[IMC Bombay] Aw right!
yashodhara pawar
Yashodhara.Pawar at unilever.com
Sat, 5 Apr 2003 11:46:21 +0530
--3610551-31133-1049523382=:196
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Content-Language: en-USA
I dont find a single point in your writing that I disagree with.
But, I still feel that the world is judging the entire American nation on the
basis of this war. While you do say that you would disagree with such a
verdict, it is already happening!
The original posts (and the subject headings) were about using a single
brushstroke judgement of the USA. Maybe as I age I am able to see a vaster
picture, but there are more keywords US is associated with than Iraq. In our
zeal in life to find a horse to flog, we find one that is begging to be flogged
and yes, rightfully so, dont attack me.
OK, I shall go quit this verbosity wagon. But, yeah, yeah, yeah I agree with
you all on everything you wrote except it was an answer looking for a
question.
Cheers, and OK, now can I go back to my dull life?!
-Yashodhara
-----Original Message-----
From: Astad Randeria [SMTP:aranderia@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 10:15 AM
To: yashodhara pawar; Nimisha Dutta-Chavan; nimisha; IMC;
imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org
Subject: RE: Re: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement
hey all..
this is probably the first time i'm writing back, though i often read..
to miss Yashodhara, the point stays proven????
what point??
that the US of A exemplifies democracy and freedom? for people all over the
world?? Imagine being a mother, sister, daughter in Iraq (or Palestine, or
Vietnam, or Afghanistan, or Kossovo -- just to refute your point that it's not
ONE war, or ONE bad decision..) and then tell me whether the great protector of
freedom and democracy has ensured you the freedom to sleep without wondering
whether you will ever wake from your slumber?
Wanna know why the email is about Iraq?? because thousand of tons of explosives
are being dropped everyday on that impoverished nation... people react to
circumstances, react to injustices.. they may react in indignation.. let them..
encourage them, even.. do you have any idea what % of people in Bombay today
have even a slightly informed opinion on the attrocities being perpetuated on
the Iraqi people? it is most definitely in single figures.. if we do not talk
about this now, then when will we? I atteded a rally yesterday at Azad Maidan
where there were about 30,000 people. It was heartening to see that so many
turned up. It wasn't, however, heartening to know that most people there knew
and cared very little about what is happening in Iraq. For them, it was merely
anoppurtunity to indulge in semi-violent outrage by burning effigees, trampling
US & UK flags etc..... So please, if someone wants to indulge in riding the
righteous rhetoric decrying, not a war, but a massacre, let them do so..
By the way what exactly are these enduring symbols and human rights arenas that
have been created, following which we shouldn't give a 'rat's ass' about George
(i insist on saying George if the whole world feels it proper to say Saddam!)
and Saddam and Rumsfeld??
and, people have been dying in war's since the (provebial) eve and will
continue to die in them?? what an admirable attitude..
Lastly, i don't think anyone was saying that America as a nation should be
condemned solely on the basis of this war. If they were saying that i would
disagree. It is the leadership that carries out these injustices which should
be attacked with all the venom one can muster.. The really disappointing thing
is that the vast majority of the US publlic are still supporting the 'war'..
and we find ourselves hoping for Americans to return in body-bags from Iraq,
when (like Vietnam, not so long ago) the US public will cry out in indignation,
and maybe this war will end..
--Astad.
yashodhara pawar <Yashodhara.Pawar@unilever.com> wrote:
Your arguments are valid. But, the point stays proven. This is ONE war, ONE BAD
decision. Democracies, like civilizations, extend for hundreds of years.
Do we, today, label Deutschland as a failed nation because of the world wars
and one madman? Do we not put it in perspective with the immense post war and
of course pre war developments in science and arts? Your entire email is about
the Iraq war that started like couple of weeks back. It is too damn easy to
ride the righteous rhetoric into the sunset. Nowhere am I implying the war is
right or morally justified.
Who give's a rat's ass about Saddam about Bush or Rumsfeld, when there are more
enduring symbols and human rights arenas being created. Again, I am not
justifying this war. People have died in wars since Eve got the apple, people
will continue to die in wars, justified or not. And on the same note, is there
such a thing as a justifiable war?
We dont know if democracy has failed. The US elections are yet to occur.
