I second the nomination. Way to go, katlaughing. I said something like this on a different thread, but I'll say it again: talking about how awful everything is and how doomed we all are is only useful if it motivates us into overcoming that situation. We all love to kick our own ass about the world situation, but if we overdo it and despair at our ability to help anything, then all our concern and emotional is equivalent to doing nothing at all. Tucker--I don't think Ory was saying that all Americans are thoughtless, or even that Americans in general are thoughtless (although it is certainly an arguable point). I *think* the point is that US policy is incredibly arrogant and self-righteous. The Indian Wars were without question the largest and most succesful act of genocide in history, and I think Ory's comparison of that kind of policy-making to this current kind of policy-making is entirely accurate.