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In reply to the discussion: Do you agree with the Obama administration that ISIS is an "imminent threat"? [View all]GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)143. Maybe this will clarify my feelings
Last edited Sat Aug 23, 2014, 02:58 PM - Edit history (2)
My empathy extends much more to choiceless victims than to those who put themselves in dangerous situations by choice.
Victims like these:
- The four young Palestinian boys who where shelled on the Gaza beach by an Israeli gunboat while playing soccer.
- Families who are either targeted deliberately by military forces, or who get caught in a crossfire.
- Women who are murdered by their boyfriends, husbands and ex-husbands.
- Men like Michael Brown who are murdered by police because of the colour of their skins.
- The women and girls kidnapped by groups like Boko Haram and ISIS to become bush wives or brides of Islam.
- LGBT people who are murdered because of their sexual nature.
- Aboriginal peoples around the world who are ruthlessly exterminated because they live on land that has value to some multi-national corporation.
Journalists have a choice not to become potential victims. Volunteer soldiers have a choice not to become either potential killers or casualties. They have a right to make the choices they do. Along with the right to make a choice comes a responsibility to accept the accompanying risks. That puts such people in a different empathic category for me.
What happened to Foley was egregious, outrageous and horrifying. But he had a choice. What happens to the choiceless innocents who are caught in the path of that same ISIS epidemic is far, far worse. And they have no choice.
Does that help?
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Do you agree with the Obama administration that ISIS is an "imminent threat"? [View all]
DemocratSinceBirth
Aug 2014
OP
I have learned that the United States Government is not to be trusted in matters of military force.
Maedhros
Aug 2014
#55
In the same way there would have been a mushroom cloud over NYC had we not invaded Iraq.
chrisa
Aug 2014
#8
I think not, since, apart from murdering other muslims, men, women & children
whathehell
Aug 2014
#32
True. 9/11 wasn't the first attack, though. The US has been dealing with terrorism for a while.
chrisa
Aug 2014
#72
The 1993 WTC attack actually had the same intent as the 2001 one. It's only that the 2001 one worked
chrisa
Aug 2014
#135
Yes, because, ooga booga, another 10000 member gang has the US looking foolish.
GeorgeGist
Aug 2014
#11
No shit, sherlock...I guess you think bin Laden was an innocent bystander, too.
whathehell
Aug 2014
#118
Until I have enough information to say Yes then I must say No. But, your point is well taken.
Tuesday Afternoon
Aug 2014
#16
all of that, yes. But that is not the question and besides the question is not fully formed.
Tuesday Afternoon
Aug 2014
#20
Al Qaeda was played out, not scary or believable enough anymore to get us into Syria
whatchamacallit
Aug 2014
#15
Mhm, and I admire the advocates for peace, but they tend to be incapable of nuance.
conservaphobe
Aug 2014
#91
They are an imminent threat to the American press who travel to the countries
Baitball Blogger
Aug 2014
#21
The Prez was cool with Israeli commandoes killing a U.S. citizen aboard the Krav Mara.
Maedhros
Aug 2014
#87
Is that the way you felt about Daniel Pearl?..Same lack of feeling for our troops?
whathehell
Aug 2014
#100
conditional agreement -- they are clearly an imminent threat to Americans abroad
0rganism
Aug 2014
#52
As many pointed out before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, what's now playing out with ISIL
Maedhros
Aug 2014
#62
How could I know? The MSM is owned by the 1%, and tells me whatever the 1% tells them to.
Zorra
Aug 2014
#67
Due to going offline and chucking out the TV, I've been out of the news loop for quite a while...
Turborama
Aug 2014
#70
Erect Bogeyman, wave flag, declare we need protection, give more money to the MIC.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2014
#84
To the US, I don't know. To people in the Middle East, yes, obviously. N.T.
Donald Ian Rankin
Aug 2014
#138