-----Original Message-----
From: john in bangalore [SMTP:john@doccentre.org]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 2:04 PM
To: imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org; yashodhara pawar
Cc: nity68@vsnl.com
Subject: Re: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement
What use is this exemplified democracy and personal freedom, if
the majority of the population can be made to believe that
1. Saddam Hussein is directly linked with 9/11,
2. that it is okay to bye-pass the U N, whose mandate is precisely
to secure the Universal Freedoms and Human Rights for all
peoples..,
3. the few persons who are deciding the life (death) of millions,
even though they have corporate connection benefitting from the
war, are more correct that the thousands of protesters on US
streets!
4. that these same few peole can threaten the rest of the world..
that if you are not with us, you are against us.. and most probably
part of the "Axis of Evil",
Does this exemplified Democracy extend to you being able to
convince Bush in any way to be more human, or does it just
means that he will spend more tax dollars, in more advanced
weaponry for targetted bombing, more tax dollars on propaganda,
more tax dollars on token relief, aid, so that these same pictures
can come to you to convinve you that "there is an element of truth,
in SAddam being a Bad guy and therefore even if so many people
have to die, after all we are doing a good thing by replacing
Saddam"
Do you believe that Replacing Saddam in this way, is going to get
a better Government for the people of Iraq? Or are we going to see
a continuing ground level war and instability in Iraq and the region.
From: "yashodhara pawar"
To: "imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org"
Copies to: "nity68@vsnl.com"
Subject: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement
Date sent: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 10:39:39 +0530
> I wanted to add in a quick opinion. I think this war is being used as a
> sole weapon to paint the US of A as the Bad Guy. While this is absolutely
> the truth, in a narrow sense, a more nuanced view allows one to admit that
> indeed the US has exemplified democracy and personal freedom on many
> levels.
>
> I ask not your inflamed , passionate retorts. While I dont support the war
> or even the ham-handed way the US conducted the diplomatic process
> preceding the war, I do acknowledge that the US is undermining itself and
> the many stellar freedoms and opportunities it offers for people from all
> over the world. An American today is likely to be a Zairian or an Chinese
> by birth. Americans, in totality, are in fact US. We, through our
> immigration and our back-breaking efforts in the land of opportunity, grab
> the right to vote for the leaders who make these decisions. I am not
> separating myself from the multitude of my nation's original peoples who
> have immigrated there.
>
> I lived in that country for a good 12 years before returning. Like the
> war, there were many testicularly stupid decisions the US government had
> made. But, the freedom the society offered for me to take massive risks,
> personal, professional, emotional are unparalleled. _My opinions.
> -Yashodhara
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nity68@vsnl.com [SMTP:nity68@vsnl.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 8:17 PM
> To: sushbee@hotmail.com; u ma
> Cc: imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org
> Subject: Re: [IMC Bombay] squeak up (against Saddam, not the war)
>
> hello uma:
> your offer of germany, russia or the US as a superpower leaves me
> wondering. that is like asking if i would prefer to get raped or murdered.
> Neither is my answer. as far as US doing a good job of being a big
> brother, please understand that US' interest in world democracy has
> nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with US' interests. US
> corporations are perhaps the most deadly when it comes to robbing
> democracy where it counts -- among the small, often disadvantaged
> communities, where they operate and whose resources they depend on.
>
> America's actions -- military or otherwise -- are blatantly dictated by
> and done in proxy for its corporations. You may have heard about the
> spraying of Monsanto's round-up (a deadly herbicide) over the fields of
> Colombia to wipe out cocoa crops. Despite complaints by farmers (not cocoa
> farmers) that they are poisoned by and injured by the poison spray, the US
> goes about business-as-usual. Even in war, we're not prepared to accept
> civilian deaths. How can we accept it when there is no war?
>
> It would be almost clicheic to remind you that America's business of war
> involves arming a tyrant, and later disarming the same guy once things get
> uncomfortable for USA.
>
> America may win this war. But it has forever lost its peace. If God really
> does bless America, i think that God is different (perhaps more powerful)
> from the one that is to take care of the rest of the world.
>
> i hope those of you who are willing to study the problems facing your
> country objectively need to understand that the world may live with a big
> brother, but that doesn't mean we like it or would thank america for it.
>
> Big brother, I hear, is cutting federal funding for schools and hospitals
> to feed its army. A wiser, more just approach would involve fighting the
> war against racism, against poverty, against illiteracy, against
> small-mindedness within the United States. As some great sould said: "It
> would be a great day when our schools had all the money they need, and the
> Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a new bomber."
