Man! What a thread! Of course we have tossed back and forth the "globals" and national/religious groups and such, but it all boils down in the end to basic human nature. Some folks just have to hate others because for them its easier than loving everyone. And some have to love everyone because its easier than hating anyone.

The US will always be the target of hatred by anyone who is not as rich or powerful as this. It doesn't really matter that we educations thousands of the world's leaders, or that most of the world depends on the US economy. When you're as large, powerful and "successful" as the US, you can't help but make mistakes around the world decision-wise.

Because as big as we are, we're still human - flawed, opinionated, and mistaken at times, like a clumsy giant. Nice to have around when a mountain needs to be moved or a flooding river dammed. But I sure don't want him living next door! (For my Canadian friends ;-))

You really can't have justice as an abstract - because you would have to dismantle the whole US system - which would create disasters around the globe financially, even as you sought to equalize everything. Like it or not, we are stuck with gradually educating, enlightening and raising the standards around the globe at this aweful snail's pace. Hindered by the hatred, the greed and the misunderstanding that has continuously plagued humankind for it tenure on this whirling clod. Every high point in civilization considered itself to be the very pinnacle of development - as close to the sky as you get - and fallen.

Countless towers of Babel. We learn so very, very slowly and sometimes not at all. But there is no value that can match the individual acts of human charity that are our defense against the harshness of our shortcomings and failures.

Ahhh, my Guiness is finally warm enough to drink properly!

CLB