Letters to the Editor
maureenodonnell
Published Letters: 577 Editor's Choice: 5
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Factcheckl, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you but I have my doubts about "everyone abroad"
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]being mad about Jimmy Carter. As far as I can remember, he was perceived as a well-meaning man who bungled the crisis about the American hostages held by Iran. I'm relying on my own memory only, so I'm open to correction, but outside the US Carter was regarded neither with loathing nor love. As for Reagan's bombing of Libya, the reasons for that have always been "iffy" and what really made Libya an "outlaw State" was the bombing of the Pan-Am plane over Lockerbie in Scotland twenty years ago. The shooting dead of police officer Yvonne Fletcher guarding the Libyan Embassy in London, by someone inside the building, added to antipathy. We still don't know the full truth about the Lockerbie diaster which took the lives of many Americans and also people on the ground in a small Scottish town.
Libya has oil, is Muslim but quite secular and almost Sodom and Gomorrah when contrasted with Saudi Arabia. There is so much hypocrisy in international relations! While Gaddafi was supposed to be a pariah, people from all over Europe (I'm not sure about America) were free to go and work there, and they did. I know somebody who spent twenty years working in Libya and was able to visit the US without any problems. What to believe is the quandary for the ordinary citizen of any country
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According to global market experts etc. etc. but they're only peeing in the wind, if we're
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]all to go manic on metaphors. Any intelligent person can differentiate between individual Americans and American foreign policy. It's silly to believe that outsiders will be overwhelmed with admiration if the USA elects a not-very-black President. It may be important to Americans because of your own history but there's no country in the world which can boast of an immaculate, non-violent past. All that people can hope for is to live and learn. I agree with the person who points out that the government of each country is entrusted with putting the good of its own country first. However, your foreign policy has damaged your economy because the war in Iraq has diverted so much money away from domestic needs. What is happening in Gaza right now is shocking and America gets the backwash because of its unwavering support for Israel, no matter what. Apparently, in the last debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama he said that American support for Israel is "sacrosanct" so I can't see any real difference between these two candidates apart from my belief that she is a more diligent worker and his "image" is more snazzy.
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Well, yes, Lonewolfy but Tiger won't play your game.
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Tiger Woods refuses to categorise himself as anything but American on the grounds that, if he were to do so, he would be disrespecting his mother who is Asian. Tiger can stand tall on his own brilliance and on the indisputed fact that he is held in such high esteem throughout the world.
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Cecilbeanie, I don't think the young people of Gaza (iincluded in your list) are open to just blandishments
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Over one hundred people, one a l2 year old girl, have been killed by the Israeli army in the last few days. Reliant on news reports, all that I can glean is accusation and counter- accusation
but now the Israeli military operation has ended - for the time being anyway - at the request of the United States. I'm not taking sides in this seemingly interminable and bloody conflict but there is no doubt that the Palestinians blame America for its military and morale support for Israel. The bitter hatred that exists between these two peoples has led to countless deaths with no end in sight so how do you think Barack Obama could bring peace to this region? After all it's said that "No man can serve two masters".
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Guantanamo Bay imprisonment-without-trial and so-called "Extraordinary Rendition"
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I never see these mentioned in the tsunami of articles about advertisements, plagiarism, middle names and disconcerting drivel that seems to preoccupy so many columnists and they are at the heart of America's tainted reputation. I don't know what any of the three candidates think about what are clearly oppressive methods in the apparently futile search for Osama bin Laden and his hydra-headed operation. John McCain agrees that waterboarding is torture but what do the other two candidates think?
In my opinion, that is what "the world" would like to know about the candidates for the US Presidency but these important matters are being studiously avoided in favour of mere trifles. I'm fairly sure "the world" doesn't give two hoots whether your President is good-looking or plain, can dance or has two left feet, stammers or has "the gift of the gab". In foreign policy all we ask is for America to adhere to principles of decency and honesty. I hope that isn't too much to ask. Goodnight and good luck.
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I couldn't resist this before I go. Relations between Canada and the US already going sour!
[Read the article: Brand-aid]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Rachel Marsden, a conservative Canadian journalist, has been dumped on Wikipedia by one of its co-founders, Jimmy Wales. AND Barack Obama's economic adviser is sparring with the Canadian government about who said what/or who didn't say what at a meeting about NAFTA. That's the sort of thing that makes the world go around.