What Americans should think about [Archives:2003/629/Viewpoint]

Editor
There are times when I wonder how far some Americans can be misled and brainwashed by their government and media. Is it too much patriotism that makes them think this way?
I'm puzzled why some Americans tend to ignore opinions of others, and believe that they are right regardless of everything. For example, even though some try to present a strong statement in decent language, I feel sympathy towards Americans who send me hate mail. Some call for things like 'destroying all those who constitute a threat to the USA', and others name anti-war protestors as 'pro-Saddam Hussein who are defending this dictator to slaughter more of his people'.
I am truly amazed that some Americans never think that they may be wrong! They find it hard to believe that their government is not 'an angel' and that it could indeed do things that violate international rules of peace and justice.
I tend to avoid arguing with Americans who do not want to listen to other views. Even when they listen, they fight such views furiously.
But to be fair, I know that it's a majority of American friends and readers who do listen to other opinions, even if they are not convinced of them. They still respect them and try to understand such views. After all, isn't this part of what the American culture has been built upon “the freedom of expression and opinion”?
All I have to say to those Americans is to stop, look at the whole picture, listen and watch other non-American news sources, think, and reach their conclusion. To those Americans I say: I will respect your conclusion whatever it is. But let me tell you this.
The US army flew thousands of miles to invade another land, crush its infrastructure, kill innocent civilians, cause permanent disabilities to others, and leave them without electricity and water. This army will definitely not be welcomed with singing and dancing!
I find it truly disgusting to see how the US president has almost tearful expressions of sadness for the loss of a few American soldiers killed or imprisoned, while neglecting the fact that hundreds of innocent Iraqi civilians have died. President Bush accuses Iraqi soldiers of being terrorists, while it seems to me, and many others, that the contrary is true. How can an invader call himself a liberator while a person who defends his country with his life be called a terrorist?
These are among the questions Americans should ask themselves: Do you truly believe that your war is just? What if there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? There is simply no proof of them yet. What if this conclusion remains after the invasion is over?
Americans should work hard to understand how the world feels about them, because no county can live in isolation anymore.
There are many contradictions in statements and actions of the US administration and those will be revealed to you as days pass by.
Visit the site (www.whatreallyhappened.com) to learn about some of the things that your government doesn't want you to know.
Hatred against the US is in its peak and is still growing. Isn't it time to ask yourselves, why? I'm sure you would reach the right answer if you become more independent and less biased.
This is at the core of the principles on which your country was built. After all, it was your former President Theodore Roosevelt who said “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Think about it…
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