Marilyn,

I am truly sorry that you misinterpreted what I had to say because I never used the word "Conservative" and I never said or implied that I do not hold Conservatives in high esteem. For you to say so is a misrepresentation of my remarks. You say you have very different views from those I have expressed. I respect you and your views.

Arthur,

Thanks for your kind remarks. Perhaps it would be helpful if I expand a little on what I meant when I said, "I would hate the United States.", and why I said it. I have been an eyewitness to countless people living in abject poverty in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. All of those poor souls would give their right arm and more to be able to lift themselves out of such terrible living conditions. They have aspirations just like those of us fortunate enough to have been born in America, but the comparison ends abruptly there. We live in nice homes, they live in straw huts high above the ground in Southeast Asia or huts made from tree limbs along the Red Sea coast. You don't see an American male walking barefoot along the road dragging a dead baboon home to his family for dinner in their dirt floor tent, but you see it along the Red Sea coast. You don't see American children pulling big beetles from window screens and eating them or devouring roasted locusts to fill their little tummies, but you see it in Southeast Asia. Yet these people want a better life. So do the Palestinian people - especially for their children. However, if you are continually kicked and beaten for 50 years by an adversary with the unqualified support of the richest and most powerful nation in the world, you have no chance of ever achieving your dreams of freedom, prosperity, and happiness. You will be held down by your adversary continually. Eventually, hatred of the oppressors becomes a natural emotion. So Arthur, what I meant was that if I had been kicked and beaten for 50 years I would learn to hate the United States and that is what has occurred with 3.5 million Palestinians. But it doesn't end there. Muslims are like Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, or any other religious group. Together, they form a brotherhood within their religion. They support each other. And so we have alienated all Muslims around the world, not just the 3.5 million Muslims in Palestine, because of our politically-driven unwillingness to treat the Palestinian people fairly and equally with all other peoples living in the region. Either we are a nation that preaches and practices equality for all races, creeds, and religions or we are not. I say simply that our foreign policy does not reflect the values we hold dear in America. That two-faced image we portray to everyone around the world is hurting us in our dealings with nations on all continents and we need to change that image. That is enough said for now.

Grandpa Doug,

You make a lot of sense, sir. You have the right kind of values - values that would stand anyone in good stead if they adopted and applied them in their daily lives.

You said you and Ruthie had to undo portions of what your children were taught in the public schools. That struck a chord (if you will excuse my play on words) with me, so I want to share the following with you because I think it is important.

Generally speaking, Americans are poorly informed regarding events outside the United States. I spent nine weeks with my dear brother and sister and our extended family in California this past summer. While there I read the papers daily while eating breakfast - USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the San Bernardino Sun, and the Victoville Daily Press mainly. I love to read. I was apalled at the glaring absence of any meaningful reporting of events, opinions, political, economic and social issues outside the United States. I read the national and international papers here in the UK and they cover the world. What I am saying is that Americans are living in a vacuum so to speak in terms of information about the world outside of the United States. The American news media simply does not cover the world in any depth. The net result is that Americans seem to have little understanding of, or feeling for, the needs and desires of people elsewhere. They appear to others to have their "head in the sand" so to speak, or as it has been said to me countles times in my travels around the world - Americans are self-centered, selfish, and don't care about anyone else. Part of the blame for this situation must be laid at the feet of the American news media for not educating our citizens on the most important matters affecting other peoples around the world. I know Americans are caring people and care about the underprivileged wherever they are. But if you are insulated from the real world, you have no way of learning about the needs and desires of others. Public school curriculums should include serious and detailed studies of the world at large from political, economic, social, religious, moral, and ethical perspectives. Exchange students learn some of these important lessons. They are a distinctly tiny minority. If we can get the news media to educate our adults and schools to educate our children in terms of world affairs we will have a better world in the long run.

I have met so many Americans, Britons, Germans, Saudis, Thais, Koreans, and others who hold strong opinions and their attitude is, "I know what I believe so don't confuse me with the facts." Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one. The truth is the truth - period! Facts are facts and if one's opinions are not consistent with the facts, they aren't worth a hoot. I think you would agree with that, Grandpa.

Finally Marilyn, lets talk keyboards anytime. I'm ready and willing!

Like you Grandpa Doug, I yield the soap box to others. I've enjoyed reading the comments of all the particpants in this discussion.

Warmest Regards, Chuck Piper

[This message has been edited by Chuck Piper (edited 12-27-2002).]