In my opinion, sanctions are nothing more than bad PR.

Do people honestly believe that some evil dictator will all of a sudden have a change of heart with the new sudden cash flow?

And the black market and countries like China and France make sure that any sanctions imposed mean little except an excuse for a dictator to let the media photgraph his starving people.

Sure, but the only people in Iraq who have access to this "black market" are people like Hussein. His people still suffer.

I think open markets and transparency are the only way to go, despite by Socialistic leanings. :)

Fasting is fun. :|

I'd fast, but I see it as an utterly pointless form of protest. It doesn't do any good if nobody KNOWS you're doing it.

It's like "Bush, we're gonna daydream of PONIES all day long and there's nothing you can do to make us stop until you back off of Iraq! And we might even have SEVERAL scheduled Pony Daydream Days if you don't stop your warmongering ways!"

Marching the streets of Washington with signs and making your voice heard? Now that's cool by me! But I just don't see the point of doing something like this. I'm down with the spirit of it all, I just think this particular form of protest is a fruitless endeavor.

Then there's also the fact that I don't want to take a day off from my workout schedule while I'm still relatively new to this whole exercise thing...going without food all day and then working out = BAD IDEA.

are you guys catholic?

You know what is funny? Today is Ash Wednesday. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FAST!

I can't believe that didn't occur to me until today.

I'm the most non-practicing Catholic ever. I can't remember the last time I went to mass. I also don't believe in a lot of the Catholic Church's policies. I was raised Catholic, though. I'm baptised, confirmed, and all that other crap. Of course, I only got confirmed for the money. I'm probably going to hell for that. :/

Same can probably be said of foreign aid as well. In most cases, I believe the government probably somehow siezes or gets a percentage of the aid/monies and you're left with the same people still starving. :(

:lol

yeah....i forgot all about fasting :/

Confessions
 

I will be the first to admit that I am very uneducated when it comes to matters of religion. That's not to say I'm an atheist perse, I'm not really anything I guess.

But regardless, I was just reading the news about the Pope stating that war in Iraq is unjust. Its presented in such a way that makes it appear as if its some kind of startling revelation. Perhaps its just because I dont fully understand the philosopies of various religions, but is that really such a big deal?

I mean, holy crap. He's the pope! Under what circumstances would the Pope say war IS justified? I dunno, I just thought it was funny the way it's being presented. Oh no, stop everything! The POPE said war is bad!

The list of Popes who have actively endorsed war or stood idly by refusing comment is relly, really long. It's actually fairly unusual for the Pope to come out so vocally against a war.

Well, you can't blame the Pope during WW2. He happened to be in a city surrounded by Mussolini's troops.

i say that all the fucking time, but everyone else says "a real catholic would have opposed the war, even if it meant having the vatican burned down."

Now, I have to wonder. Did the pope ask people to fast on a fasting day to protect his health, or did he forget one of his own religion's holidays?

I'm sorry, I was under the impression the Pope took his marching orders from God.

Martyrs are admired. Leaders are followed. I think the world needed more leaders at that point.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...nguage=printer

washingtonpost.com
Vatican: US, Backers Responsible Before God on Iraq



Reuters
Tuesday, March 18, 2003; 7:14 AM



VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Tuesday countries that decide to wage war on Iraq without a global consensus must take responsibility before God and history -- making clear the Pope would not endorse their actions.

"Those who decide that all peaceful means that international law makes available are exhausted assume a grave responsibility before God, their conscience and history," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

Navarro-Valls' comment was the Vatican's first official reaction to Washington's ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to go into exile within 48 hours or face war. Both the British and Spanish prime ministers have backed Washington.

The latest developments will be a setback for Pope John Paul, who has led a vigorous diplomatic campaign against the threatened U.S.-led attack on Iraq, emerging as one of the world's most powerful anti-war voices.

At the weekend he issued a passionate plea for peace and said Iraq's leaders had a duty to cooperate with international community to avert war. He told both sides there was still time to negotiate.

The 82-year-old pontiff has held talks with world leaders who are opposed to war and those who are its staunchest supporters. He has also sent peace envoys to both Washington and Baghdad.

The Vatican has said it will not shut its embassy in Iraq even if war breaks out.


© 2003 Reuters