OT Actually, that cartoon, while it does point to the irony and even idiocy of some attitudes and assertions in the Arab world, it also reveals an underlying attitude in our own culture that reduces morality to a us verses them stance. If right and wrong are defined that way, then there is no right and wrong. And then it becomes simply a matter of who gets to be defined as us. And when the agrument is either you are for us or you are against us, and when any criticism of the standing administration is defined as aiding the terrorist (and this has already happened), then freedom (supposedly the thing we are fighting for) and goodness are dead.
In a very real sense, goodness is not tested in how we treat our friends, but in how we treat our enemies. I don't think I'm original with that. There was at least one historical character than urged us (some might say commanded us) to love our enemies and to return good for evil.
But then, I would like to see Ray in jail if there is no tech, so I am probably a littly hypocritical in lecturing you.
Still, simply on a pragmatic level. What we did in those prisons, even if it pales in comparison, was stupid if we want to win the hearts and minds of the Arab population. And unless we do win those hearts and minds, we will never be able to get out of this mess.
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