Justin, did you have a good thanksgiving? It doesn’t appear you think there’s much to be thankful for. It is absolutely trendy to hate the US. You clearly haven’t been to Europe recently, where their snobby hatred of anything American is repugnant but pervasive. When you ask questions about citizens of these other countries like Darfur and Sierra Leone and Iraq, do you believe that America’s intention in those countries was to harm them? When America acts in foreign policy, do you really believe it does so in order to spread evil and evil ideas? Why did America go into Somalia? Or Afghanistan? To spread terror? No, to confront terror. You’re an ideological lemming to believe otherwise. As for Iraq, perhaps those citizens would prefer being ruled by Saddam? Despite what you read in the media, things are much better in Iraq for most citizens than you’d believe, and America has not abandoned them to insurgency rule as, no doubt, YOU would like to do. I think John’s central point is a very good one, that GENERALLY America’s influence in the world is more good than bad, and to a great ratio. By the way, you may be interested to know that John (and most libertarians, minus myself) are opposed to America’s intervention in foreign wars. But the very LAST thing you can accuse America of is a negative influence around the world, when it is one of the last great forces for good that exist. What other nation is willing to step out and commit help to the degree that the US is? Name me one other country giving as much in humanitarian aid? Name me another nation that has committed as many troops to peacekeeping missions around the world?

What’s happened is that you’ve replaced everything good that America has ever done with the war in Iraq under George W. Bush, and bought the entire line that the US is an evil imperialist occupying force, when in fact America is the ONLY country that never invaded a nation for the purpose of acquiring it and adding it to their empire — the ONLY country in world history. So it gets me a little pissed off to hear you ungrateful bastards with nothing good to say. You have become so wrapped up in the problems of Iraq that you can’t see the forest for the trees. In other words, your opinion is ill-considered and blinkered.

Finally, let me ask you, what other nation can you think of that third world countries owe their thanks to any MORE than America?

Yes, well, people like Justin are so far up the ass crack of politically correct current events that they’ve thrown the baby out with the bath water. Of course we want to acknowledge plight and hopefully we never cause harm to another human being unless it is absolutely necessary to prevent harm to someone else, that’s what separates America from the enemies we have, but at one and the same time it is important to remember that we have enemies and it is important to protect ourselves from them too. Why is it that I never hear people from Justin’s side of the fence calling for that side of the coin also?