Bahrain

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I'm not sure I have a lot of insight here but to me, Bahrain is a test of our values. We must decide whether basic human rights extend to everyone regardless of their feelings about us, their religion, even their willingness to extend those rights to us. I don't think 10 of millions of Muslims hate us because we worship the Almighty differently than them, rather because they see us as the "haves" to their "have nots". Religion is the easy way out, just as popes and kings of past Europe used religion to justify the Crusades, radical Islamic elements attempt to urge hatred using beliefs that are so important to people who have little else in life. Two elements are at play, failure to listen to those who think differently than us, and hatred that arises from fear of those who we perceive as different than us...race, religious beliefs, politics...all are just tools to perpetuate this fear and hatred. In the end, if we as a nation are to be true to ourselves, we must stand with the people of Bahrain against tyrany. The results are not within our control, our actions are.

it's a current test, the latest part of aa test we've been failing for years. our goal has been stability in the middle east, not democracy. now, when the people there are seemingly ready, we're not! this is what we get as a nation for not standing up for our core beliefs. instead, we've taken the road that benefits us monetarily. greed has won the day for years.
it's time for us to stand tall for peoples' rights-in the end that will pay off far more than the years of giving aid to foreign countries run by dictators. we have been short sighted for far too long.
that said, obama is in latin america instead of meeting with europes top leaders about libya. wrong move there! the veep should have gone south.