[MD] Hippies (and Humour) in the Middle East

[Platt Holden]

> [Arlo previously]
> I would rather hear this "battle cry" coming from the Middle East than what we
> are hearing today. Wouldn't you?
> 
> [Platt]
> Sure. I'd "rather" a lot of things.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Then we are in agreement that the world needs more hippies, not less.

I should say not. You've jumped, as usual, to an irrelevant conclusion.

> The Middle
> East needs more "contrarians" (more bohemians and hippies). Maybe in hindsight,
> it was these groups we should have supported, rather than big oil autocracies
> and Mujahideens. 

Bohemians and hippies in the Middle East. Do you mean Hamas?.
 
> [Platt]
> Yes. I'd "rather" everyone be just like me.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Which is NOT the same as wishing there were more "contrarians". But thanks for
> being honest.

Do you doubt I'm contrarian to you?

> [Platt]
> So  we are to blame for a bunch of people who would just as soon cut your 
> throat as look at you?
> 
> [Arlo]
> The situation is obviously more complicated than that, but our historical
> involvement has certainly had impact. But, of course, to say this one has to
> believe that America the Great is capable of making mistakes.
> 
> Try to imagine for one second you are typical Iranian citizen. America has
> invaded countries the left and to the right. We have a long policy of
> interferring with the political processes in all your neighboring countries,
> even setting up puppet dictators in your own. You have seen America displace a
> large number of people who have lived on a tract on land for generations,
> removed and placed in refugee camps to make way for a new "country" where
> citizenship is denied to them, by virtue of their religion. Recently, in
> America's war with your neighbors, you have personally seen refugees, citizens,
> women and children burned by napalming campaigns. Now, ask youself, do you
> really think you'd not favor the creation of arms to defend your country?

Your defense of a brutal dictatorship is heartwarming.

> And, if you believe that the typical Iranian or Arab is blinded by unquestioning
> obedience to his/her Nation-State, you better realize that you do the same.

So you see no difference between loyalty to a constitutional democracy that 
guarantees free speech and preserves other intellectual values and a brutal 
theocracy? Oh, I forgot. Many academics like Noam Chomsky think Muslim 
terrorism is justified because of terrible, imperial Amerika.

> My fear, though, is that the situation has deteriorated to the point where armed
> conflict may be inevitable, since so many on both sides seem to desire this. And
> both sides will proclaim they are wholly righteous, and both sides will be
> wrong, and the lives of many innocent people will be taken so that each side can
> try to win a pissing contest, and blame everything on the other.

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.

> [Platt]
> When the nation is threatened by a bunch of biological brigands armed with
> WMD's, you bet!
> 
> [Arlo]
> Which is exactly the way the Iranians feel. Thanks, you've just justified their
> present course.

Yes, I know you believe that a country run by a bunch of religious fanatics 
dedicated to kill every Jew and infidel is morally equivalent to the U.S., 
thereby being justified to build atomic weapons. Thankfully, most Western 
leaders  disagree with you.

Platt