My LTTE, please give editing advice.

[R3dD0g]

We did this 50 years ago.

This folly that we could convert a repressed people to the joys of democracy by simply overthrowing their dictators, installing an enlightened despot and then sit back and watch democracy flower in a benighted region of the world.

A few days ago this papers’ ‘Other Days’ carried an item about Eisenhower’s efforts to support the French in Indochina. The French were of course trying to defend their empire after the defeat of Hitler proved that Empire was a failed concept. The French refused to recognize that the world had changed.

There is something about our national psyche that makes us believe that because we are happy with our form of government that everyone else around the world should be just as happy -- they only need to be given the chance to experience the joys of democracy and freedom.

We’ve enjoyed democracy and freedom for so long that we don’t remember how it was gained. It was not ‘gifts’ from an outside power we developed it.

Democracy and freedom is an idea. They are concepts to be won by the peoples who enjoy them. They are not a commodity that can be ‘delivered’ at gunpoint.

No one can know what will happen with our adventure in Iraq. We can only look to the disasters that mark our past.

[Mistress Quickly]

1. Take out frogs n/t

[R3dD0g]

2. OK, but

this is going into the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

And the rednecks around here would appreciate a slam against the French.

But, you're right. I will edit out 'Frogs'.

[rfranklin]

5. Emphasize that it was Republicans that supported the French...

and that's what got us into Vietnam.

[Another Bill C.]

3. paper's

and replace the comma with an em dash (alt0251) in the third paragraph: "...just as happy -- they only need...." (doesn't work here.)

[R3dD0g]

4. Thanks

Me and commas have been fighting for 40 years. I'm losing.