What was Wrong, What is Right

[freethefly 6]

What was Wrong, What is Right

The attack upon our soil, ten years ago, brought to our country the reality that we are not as safe as we have always thought we were. That attack slapped us firmly upon our collective cheeks. Reality is harsh. It stings and cries for a remedy. What that remedy may be is up to debate. Should it be? What is right? What is wrong?

America’s ability to do the right thing has been our trademark, since the Founding Fathers envisioned a more perfect union. They envisioned a world where all are equal. However, at that time in our history, all were not. Over the course of 235 years we have embraced slavery and then abolished that awful institution. We rounded up the natives of this land and marched them down a trail of tears to abandon them in a harsh desert. We gave them tainted meat, alcohol, and gave them blankets infested with small pox to keep them warm at night. We waged close to one hundred wars upon them. Since 1775, the U.S. has engaged in more than 300 wars, interventions, covert operations and undeclared conflicts. Our nation has waged war abroad and on our own soil – brother against brother. We engaged in the genocide of the indigenous people of this land to the interment of German, Japanese, and Italian Americans. We have tortured, maimed, and killed our enemies in the pursuit of justice. We are the only nation to use the most dreaded weapon known to man, not once, but twice. Is this the America that is portrayed in the history we teach our children? We portray Christopher Columbus, a man who never set foot upon these shores, as a great man. We celebrate him as the man who discovered America. He is emblazoned in portrait being smiled upon by the indigenous people of the small island he conquered as if he was their savior. The truth is he enslaved and tortured the people and brought virus and death upon them. So far, we have only done the right thing part of the time. We have written in the annals of history only that which we want to remember and try hard to erase our shortcomings. Doing such only leads us to repeat the worst of our nation. It is a travesty that we do such as history only repeats what we fail to learn the first time.

Our current situation, some will argue, calls for the most extreme measures. Some will allow us to become those whom we abhor. When we become such, we lose what little we have gained. We step back in time and repeat that which we wish to forget. This is the great travesty of the human race. Our propensity to repay evil with evil, an eye for an eye is a dance we should eagerly decline. Our greatest moments are the minutes we labored to climb above the fray. To lose our grip on the ever rising edge would be a disaster that would rain dirt upon our collective heads. To remain the shining beacon that President Regan directed our eyes to, we must keep that beacon clean and clear. We should never falter in our march for the truths that our Founding Fathers envisioned. Their scope was limited. Ours is much wider. We should always strive to be the perfect example. Ignorance is not bliss. It is an abomination. It is a slap in the face. We should invoke the Just War Theory as laid out by Augustine and Aquinas;

• There must be a just cause for the war.

• War must be waged only in response to certain, grave and lasting damage inflicted by an aggressor.

• The motive for war must be advancement of good or avoidance of evil.

• The ultimate objective of war must be to bring peace.

• Revenge, revolt, a desire to harm, dominate, or exploit and similar things are not justification for war.

• Every possible means of peacefully settling the conflict must be exhausted first.

• There must be serious prospects of success; bloodshed without hope of victory cannot be justified.

• The war must be declared by a legitimate authority. Private individuals or groups should seek redress of their rights through their governments, not by acts of war.

• The war must not cause greater evil than the evil to be eliminated.

• Non-combatants (civilians) must not be intentionally harmed.

• Prisoners and conquered peoples must be treated justly.


To not abide by these principles would extinguish our shining beacon casting us into the darkness of what is evil. Our sense of what is right should be all we need. We have spent 235 years expanding, reshaping, and trying our hardest to right the wrongs of our past. As a collective of many people of many origins our number one goal should be as we have always claimed it to be-a melting pot. We should always labor to extend the proper hand to win the hearts of those who may someday take up arms against our great nation. To show future generations of distant nations that America is righteous and just by letting our shining beacon be their guide towards a greater future.

Cite: Just War Theory http://www.twopaths.com/faq_war.htm

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[JohnRich 4]

If you didn't write this yourself, then you should cite the source from which it came.

[freethefly 6]

I am the author.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[wsd 0]

Yawn...

[grimmie 186]

Nice...you're just one President too late.








Flame away boys.

[freethefly 6]

Quote

Yawn...

Yawwwwwwwn.... Typical response from someone who has yet to have anything intelligent to post or say on any given subject. From a hatemonger who hides behind anonymity. Has nothing in his/her profile. Most likely has never done a skydive, but trolls on a skydive website. Probably under the age of 20 and is a high school drop out. Claims to have a top secret clearance.

Because I wish to know how other Americans and our foreign friends feel about the state of the world we live in, I post. If you have nothing intelligent at all to say, kindly go away.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[freethefly 6]

Quote

Nice...you're just one President too late.








Flame away boys.

Expand, please. As for Presidents... During the 51 years that I have been on this planet, I have lived through 11 presidents. The same as any person my age. Each has had his high points as well as low points. Each and everyone of them has brought out the best in America as well as shown the world the belly of the beast. Some more so as others.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young