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Alexandria · 08-20-2004, 02:18 AM

I think we need to push for more flexibility and understanding of other nations when we choose to put sanctions on a country. The first time I think I heard about sanctions was when I was a little girl. South Africa had apartheid at the time. The rest of the world chose sanctions against South Africa instead of war. As country after country refused to do business with them, they began to change the way things worked. This era was also greatly influenced by de Klerk and Mandela. I don't know if these sanctions helped or if it would have ended anyway, but this is the only example I can think of where sanctions might have actually worked.

I do know that America sometimes seems unreasonable with its sanctions and use it to punish instead of encourage a different line of action. There are no steps to follow to ease restrictions or any small steps to to take for a government we don't like (Cuba for example). I believe our policy with Cuba is all or nothing.

As the planet grows in population and ways are discovered to travel to different places on the planet, people start learning how other people live. Now with the Internet, people all over the planet can communicate in seconds. Unfortunately, those born in countries that are poor don’t have this luxury yet.

We need to keep dreaming for a better world. What are we going to do today to make things better for our future?

I don’t think invading Iraq is going to make the world a better place. My country is responsible for thousands of deaths. We chose war. We justify it by saying that we killed less people then that Saddam guy did. It’s still the US killing other human beings. It’s wrong. Deep down to the core of my soul, I feel it’s wrong.

If you have nothing better to do.. Read this article. I actually heard this guy speaking at a commencement speech for some college while flipping through channels. I don't know what channel it was, but the way this guy spoke made me want to listen.

Be warned, it's pretty anti-Bush.

A very long but interesting article on America's Global Role

It's long, but it starts getting interesting about the 4th or 5th paragraph in.

08-20-2004, 02:18 AM	#51
Alexandria Draft Pick Join Date: Mar 2004	I think we need to push for more flexibility and understanding of other nations when we choose to put sanctions on a country. The first time I think I heard about sanctions was when I was a little girl. South Africa had apartheid at the time. The rest of the world chose sanctions against South Africa instead of war. As country after country refused to do business with them, they began to change the way things worked. This era was also greatly influenced by de Klerk and Mandela. I don't know if these sanctions helped or if it would have ended anyway, but this is the only example I can think of where sanctions might have actually worked. I do know that America sometimes seems unreasonable with its sanctions and use it to punish instead of encourage a different line of action. There are no steps to follow to ease restrictions or any small steps to to take for a government we don't like (Cuba for example). I believe our policy with Cuba is all or nothing. As the planet grows in population and ways are discovered to travel to different places on the planet, people start learning how other people live. Now with the Internet, people all over the planet can communicate in seconds. Unfortunately, those born in countries that are poor don’t have this luxury yet. We need to keep dreaming for a better world. What are we going to do today to make things better for our future? I don’t think invading Iraq is going to make the world a better place. My country is responsible for thousands of deaths. We chose war. We justify it by saying that we killed less people then that Saddam guy did. It’s still the US killing other human beings. It’s wrong. Deep down to the core of my soul, I feel it’s wrong. If you have nothing better to do.. Read this article. I actually heard this guy speaking at a commencement speech for some college while flipping through channels. I don't know what channel it was, but the way this guy spoke made me want to listen. Be warned, it's pretty anti-Bush. A very long but interesting article on America's Global Role It's long, but it starts getting interesting about the 4th or 5th paragraph in.