Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site h-sc1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!think!harvard!h-sc1!desjardins 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 Article-I.D.: h-sc1.419 Posted: Tue Jul 2 19:46:34 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:28:34 EDT References: <3140@drutx.UUCP> <847@teddy.UUCP> Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center Lines: 24 Xref: watmath net.politics:9747 net.flame:10986 > > 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