Fernando's Blog

Democratic Leadership Counsel - How Kerry can win the debate on terror and Iraq. By William Saletan

Cheney's Burden - The case for war vs. the case for peace. By Chris Suellentrop


The question in front of voters in November: Do you think, for the next 30 to 50 years, that the nation needs to prove its case when it goes to war? Or do you think the world has changed so much that we should have to prove the case for peace?

The biggest threat is not terrorism itself, as big as that is, but how we react to it.

"Self-Absorbed Americans Inflict Far More Misery Than They Endure"

by Stan Moore
(Saturday 11 September 2004)

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'Americans feel far more empathy for foreigners who died in the World Trade Center than for innocent victims of the American 'Shock and Awe' campaign over Baghdad.'


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Americans are about to relive the misery of 9/11 with wailing, moaning, lamenting and endless self-pity and self-absorption. As they do so, they will also wallow in mourning of the loss of 1000 soldiers in the invasion of Iraq. The tears will be real. The grief will be sincere and the pain heartfelt. Americans care about themselves uniquely and seem to have far less empathy for the suffering of others who in reality have suffered far more and far longer at the hands of the American government and the American military.

Americans and their government do not even bother to keep accurate records of Iraqi combatants killed in opposition to American hegemony. Neither are records kept of innocent Iraqi victims of U.S. bombings and displays of firepower. We do not know how many Iraqi children and adults and elderly were sickened or who died prematurely from the sanctions levied against Iraq by after the Gulf War. Yet, estimates are that Iraqis have died by the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, or perhaps a million individuals or more, compared with less than four thousand Americans who have died in since 9/11. The self-pity by Americans dwarfs American pity for Iraqis and Afghan people have have suffered far, far more grievous injury.

Americans feel far more empathy for foreigners who died in the World Trade Center than for innocent "

The Misunderstood Osama - How to read Imperial Hubris. By Bryan Curtis

Don't be so quick to label Osama 'crazy'.

A weeklong journal of a writer in Iran. By Reza Aslan

The people of Iran want something different. Fascinating journal. I also read recently that a traveller in Iran actually had a conversation with an Iranian who was envious of Iraq. He wished the US would invade and bring freedom to them too.

Bumper Sticker Insubordination - A Kerry fan gets fired, and then hired, for her politics. By Timothy Noah

Great story. Integrity still pulls a person apart.

USATODAY.com - Fewer foreigners enrolling in grad school

Interesting... Another place where the US is starting to see how it's shooting itself in the foot with its policies.

Never blow off the ones you'll need Achievers don't help others to succeed, they succeed because they help others @ workopolis.com

Just like in the article here, I much prefer a "no, thanks" than no response. How can I get people to say "no" more often?

Chechnya - What drives the separatists to commit such terrible outrages? By Masha Gessen

This is a great and informative article!