I'm wondering when the penny will drop for the USA. Have an attractive lifestyle in comparison to the rest of the world and all that means is that those who don't enjoy it want to share in it. Or destroy it. They will cross the borders or pledge their lives to the elimination of the USA. The answer lies not in being more comfortable than everyone else, but in helping to bring everyone else up to that level. Global prosperity is a worthy and achievable goal, but selfishness at home does nothing but win votes. The foreigners will still be able, in an increasingly shrinking world, to do things in their own selfish way, whether it be to settle illegally or to blow things up.
I've been arguing this with friends for some time now. The only way to ensure our long term security is if we actively work to promote the economic development of those less fortunate than we are. Unfortunately, its so much easier to say than it is to do. We have enough economic disparity here at home to allow people to respond with "shouldn't we improve things here before we help elsewhere?" (never mind that most of our poor live in the lap of luxury in comparison to the worlds poorest countries.) It is so frustrating sometimes...
Australia is in the same boat, but at least it's harder to get to us. We're Linux to America's Windows. Not as attractive a target. I think we are doing the right thing by helping out our neighbours when they have problems. The relationship between us and Indonesia is the best it has ever been, and that's going to pay dividends for both of us in the future. We are helping to bring the Solomon islands back from anarchy and we really should do more in Papua New Guinea.
Unfortunately, you aren't completely immune...haven't most of the big terrorist attacks in Indonesia been targetted at Australians? I know that they set off a car bomb near your embassy, but weren't the majority of the foreign victims of the Bali attacks Australian as well? But, yeah, we certainly are a much more visible target in the global view.
Sounds like we could have a long and very interesting discussion on international politics. Hope we get a chance someday...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
RE: global politics
Date: 2005-01-12 12:28 pm (UTC)I've been arguing this with friends for some time now. The only way to ensure our long term security is if we actively work to promote the economic development of those less fortunate than we are. Unfortunately, its so much easier to say than it is to do. We have enough economic disparity here at home to allow people to respond with "shouldn't we improve things here before we help elsewhere?" (never mind that most of our poor live in the lap of luxury in comparison to the worlds poorest countries.) It is so frustrating sometimes...
Unfortunately, you aren't completely immune...haven't most of the big terrorist attacks in Indonesia been targetted at Australians? I know that they set off a car bomb near your embassy, but weren't the majority of the foreign victims of the Bali attacks Australian as well? But, yeah, we certainly are a much more visible target in the global view.
Sounds like we could have a long and very interesting discussion on international politics. Hope we get a chance someday...