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From: desjardins@h-sc1.UUCP (marie desjardins)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame
Subject: Re: America-bashing
Message-ID: <419@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 19:46:34 EDT
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Posted: Tue Jul  2 19:46:34 1985
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> 
> Hmm.  A little slip there I see.  Are you saying that the average 
> American has no knowledge or influence on American foreign policy?
> 
> Larry Kolodney

I don't think that's a slip, actually.  I think the average American
probably doesn't know much about America's foreign policy regarding
Israel, the Shiites, terrorists, or much of anything.  I know that 
until fairly recently I didn't pay much attention to those things.
For the most part, unless you go out of your way to learn (read
Newsweek, Time, the New York Times, etc.) all you know is what
they say on the evening news and perhaps what Reagan said when he
was campaigning (which doesn't have a whole lot of bearing on reality).
As for influencing foreign policy, beyond voting for the candidate
of your choice it would be a full-time job to have any real impact.
Sure, you can campaign, write letters, perhaps lobby or contribute
to a group that supports what you believe in, but if your candidate
doesn't get elected, your letters are ignored, or you just don't have
the time, what do you do?  Certainly writing letters on the net or
discussing issues with friends makes you feel better, but how do you
have any REAL impact?

	marie