>
> ciao, nity
>
> On 1 Apr 2003 at 4:06, u ma wrote:
>
> >
> > Sushma,
> > I understand completely that most people have picked a side in this
> > conflict
> already and are sticking
> > with it, no matter what anybody else might point out.But having said
> > that,
> unfortunately I am still
> > going to have to disagree with most of the points you brought up.
> >
> > The fact is I would be just as 'gung ho' about my position, if my own
> government was run by a
> > dictator and his cronies for over 30 years, and an external coalition
> > had to
> come in to remove it from
> > power.
> > My country does not equal thebureaucratic Establishment at the capital
> > that
> makes and breaks
> > laws as they please. My country, and her population is far more
> > important
> than that. Edward Abbey
> > said it best, when he wrote that a true patriot must always be ready to
> defend his country against
> > his government.
> >
> > I could probably wonder out loud, why the Iraqis you mention hadn't have
> > gone
> back into Iraq to fight
> > against Saddam earlier before this whole thing snowballed into a
> > mess,and
> taken care of this
> > problem by themselves instead of forcing the West to interefere, but I
> > won't.
> >
> > ______________________
> >
> > Yes, the United States often acts unilaterally. Obviously, most
> > Americans
> still haven't realised that
> > a lot of times their opinions are treated with distaste, not because of
> > who
> they are, but because of
> > what they do. And that arm wrestling one's allies into submission with
> > big
> budget media blitzes and
> > economic aid isn't helping them either.
> >
> > However, we should remember that even though the world is a dangerous
> > place,
> it is not particularly
> > so, to the U.S or the industrialized West. Maybe not even for a
> > middle-of-the
> rung power like India.
> > We can solve our own problems.
> > It is the smaller nations : the Liberias, the Somalias, the Bosnias, the
> Tibets, the peace starved,
> > democracy bereft countries of the Middle East that need a Big Brother to
> > keep
> the peace. And while
> > the US does not always do a particularly good job of playing a
> > responsible
> super power/ beagle,
> > the world would be a sorrier place if some other nation were to take
> > its'
> place.
> >
> > Would any of us be more comfortable if China or Russia or Germany were
> > the
> most powerful
> > countryin the world, instead of the US?
> >
> > I guess what I am trying to say is that as human beings, and not just
> > holders
> of a royal blue
> > coloured non-alignedpassport, the larger issue we should be looking at
> > IN
> THIS PARTICULAR
> > SITUATION, is not the mere sovereignty of a nation. There are times and
> matters where world
> > opinion and action should and must supercede the authority of a
> > country's
> internal governance.
> > Human Rights and Democracy are most definitely two such concerns, that
> > we
> should all be be
> > prepared to die (and hopefully live) for.
> >
> > For the record:
> >
> >
> > * For those who think that this is purely about oil ( and of course,
> > it is
> not entirely NOT about
> > oil either) may I remind you about oil-free Bosnia in the 1990's,
> > where
> the US led NATO
> > troops to prevent the genocide of Muslim Serbs and Croats, and later
> stayed on, to help
> > restore democracy.
> > * Some of the world's biggest, loudest anti-war, anti-Bush rallies
> > take
> place in the United
> > States. I haven't seen any anti-Saddam rallies happening in Baghdad
> > for a
> long, long time
> > now.Have you?
> > * I love them funky Shanti-Tshirts too :) ( Just not right now.)
