Re: [OT] The record industry, RIAA and US law

[Celejar <celejar@gmail.com>]

On Fri, 11 May 2007 10:48:06 +0200
Joe Hart <j.hart@orange.nl> wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
> 
> Celejar wrote:
> > On Thu, 10 May 2007 18:24:42 +0200
> > Joe Hart <j.hart@orange.nl> wrote:
> [snip]
> >>> Further reading:
> >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
> >> My understanding of the period leads me to believe that the second bomb
> >> was dropped as to prove to the Japanese that the first bomb was not a
> >> fluke and the same type of bomb could be repeatedly dropped until they
> >> surrendered.  While I agree that it came a bit too soon after the first
> >> bomb, and some diplomatic efforts should have been attempted after the
> >> first, lines of communication were poor then, and how many more Allied
> >> lives would have been lost if the fighting continued?
> >>
> >> The number of American lives were the only things that the US considered
> >> worthwhile at the time.
> > 
> > I appreciate the defense of my country (our country? do you still
> > consider it yours?), but I would disagree about the number of American
> > lives being the only thing the US considered worthwhile; they probably
> > saved (in the long run) Japanese lives too, and I daresay at least some
> > US politicians and military personnel considered that.
> 
> Yes, I consider the USA my country too.  I have dual nationality, so I
> am American and Dutch.  I see the pros and cons of both systems of
> government, and I have no real preference to one over the other.  But
> the media issue is a strong point for the Dutch.

But as I asked you in another post, what does that have to do with
systems of government?

> As for the foreign policy, the countries are actually similar, but the
> one big difference is that The Netherlands is not actively forcing
> democracy on other countries (although they do participate in Bosnia and
> in Afghanistan).

Of course. The question is, though, which way is better? Should we not
invade the Sudan to save innocent lives, because that would be forcing
our liberal notions of decency on the savages there? 

> What I am so against is the fact that the US seems to think it is their
> right to go to other counties, where they do not have jurisdiction and
> kidnap people that *may* be terrorists and hold them for years without
> actually charging them with a crime.  This is very contrary to the bill
> of rights that all Americans enjoy, or at least used to.
> 
> Now, don't think I am defending terrorism because I am not.  I am
> however defending the rights of people to know what they are accused of,
> and for the police to have some probable cause before they tear apart
> someone's house, and heresay is not admissible in most courts, so having
> someone just say you're a terrorist is not grounds for probably cause.
> 
> On the other hand, how can one pro actively stop a band of terrorists?
> There is a very fine line between privacy and secrecy.  Therein lies the
> problem.  The thought police must exist if they are to stop people from
> committing atrocities before they commit them.
> 
> Arguing both sides of the issse will not get me anywhere, and I really
> don't want to argue in the first place.  What I am saying is simply that
> this issue is a very difficult balancing act and it is very difficult to
> keep from going overboard, and I think the USA has done exactly that
> with respect to this so called war.  What they are doing now just breeds
> more terrorists. I think we all don't want that to happen.

I understand your grappling with these issues, and I consider your
analysis quite reasonable. As I said elsewhere, I don't know exactly
where I stand. 

> I don't know about you, but I would rather not be blown up by a suicide
> bomber, and I do know that it is impossible to stop someone from
> inflicting damage if they are intent in going down in flames.  Sure, one
> can minimize the damage, but there is damage nevertheless.
> 
> What really fears me is that it is just a matter of time before one
> group of radicals gets access to WMD and I pray they don't send them my way.
					     ^^^^		
No atheists in the foxholes!

> Joe

Celejar
--
mailmin.sourceforge.net - remote access via secure (OpenPGP) email
ssuds.sourceforge.net - A Simple Sudoku Solver and Generator