Ostridge Defense Tactics

Some people say that America is the next rome, bemoaning the coming collapse of the nation and an ensuing dark age which shall envelope the globe. And of course, if the muslims take of the world, we are certainly destined for a period of shock and adaptation. The terrorists are certainly going to blow up the U.S. with a fucking barrage of nuclear bombs, and that'll be the end of us, right?

There are other reasons why people compare America to Rome: The moral laxity and looseness which caused their downfall, some say is the only element that caused it, and not the receding power of the emperor or the military uprisings, not the sacking of Rome by visigoths and the economic inflation.

I sit here and think about what these people say. Thinking is the most important, because it is not enough to listen. You have to ask questions and seek answers to those questions, then you must judge these answers and determine for yourself if what they say is true, false, or somewhere in between.

So let me say that there is no such thing as terrorists. This is because the label "terrorist" is a convientient term used by the U.S. government to indicate a completely evil "force" that is an eminent threat to our way of life. Certainly useful, it unites americans in the fear that this evil will wipe them out,blahblahblah...

Truth be told, their are groups of people with their own interests, religiously motivated or otherwise, and they want to spread their ideas and make social change. Period. Every non-profit organization is a group with it's own interests. Every government in the world represents a group interest.

The only difference between an American Group and a terrorist group is that a terrorist group is a bunch of muslims that have been branded "terrorists" in order to justify the stripping of civil rights. But Egoist, you might say, terrorists you violence! This is a stupid argument because your neighbor down the street can use violence. The U.S. has used violence in every single war it's ever fought in. Violence is not a qualifier for terrorism any more than running is a qualifier for a theif. It might be worthwhile to stop violence from these so called "terrorists", but not any more worthwhile than stopping violence as a whole.

Furthermore, if you use violence to stop violence, you are not stopping violence. You are only breeding enmity. Never mind the fact that for the previous century American and European powers completely abused and shit upon muslims and arabs. Just like we did to african americans. It only makes sense to believe that they are not only fed-up, but starting to get really angry.

Also, the use of violence to express their hatred of us is not the hall-mark of a terrorist, it's the hallmark of a people who don't know what to do. Violence doesn't work. Period. It causes hatred and enmity. Period.

As such, the role of a terrorist is simply somebody who hasn't realized how innefective violence really is. Either way, if we withdraw from Iraq, issue a formal apology to the arab world, and let them govern in their own way, they will be unable to justify their anger and retaliation. However, it is their responsibility to prevent a bloodbath in their region. If genocide occurs, then it is their responsibility. IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES TO FURTHER DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. They don't want us there. It is their responsibility to create a good society, and we can only offer our non-intervening support.

The probability of a bloodbath is exceedingly large. I am aware of that. But here on earth it will just be business as usual, and is a necessary step towards letting this thing peeter itself out.

There is no such thing as a terrorist. Only Political Activists.
-Egoist