> >
> > This is a long one. Thanks again for taking the time to read this
> > through,
> >
> > Goodwill,
> >
> > Uma
> >
> >
> >
> > Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months
> > FREE*._______________________________________________ IMC-Mumbai mailing
> > list
> IMC-
> > Mumbai@lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-mumbai
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> IMC-Mumbai mailing list
> IMC-Mumbai@lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-mumbai
>
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I dont find a single point in your writing that I disagree with. \par
\par
But, I still feel that the world is judging the entire American nation on the basis of this war. While you do say that you would disagree with such a verdict, it is already happening!\par
The original posts (and the subject headings) were about using a single brushstroke judgement of the USA. Maybe as I age I am able to see a vaster picture, but there are more keywords US is associated with than Iraq. In our zeal in life to find a horse to flog, we find one that is begging to be flogged and yes, rightfully so, dont attack me. \par
\par
OK, I shall go quit this verbosity wagon. But, yeah, yeah, yeah I agree with you all on everything you wrote except it was an answer looking for a question. \par
Cheers, and OK, now can I go back to my dull life?!\par
-Yashodhara\par
\pard\li360\cf0\protect\f1\fs16 -----Original Message-----\par
\protect0\pard\protect\fi-1440\li1800\tx1440\b From:\tab\b0 Astad Randeria [SMTP:aranderia@yahoo.co.uk]\par
\b Sent:\tab\b0 Saturday, April 05, 2003 10:15 AM\par
\b To:\tab\b0 yashodhara pawar; Nimisha Dutta-Chavan; nimisha; IMC; imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org\par
\b Subject:\tab\b0 RE: Re: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement\par
\protect0\pard\protect\li360\f0\fs20\par
\par
\protect0\pard\protect\li360\sb90 hey all.. \par
this is probably the first time i'm writing back, though i often read.. \par
to miss Yashodhara, the point stays proven???? \par
what point?? \par
that the US of A exemplifies democracy and freedom? for people all over the world?? Imagine being a mother, sister, daughter in Iraq (or Palestine, or Vietnam, or Afghanistan, or Kossovo -- just to refute your point that it's not ONE war, or ONE bad decision..) and then tell me whether the great protector of freedom and democracy has ensured you the freedom to sleep without wondering whether you will ever wake from your slumber? \par
Wanna know why the email is about Iraq?? because thousand of tons of explosives are being dropped everyday on that impoverished nation... people react to circumstances, react to injustices.. they may react in indignation.. let them.. encourage them, even.. do you have any idea what % of people in Bombay today have even a slightly informed opinion on the attrocities being perpetuated on the Iraqi people? it is most definitely in single figures.. if we do not talk about this now, then when will we? I atteded a rally yesterday at Azad Maidan where there were about 30,000 people. It was heartening to see that so many turned up. It wasn't, however, heartening to know that most people there knew and cared very little about what is happening in Iraq. For them, it was merely anoppurtunity to indulge in semi-violent outrage by burning effigees, trampling US & UK flags etc..... So please, if someone wants to indulge in riding the righteous rhetoric decrying, not a war, but a massacre, let them do so.. \par
By the way what exactly are these enduring symbols and human rights arenas that have been created, following which we shouldn't give a 'rat's ass' about George (i insist on saying George if the whole world feels it proper to say Saddam!) and Saddam and Rumsfeld?? \par
and, people have been dying in war's since the (provebial) eve and will continue to die in them?? what an admirable attitude.. \par
Lastly, i don't think anyone was saying that America as a nation should be condemned solely on the basis of this war. If they were saying that i would disagree. It is the leadership that carries out these injustices which should be attacked with all the venom one can muster.. The really disappointing thing is that the vast majority of the US publlic are still supporting the 'war'.. and we find ourselves hoping for Americans to return in body-bags from Iraq, when (like Vietnam, not so long ago) the US public will cry out in indignation, and maybe this war will end.. \par
--Astad. \par
\b\i yashodhara pawar <Yashodhara.Pawar@unilever.com>\b0\i0 wrote: \par
Your arguments are valid. But, the point stays proven. This is ONE war, ONE BAD\par
decision. Democracies, like civilizations, extend for hundreds of years.\par
Do we, today, label Deutschland as a failed nation because of the world wars\par
and one madman? Do we not put it in perspective with the immense post war and\par
of course pre war developments in science and arts? Your entire email is about\par
the Iraq war that started like couple of weeks back. It is too damn easy to\par
ride the righteous rhetoric into the sunset. Nowhere am I implying the war is\par
right or morally justified.\par
\par
Who give's a rat's ass about Saddam about Bush or Rumsfeld, when there are more\par
enduring symbols and human rights arenas being created. Again, I am not\par
justifying this war. People have died in wars since Eve got the apple, people\par
will continue to die in wars, justified or not. And on the same note, is there\par
such a thing as a justifiable war? \par
