Is this politics or art? (POLITICS, READ AT OWN RISK) - Beyond Tiki

L Luki Member Chicago area Joined: Mar 01, 2003 Posts: 151	L Luki Posted posted on Sat, Mar 8, 2003 11:57 PM What's funniest to me about these sorts of discussions is that both sides believe they "know" the facts, when, in fact, all any of us knows is what we know, which is not necessarily fact nor is it necessarily complete. As we all know, people with an opinion on something look at any given situation and generally see what they want to see or see what they expect to be there. But what do any of us truly know about the intentions of Hussein or this guy or that guy? What do any of us really know about what weapons are out there, how devastating they can be, and to whom? Is what's commonly (or even uncommonly) known anywhere near a complete picture? The answer is obviously 'no' simply because of classification of intelligence. No matter what CNN or anybody else reports, there's a million times more information that's part of the big picture and that must be considered. The point is there are always going to be those who want peace at all costs, those who want war at all costs, and those who either want peace or want war, but only as a last resort. In reality, though, there are no simple answers to whether or not the U.S. or any other entity should act as a global policeman. As has been said so many times in so many different circumstances, the world is a smaller place these days. Everybody is our neighbor, just as we are theirs. If you overheard your neighbor saying that he bought a gun and was going to kill his wife, you'd call the cops. But there aren't cops in that sense on a global scale. So, as I wrote when I started, it's a tough decision that, while we can all have an opinion about it, I don't think any of us as "everyday citizens" could possibly have enough information to say which decision...to act pre-emptively or to abstain from war...is the better decision. Most likely there isn't a better or worse, right or wrong. There are only decisions, actions, and consequences, regardless of which side of the fence each of us is on. A6 [ Edited by: A6Louie on 2003-03-09 00:02 ]

What's funniest to me about these sorts of discussions is that both sides believe they "know" the facts, when, in fact, all any of us knows is what we know, which is not necessarily fact nor is it necessarily complete.

As we all know, people with an opinion on something look at any given situation and generally see what they want to see or see what they expect to be there.

But what do any of us truly know about the intentions of Hussein or this guy or that guy? What do any of us really know about what weapons are out there, how devastating they can be, and to whom? Is what's commonly (or even uncommonly) known anywhere near a complete picture? The answer is obviously 'no' simply because of classification of intelligence.

No matter what CNN or anybody else reports, there's a million times more information that's part of the big picture and that must be considered.

The point is there are always going to be those who want peace at all costs, those who want war at all costs, and those who either want peace or want war, but only as a last resort.

In reality, though, there are no simple answers to whether or not the U.S. or any other entity should act as a global policeman.

As has been said so many times in so many different circumstances, the world is a smaller place these days. Everybody is our neighbor, just as we are theirs.

If you overheard your neighbor saying that he bought a gun and was going to kill his wife, you'd call the cops. But there aren't cops in that sense on a global scale.

So, as I wrote when I started, it's a tough decision that, while we can all have an opinion about it, I don't think any of us as "everyday citizens" could possibly have enough information to say which decision...to act pre-emptively or to abstain from war...is the better decision.

Most likely there isn't a better or worse, right or wrong. There are only decisions, actions, and consequences, regardless of which side of the fence each of us is on.

[ Edited by: A6Louie on 2003-03-09 00:02 ]

Post #25829 by Luki on Sat, Mar 8, 2003 11:57 PM