First to Pete and Catspaw, Well said!!!! Initially I was drawn to the 'Cat by the music. What I discovered was that, as Bards of the modern era, we are naturally drawn to questions and discussions such as this one. Our music, whether happy or sad, inspiring or depressing, patriotic or protest, of love and of hate, causes us to want to understand the human condition. All of you have contributed to my understanding in this thread.

Let us take a turn here, if you will permit. Given the events of this week, and the protests as well as the support actions, I would love for us to have a discussion as to what action would be appropriate. I have seen war, fought 'em and protested 'em. I have seen despotic actions, and heroic actions. I hate war, I hate having to have an enemy, and most of all I hate the effect on the people of the battlefield, especially the kids. But what is the appropriate course of action when a nation is practicing what amounts to genocide? What do we do when we have tried to negotiate and the answer is the slaughter of soldiers AND civilians? Is it appropriate to sit back and say "It is not my country, hence it is not my business"?

I am not advocating any position, although I do believe, having been a warrior in my life, in what the Catholic Church calls "the just war". I believe that there are circumstances that demand a response, and that ultimately one must make a judgement as to whether they must fight. But I am looking for your views of the reality with this question, not lofty philosophy. I know that may seem a strange question from one who often philosophizes, but it is the part of me that has seen death and oppression in its ugliest reality that is interested in this discussion.

Mick