"...we part with tender relations stretching far behind us, that never can be exactly renewed..."
You sit on your couch on a Saturday afternoon and have an opinion. Not only that you have one that is filled with feeling, dare I say passion? Here it is Sunday night and I write the first comment. Opinions are lonely things in our country these days, I fear. Sad, because this is not only well-written, it's well-thought, and factually accurate--even the weather part. 
May we live in interesting times and write about them. . . . I think you have said what there is to say well as can be said, Scot.
I imagined sitting there looking out the window at the stars, drinking a cup of orange spice tea... your words are inspirational, as I take note of how you inspire us to see what you see. Awesome.
And thank you for linking to me on your blogroll. :-D
Liz,
Whether you write the first comment, the middle or last, your visits are always welcomed and appreciated. In many ways, you're my barometer as to how the writing weathers over with the reader. And so not only am I grateful when you come by, I'm also grateful when you take the time to let me how you have responded to what I've written. Thank you so much,
Scot
Alan,
You're welcome. Actually I thought I had linked to you some time ago, but discovered you weren't there when I went to click on. Thanks for your affirming comment.
Scot
It's hard for a Canadian woman with aspirations for peace to understand how people can feel apathetic about Cindy Sheehan. Maybe I only get selected bits about her, but she seems to have the same passion that we belatedly admired in the people who called for withdrawal from Vietnam. I'm not meaning to rile you, Scot, but from this distance she seems dedicated to her cause.
Lorna,
Thanks for weighing in on this, and I'm not riled by your response. What I find troublesome about the media attention given to her causes, regardless of her dedication to them, is that they become a distraction to the more serious issues we are faced with. Simply pulling out of Iraq cannot be equated with pulling out of Vietnam. North Vietnam only had one goal: to become a unified country. They had no other vision beyond their desired borders. The Islamic terroists, however, not only wish us out of the middle east, they wish us off the planet, period.
The times we are living in now are far more ominious and dangerous than at any time during the Vietnam era. Then, we could afford to be naive. Such naivete today, however, can destroy our way of life.
Scot
I am deeply saddened by the invisibility of our war dead in Iraq. We do not see their flag draped coffins. Our leaders do not attend their funerals or offer public comfort to their families as they have in other wars. Cindy Sheehan refuses to let her son--and those who died with him--be forgotten. She has raised a question that every nation involved in war, particularly one with shifting rationales, needs to ask itself: Why?
Your tolerant and trusting attitude toward Dubai may prove to be dead-on, though I understand the fears of our populace. This is a country that produced two of the 9/11 hijackers and that still recognizes the Taliban. Given our experience with terrorism, it isn't Xenophobic to raise questions or to ask for a review.
During the Vietnam era, we WERE told that our way of life was threatened--that if the Communists won in Vietnam they would extend their aggression elsewhere. There's no way our people would have fought such a deadly and tragic war, or that so many of our countrymen would have given their lives if the stakes had been no more significant than the political fate of a small country in Southeast Asia.
Patry,
You are right when you say "it isn't xenophobic to raise questions or to ask for a review." By all means, thus that is why I think Rove's suggestion of a cooling off period was a good idea. It is xenophobic, however, to argue that all Arabs are terroists since it was Arabs that attacked us on 9/11. That's the problem I have with Clinton and Schumer's arguments.
As to Sheehan, it's not that she refuses to let her son be forgotten, it's that she refuses to accept the dignity of her son's death. Casey didn't have to go to Iraq; he chose to go--to heed the call of duty. Instead of honoring her son’s death, she instead blames the President ad hominum by declaring him to be the “biggest terrorist of all.”
Scot
Hey Scot. Brave and noble to mention some of the subjects on all our minds, regardless of which side. The heartfelt comments attest to the gentle tack of your view.
Mixed with the predictable comfort of the weather's unpredictability, and the comfort of your easy writing style, you bring us to sit and calmly discuss almost any issue with you.
Ah, the UAE, the United Arab Emirates. What romantic visions those words spawn, visions of white-robed Arabs riding across the sands, Lawrence of Arabia at their head, and unknown cities built with dried mud rising from the dunes. But Dubai? Is Dubai in the UAE? I thought it was a separate kingdom but I could be wrong. All those little places on the edge of the Arabian peninsula are a bit confusing, being so alike in having nothing but sand, oil and, ummm, Arabs. It's all politics, you see, and I hear one thing from one side, the opposite from the other, and then they swap positions the next day. All very confusing. Maybe I'll just go back to sleep and dream of long ago...
