The Logic Off Topic list

I've been standing back reading all these true feelings and 
comments from all the european members here have, and I want to say 
how it has affected me. I am American, I was born here, and have never 
been fortunate enough to be able to travel outside of this country. 
Truly I will admit my ignorance on many levels about world affairs, 
and what may or may not be truth about what has been said here on this 
list.
    
    Until I joined these international lists, I never had the 
opportunity to discuss subjects with my fellow human beings from all 
over the world. I'm just a regular guy with feelings just like anyone, 
I care about the hurt and pain that people all over the world 
experience, and often cry over something that I hear about that makes 
me wonder what it must be like for those people who are having to live 
through some awlful life that has come their way. The church that I 
attend has for years spent millions going to other countries to try 
and help the unfortunate, the poor, and the children of the poor. 
Sure, I agree, the in many of these instances, we hope for 
Christianity to spread there, but I don't really care about that so 
much, if they already have a faith that is working for them, any faith 
of love is good for me. I wish I knew how to do more for all the 
peoples that are in pain in the world, but I can't, all I can do is 
hurt for them in my own way.

   I'm not alone in these feelings here in America. Most of us here 
are just regular human beings, and if we are wasting your planet, we 
didn't know that. We all live in the means that we can afford, and 
what we grew up with. I, personally, can't afford to be wasteful. If 
running my air conditioner when it's hot, or running the heat when 
it's cold, then I am wasteful, I have to pay for it. When I run out of 
gas in my car, I have to go get gas for it, if that wasteful, I'm 
guilty to that too. 

   I am always worried about the environment, what is happening to it 
because of industry, and all the polutants that they have caused. I'm 
always in favor of changes, and improvements that make for a cleaner, 
better world. As I said I'm ignorant to many of the things that the 
europeans have said about us. I thought (hoped) that we were all more 
friendly to each other than apparently we are. I truly do not have any 
ill feelings about you (europeans), like most of you apparently have 
for us. You guys aren't very friendly at all, IMO. I've been very hurt 
by what I read here by who I thought were merely fellow human beings. 
I had no idea how you really felt toward us.

  From what I've read, I can see that there is much jealousy and 
hatred toward us. I don't know what I've done to deserve it, I never 
felt any hatred toward you. And if you would ask for any help, I and 
any friend of mine would want to help you. But you see that as a 
motive for trying to get something from you or take something from 
you. You can recite what you've read about us, and what you think to 
be true about us all you want, but you obviously don't know me, an 
American. All you know is what you have read or been told.

  My feelings about all this is that, now I know what you really feel, 
you've made it clear, knowing the disgust that you have for us. That 
you think that WE are, and always have been the true problem of this 
world, and you are not. And that we never cared until now when it has 
come to our own soil, about the terrorisms that affects or will affect 
this whole planet, including where you live, sooner or later. That 
just isn't true at all, for me, and for anyone that I know. 

   I know that many of you almighty "wise" folks will say that I just 
can't stomach the truth. It's your truth, not mine. You don't know me, 
but still you don't like me, because I'm American. Well sooner or 
later, that's gonna cause me not to like you back. And for that I'm 
truly sorry.

David Floyd