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October 18, 2006 at 3:13 pm #179230jennyMember
The topic was unhappy Americans in Costa Rica. I’ve learned a lot and sure hope we all keep talking. We have to keep talking and possibly we will bring on a change. We do not have to agree.
We are a great country, with a great heritage. No other country has had such a great responsibility. Just pray for our Nation
October 18, 2006 at 6:29 pm #179231Ripple33MemberFirst let me say to Scott Benson, I do not mean any disrespect whatsoever to you or any of our other servicemen/women. One of the reasons many citizens here are so upset is because we understand the reason our troops were sent to the Middle East. Therefore we are outraged that our government would put our citizens in a possition to fight for corporate gain. I also understand that you do not agree with this viewpoint and I respect that as well. Please understand that those of us voicing our opinions against this war are on your side. We hurt for you as well as the many muslims in the Middle East that have given their lives.
On another note. You mentioned that the US is not benefiting from oil in Iraq. In a way you are completely correct. However big oil companies such as Exxon have had record profits. Doesnt it seem ironic that the people benefiting from this war are big corporations with no bid contracts ect. Our VP who continues to have large stock holdings in Haliburton, Brown and Root,Harken Energy and oil is making big time money from this. Everytime our military destroys infrastructure who do you think profits. Bush is no stranger to the oil market. He has made his financial backers rich. Yes, you are right the american people are not seeing any of the profits. Oil prices continue to be high. Granted lower than normal right now but I will be willing to bet the price will go up after the November elections.
Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with 911. Even if you buy the story the govt tried to sell us. None of the “hijackers” were from Iraq or Afghanistan. If Bin Ladin was responsible, why was his family and the royal Saudis flown out on a private plane when there was a no fly after 911? Why do we continue to have strong ties to the Saudis. Also note that the Saudi financial interests are the same as the Bush family financial interests. They are involved in the same corporations that are banking off of this war. Also note that the stock market had very unusual trading prior and after 911. Many people made a fortune off the stock market due to knowledge of the attack. Also note that we are the ones who armed Osama in the 70s. We supported the Taliban and we supported Saddam. Yes, I know Saddam has done some very terrible things to his people but where were we then. We were backing Saddam.
First we hear about having to capture Osama, then they claim Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and now I guess the current lie is we are there as a humanitarian effort to give freedom to the Iraqi people. When does this all stop? When are the people who brought us into this unnecessary war going to be held accountable? Also who do you think Iraqi people and the people of Afghanistan will elect down the road if given a free choice. Shiite? Another “extremist”. Shouldnt it be their right to have a “extremist” leader if that is what the people want? I am just so tired of the US wanting to bully everyone that does not follow our orders or that we disagree with. Chavez is a prime example or the leader of Lebannon. These people were elected by the people in their countries. Their leaders were actually elected unlike ours who was appointed by the Supreme court. What kind of progress or stability has been brought to the middle east by our presense? More people are losing their lives now than ever. Russia learned from their experience in Afghanistan why could we not have taken something from that. With billions of dollars we are spending our people in the US could have a quality of life unmatched, could have healthcare for all, no starving people, no elderly people trying to live on Social Security and medicare and being kicked to the curb. This makes many of us very upset.
I can understand why the muslims are upset with us. We have put up military bases all across their land(including their holy land), we have killed their people, destroyed their homes, taken away their livelyhood, and stability. Just thik of what it would be like to sit on the other side of the fence. Imagine if some country invaded the US and did to us what we have done to them. Imagine if we had a foreign military occupation on our soil. Speaking out against our religion, our way of life, ect. I am a christian but I respect peoples right to worship any god they choose or none at all if that is their choice. I respect the right of other countries to differ from us and to have different values. What makes our form of democracy the only right way to do things? What makes leaders who dont agree with us evil (axis of evil). It is time for the american people to wake up and stand up against the sensless killing, stand up for the rights that were fought for many years by our forefathers(mainly the constitution), and to stop our country from going down the path to facism. People called the hippies and others protesting the war crazy during vietnam but they are the ones who helped bring the boys back home and turns out that alot of the things they were saying were true.
Much Respect to servicemen+women but much disrespect to our administration for putting them there and taking away what has made many of us proud to be american.
October 18, 2006 at 8:16 pm #179232jennyMemberRipple33, thanks your statements were so clear. We need to talk, that is what we have not been doing. For some reason in the last 30 years we citizens have just kept our mouths shut.
