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From: padraig@utastro.UUCP (Padraig Houlahan)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: American Hostages
Message-ID: <532@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Aug-85 12:48:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.532
Posted: Sun Aug 11 12:48:08 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Aug-85 04:03:59 EDT
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> -------------------------
> 
> For those who haven't heard, today's news reports indicate that
> the Nicaraguan contras have kidnapped and are holding hostage 29 American
> religious workers who were on a boat in the San Juan River in
> Nicaragua.
>... 
>    1) Will the outcry about Americans being held hostage
>       be promoted by the government and the media when those
>       responsible for the hostage taking are allies of the
>       Administration? 

 A distinction must be made between innocent bystanders and a group
 that deliberately places themselves in a dangerous situation.
 I have no sympathy for the latter when they get into trouble.

>    2) Will the dullards on the net who spouted know-nothing
>       attacks against the Shi'ites be heard from when Reagan's
>       pals are the terrorists?

If the above distinction is made, there is no need for condemnation.
(Of course all of this assumes that you know enough to be able to
make the distinction.)

>    3) How much longer will the American people stand for a bullying
>       foreign policy that shames our own heritage and helps
>       those who hold our own people as hostages?
> 
>        Andy Berman

What bullying foreign policy? Which country greets
its citizens returning from abroad in coffins? Which country
promises retaliatory action against perpretrators of violent acts on its
citizens, but fails do anything about it? Who's bullying who? Who's
carrying the shame? Who's doing nothing about it because dullards gripe
that hitting the guy that kicks your teeth in is a bullying act?

Padraig Houlahan.