RE: *** ADMIN: September 11th

Jeff,

I'm not talking in terms of countries doing better or worse but the fact is
that US foreign policy has been tied to economic and political gain rather
than championing the goal of global democracy.  It could be argued that that
is just the way the world works but in that case we shouldn't pretend it is
guided by idealistic notions alone.

This isn't an attack on Americans - as I said they have much to be proud of
and yes as I pointed out myself are seen as a free and democratic country by
many refugees.  It is to their credit that they have offered thousands of
people asylum and their cities are a wide and rich tapestry of diverse
cultures. I am just saying that it would be wrong to pretend they have
always acted as a beacon for democracy in their foreign policy.  The fact is
that they have often caused a great deal of suffering for economic and
political gain in countries that were already democratic and have helped
many dictators in power so that they might be more sympathetic to America's
interests.

I don't have to say any other country has done better - that wasn't my
argument.

Again, my wish is not to rub salt in people's wounds but simply to temper a
somewhat hyperbolic statement - that's all.

My thoughts are with any who have suffered as a result of September 11th and
from terrorism, occupation and war elsewhere.

Jenny M

                -----Original Message-----
                From:   Jeff Crosby [mailto:jlcrosby@DILGARDFOODS.COM]
                Sent:   12 September 2002 13:19
                To:     midrange-l@midrange.com
                Subject:        Re: *** ADMIN: September 11th

                Mauger, Jenny wrote:

                > However, for all I respect the American
                > constitution and it's ideals and the ideals of most decent
ordinary
                > Americans, I would have to add that those ideals have not
always been fought
                > for well.  America has invaded politically or militarily
many countries
                > whose only crime was to choose (democratically) a
different political system
                > to America's or to elect a leader that the American
leadership disliked.

                So we're not perfect.  Name one country that has done
better.  I wonder
                why our shores teem with immigrants.

                > I just
                > don't like sweeping comments that hold America up as a
beacon for democracy
                > world wide.

                Again, name a country that has done better.

                > September the 11th was terrible.  What we need is a real
United Nations that
                > will go to the aid of any country that is being invaded or
attacked by
                > another, without economic or political preference, whether
that country is
                > Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Burma, Ireland, Israel, Palestine etc
etc.

                Never happen.  The UN is political.

                > Just my view,

                Understood.  My belief is that the UN will never agree to
what has to
                happen to Saddam Hussein.  Does anyone really not believe he
is a
                tyrant?  I fear the US will wind up like Israel, with
continued
                terrorist attacks and suicide bombings here and there.  Just
far enough
                apart that the UN will say "Oh no, you can't do anything
about it."  And
                we'll be expected to just sit and take it.

                --
                Jeff Crosby
                Dilgard Frozen Foods, Inc.
                P.O. Box 13369
                Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
                260-422-7531

                The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily
                the opinion of my company.  Unless I say so.



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