Reply #14: Exactly.

[LeahMira]

Terrorism is a direct result of this country's "adventures" throughout the world, and particularly in the middle east.

Americans simply cannot imagine that anyone anywhere in the world might not be yearning for the same sort of life that we have here in the US.

Because they can't, they can't understand why other countries are not thrilled when our corporations set up shop overseas. Our system works so well for us... so they say.

The simple fact is that people in other nations value different things. They would actually rather have clean air and water and are willing to do without central heat and air conditioning if that's the trade off. They would prefer to raise their own food, make their own clothes, and spend more time with their families than to work eight, ten, or twelve hours in a factory working for not enough money to buy food and clothes that someone else is selling, and having to find day care so someone else can take care of their children.

Sure, they would like some of the things that we have that make our chores easier, but not at the cost of the things they value.

Our American Indians were perfectly happy with the way of life that they had lived for centuries, but we "civilized" them. I wonder if they feel better off now than they were. Somehow, I don't think so.

Our American way of life may be fine for us, but we have no business imposing that way of life on the rest of the world. If they want it, fine... but if they don't we need to let them alone... even if they happen to have oil flowing under their earth.