Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site decwrl.DEC.COM Path: utzoo!lsuc!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-bartok!mahoney From: mahoney@bartok.DEC Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: The peaceful Americans Message-ID: <1637@decwrl.DEC.COM> Date: Wed, 12-Mar-86 11:43:26 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.1637 Posted: Wed Mar 12 11:43:26 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 23:08:37 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 63 I have been reading about how awful those Soviets are. They are bully's ready to take over the world. Personally I do believe that the Soviets must be watched that they are trying to build an Empire. That I have no doubt about. What I do have my doubts are on the portrayal of the Soviets as being the only non peace loving force in the world. Let us look at the history of the Soviet Union and the US on expansion. Russia starts out as a the Muscovy Duchy which slowly spreads to throw out the Tarters. The US starts out as 13 colonies and throws out the English overlords. Russia then slowly but surely moves East to take overland from other people without there consent and basically exterminates any that getin there way. They fight wars with countries and take their land from them The US slowly but surely moves West to take land from other people without their consent and also exterminates any that get in their way. If you can argue this point go back and relearn US history. Read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. This is where the US Calverly wiped out 3000 men women and children when at a Religios ceremony. These people had no way tod efend themselves. Andrew Jackson forced marched the Cherokees and Cheyennes from Florida to West of the Missippi. This went against a Supreme Court decision calling the move unconstitutional. Jacksons answer was I have an army what can the Supreme Court use. Roughly some 5000 to 10000 people died on the move itself. These was during the winter and many more died directly after the move from starvation. The move is called the Trail of Tears. The US also stole land from Mexico in the glorious Mexican War. Russia fights various wars of agression with the Ottoman Empire Prussia Sweden and other countries. The US fights the British the Spanish and as mentioned before the Mexicans. (Russia becomes the Soviet Union) The Soviet Union takes over Eastern Europe. The US invades most of the countries in Central America and the Caribean setting up governments of its own. Personally I prefer the US over the Soviet Union and think the world will have a better shot at freedom with the US. But to make the SOviets look like the only agressors is ludicrous the US whole history is based on WAR. We murdered millions to get the land that we control today and tried to destroy whole cultures with that as policy. It was stated US policy until the 20th century to not only take Indian land but to destroy Indian culture. That people is not a benevolent society. We as Americans hopefully have learned from our past and I feel we have. Indians are still getting a raw deal but it is getting better. The government is trying to help restore lost culture. The Phillipians are a good example of the good influence that the US can have on nations. I feel that our actions in Nicaraguia are a step backwards and should be opposed. I feel our actions in suppoting the Afghan rebels is correct even if it is for the wrong reason. You must always try to look at yourself with the same glasses that you look at your enemy with. Brian Mahoney