\par
We dont know if democracy has failed. The US elections are yet to occur. \par
\par
-----Original Message-----\par
From: john in bangalore [SMTP:john@doccentre.org]\par
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 2:04 PM\par
To: imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org; yashodhara pawar\par
Cc: nity68@vsnl.com\par
Subject: Re: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement\par
\par
What use is this exemplified democracy and personal freedom, if \par
the majority of the population can be made to believe that\par
1. Saddam Hussein is directly linked with 9/11, \par
2. that it is okay to bye-pass the U N, whose mandate is precisely \par
to secure the Universal Freedoms and Human Rights for all \par
peoples.., \par
3. the few persons who are deciding the life (death) of millions, \par
even though they have corporate connection benefitting from the \par
war, are more correct that the thousands of protesters on US \par
streets!\par
4. that these same few peole can threaten the rest of the world.. \par
that if you are not with us, you are against us.. and most probably \par
part of the "Axis of Evil",\par
\par
Does this exemplified Democracy extend to you being able to \par
convince Bush in any way to be more human, or does it just \par
means that he will spend more tax dollars, in more advanced \par
weaponry for targetted bombing, more tax dollars on propaganda, \par
more tax dollars on token relief, aid, so that these same pictures \par
can come to you to convinve you that "there is an element of truth, \par
in SAddam being a Bad guy and therefore even if so many people \par
have to die, after all we are doing a good thing by replacing \par
Saddam"\par
\par
Do you believe that Replacing Saddam in this way, is going to get \par
a better Government for the people of Iraq? Or are we going to see \par
a continuing ground level war and instability in Iraq and the region.\par
\par
\par
\par
From: "yashodhara pawar" \par
To: "imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org"\par
\par
Copies to: "nity68@vsnl.com" \par
Subject: [IMC Bombay] Single Brushstroke Judgement\par
Date sent: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 10:39:39 +0530\par
\par
> I wanted to add in a quick opinion. I think this war is being used as a\par
> sole weapon to paint the US of A as the Bad Guy. While this is absolutely\par
> the truth, in a narrow sense, a more nuanced view allows one to admit that\par
> indeed the US has exemplified democracy and personal freedom on many\par
> levels. \par
> \par
> I ask not your inflamed , passionate retorts. While I dont support the war\par
> or even the ham-handed way the US conducted the diplomatic process\par
> preceding the war, I do acknowledge that the US is undermining itself and\par
> the many stellar freedoms and opportunities it offers for people from all\par
> over the world. An American today is likely to be a Zairian or an Chinese\par
> by birth. Americans, in totality, are in fact US. We, through our\par
> immigration and our back-breaking efforts in the land of opportunity, grab\par
> the right to vote for the leaders who make these decisions. I am not\par
> separating myself from the multitude of my nation's original peoples who\par
> have immigrated there.\par
> \par
> I lived in that country for a good 12 years before returning. Like the\par
> war, there were many testicularly stupid decisions the US government had\par
> made. But, the freedom the society offered for me to take massive risks,\par
> personal, professional, emotional are unparalleled. _My opinions.\par
> -Yashodhara\par
> \par
> -----Original Message-----\par
> From: nity68@vsnl.com [SMTP:nity68@vsnl.com]\par
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 8:17 PM\par
> To: sushbee@hotmail.com; u ma\par
> Cc: imc-mumbai@lists.indymedia.org\par
> Subject: Re: [IMC Bombay] squeak up (against Saddam, not the war)\par
> \par
> hello uma:\par
> your offer of germany, russia or the US as a superpower leaves me\par
> wondering. that is like asking if i would prefer to get raped or murdered.\par
> Neither is my answer. as far as US doing a good job of being a big\par
> brother, please understand that US' interest in world democracy has\par
> nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with US' interests. US\par
> corporations are perhaps the most deadly when it comes to robbing\par
> democracy where it counts -- among the small, often disadvantaged\par
> communities, where they operate and whose resources they depend on.\par
> \par
> America's actions -- military or otherwise -- are blatantly dictated by\par
> and done in proxy for its corporations. You may have heard about the\par
> spraying of Monsanto's round-up (a deadly herbicide) over the fields of\par
> Colombia to wipe out cocoa crops. Despite complaints by farmers (not cocoa\par
> farmers) that they are poisoned by and injured by the poison spray, the US\par
> goes about business-as-usual. Even in war, we're not prepared to accept\par
> civilian deaths. How can we accept it when there is no war?\par
> \par
> It would be almost clicheic to remind you that America's business of war\par
> involves arming a tyrant, and later disarming the same guy once things get\par
> uncomfortable for USA.\par
> \par
> America may win this war. But it has forever lost its peace. If God really\par
> does bless America, i think that God is different (perhaps more powerful)\par
> from the one that is to take care of the rest of the world.\par
> \par