Our military men and women can not voice their opinion opposite to their leadership. You just can not do it, so we have to defend them while they are believing in their hearts that they are defending us.
Dedication to the Military Code of Honor is something you swore to do.
Even in voicing our opinion, we need to be respectful of each other. Great dialogue with exchanges of valuable information, without getting angry with each other. To much finger pointing has gone on between parties. Each party has it’s responsibility, we as voters are responsible.
I am wondering how we allowed ourselves to be duped. We are the most educated generation in the history of our country. Was it because we focused on our success individually and just turned our heads about other things.
Lower gas prices just in time for Senate and congressional elections.
There is going to be trouble for the powers that be in the next few years. Those successful baby boomers are now retiring, they have been occupied with making money and making a good living. Now they are stopping to smell the roses, that can cause some ripple in the waters.
October 19, 2006 at 1:00 am #179233scottbensonMemberWell Ripple and Jenny,
So far you have just repeated and repeated nothing, You guys have not answered my question of what I have posted.
You have only created rehtoric that is normal for the crowd of people that don’t understand the conflict.
A.) 2 reasons why old sama said 911 happend
1.) Palastine and Isreal (the top reason)
2.) U.S. or what they call the infedels on Mecca Soil. (why we were there to fly a no fly zone that was created by the U.N.)B.) YOU STILL HAVE NOT ANSWERD MY QUESTION about the Massacre at Beslan. ( I don’t know if you guys really know or have heard about this event)instead you want to point out issues that don’t have marrit
and try to cloud the real issue.This shows me that you guys really don’t understand the Middle East and probley have never been there. Sorry to say but this does show of some ignorence!
Until you get to the bottom of the problem you will always find other reason to blame and point fingers at. I guess if you want to keep the rose colard glasses and let another incident happen like maybe a bombing attack in a school or maybe a chemical attack at the mall of America, this is the kind of utopia you might be looking for.Like we say as men and women in the armed forces we would rather be fighting on their land than have to fight on our door steps! This is what the Russians and many other countries have learned in the past.
Oh by the way you might want to look at this link and learn why the terrorist don’t want to play with a bear!
K:News ArticalsJihad Watch Arab Reaction to the Beslan Massacre.htm
October 19, 2006 at 2:28 am #179234bradbardMemberPlease do not use the word “ignorance” too much scottbenson – You spell ever fifth word incorrectly!
It is not “rose colard’ which sounds like a dyslexic vegetable, it is “rose colored.”
Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11! Iraq was never a threat to the US. Iraq never chemically attacked a mall in America or a school. We have homegrown American murderes who are more than capable of murdering our own children on regular basis in their schools. Don’t see much of that in the Middle East.
The massacre at Beslan has nothing to do with Iraq or the US decision to attack Iraq but it’s obviously a little nuggest that you want to appear knowledgable about.
And you might know that there plenty of armed services personnel that do NOT agree with your views including the head of the entire British Army – Gen Sir Richard Dannatt recently who recently demanded an early exit from Iraq as he warned that the presence of troops was making the situation worse. He also stated that: ‘Our presence exacerbates the security problem’ and hit out at what he said might have been “naïve” attempts to impose a “liberal democracy” on a post-Saddam Iraq.
He probably understands the Middle East a little better that you do.
Tell me! Since you understand the Middle East so well, we can safely assume that you speak Arabic or Farsi fluently do you?
October 19, 2006 at 10:22 am #179235Ripple33MemberThe reason I never answered your question about Beslan is because it is totally irrevelent. What does that have to do with the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan other than we are killing muslims? Also this tragedy could have been prevented. The Russians had information about this attack and did nothing about it. Just as the US did nothing about 911. They posted only one policewoman outside the school to protect it. How much sense does that make?
No I have never been to the middle east and dont care to go there but that does not make me ignorant to what is going on. Just because we have different opinions does not make either one of us ignorant. That is one of the main problems in our country. We need to listen and respect the opinions and views of others. Perhaps we would not be in as big a mess as we are today if we could do that. Does diplomacy ring a bell?
