About our country

In a recent post from Elderjane (Jeri) lamenting the tragedy of 9/11, one commenter blamed the U.S. for its policies and interference into the affairs of others that led to the destruction of the towers. Not necessarily that we “deserved” it but, you know, consequences are consequences. Several of us begged to differ and commented further.

Meanwhile, I have this to add regarding the U.S. as a target for extremists. There is nothing, NOTHING, the U.S. can do or un-do (if that were possible) that would satisfy Islamic fundamentalists. Iraq, Iran, Pakistan – all irrelevant because it isn’t about the reality of our behavior, it is about wanting to destroy us. We are not like them and that is enough. They teach their young to hate us and instill fanatical hatred before these children are weaned. We could withdraw, or give them everything they wanted, and they would not stop. I don’t have an easy answer, but constant vigilance has to continue and efforts to stop the insidious indoctrination of their young must begin, else there will be no end to youth blowing themselves up so they can kill us.

The goal of the terrorists on September 11, was to weaken our financial infrastructure. In physical terms, they succeeded beyond their imagining. Who knew (certainly not they) that the towers had a weak spot that made them vulnerable to this kind of attack? When the towers were built, the architects did not envision the insanity of planes crashing into them.

But in financial terms, they failed, as we were quickly able to reestablish communications and reconstitute records. But think, for a moment, if they had succeeded in demolishing our financial infrastructure. Don’t they realize that the entire world economy is married to ours? Did they just miss that the name of the towers was WORLD TRADE CENTER? Destroy this intricate inter-dependency and everyone is in trouble. And the poor will get poorer. And that includes muslims.

As for our “interference” into the affairs of others, if it were not for our interference in World War II, Europe would now be under Nazi domination. If it were not for our interference, the USSR would still control all of Eastern Europe.


And the U.S. has been generous in releasing held territories. It has granted independence to many of its off-shore territories by peaceful treaty, the most notable being the Philippines. No revolutions. Puerto Rico could have its independence if it wants. The majority vote against it because they know the U.S. provides benefits and protection they could not achieve on their own. Our poorer neighbors breach our borders to get a better life. Can you tell me where else this is happening?

Compare this to the British Empire that held on, with bureaucratic and vicious rule, to all of its possessions until uprisings broke their hold.

We are surely not perfect, and once we were a lot better. But we are still better than whatever is in second place. Most of us do not want what has been going on in the last 8 years. Aside from the economic policies that have led to widespread home foreclosures and personal bankruptcies and the failure of major financial institutions, we have watched as our young men and women have been sent to die for what I truly believe is an oil-dominated war, rather than spend these billions to explore alternative energy solutions. The Iraq war costs the U.S. $1 billion a month. That would pay for a lot of day care centers. Oh, I forgot, the Republicans don’t believe in helping single mothers.

Religious zealots in this country can’t see the harm that has been done. I don’t quite understand why it is that electing incompetents to office so long as they pray and go to church has done us any good. Have none of them lost their homes, or a son or daughter to war? It is more important to them to ban gay marriage, prevent abortion even under the most despicable circumstances, and suppress birth control that would eliminate a lot of unwanted pregnancies. Sarah Palin believes in abstinence and we know how successful that was in her own family. A talk on birth control would have done her daughter a lot more good and she would not now be facing an unwanted life with a man she hardly knows, at an age when she should be getting an education and looking at careers. Teaching her abstinence doesn’t seem to have worked.


We are going through a bad patch. Good-hearted people who think their way is the only way, must be re-educated to the welcome diversity of our people. We must turn ourselves around. Incidentally, I have never heard of an atheist bombing an abortion clinic or killing a doctor who performs them. I think those who prevent abortions in dire circumstances should step forward and adopt crack babies. These babies are warehoused in understaffed facilities. Their basic needs are barely tended to, they are not touched with loving hands. They grow up, if they do, with severe emotional problems. A sad commentary on faith.


xx, Teal