But I'll say this: if I have to read of politics, there isn't a blog I'd rather do it on.
I think Phil might disagree with you, by the way. 
Dave,
Good to see you check in. Politics is something I generally tend to shy away from, but considering our response to Dubai is so anathema to the American way, I felt compelled to say something. We've always been a country that's opened doors and never been fearful of anyone. I'd like to keep it that way. Thanks for generous response. . .
Scot
Clive,
I'm not sure how Phil might respond, but if he had a contrary opinion, I know he would contend well.
Thanks for such a kind compliment. As I said to Dave, I generally shy away from politics, but when our political leaders start engaging in arguments ad hominem and ad populum, especially during a time when we need to have our wits about us, I feel the need to toss a shoe at the dunderheads.
Scot
well you know what the say about politics and religion, now you know why. Lots of rhethoric on both sides i would say. shouldn't not be xenophobic but cannot be too careful either in light of 911.
The invisibility of our war dead in Iraq bothers me too as does the fate of our young men sent off to die by the "old men of war" - just like Vietnam, I'm afraid. When we do leave there, if we ever do, someone else will surely surface there or elsewhere.
I think you have drawn a line in the sand and the pacifists are retiring to there side but not quietly.
rdl,
A line in the sand? Hmmm. Hadn't quite thought of it that way. I think what concerns me more than anything is what seems to be a laissez-faire attitude a few people--the Cindy Sheehan's in particular--seem to have in regard to the threat Islamic radicalism presents to us. It is a threat every bit as real, every bit as dangerous, if not more so, than nazism and fascism ever was.
Thanks for coming by and commenting.
Scot
You're absolutely right, Scot. This situation is more dangerous because the terrorist cells are spread globally. If we back out of this war now, we'll send a clear message to these guys that we can be defeated. I understand that, but at the same time I feel for the relatives of the dead soldiers and journalists.
The Cindy Sheehan case is sad and pathetic. She needs to wake up and see that this isn't another Vietnam and accept the fact that her son volunteered to protect us.
As for the Dubai purchase, it is not sitting well with me at all. I hope you and Rove are correct. Yes, the media has a way of blowing things out of proportion with half-truths. We have no choice but to wait and see.
Great piece, Scot.
Onw thing aboout Sindy Sheehan that gets ignored by the lib MSM - she didn't become a lib activist because of her grief over her son's death - she has been a banner waving, street protesting, screaming never-grew-up hippy for decades.
She is using her brave son's death to further the cause.
Her husband and family have parted ways with her - even they couldn't take it anymore
I don't really visit political blogs much (and I don't consider yours to be one. You write about so much more than that.) Nor do I usually leave comments on political pieces if I do encounter them. I think that most of us have learned that argument rarely changes anyone's mind or heart, and frequently leaves a bitter taste. In this case, though no minds have been changed, the discourse remained polite and respectful througout--which is a credit to your peaceful attitude, Scot. If all debate in this country was as civil as it is here, we would all be the better for it.
Patry,
Very honest and kind. Thanks.
Scot
Wow!
Really thorny subjects written about in a "polite and respectful" discourse amongst thoughtful and sensitive people.
I'm appreciative of the information because I'm one who thinks all those little Arab countries are bad news on America and we should fear them. I'm so disappointed in our leadership, if you can call it that. From the highest ranking powers to the so called 'intelligence' dweebs, they all had their heads up their arses.
I see political posturing and prideful exclusiveness in agencies which should be linked together by common goals. National security? A dream.
Thanks all of you for helping me understand some of these complex (devious) situations regarding the very distressing war in Iraq and the State of the Union today.
September 11th woke me up to the reality that, due to our lax borders we are infiltrated by people who'd destroy us all just for being us.
And our government is too screwed up and corrupted to pay attention to pesky stuff like that.Those people got here. Put together a shocking plan and pulled it off. I'm still not over it! ::::::::steppin' down offa my soapbox::::: should we open the wine now? :D
marewheee:
Thanks for joining in on the discussion. What I fear most is that that the War on Terror we're engaged in is much larger than we may realize. This is not just a religious war, it is a cultural one as well. You make a good point by observing that "...our goverment is too screwed up and corrupted to pay attention to pesky stuff like that." With Iran and N.Korea looming on the horizon, our political leaders need to smarten up quick, and begin to put aside their differences and work together to ensure the safety of our future.
Scot
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