I become afraid of my own anti-Americanism

[Der PH]

From the very beginning of the discussion about attacking Iraq I have been against it. With the war coming closer, the US foreign policy seemed more and more disgusting to me and I developed an extremely Anti-American attitude, which is quite common in Germany nowadays.

Nothing exciting so far, but when I saw the US soldiers captured by the Iraqis on TV, my first reaction was pleasure and satisfaction.
Reflecting these feelings I started to become very afraid of myself. How could I be happy, that human beings are captured, maybe mistreated and most possibly undergo their personal hell?
I wanted the US to get a bloody nose in Iraq so much, that I actually enjoyed the obvious suffering of those POWs.

At the moment I feel like an as***le, maybe I am one. I don't know. And I don't know what this f***ing war is doing with my mind.

And when I get involved in that topic to such an emotional level, how does it affect the people who are actually and directly concerned with the war, especially the Iraqis themselves?

[FrustratedPoet]

Yeah, those feelings you had aren't very attractive, but at least you're man enough to admit you had them - and that they disturbed you. I respect that.

[BeBMan]

Re: I become afraid of my own anti-Americanism

Originally posted by Der PH
Nothing exciting so far, but when I saw the US soldiers captured by the Iraqis on TV, my first reaction was pleasure and satisfaction.
Reflecting these feelings I started to become very afraid of myself. How could I be happy, that human beings are captured, maybe mistreated and most possibly undergo their personal hell?
I wanted the US to get a bloody nose in Iraq so much, that I actually enjoyed the obvious suffering of those POWs.

I´d say it is never a good idea to let your emotions completely control you. I often wonder why anti-war people project their thoughts in such a way on the US troops that they wish them casualties. It simply seems completely illogical to me that one says he´s against war, because it will cost lives, but wishes death to those who are there.

It also seems to be a more ideological thing - perhaps you should ask yourself if you´re really anti-war, or if you´re only anti-US...

Not that I´ll take the morale highground here, but since you posted this for discussion... And if you´re able to ask yourself these questions you posted, I think there´s hope for you...

[DinoDoc]

Re: I become afraid of my own anti-Americanism

Originally posted by Der PH
Nothing exciting so far, but when I saw the US soldiers captured by the Iraqis on TV, my first reaction was pleasure and satisfaction.

The pictures of the dead must have at least got a few giggles out of you.

At the moment I feel like an as***le, maybe I am one. I don't know. And I don't know what this f***ing war is doing with my mind.

Admiting a problem is the first step to dealing with it. Try not to watch the news so much. I'm pretty sure that they haven't gone into 24/7 mode there ans they have here. That should help with some of your problem. Also, learn to laugh the next time Rummy mentions Germany. Laughter is always the best medicine.

[SlowwHand]

If it makes you feel any differently, Coalition troops could have had this done already, if the goal was merely to turn Baghdad into dust.

[Spiffor]

Der PH. I suggest you to discuss on 'Poly when American posters are here. It'll help you understand Americans are normal people just like you and me, and not some unknown shadows behind the ugliness and arrogance of their country's foreign policy.

'Poly is slowly curing me of my deeply rooted antiamericanism, you should try it too.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Der PH. I suggest you to discuss on 'Poly when American posters are here. It'll help you understand Americans are normal people just like you and me, and not some unknown shadows behind the ugliness and arrogance of their country's foreign policy.

'Poly is slowly curing me of my deeply rooted antiamericanism, you should try it too.

Excuse me while I pick my slack jaw up off the floor, and rid my eyes of this dazed and confused look.

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Spiffor

'Poly is slowly curing me of my deeply rooted antiamericanism, you should try it too.

That's odd, because it's slowing curing me of my deeply rooted pro-Americanism.

(kidding )

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Spiffor
'Poly is slowly curing me of my deeply rooted antiamericanism, you should try it too.

Those evil Americans don´t even allow us to be against them!

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
That's odd, because it's slowing curing me of my deeply rooted pro-Americanism.

I could understand that. Talking with Americans on a repetitive basis deletes the myths you can have about them, whether positive or negative.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
That's odd, because it's slowing curing me of my deeply rooted pro-Americanism.

I blame Skanky for that.

[ThePantaloonDog]

This site has helped me with my stereotype of Germans. You know Bismarck with the pointy helmet. Now my stereotrype of Germans is creepy people into schizer porn and beastility. Thank you Apolyton!

[Drake Tungsten]

I still hate the French; maybe I need to go to another message board to get rid of that...

[Traianvs]

oddly, my anti American (government) feelings don't go away here on apolyton, on the contrary...

On the other hand, the people that post here do bring up arguments, when I discussed the war on iraq in some SoF forum all they were saying was bomb osamma and kill sadam cos hes a bad guy. It's easy to win a discussion such as that one

[DaShi]

Or to think you've won.