You say you are fighting over there so that they do not bring the fight here. Come on think about this statement. This is just a echo of one of the Bush admins excuses for killing. What exactly are we doing to prevent another attack? Killing Muslims? Destroying their homes, businesses ect? Causing civil war and unrest? Again what would be your response if someone was to come to this country and do what we have done there? Would you just say oh we cant mess with them because they will take revenge.The war on terrorism is a joke. It is a war against a ideal that has existed long before this country has. If you think about it George Washington was a terrorist. We would have been better off to let these people blow each other up and protect our own borders at home.We can not possibly kill all of the terrorists. We cant kill all the muslims. There will always be more as long as they have a reason to fight they will. Best tactic is to lay low and not give them a reason to strike out against us. You mentioned Israel and Palastinians. That is true. We need to stop running to support israel in killing and fighting muslims. This war makes no sense. We are stoking the fire over there and have made people and the world more mad at America and Americans. We have destroyed our image across the globe. Maybe it is you that is looking through rose colored glasses and you need to step back and see what is happening. I know it is very hard to accept that you may have been risking your life not for our protection but for protection of corporate bank accounts but that is the hard cold facts. Again no disrespect whatsoever to you. Your dedication is admirable. The fact is you are too involved in all of this and when you do come home and years pass things will become more clear for you I am sure. Just as things became clear to those who fought in Vietnam. Again remember when the hippies and others were protesting. America and the soldiers called them nuts, said they did not know what was going on, did not understand ect. Not many ever went to Vietnam but turns out they did understand what was going on and that they were right for what thwy were standing up for. Many soldiers can thank them for helping to bring them home which is what we are fighting for here at home. Whether you realize it or not we are true patriots fighting for our country and for our soldiers.
Hasta Luego
October 19, 2006 at 10:46 am #179236scottbensonMemberYep just what I thought, You don’t want to face the real problem.
This is what happend in the 1990’s and it is a cyle. Some people don’t want to connect the dots and be politicaly correct. They want to blow smoke and say it is our goverments fault while the rest of the world has too suffer and create unstablity.
Beslan, Darfur, Somalia, 911, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and many others are all connected. They are all influenced by the Arab Muslim Militants. That will do anything to terrorize to get their way and try to convert as many by sword. The Arab Muslim terrorist do have a complex networks in place that reaches through out the world. (Read the 911 report and you will see some of the places they reach) The system was originally put in place to recruit members to fight against the Russians in Afghanistan then later it expanded to Chechnya and now all over the glob.
Beslan, Arab Muslim Militants were involved with the planning and attack. For the purpose of Muslims in Chechnya which they want to make into a Sharia state. (I guess you didn’t want to look at the web site that was posted)Just because the Russian goverment didn’t put gaurds outside dosent mean that it is right for a massaqer to happen!
Do you think that those terroist would not attack another soft target?Darfur, Arab Muslim Militants are slaughtering Africans because they are too black and not Muslim enough.
Somalia, Osama Bin laden even stated that in the 1990’s they sent Arab Muslims to help arm the Somalia war lords to fight against the Americans. Today CNN, Fox, Reuters and many other agencies reported that Arab Muslims are embedded and are Inside and at the boarders of Somalia creating Sharia Law and killing people that don’t convert.
(Two years ago I was in this region)Iraq, easy, Arab Muslim Militants coming across the boarder and creating insatiability to try to make the U.S. become defeated and prevent democracy. This is a strategy that has been used in all of the wars. (read a book called My Jihad) Now the stratigie has become to create a cival war and hopefully stop democracy and create Sharia law.
This is why the Arab Muslims are upset! In all of the interviews with Osama Bin laden he stated that Palestine and Israel with the Americans backing them is number one reason for their fight. His view point is that the Americans don’t do enough to solve the problem of Palestine!
I have talked to many Arab interpreters and some were people that helped set up the government in Iraq. They all said the same why the problems that we have to day has come to surface (Palestine) and that we didn’t do enough.Personally I was all for the Israeli government leaving the boarders of Palestine until the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier that started off the most recent event. This showed they don’t want peace instead the want to create war and unrest in that region as well as to eradicate all the Jews.
I could go on but it would be fruitless, because there will always be people that don’t want to connect the dots, instead it would be easier to blame the U.S. government and say it is oil or other means. To say that none of these have ties with Iraq and Afghanistan does show how people are not looking at the facts! Instead they want to say we are killing innocent Muslims that are hiding and embedding terrorist with weapons in their homes.
