Hi, Okay. But, there is a strong part of me which says...however horrid it is tat thois war was created in the first place and however horrible it has been managed. The *entire* US Army is not *full* of rotten people. Mostly--they are kids send to do what they were not prepared to do---and not for what we, as a nation, have really trained our kids to do [i.e. fight a war that is completely either good or evil...] This world, even the United States, is full of incredibly creative people. (even if the U.S. is not the MOST creative place in the world any longer--it still is full of incredibly creative sorts...) I walk down the rows of Walmart and talk to people who create all sorts of things and sell them at festivals. I had dinner last night with some friends and found out that the husband makes really intriguing sorts of things that would sell really well around the country at all sorts of Renaissance Festivals. [he'd never thought of that...but I am always looking at how to share creativity...in all forms] SO much creative energy exists. Surely surely there could be a way to somehow create a sweet world in Iraq whereby there would be and could be penpals for our kids to have someday--somehow. (and, maybe it would take firing everyone. I know that *I* would at the least have reassigned a whole slew of them--probably to the clasroom and had them taught some basic values and structures of behavior...) Maybe it will take those who are creative finally being willing to step upward and onward and making the sacrifices to get into positions of power and control (and there is a sacrifice and not too many want to pay it) I think of the union of SBC and the current strike and how the management will be taking the 'offer' off the table on Monday. They figure they have nothing to lose as they don't care if the union signs or not because so many people are out of work that they will be able to hire the 'scabs' and break the union. They did it with grocery stores in most parts of the country... and why is that? Is it because people just don't care any longer? Wondering what has happend to unity and why creative energy is not forthcoming towards solutions that are practical, innovative and which will be win-win... Marlena in Missouri In a message dated 5/22/2004 4:52:39 PM Central Standard Time, andreas@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: > The war has been lost. There is no way for the USA to restore > control, short of firing everyone even remotely associated with this > debacle, and that isn't going to happen. > ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html