Why no terrorists in Canada? I should have asked.

[Gregorian]

I woke to a call this morning from a friend. We had never talked about politics, until now. But from his careless attitude, I had my conjecture. I only got a few words out before I was bombarded. What I have discovered is that the propaganda worked, and there are people who are not changing their minds.
He said the words I've heard so many times- "We should have nuked them". I tried to tell him about Sibel Edmonds, but he could hardly stop his stream of words long enough to say he'd never heard of her. And thank goodness Saddam didn't gas our troops. And how we aren't there for oil, but because it's a breeding ground for terrorists. I told him about the photos that the judge was considering having released. He said that was just a small minority of the troops. But when he said, "That lady in Texas is doing more harm to our troops moral." And "It's people like you who are hurting our troops". I hung up the phone.

I should have asked why there is no terrorism in Canada.

Folks, this has me humiliated and hopeless. From hearing just this one person, I feel that there are many more like him. We are up against a stone wall. They aren't listening. They aren't changing. I won't quit trying to wake them up. But what can you do, I say in frustration?

[Ravenseye]

1. Punch them?

Honestly, my aggrivation at these people is slowly getting to the point where the next time I hear someone spout such ignorance in my face I might just lay into them. Their kind of insulting rhetoric is something that would never happen in a world which allowed duels. They're worse than impolite. They're ignorant, rude, selfish, and hopelessly foolish.

[Gregorian]

2. I should have asked him why he hadn't enlisted yet.

He's a bit like bush. Even has a ranch. Shit for brains. Unfortunately, these people exist, and vote. If it's any consolation, his wife just divorced him and ran off with the kid.

I'm so concerned that after all of the work I've done reading on DU, I still can't break the cement casing on some of these people. Iraqi's are being killed as I type this. That is what this is all about.

[JVS]

3. Obviously you've not heard of the infamous FLQ

[Gregorian]

4. Time to nuke Canada!

I just knew somebody would mention that. Yeah, but it doesn't matter because they have white skin. And no oil. Oops, that's right, Iraq isn't about oil.

[JVS]

7. The FLQ threatens a high percentage of world poutine production.

[Spazito]

5. The FLQ were domestic 'terrorists' like the Oklahoma bomber

and I read the OP as meaning foreign 'terrorists' but I could be wrong in my interpretation.

[Gregorian]

8. The Meddle East is what caused 9/11. Not the Middle east.

Yes. The reality is, the Middle East isn't a breeding ground for terrorists. Meddling in the east is. Of course, I don't know the extent which Canada has meddled, but I doubt they have. They only have 30 million people, and hydroelectric dams. We demand more petroleum. And therefore, we've asked for trouble.

My concern is how to get these morans to see the truth. I don't like hanging up the phone on people out of frustration.

[Spazito]

9. Canada has a vast amount of oil, natural gas as well as

electricity which is imported by the United States. We are, I believe, 2nd highest in countries exporting oil to the U.S. We didn't participate in the invasion of Iraq precisely because we saw it as an illegal invasion and illegal meddling in the Middle East.

[Gregorian]

11. Not to mention it's fair share of poutine.

Even so, I had to look it up. I feel so ignorant! But then, I'm an American! Haha.

And bless your heart for being so vigilant. I find that Canadians know more about US politics than the average American citizen. I considered moving there a year ago, but gave up after barely passing the immigration test. Why should I have to leave my own country, I thought.

[Spazito]

12. LOL re poutine, this Canadian isn't a fan of it

I agree with you re having to leave one's own country, it is better to stay and make it better if possible. I know that is how I feel about my country.

[The White Tree]

6. Tell them to do this:

If they say that you can't protest the war and support the troops at the same time, offer the following suggestion to them.

(I will use you for them in the paragraph that follows)

Sir or Madam,

Since you are so stanch in your support for the troops and feel so steadfastly that their sacrifice should continue to go on, I simply ask that you do the following.

Go out and purchase 81 Support Your Troops ribbon magnets, preferably from an organization that actually contributes some of the proceeds from the sale of these magnets, and affix them to your vehicle. This is the current number of soldiers who have died in Iraq in the month of August 2005 according to the website:

<http://www.icasualties.org/oif/>

Each day, go to this website, like many do, and check to see if any soldiers died that day. Each time a soldier dies buy another magnet and place it on your vehicle. In this way you will be truly supporting the soldiers with you mind heart and wallet, as you say you do.

When you've had enough of this. When you tire of the constant trickle of war dead, come and see me and we'll talk.

I thought of this on Sunday night while considering a LTTE to my local paper responding to a similar war supporter. I don't actually expect anyone would do this on the right or the left but I think it would be a great way to send the message in either case of the cost of the war and the shallowness of that message - "Support the Troops" - as if just saying that was enough.

I also sent an e-mail to Cindy Sheehan's group yesterday about them doing this when I learned here at DU about the bus tours they are going to be starting today.

If you think this is a worthwhile idea, please spread it as you feel appropriate.

[Gregorian]

10. I don't know how many of these types are out there.

I think it's a big group of Americans. Your idea is another way of getting them to see, to realize, the affects of war. What I am so frustrated about is their ability to soak in propaganda, while at the same time their inability to entertain the truth.

The truth is, there shouldn't be any troops. There shouldn't be any war. They have to see this from the Iraqi point of view. And they are totally unwilling to do that. These people are pure evil. That is what I see. I'm affraid they don't have what it takes to feel, and empathize. Even if they did as you say, and it's a good idea, it would be on to the next crisis battle with them. Abortion, or whatever. This is what I have a problem with.

[The White Tree]

13. Understood, but how many of them are there really

as opposed to the people who just live in a bubble and trumpet what they have been told. As Clinton said, "When people think, we win".

My experience with most Republicans is that when it comes to moral issues they don't like to think about them. They like to be told what to think (hence the popularity of talking points). That is why many are susceptible to fundamentalist religion. It gives them the answers rather then having them find the answers.

However, most of them are in fact moral people. They just need someone to demonstrate morality to them effectively. It is a morally neutral argument. They are the ones who always say you have to support the troops no matter what. If someone did do this they would be doing what they say should be done, but at the same time have to confront the results of what supporting the troops means. While I doubt anyone would attempt this, the idea might just touch the right moral fiber to make them think.

I wanted to propose this idea here to see what people thought. Thanks for your comments. At some point soon I am going to try this (i.e. via a LTTE to my local paper) and see what kind of response it gets. Maybe I'll post the results then. I may even consider doing this my self (I live close to DC) but I don't know if I have the time or resources to actually attempt it either.

[Gregorian]

14. The importance of a good leader.

You are absolutely right about that. Some people need leadership. And for them, it's people like bush who have caused this disaster.

Each post makes me a little clearer about what is going on. And all of these ideas should be tried. You may have what it takes to start the landslide back into civility.

I'm very worried that the braindead have become half awake. And they are actually worse than being asleep. Like a blind person trying to take the wheel of our bus. They feel they must do something. AND they're angry that we are going to stop their beloved leader in his tracks. There's going to be backlash once the wheels of justice get traction.

Well, we could go on and on. I'm getting to the point where I can't do anything but DU. It's great. I love it. A wonderful community of people I'd love to live in the same town with. But alas, my garden needs my attention.

Let the truth be known! You and I can handle it.