RE: Time.com asks you to vote for most dangerous country

From: Ramez Naam (mez@apexnano.com)
Date: Thu Jan 30 2003 - 14:32:54 MST


From: Dickey, Michael F [mailto:michael_f_dickey@groton.pfizer.com]
> Mez said
>
> "Come on, Lee. Lighten up. This poll is rather funny. And
> given that there have been more than 300,000 responses, it
> does point to a real public sentiment out there."
>
> Funny? I find the results of this poll disturbing and
> sickening. I would wager that a question such as 'what is
> the most evil country in the world' would garner similar
> results in Europe and in even in the United States would
> probably get a 30 - 40% answer in the positive.

*shrug* The poll was about danger, not evil. Personally I would vote
for China or Russia as the most dangerous country in the world today
over any of the three that were given as options. Nevertheless, even
if you completely support the current US "war on terror", there is a
perfectly reasonable argument for the US being far more of a danger to
world peace than N. Korea or Iraq. The US is a radically larger, more
powerful country. Its actions can intentionally or unintentionally
cause ripple effects that result in the fall of nations, the deaths of
millions, or worse. The same is not really true today of N. Korea or
Iraq.

> Countries ruled by despotic dictators, theocracies, and
> monarchies oppose nearly *everything* in the ideals of
> extropians. I find nothing about perpetuating their
> existence, or claiming their anti-thetical entities as
> 'threats to world peace' funny in any way shape or form.

Perhaps you should consider developing a sense of humor? Laughing at
the world is quite extropic - it reduces stress, extends life, and
helps you keep your wits about you so you can better deal with
whatever situation is so horrible.

> The most fervent
> supporters of the 'anti war' movement in the united states
> are defenders of Slobadon Milosivich, Saddam himself, the
> Chinese Government in the Tienam Square massacre, and
> virtually every other leftist murderous tyrant.

Goodness. Perhaps there are people like this, but they are not
representative of the 10s of millions of americans who oppose invasion
of Iraq. You appear to be attempting to tar those who oppose you with
far more heinous stances than they actually hold.

mez



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