try and start any 
imoral wars either. Maybe I read to much into that email, if so feel free to 
let me know. It just struck me wrong though. To everyone, including the 
previous sender, have a great day and be happy to be living in the greatest 
country on the face of the planet where you have the right to say and do 
whatever you want so long as it doesn't cause a danger(physicaly or 
financially) to others(pretty much true). God Bless America -Steve Bowen