They don’t want to recongnize that for the Arab Muslims views this issue as a religious war not a war for oil.God save Costa Rica,
Pura Vida!October 19, 2006 at 12:11 pm #179237*LotusMemberWe were safer when Sadam was in control. Yes we all know what he was, but there actually was a degree of diversity there compared to say Saudi Arabia who our president considers dear friends of ours. He was able to keep the country working and even with all our weapons and the threat of our heavy hand this place is on the brink of civil war. Facts: over 600,000 Iraq’s killed, over 3000 Americans dead and another 15,000 severely wounded and god know how many psycologicaly wounded! Why!!?? We must ask ourselves does the attack by a bunch of radical extremists justify our response, all the deaths and destrcution? Meditate on these facts and ask yourself again what have we gained, how the hell are we any safer!? If they want to put a bomb in a mall. church, bus etc…they can and will war or no war, why they have’nt I don’t know. Possibly they have acheived what they set out to do…start a war!
October 19, 2006 at 5:24 pm #179238jennyMemberScott, if this is a religious war as you said, then we need to bow out and let God handle it. We have proved through our History that war does not solve anything. Ten years from now you and I will be taking leisure trips to Iraq Just as we are taking trips to Vietnam. So if it is a war of religion that makes it worse then if it was a war for oil. Why didnt we just flood their skies with bibles and a bunch of missionaries and ministers. Why did we send soldiers, young men that are dying to salvage something only God himself could do. Well we wont discuss views on faith. The God I serve is all power and He needs our prayers of petition to operate in this earth. Maybe we are to busy getting guns ready and doing it our way and not His way then proclaiming we are doing something for God. Please don’t blame this war on our Father, and claim that it supports His cause.
He said pray Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Believe me the creator of the Universe only requires that we pray and have faith that He will perform what we request. Man screws up every time he gets righteous in his eyes and attempts to be a helper for the Almighty. My bible says that we are to be a light of the world it does not say we are to fight the world..
We need to love women into no abortions, we need to love people in gay life styles, we need to love people that are Muslim, love people that are atheist , we need to love people that are coming across our borders, we need to love people that don’t love us. That is the only religious war we have, all the rest is a smoke screen. The reality is that we are not putting into practice what is written and then we add what we want to benefit what we can control. Faith is giving God control and trusting Him to do the right thing. Rulers often times reflect the heart of the people, it seems Saddam was a reflection, he was killing and now they are killing each other..
October 20, 2006 at 3:11 am #179239jacbanMemberScott has it right! US leaders are corupt, however they are saints compared to Muslim leaders. The muslim leaders are behind this “jihad” war against all non-believers. It is very simple, according to the muslim extremists , If you do not believe in their way of life, you do not deserve to live and they will gladly relieve you of your “burdon”.
How do you deal with people that want you dead??
They make no secret of it, they want to dominate the world.
We are in a world wide war against the muslim extremists. We can stop fighting them , but they will not stop fighting us.
p.s. I’m not referring to all Muslim leaders.October 20, 2006 at 12:08 pm #179240*LotusMemberDon’t you think the “extremists” are a tiny fraction of the Muslim population? Most Muslims I know here in NYC are to busy trying to support there familys to worry about jihad (and I would guess it is the same all over the world) and although some may dislike “our” policies they are most likely not going to blow themselves up on a train or murder people. They may have concerns but they are usualy symptamatic of conditions, say social/political in the country they are living in. Through out the 60’s 70’s and 80’s you did’nt here much about Muslim world domination even after the revolution in Iran. It seems the U.S. government has achieved what it set out to do, make us all paranoid that the Muslims want to rule the whole world and wont rest until all U.S. women are in burkas and prayers are called out from every corner. Sounds a bit familiar, like the cold war and kids taking shelter under desks ready for when the big one hit. There is a saying “All things will pass” and so shall this. Again I will make the comparison that a lot of these Islamic countries are at least 500 years behind us, remember the crusades, all the burnings in England under Elizabeth( and many others) if you were of the wrong Christian faith all the slaughter we did in the name of God? How many millions perished under the flag of the cross? The history of modern( and I believe false) Christianity has more blood on it’s hands than a butcher in a slaughter house. Many Americans seem to be a bit forgetful of our recent history, and please I am not raising the flag for Muslims so don’t get your panties in a twist and call me un American! My hope and point is most people want the same things we all want, and policy and diplomacy is the way to make that happen and yes it will take time. I know we like things to happn fast, tomorrow or next week…but bombing the hell out of a country and killing 600,000 people plus is not going to make the world any safer for anyone, tell me how can it?
