No...I wasn't suggesting equality of suffering in that case BB...I was simply pointing out that many have suffered. I would not dream of suggesting that the internment of Japanese immigrants in North America was an equivalent level of suffering to what the Jews suffered in the Holocaust. Would not DREAM of it. Okay? Don't put such notions in your head, just to score illusory debating points...

We probably ARE all members of some group that once persecuted another group...yes. Which is to say: we are all human. And that is what should unite us, not divide us.

I'm not particularly interested in comparing various people to Hitler and trying to decide where they stand on the "evil" scale. It's not helpful. I don't look upon people as evil, I look upon them as frightened, angry, desperate, in pain, and suffering from mental delusions. Because of that, they may commit destructive acts, and you can call those acts "evil" if you so desire, but you do so mainly because you want to nurse some sort of hatred and thereby justify your own retaliation on someone.

I recommend forgiveness for past grievances, attention to fairly resolving present ones, and an end to violent retaliation by all parties. I also recommend not taking anyone else's land by force, whoever they are. Not with a gun, and not with a bulldozer either, and not with money, and not with a court order or some fancy legal maneuver.

If the Iraqis had spiritual leaders of high enough awareness right now, they could get the Americans out of their country in a year with completely non-violent resistance and non-cooperation on the part of many millions of citizens...the way Gandhi got the British out. Some Iraqi lives would almost certainly be lost by that method, as the Americans responded to it in an uncertain and confused fashion...but not many. The occupying forces would be shamed into leaving.

Unfortunately, Iraqis do not have such leaders to inspire such a movement. Because of that, there will be lengthy bloodshed, and many innocent on both sides will suffer and die. Why? Because they have chosen judgement and condemnation of the other, rather than Love of humanity as a motivator. Judgement and condemnation leads to violence and death.

Judgement and condemnation. It's the credo of the Old Testament. I do not care much at all for the Old Testament and its notions of a wrathful God. I regard such a concept of God to be insane and completely untrue.