26.11.2006 How and when to liberate people from dictators, and when not Is it really Blue or Red? From: Vladimir Rott ; To: Michael Moore "... There are many ways to liberate a country. Usually the residents of that country rise up and liberate themselves ... The one way that DOESN'T work is to invade a country and tell the people, 'We are here to liberate you!' – when they have done NOTHING to liberate themselves ... When tens of thousands aren't willing to shed their own blood to remove a dictator, that should be the first clue that they aren't going to be willing participants when you decide you're going to do the liberating for them ..." (Michael Moore in: "Cut and Run, the Only Brave Thing to Do") Reminds me of my young years in my first country, Czech(oslovak)ia, as some people were wondering why "the West", or "America", did not liberate us from the communists... while we wait... Otherwise a very good point Michael Moore presents in his letter – to leave if you fight an unjust war. Or not to start it at all. Yet, alas, with a few surprisingly naive, some would even say ignorant, statements. Like that about the Soviets. Or – much worse – his appeal to the "good guys" in US politics, who in his belief the Democrats are, the Blue ones over there. While others believe in the other guys, the Reds over there. And all together, each couple of years, are praying for the, that is their, good guys to win – at last. But the country is, the states, the people are neither Red nor Blue (see all the purple maps published over and over again). Why not to learn to mix all the colors? Better and better? Intelligent people, like Mr Moore, might help, should they be willing to learn how to shed their need to (blindly) believe. top ^