I see a left-wing German got elected to office recently by campaigning against the foreign policy of the United States. Yeah, that's what I want, to be lectured about war and being a "good neighbor" by a German. Their head honcho said they wouldn't take part in a war against Iraq. Kind of nice, to see them taking a pass on a war once in while. Perhaps what he actually meant was they wouldn't take place in a war that didn't have the word "World" in front of War.

okay, i giggled. amusing, yeah, and i see his point in general, but it got me to wondering about the propriety of using history to determine which country should have what current opinion and why.

of course it's difficult not to have strong feelings, beliefs or desires because of the past - especially when you've lost someone in a war or terrorist act, or saved their bacon numerous times - but we identify these emotional reservoirs as, for example, the root of the Palestinian conflict, while we are becoming ever more influenced by them ourselves, it would appear. sure, they're ingrateful fucks, but that's not the issue when it comes to the imminent sacrificing of thousands of Iraqi husbands, fathers, brothers and sons for Bush's Dubyious reasons.