Does This Statement Bother You?

[wintersummer]

I don't want to get political here and hope that this question does not lead us down that path...

However, Congressman Duncan Hunter said yesterday (in response to Congressman Murtha):
"if we don't change the world, the world will change us".

Does that statement bother you as much as it bothers me? You know it's just like saying "if I don't change you, you will change me". And keeping it in line with cooking, it's like saying "if you don't like the same things that I like, I will make them and you will eat them" (ok, that wasn't so good there, but maybe you get the point).

Are you bothered/angered/frustrated by his statement?

[Lillith]

I am not upset or bothered by that statement at all. The world we live in is constantly changing and, therefore, we are changing. As an example, look at technology. How did we ever live without computers, fax machines, etc? It is now commonplace to see people walking around with a cell phone attached to their ear. Is this necessary? I, for one, don't think so. Look at the price of gas and fuel oil.....it's skyrocketing. We are now lowering our thermostats and being more vigilent on how and where we drive. I think you took the statement personally and I, for one, don't think it was intended as such.

[bensdad]

I'm thinking he meant that we need to keep the world safe for democracy, and freedom so we can maintain our freedoms and liberties. If we don't, then our way of life and our freedoms will be lessened. I'm not saying we need to reshape the world in our own image, but any world wide threat to our freedoms and way of life must be dealt with.

[Lillith]

I'm thinking he meant that we need to keep the world safe for democracy, and freedom so we can maintain our freedoms and liberties. If we don't, then our way of life and our freedoms will be lessened. I'm not saying we need to reshape the world in our own image, but any world wide threat to our freedoms and way of life must be dealt with.

Yup, I meant that too and you said it very eloquently!

[bensdad]

Yup, I meant that too and you said it very eloquently!
Thank You! :cool:
Yea i pull my foot out my mouth once in a while :D

[zwieback]

It sounds like an arrogant statement to me.

[Peggy]

I tend to agree with bensdad's interpretation so the statement does not really bother me.

Peggy

[wallycat]

I'm sure this is out of context because I try not to listen to political speeches :eek: :o but maybe he meant that if we don't clean up the environment, we will become like dinasours--extinct.

[Escher]

In and of itself, the statement is just an opinion, and not particularly controversial.

I'd need the context to make a more informed statement.

[wintersummer]

Here's the paragraph from which the statement came:

"Lots of our enemies think America is only capable of a two-week war and that we don't have the endurance for the hard, tough battle of winning a war, securing the peace, providing the military shield and building up a country and building up its democratic institutions at the same time. In fact, we do. And I think that the Democrats who have undertaken this initiative have made a mistake. I think they've underestimated the toughness of the American people and the understanding that if we don't change the world, the world is going to change us."

I didn't post it on first post because I assumed everyone heard this on the news yesterday. I know that this is an extremely difficult time but I feel that we can't change the world. The world is full of people of different religions, races, political thoughts, government styles, etc, etc. "Changing the world" will take us on an around-the-world tour, because in reality, the U.S. is unique - and that's what makes us all proud to be citizens, right?

[Sookie]

I believe he also said it on "Face the Nation" on August 7th - the transcript is here: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:-YfZH-hnZwAJ:www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/face_80705.pdf+%22duncan+hunter%22+%22if+we+don%27 t+change+the+world%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[newtricks]

Here's the paragraph from which the statement came:

"Lots of our enemies think America is only capable of a two-week war and that we don't have the endurance for the hard, tough battle of winning a war, securing the peace, providing the military shield and building up a country and building up its democratic institutions at the same time. In fact, we do. And I think that the Democrats who have undertaken this initiative have made a mistake. I think they've underestimated the toughness of the American people and the understanding that if we don't change the world, the world is going to change us."

I didn't post it on first post because I assumed everyone heard this on the news yesterday. I know that this is an extremely difficult time but I feel that we can't change the world. The world is full of people of different religions, races, political thoughts, government styles, etc, etc. "Changing the world" will take us on an around-the-world tour, because in reality, the U.S. is unique - and that's what makes us all proud to be citizens, right?

I think he was aiming this at terrorist, muslim extremist who are willing to kill us and actually anyone, to further *their* agenda. I don't think he's really talking about going to each and every country and changing it to our way. I can see how this might bother you if you interpreted it that way. I interpret it to mean that he hopes that bringing democracy to Iraq might change the region and change the conditions that "grow" the terrorists. (believe me I have questions/ doubts about his theory). But I 100% believe that muslim extremists would gladly come here and change things to "their" way if they could. so in *that* I sort of agree with him.

[jmarie]

His statement doesn't bother me in the least....and bensdad....I LIKE the way you think! :D
Joyce

[Kay Henderson]

I tend to interpret the comments the same as bensdad and newtricks -- as an opinion. (And I was not and am not a fan of the war in Iraq.)

I can, though, see how you could interpret the statement as moving toward attempting to make the world over in our image.

Kay