Referring to US war actions as "we"

[bluestateguy]

I have a little bone to pick with the way some people here, including me, have spoken in reference to the United States war actions as "we". "We bombed Iraq'; "We violated human rights"; "We abused prisoners", etc. Well, no, "we" didn't. At least not those of us who opposed the war in Iraq from Day One and who never supported George W. Bush. Saying "we" in reference to the Bush Administration's foregin policy somehow suggests that I bear at least partial responsibility for those actions. I do not, other than my responsibility as an American to work for Bush's defeat in November (and voting for Nader is not consistent with that objective). I am outraged and angered by this Administration's foreign policy and the lies they use to carry it out, but I refuse to be held responsible for it. I did not vote for him (or Nader), I didn't support him and I NEVER supported his Iraq war.

[Make7]

1. You are right.

I agree with the "we" stuff. I always try to say "the United States."

-Make7

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. I say 'we' because like or not

it's our money that we pay in taxes, that's paying for this nightmare.

[southernleftylady]

3. exactly! I say we too because people over in Iraq can not tell exactly

which person thousands of miles away support blowing up thier land and which doesnt... sad but true.. we are all lumped together :(

[Make7]

4. I think most people realize that governments do not represent...

their citizens. People hate the policies of governments, not the citizens under the jurisdiction of those governments. (At least I hope they see the difference.)

Did you hate the Iraqi people because Saddam invaded his neighbors? Did you hate the Afghans because of the repressive policies of the Taliban?

Do you use the word "they" to describe everyone in another country? Do you lump them all together?

-Make7

[southernleftylady]

6. OK the difference is...

Saddam didn't come over here and drop thousand pound bombs in our neighborhoods....
I'm sure that people over there are thinking "why aren't the people in America stopping this!"
not "man i know that my house just got blown to smithereens but hey its not ALL the American people just some of them who support this"
I'm sure they don't really CARE who is to blame or exactly what % of us are to "blame" they just want it stopped..
and no i do not use the word "they" in reference to all of Iraqis or all Afghans.. but I do use the word "they" when in reference to terrorist, no matter where they came from... which right about now I'm sure the people of Iraq think we are.

[Make7]

8. Po-ta-to / Po-tah-to

"no i do not use the word "they" in reference to all of Iraqis or all Afghans.." - southernleftylady

--------

Then why do you use "we" to refer to all Americans?

(Not that it matters much, I'm just curious.) :)

-Make7

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Those people don't live in a democracy

and therefore have little control over who and what their government does. Not that we have much control either, but we did elect these bastards, or at the least, allowed them to steal the election. In the USA, we do have more control and input than a lot of other places, and hence more personal responsibility, for what our 'elected' officials do.

[Make7]

9. This government does not represent me.

I will accept a level of personal responsibility that is equal to the amount of control I have over the policies - which is very little. Therefore I prefer not to use "we" when I describe what this government does when pursuing its foreign policy.

-Make7

[G_j]

5. yes unfortunately

if one is employed and not a war tax resister.