h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You're all (almost) ignoring my question.

I'm not. I've tried. I don't have an answer.

rev paperboy:

"With much less viable land to spread out with, Canada's immigration policies (if these statistics are true) could lead them into trouble, as their population could begin to balloon with less and less room to house everyone. At least most of the USA is relatively habitable, and so can handle immigration in pure numbers, if not at a higher rate."

Relax, my man. No xenophobe here...

Elly, to answer your question...

If I say "that's so funny" and I don't smile, what I mean is "Wow, that's so weird." Otherwise I smile.

I hate to keep riding the point here, Anhaga, but apparently the point is too simple for some people to comprehend.

I was attempting, however awkwardly in the view of some, to explain how the deaths of 3000 or so people are not particularly newsworthy on the international scale of things because it happens far too often. The implication, if any, is that Americans probably don't appreciate how lucky they are not to be experiencing the sort of thing Palestinians, Africans, or others experience pretty much on a routine basis.

Now since they don't appreciate it, it follows that when one attempts to remind them of the situation, as it might be perceived outside of America, all hell breaks loose it seems. So naturally I get accused of condoning violence, rating atrocities by the numbers and any number of other nefarious deeds or omissions.

Does the term "deflection" ring any bells? This is what's happening. Attack the messenger, because you don't like the message. Don't address the message directly. Deflect the criticism so it falls on anyone else but you.

Very well, and well done, Americans. Once again you are blameless, and that's the main thing. The world can go to hell in a handbasket but as long as Americans are blameless, well, we've done our sacred duty.

Now, let's see what can be made of that bunch of verbage. I'm antipating great things so don't let me down.

My response to this is post 3168... a bit of a rant, but it does express my feelings.

How many incidents of 3000+ deaths have there been in your country this week?

I suppose it never occurred to you that you made a useless point in a very stupid way? No, it must be this deflection thing you're talking about.

Hubris, they name is Steve.

This post has been removed.

Whoa!!! There is NEVER a need for personal attacks here, EVER! If you can't get along, leave or deal with it in a responsible manner. I disagree with many but I would never make it personal. Back off, buster!

Oh. My. I go to work for a while and I miss something interesting. I don't want to know what got hidden or even who posted it. I'd just like to know which side of the argument it came from.

Never mind. I figured it out.

"How many incidents of 3000+ deaths have there been in your country this week?"

By car wrecks, by lung cancer, by accidental shootings. Even after Sept 11th you were more likely to die in NYC from a sinkhole opening up in 6th Avenue than from a terrorist attack. Yes, the attack was devastating and sobering and whatnot, but in terms of the whole scheme of things, it's not that large, it's certainly nothing new, and when it happens to brown people nobody seems to care. Hell, we lost over 185,000 jobs in NYC alone and we are having to close fire departments and cutting back trash pick-up to make ends meet? Do people care now? Hells no, apparently. Seriously, if you're to be all in an upstart about this statistical anomaly, then you might as well be consistent about it.

wasn't that what Steve was saying?






(my comments are based on posts which have not been hidden.)

I thought so, anhaga.

Don't worry about NYC, he's a "cynical, disaffected college student" (I quote from his homepage)

I can understand how he feels in terms of sheer numbers in a certain sense, because not THAT many people died on 9-11. It was my contention that such a tradgedy went beyond sheer numbers and into the realm of something that struck to the heart of a nation and was a reflection of so much thereafter that came from it, both good and bad. Hence my post that I could never understand events in the Congo, Tienneman square, etc. I specifically mentioned countries in which events occurred that defined them in part on the world scene.

I thought 9-11 was "greater than the sum of its parts," if you catch my drift. At least, I feel that it was. And in that regard, I think proper respect is due to those who died, and to people who suffered, and to have a shread of understanding for Americans who have mourned something they felt they lost. The greatest cynic could at least agree that America was a better place without the looming fear of terrorism brought about by that day, couldn't he?

Oh, and cl zoomer, what was hidden in that post? I'm curious if it was directed at myself or Blatherskite?

It was all addressed to me, RE1.

Well, we'd hate to think of you feeling neglected and left out, Blathers...

I understand that to Americans, the 911 event was 'more than the sum of its parts' - it was truly an event that shocked you all to the core. It made you feel vulnerable in a way you never had been before. That's all understandable.
What non-Americans may have a problem with (I certainly do)is that Americans have responded by attacking Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries not proven to have had any connection or to bear any guilt for what happened to you and also, that the shock of it has caused Americans to forget that other people in other countries suffer as much or more, sometimes as result of American actions, sometimes not.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. I don't who said that, but she was right.
I've just been at another site, where I learned of a poll that showed that 25% of Americans think that Iraq *used* WMD against American soldiers in the late unpleasantness just ended!

This may seem like I'm descending into sillyness, but hear me out:

I'm just finishing up the new Harry Potter book and (don't worry, no spoilers here) I've come to the conclusion that it is, in part, a comment on 9/11. Dumbledore says at one point: "Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike . . . . We wizards have mistreated and abused our fellows for too long, and we are now reaping our reward." The "mistreatment and abuse" he is talking about is "indifference and neglect".

Maybe it's just me.

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