arabs vs america

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel  by Ziad Asali points out the only real differences between the Arab and U.S. is a lack of understanding. It is that simple.  We all have the same goals.....such as living the good life and having enough to eat........but somewhere in the leadership ranks the objectives are lost in posturing for power.

 

Asali says we should deepen our understanding of Arab problems, such as ending our occupation of their lands and the extension of dignity and economic opportunity to their people. U.S. leadership is perceived as arrogant and unresponsive to the Arab world.  Somewhere in the pecking order of humans the Americans seem to be the top rooster and the Arabs are scrabbling among the kernals of corn lying around.  Muslim Islamic leaders feel threatened by democracy because it leads to the end of their power. Just why President Bush is impelled to impose democracy in the middle east remains a mystery to me. Perhaps it is all that is left as an excuse to stay in Iraq since the weapons of mass destruction turned out to be a myth.

 

The loss of young American lives in Iraq has become a travesty....certainly not worth the price that Bush demands to save loss of face. He made a mistake and he should admit such and withdraw even though our country will be perceived as weak. I know that is a hard choice for a Texan to make in the macho world they have created dating back to the Alamo.

 

The billions of dollars we are wasting in a futile war could be spent better in expanding opportunities for improvements in the U.S. We need better schools, highways, jobs and a higher income for middle americans who are the backbone of our economy. Our net national product exceeds 1.17 trillion dollars of which 20 percent is expended for social welfare programs, providing assistance to those unable to work because of disabilities. These efforts are supported by more than 130,000,000 american workers who file individual income taxes,and from corporations. We should concentrate our efforts on our needs in America and leave foreign economies alone. The thirst for world domination is unamerican, certainly not envisioned by our founding fathers.