OT: A Nuclear North Korea

[Ludd]

Possum said:

Oh, please.

First, no need to apologise.

Second, if I'd known english wasn't your native tongue, I'd have been quite a bit less harsh. *I* will apologise for that.

Third, I did not attack you personally. I attacked your statement. As my catholic friends say, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."

There is no hostility toward you here. I did express scorn for what you appeared to be saying. But that's not the same thing.

30 years ago, at the age of 17, I lived and worked in the city of London. Over and over, I had this exchange with brits and other europeans -

Them: "So, are you Canadian?"
Me: "Ah, no, actually, I'm American."
Them: "F***ing Americans"

Now that, my friend, is hostility. Unearned, unwarranted, unjustified hostility.

Oh, there were reasons then, just as there are reasons now.

Then it was the aftermath of the war in southeast asia, during which we Americans were regularly vilified and excoriated in the european press.

Today, it's Iraq, and we are being regularly vilified and excoriated in the european press...

As Howard Cosell said, "It's like deja vu all over again!"

I enjoy the company of european people. I enjoy their foods and wines. I respect their sometimes superior and always different ways of doing things.

But as for their political opinions, well, yeah, pardon me while I try to look like someone who gives a damn

When I first read your post I did think you were attacking me personally, especially my poor English skills. English is my first language-I am just not too good at writing it.

I had no intention of being anti-American. I just thought a view from the English ‘left’ would be of some interest. I tend to be centrist-right when it comes to politics.

But I must confess to being English though. If it helps, my wife is American and we do spend most of our vacations in New England.

I am an Englishman with Canadian citizenship married to an American whose background is Irish and French. I have to like everybody.

My wife, who read your post, did mutter something about wanting to cut off more than an ear. You will have to excuse her though, she’s from New Jersey.


And to RonGianti and Atrocities, Thanks guys, I appreciate your kind words.

Now, back to the problem of North Korea…