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For acknowledging the following:
That such attacks are heinous, despicable, unjustified and barbaric, and serve absolutely no good purpose, and deserving of no lauding whatsoever, whatever the underlying grievances that supposedly inspired them. This needs to be said because, apparently, there are some who appear to be ok with, even cheer on, such attacks. (Yes, the left has its despicable nuts too, and I'm specifically referring to some far-left types who were recently banned from Digby's blog, who cheered on the Iraqi insurgency and deaths of US troops.)
That the immediate emotional desire to exact massive and indescriminate revenge on these people and their compatriots is natural and normal, and part of what makes us human.
That NOT giving in to such emotions despite the often overwhelming urge to do so is what makes us civilized and HUMANE--and also smart--as opposed to merely human.
That the underlying grievances that inspired such heinous attacks were often directly inspired by the actions of the US and its allies, and need to be rectified, if such attacks are to be abated in the future. People generally don't intentionally kill other people for no reason. Take away the reasons, and you'll reduce such killings drastically (but not entirely, of course, as there will likely always be some malcontents no matter what we do, but that doesn't make seeking to act more morally any less necessary and laudable from both a moral and pragmatic point of view).
The far right, of course, being psychologically if not physiologically incapable of such relatively "complex" thinking and feeling (i.e. rational and empathic) , will fail to acknowledge, let alone agree with it, making it a danger that we will have to contend with forever. (I can only imagine what hateful idiocy and insanity is currently being spewed forth on RW talk radio and blogs.)
Anyone "shocked" by what's going on in Mumbai (as opposed to outraged and depressed) is living in a fantasy world. There is absolutely nothing surprising about it, given the behavior of the US and its allies around the world (but also of many of its enemies and adeversaries, of course--the US is certainly not unique in acting in a consistently immoral and stupid manner).