October 20, 2006 at 12:10 pm #179241GringoTicoMemberScott B,
I believe you are correct in stating that the terrorists are fighting because of their demented religious beliefs (any religion that sanctions killing those not of their faith is demented), as opposed to oil, politics, or perverse daytime soap operas. However, if there ever was a battle for hearts and minds, this is it. The extremists would never be so strong without widespread support from more moderate sectors, and this administration has failed utterly in wooing them. In fact, our militaristic response, our arrogance, our economic threats of “you’re either with us or against us”, our failure to use our vast resources to help calm the waters in the Middle East, has strengthened and emboldened them.
We could learn a great deal from negotiators in Costa Rica. Go back and learn how they dealt with the taking of 9 Supreme Court justices as hostages back in the early 80’s, and how they handles the takeover of the Nicaraguan embassy a few years later. Maybe if I have time later I’ll write about it.
October 20, 2006 at 12:18 pm #179242bradbardMember“…they want to dominate the world” ????? “..world wide war?”
1. Which country has armed forces stationed in over 100 countries?
2. Which country has repeatedly “intervened” and “invaded” and attacked other countries to affect a “regime change” even in cases where those countries have had democratically elected those leaders?
3. Which country is the only country in the history of the world to have attacked another using nuclear weapons?
4. Which country has already threatened to use nuclear weapons against Iran which is allowed to enrich uranium (and is a signed member of the NPT) for peaceful purposes and where all inspectors have so far failed completely to prove that Iran has a weapons program? Yet…
5. Which country openly supports Pakistan which is a Muslim military dictatorship which nuclear weapons and who’s principal weapons designer sold his nuclear technology to North Korea?
6. Which country massively support the one country in the Middle East with hundreds of nuclear weapons – Israel – which is NOT a member of the NPT and who has nearly 10,000 Palestinians held without trial and who recently dropped nearly a million cluster bombs in Palestine AFTER a ceasfire was agreed upon?
7. Which country failed to live up to it’s signed “Agreed Framework” agreement where North Korea which was a member of the NPT was willing to halt and eventually scrap its nuclear weapons program. In return, it would get international aid to build two nuclear generating stations.Answer?
The United States of America which is now reaping what it sowed.
If you want to speak about world domination, there is only one country that comes to mind – The United States of America which is now so close to being a fascist dictatorship it is terrifying.
October 20, 2006 at 1:24 pm #179243aguirrewarMemberThere are two sides to negociations in the history of CR. Find out what happened when they highjacketed an airplane and landed in the airport of CR in the 60′. Pepe Figueres was the president and he blew the tires of the airplane in the Tarmac so they could not leave,
Juan Santamaria’s history and William Walker attempt to invade CR while he was financed by the southern states. In the first try he was beaten and had to return to the US after the state dept. ordered CR his release under duress. On his second attempt he was captured again and shot in Guanacaste at the Santa Rosa Hacienda.October 20, 2006 at 1:59 pm #179244jacbanMemberDon’t you think the “extremists” are a tiny fraction of the Muslim population?
yes, however they fuel the majority of Muslims abroad, by braisnwashing them. This Tiny fraction control the majority of the wealth and power of the Foreign Muslims. They like it that way and will fight to keep it at ALL COSTS. The tiny fractions blame the west for every problem that the Muslims countries have, and they have a lot of problems.My hats off to their ability to use propaganda. Once again not that the US does not use propaganda, but there is no comparison.Most Muslims I know here in NYC are to busy trying to support there familys to worry about jihad (and I would guess it is the same all over the world) and although some may dislike “our” policies they are most likely not going to blow themselves up on a train or murder people.
Most Muslims are good people, however most do not dare voice there opinions in fear of being labeled infadels by their culture. Which means being shuned and anti-muslim, in the US muslim culture or killed in most Muslim Countries.
It seems the U.S. government has achieved what it set out to do, make us all paranoid that the Muslims want to rule the whole world and wont rest until all U.S. women are in burkas and prayers are called out from every corner.
Europe’s open door policy is a Perfect example,France in particular
has become more and more controlled by muslim way of life. Do you think the are fitting in or taking control??I know we like things to happn fast, tomorrow or next week…but bombing the hell out of a country and killing 600,000 people plus is not going to make the world any safer for anyone, tell me how can it?
You answer my question first and then I will answer yours.
How do you deal with people who want you dead?
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