Is America evil?

[GSL]

Of course it's not all evil, there are a lot of good, honest people here. And it's not obviously evil in the way muslim terrorists are.

But, when you pause to consider the sheer insanity of invading Iraq, you have to wonder. Sending weapons and soldiers across the world to annihilate a foreign country, sacrifing thousands of lives and it was all because of some vague, fearful reasons. But then when the reasons were proved completely wrong, our leaders still stand by their decision to attack! And at least half the US population agrees with those leaders!

Call them stupid, blame Fox news, blame Karl Rove or whatever. But a lot of Americans are supporting this insanity, blinded to reason, and refusing to face the fact that America's attack on Iraq was just plain wrong and continues to be so. People are suffering and dying every day because of these folk's refusal to see reality. We need some of their votes to hopefully end this madness, so we don't call them what they are.

[XanaDUer]

1. No

bit it's filled with many people who are perpetrating evil due to their enourmous fear.

[GSL]

3. what's the difference

between perpertuating evil and starting it?

[XanaDUer]

7. I have no idea

Evil acts done out of fear are as evil as those done for any other reason.

[OnionPatch]

2. Not evil

brainwashed. At least most of them. I do believe a certain segment of our so-called leaders actually are somewhat evil.

[The Straight Story]

4. Isn't evil a religious idea?

Or something like it? If we have no baseline morals (and I would guess all morals are relative to a belief system) than how we define 'evil'?

If we are all nothing more than a survival of the fittest, than I can't see america as evil - it is surviving and eating up the weaker of the species which is how things work in an evolutionary way - evil is nothing more than a term coined by those who see those in power as not doing what is best for them.

Ok, so a lot of dripping sarcasm in my post :) (not directed at you BTW). To define evil I would think we need to define morals, and morals have deeper conotations. If we take a purely science view then we might ask "Is america doing what is best for it?" and debate whether or not the long range effects from it's policies can help it reach the goal of a 'species' (if you will) which wants to survive and thrive....

[GSL]

5. I don't know how to define evil

but in my opinion:

Terrorists = evil
Nazi Germany = evil

Terrorist supporters who sympathise with the Palestinian plight, and give money that may be used for suicide bombings= ?

Regular Germans who supported the Nazi party and refused to accept that atrocities that were being committed = ?

[PittLib]

8. Call me crazy ...

But when someone uses the adjective "evil" - I think they are taking the easy road and generally missing a point, hence the liberal use by our politicians and clergy. It separates. Us. Them. We don't want to relate to it. Terrorists are not "evil", but their means are. I, in no way shape or form, condone or sympathize with their actions. I do have an issue with people writing them of as subhuman by labeling them as such, and therefore undermining our chances of ever controlling or eliminating the problem. We have to relate - we have to find the motivation. Everything is cause and effect - and if people truly believe that America is the innocent target of random "evil" (other than *) then perhaps we deserve to be where we are.

[The Straight Story]

10. evil

is tough and easy to define. We can say on a personal level what evil is because such a definition is relative to our personal ideals and beliefs - but to define it on a national level (ie politics as an example) is a different matter.

If we don't wish to interject religion (or personal belief) into our system of government than we could ditch the whole idea of evil and look at things from a solely scientific perspective - right and wrong is defined by who has the best weapons and most power as there is no one else above such things to define it....

[BlackVelvetElvis]

6. I think anytime we support an oppressive regime, we are evil.

Saddam in the 80's comes to mind.
The US needs to stop getting in bed with them.

[Swede]

9. A country cannot be evil

Leadership sure,but not a country. Ordinary Germans helped the Nazis out of fear,unemployment,patiotism, not knowing how evil the Nazis really were.

[stldemocrat]

11. Sometimes...

[billbuckhead]

12. If America elects the Chimp then we are officially evil.

Democracy will have failed to recognize a true lack of morality or competence.

[stldemocrat]

14. Most Certainly

Maybe that should be Kerry's campaign slogan:

Don't be Evil: Vote Kerry 2004

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. In a word

Yes!

[ComerPerro]

15. No. Bush is

[JSJ]

16. has done something evil every twenty years for 220 years- on average n/t

[AmerDem]

17. No

but the current leadership is!

[not systems]

18. No. But elements of the power elites are evil.

This including the current administration.

[JackDragna]

19. Evil beyond the imagination of most of its citizens.

Take a walk down memory lane for just a moment, if you will:

http://www.omnicenter.org/warpeacecollection/dictators.htm

The above web site lists most of the totalitarian states we've supported over the last fifty years. The list includes people who were in bed with Nazis, slaughtered tens of thousands of indigenous people, were installed into power by the CIA and stole untold amounts of foreign aid earmarked for their population. In the name of high finance and zealotry against communism, we have supported a litany of the world's worst dictators.

The horror doesn't even come close to ending there. We've carried out political assassinations against priests and democratically elected politicans. We've used government facilities for drug running. The FBI, entrusted with our public safety, was at one time the single biggest threat to members of the civil rights movement. We use up resources at an alarming rate, pollute the world and thumb our nose at anyone who complains.

We are the focus of evil in this world. For all the good we do, we do ten times as much bad. We are the epicenter of a new global world order, where the wealthy use their power to mute governments in their quest to fill their coffers. This is why it is so imperative for us on the left in this country to change our course and get men like Bush out of office. We must stop the brutal manner in which we treat the rest of the world, preaching democracy while supporting dictators. Essentially, we must put people into office who practice what they preach and actually care about democracy and human rights. Only then can we begin to fix the horrible, horrible injustices the United States has inflicted upon the rest of the world.