> i hope those of you who are willing to study the problems facing your\par
> country objectively need to understand that the world may live with a big\par
> brother, but that doesn't mean we like it or would thank america for it.\par
> \par
> Big brother, I hear, is cutting federal funding for schools and hospitals\par
> to feed its army. A wiser, more just approach would involve fighting the\par
> war against racism, against poverty, against illiteracy, against\par
> small-mindedness within the United States. As some great sould said: "It\par
> would be a great day when our schools had all the money they need, and the\par
> Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a new bomber."\par
> \par
> ciao, nity\par
> \par
> On 1 Apr 2003 at 4:06, u ma wrote:\par
> \par
> > \par
> > Sushma,\par
> > I understand completely that most people have picked a side in this\par
> > conflict\par
> already and are sticking \par
> > with it, no matter what anybody else might point out.But having said\par
> > that,\par
> unfortunately I am still \par
> > going to have to disagree with most of the points you brought up. \par
> > \par
> > The fact is I would be just as 'gung ho' about my position, if my own\par
> government was run by a \par
> > dictator and his cronies for over 30 years, and an external coalition\par
> > had to\par
> come in to remove it from \par
> > power.\par
> > My country does not equal thebureaucratic Establishment at the capital\par
> > that\par
> makes and breaks \par
> > laws as they please. My country, and her population is far more\par
> > important\par
> than that. Edward Abbey \par
> > said it best, when he wrote that a true patriot must always be ready to\par
> defend his country against \par
> > his government. \par
> > \par
> > I could probably wonder out loud, why the Iraqis you mention hadn't have\par
> > gone\par
> back into Iraq to fight \par
> > against Saddam earlier before this whole thing snowballed into a\par
> > mess,and\par
> taken care of this \par
> > problem by themselves instead of forcing the West to interefere, but I\par
> > won't.\par
> > \par
> > ______________________\par
> > \par
> > Yes, the United States often acts unilaterally. Obviously, most\par
> > Americans\par
> still haven't realised that \par
> > a lot of times their opinions are treated with distaste, not because of\par
> > who\par
> they are, but because of \par
> > what they do. And that arm wrestling one's allies into submission with\par
> > big\par
> budget media blitzes and \par
> > economic aid isn't helping them either.\par
> > \par
> > However, we should remember that even though the world is a dangerous\par
> > place,\par
> it is not particularly \par
> > so, to the U.S or the industrialized West. Maybe not even for a\par
> > middle-of-the\par
> rung power like India. \par
> > We can solve our own problems. \par
> > It is the smaller nations : the Liberias, the Somalias, the Bosnias, the\par
> Tibets, the peace starved, \par
> > democracy bereft countries of the Middle East that need a Big Brother to\par
> > keep\par
> the peace. And while \par
> > the US does not always do a particularly good job of playing a\par
> > responsible\par
> super power/ beagle, \par
> > the world would be a sorrier place if some other nation were to take\par
> > its'\par
> place.\par
> > \par
> > Would any of us be more comfortable if China or Russia or Germany were\par
> > the\par
> most powerful \par
> > countryin the world, instead of the US?\par
> > \par
> > I guess what I am trying to say is that as human beings, and not just\par
> > holders\par
> of a royal blue \par
> > coloured non-alignedpassport, the larger issue we should be looking at\par
> > IN\par
> THIS PARTICULAR \par
> > SITUATION, is not the mere sovereignty of a nation. There are times and\par
> matters where world \par
> > opinion and action should and must supercede the authority of a\par
> > country's\par
> internal governance. \par
> > Human Rights and Democracy are most definitely two such concerns, that\par
> > we\par
> should all be be \par
> > prepared to die (and hopefully live) for. \par
> > \par
> > For the record: \par
> > \par
> > \par
> > * For those who think that this is purely about oil ( and of course,\par
> > it is\par
> not entirely NOT about \par
> > oil either) may I remind you about oil-free Bosnia in the 1990's,\par
> > where\par
> the US led NATO \par
> > troops to prevent the genocide of Muslim Serbs and Croats, and later\par
> stayed on, to help \par
> > restore democracy. \par
> > * Some of the world's biggest, loudest anti-war, anti-Bush rallies\par
> > take\par
> place in the United \par
> > States. I haven't seen any anti-Saddam rallies happening in Baghdad\par
> > for a\par
> long, long time \par
> > now.Have you? \par
> > * I love them funky Shanti-Tshirts too :) ( Just not right now.)\par
> > \par
> > This is a long one. Thanks again for taking the time to read this\par
> > through,\par
> > \par
> > Goodwill,\par
> > \par
> > Uma\par
> > \par
> > \par
> > \par
> > Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months \par
> > FREE*._______________________________________________ IMC-Mumbai mailing\par
> > list\par
> IMC-\par
> > Mumbai@lists.indymedia.org\par
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-mumbai \par
> \par
> \par
> _______________________________________________\par
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> IMC-Mumbai@lists.indymedia.org\par
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> \par
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