Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-vax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!harpo!eagle!mit-vax!russ
From: russ@mit-vax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: US Casualties
Message-ID: <396@mit-vax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Nov-83 23:21:01 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-vax.396
Posted: Tue Nov  1 23:21:01 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Nov-83 08:34:16 EST
References: <368@ihuxq.UUCP>
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 46

Well, I was going to be my usual non-responsive self (the kind of
net-news reader that the frequent posters are always deploring),
until I got to Mr. Covert's submission.  And even then, I was going
to let statements like "one of our greatest presidents Mr. Ronald Reagon"
go by unchallenged, with respect to both content and spelling -- although
I admit to being a little disappointed that Mr. Reagan's name was 
constantly misspelled.  (I guess he's not *that* great a president :-) --
in any event, that's the sort of decision I leave to posterity.)

But then I reached the following statement:
  
	The argument saying that the US is only involved in global
	affairs at the bequest of multi-national corporations is
	simply not true.  Private enterprise can ONLY exist in a FREE
	and OPEN society.  Therefore, such corporations are a necessity
	in the newly developing nations.

Let me see if I can follow that one.  It seems to be saying that we
need multi-national corporations in newly developing nations, in
order to insure that a free and open society is established.  Well,
there may be those among us who agree with that viewpoint, but I am
not one.  (I can just see the TV ads now:  "And furthermore, after
divestiture, AT&T will be able to bring free and open societies to more
under-developed nations than ever before!"  :-) ) 
			
In his closing, Mr. Covert declares himself "a US Patriot."  If being
a patriot means believing that one's country is the finest place in
the world to live, then sign me up.  If it means being willing to die
to defend one's country, I'll go along with that too.  However, it
will take a very persuasive argument to convince me that the Marines
and Rangers in Lebanon and Grenada are "defending our country."  If
being a patriot means that one supports the introduction of troops
into a foreign country, with the aim of establishing one's own
concept of freedom there, then count me out -- but then, I'm leery of
joining any club which has Messrs. Reagan and Andropov as members.

"THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT RONALD REAGON"?  Somehow, I think I'd sleep
a lot better at night if Mr. Reagan were not re-elected next year.

Russell Finn
{decvax, mit-eddie, grkermit}!mit-vax!russ

NOTE:  I have spent some time choosing my words carefully and
staying as much as possible to the point; I try to avoid any language
which might be considered abusive.  I welcome responses via
mail (or the net), but I ask that responders do the same.