Subj : Re: [OT] Iraq, USA, World, politics, etc. (Was Re: Mandrake vs Suse)
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Willem van der Berg
Date : Thu Aug 26 2004 02:24 am

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 22:52:02 +0100, Matt wrote:
>> We're not proud and arrogant, like many claim we are. It seems others in
>> the world are arrogant though for judging us so harshly. We are proud
>> only in the sense we dearly love and respect our country. Terrorists who
>> attack us are enemies and thats only by their choice. We have chosen to
>> defend our land against such attacks even if we have to take the war
>> elsewhere to prevent future hostility. Attacking countries for their oil
>> is the last thing on our minds, of that I can assure you.

Patriotism is a beautiful thing, but your nation is a prime example of
what happens when it is badly abused by a corrupt regime and never ending
propaganda.
Every country has a certain propaganda, but you would clearly see that
American 'news' is very heavily biased once you cross the borders. Most of
the so called patriotism is actually a misguided trust in unreliable
sources of news.

Let me remind you that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Afghanistan had
nothing to do with 9/11. Saudi-Arabia did. They are your ally. Either your
government is ignorant, mis-informed or has a darker agenda in this matter.

>> We're also the biggest charitable contributor to third-world countries.

Does that include guns and other military equipment? It does seem a little
odd to be the biggest arms merchant in the world and also the biggest
charitable contributor. Here's the means to exterminate your neighbours
and here's some money to pay for the shelters.

>> I pay very high taxes and many of my dollars are sent overseas to
>> support countries who have much less.

Not support, control. Aid in return for submissiveness or favours. None
without the other.

>> How can the world think we're arrogant and only want to take other
>> peoples oil? What pure rubbish! Its a lie!
> 
> Your President is not popular in Europe. We are given the impression that
> he didn't get the job fairly, didn't go to war fairly (WMD...) and has the
> wrong motives for going to war. He apparently cares nothing for the world,
> and everything for America and its economy. This could well be the media's
> fault, but I'm sure your media is equally unfair towards whoever they
> don't like.

Not only is he not popular, he is recognised for what he is. He was never
voted the legitimate president of the USA and his complete ignorance on
any important matter is almost funny. On the other hand he is an
extremist with some very twisted ideas. He is the kind of man that is
going to get us all killed.

> I'll be fair, I haven't had the need to test any distro to this length, or
> for such an environment. I would still be skeptical of rejecting a forign
> product because it's foreign. If Mandrake and Suse were British companies,
> would that make any difference? Since then, language isn't a problem, time
> zones can be accomodated (if they want business, they'll work late), and
> Blair is best buddies with Bush?

It's complete bullocks. I actually laughed when I read that bit. Probably
the kind of person who boycots french fries too :)
(note: an American decided to call them french fries, probably because he
was too ignorant to realise that some Belgians may speak French but
certainly aren't from France).

.