why do days like today make so many people self-righteous?

[datasuspect]

oy!

[bryant69]

1. We live in uncertain times

Republicans and Liberals; not all of the old answers seem so obvious as they once did. When one is rattled, one isn't as naturally comfortable with his or her beliefs; so any deviation from what one believes upsets one, leading to denounciations in an attempt to have greater ideological unity (if we all agree on an answer, it must be the right answer). It's kind of a natural human reaction and occurs on both sides of the fence.

That's my theory; but I could be wrong.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[datasuspect]

5. i dunno

it seems that "times" have always been uncertain.

i mean, how long have xtians been waiting for the antichrist/christ's return?

there was rampant fear of socialism/populism becoming a potent enough force to topple the status quo during the depression because there was so much rampant misery.

what i can't understand is the maudlin, cloying "oh my god!" tenor of some people.

as if they didn't expect things like this to happen . . .

as if THOUSANDS of nameless, faceless innocents don't die everyday . . .

why is this such a tragedy? it is tragic to an extent, but it really isn't THAT profound a tragedy.

the guy WENT to saudi arabia WILLINGLY . . . to make shitloads of $$$$ . . . repairing the instruments of WAR and DEATH . . . in someone else's HOLY LAND.

seriously, the level of american cultural myopia and steadfast adherence to the profit motive and the belief in cultural superiority is truly mind boggling.

but then again, it isn't: cf. manifest destiny; monroe doctrine; mideast policy since the end of wwII; ethnic cleansing of native americans; financial ethnic cleansing of the poor; among many, many many abuses.

this country has had it coming for so long.

[bryant69]

6. Well then you should be happy, I guess

Not really the sort of thing I'd want, but to each their own.

Bryant

[datasuspect]

7. not necessarily happy

and not even talking about any specific beheading incident.

sorta indifferent.

i took off my 'murka-patriot-goggles a long time ago.

just trying to get to the facts, is all

[bryant69]

8. Not sure what 'Murka-patriot-goggles are

But if that's the reason I feel bad that a fellow citizen died unnecessarily due to evil terrorists and our governments evil and incompentance, well, I guess I must have mine on.

[datasuspect]

9. anyway . . .

i wasn't really talking about the specific incident today.

it is incidental and of temporary moment, but not altogether significant in the scheme of things.

i feel sorry for your loss. did you know this guy?

[bryant69]

11. Good turnaround

Not personally no.

In case you are wondering, your next move is to mention the thousands of Iraqis that have suffered and died due to our illegal war, and suggest that somehow feeling sorry for this one guy, that I didn't even know personally, is a disservice to all those Iraqis.

But to forestall that part of this conversation, allow me to say that I feel sorry for those Iraqis; however the death of this guy is more signficant in a historical sense, because it is another clear sign that President Bush's handling of the War on Terror has been staggeringly ineffective. Granted, many of the networks aren't going to make those connection, but hopefully many others will.

[datasuspect]

14. well . . .

i don't think i was being deceptive, regardless, we can all remember the old canard attributed to joe stalin that went something like:

"one death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic" or something like that.

sigh

salaam

[Cleita]

2. Oh, I don't know, murder, racism, misogynism and

hateful, pro-Bush rhetoric, I guess sometimes brings out the worst in us. :eyes:

[bryant69]

3. Are you referring to any one on Democratic Underground

or just referring to the world at large?

Just out of curiousity.

[Cleita]

4. The world at large, but we also seem to get our share here on DU, too.

eom

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Az]

12. Stress, fear, uncertainty

doubt, anger, frustration, helplessness, lack of control, depression, hopelessness, a desire to do something, loss of faith, disgust, insensed rage, desperation, fight of flight response, etc.

[DrWeird]

13. No kidding.

"Look at that! They beheaded an American! That's horrible! That's indefenisble! That's a war crime! Fucking savages! Abu Ghraib wasn't that bad! Support our troops! Support Bush! Hate the muslims! This is not propaganda! So stop saying that!"

[Kid_A]

15. ???

:wtf:

[DrWeird]

16. It it steps like a goose, and the jackboot fits...

it's probably a god-damned freeper.

Fucking savages.