Why is an American life worth more than any other human life?

Question

This will be my last question. I find many of the ideas and discussions on this forum so hate-filled it's depressing.
However, I would like to know why it is neccessary to destroy a country and kill more than 200,000 people who had nothing to do with it to avenge the deaths of 2000. I'm not sure of the numbers, but the ratio is about right 100:1.

MrPink:
What I'm asking is, is it right when a foreigner kills and 2 Americans, to retaliate by bombing their town and killing 200?
It's the same as the Israelis bombing all of Lebanon because 2 of their soldiers were kidnapped. Overkill and the naked use of power.

There have been so many thoughtful and reasonable responses to this question, a few dumb ones too, that I find it hard to pick the best. All I can say is if someone killed my son, the last thing I would want to do is go on a killing spree. It would dishonor his memory and would not get him back or make me feel better.

Answer 1

Unfortuanatley you are going to find a lot of Americans who are asking the same question.
In my opinion what the US has done was done out of good intentions and just turned out badly. That doesn't make it right though.
My question is why do people always seem to hate all Americans based on the actions of a few? I'm not focusing this to you specificaly, but it goes along the same line.

Answer 2

Some Americans like to believe they are inherently more valuable than people of other countries. But it's obviously not true. How could it be? We all came into this world naked. We all had a mother and a father (at least in the beginning). We all cried when we were unhappy and laughed when something amused us. Then, as we grew up, some of us started to believe some serious nonsense about ourselves... Like, that if we are wealthy or pretty or American, that we are somehow more valuable. How can we possibly take credit for something that purely a result of the accident of birth, and nothing more, nothing less? That is silly and wishful thinking at best and ignorance and arrogance at worst.

By the way, Americans are not the only ones that think they are better than the rest.

Answer 3

Is this a question, or is it a political statement?

Your estimate of innocent casualties, while widely bandied about, are also widely disputed. Personally, I don't believe them.

However, in answer to your headline question, it seems to me that it's a matter of perspective. Most members of any group, whether it's a family or a nation, will attach more importance to members of their own. If you were in a hypothetical situation where you could choose to save either a stranger or a family member from certain death but could only choose one, you would probably choose the family member.

This same idea generally applies to people of one nation when they think of others in another nation. To an American, Americans are more important than, say, people from Indonesia.

That's basic human nature.

Answer 4

It is a question of survival. Every country, race, creed, religious culture believes that they are better or worth more than every other. It has always been that way. Wars are a result of one culture trying to take advantage of another in some way and the other wanting to preserve its existence. Now, throw financial gain into the mix, and you see that some view wealth as a means in which to secure survival. In nature, all things kill to live.

I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying it exists this way...

Answer 5

I'm American and fully concur. Might does not always make right. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, yet we invaded and occupied the sovereign country. (Don't give me the bull about Saddam being bad to his people, we didn't use that reasoning to go in.) The media doesn't give this aspect of the Iraq situation enough attention. Bush admitted to at least 30,000 civilians being killed a few months ago and it got like five minutes of attention from the press. Most people here don't grasp the scope of killling tens of thousands of innocent people, because it's so far away and most of the news focuses on the terrorists or insurgents.

Answer 6

America is a bully being run by a moron.....they have managed to turn the sympathy and the support they got from most of the world after 9/11to hatred and many have now turned against them(remember that nobody in the whole world is allowed to be neutral on this issue.....in bush's own words, 'either you are with us or against us'). bombing poor, destitute countries, on the basis of erroneous proofs, and false reports, just because they can....proves their callous(dare i say incriminating) attitude towards the reas of the world.

I only take consolation in the fact that he can be re-elected yet again.....

Answer 7

America set up main rolls one of them ..the life of our citizen worth many life's of other poor people as they think they are the greatest people in the history of nations but in their politics they forget one last important thing which is in some day in some hour they will face a huge defeat from other nation because in our great history no thing last for ever because they forget some thing called the heaven justice

Answer 8

When I found out that Bush was reelected I literaly almost cried. I hate what hes done to our image, I know that we werent too good looking before but its even worse now. I very, very proudly voted democrate in 2004. Also I am extremely happy that presidents are only allowed to serve two terms.

Answer 9

All life is worth the same in my opinion. I'm from America and would've done the same thing, regardless of which country or terrorist country attacked my country.

Answer 10

I am an Indian(Asia) and no American. This answer may be biased based on what i recieve on my TV
Actually it isnt. The innocent american people arent responsible for invading Iraq.
America did not enter in WW1 immediately as it started. Sinking of ship by Germans provoked. America went into arms deal with UK and USSR by signing Atlantic Charter, for which Hitler attacked USSR and Japan attacked USA. Till the begining of WW2 America's actions in world and internal affairs were more just and acceptable. infact USA said it will help UK with arms only if it signed to give independance to colonies.That was with a view of stepping UK from the superpower status.
The change in America's foreign policy was in the year 1945. Japan was ambitious and the japanese were ready to go to great extents to say still they stand, after Hitler's suicide.

America killed tens of thousands of civilian japanese to end a war that they had already won. If the combined troops of UK, USSR and USA had attacked in sync, Japan would have fell. Nukes was to demonstrate that USA was a new super power. It was a message for the rising USSR under Stalin.

Then USA started influencing UN. US killed thousands of innocents in Vietnam. You used more lethal weapons in Vietnam than the total of WW2. Clinton attacked the dead economy state Yugoslavia for Kosovo when the Monica issue was in its peak. Killing people was an escape path for his misdeeds. Bush- No need to say. The video of Conspiracy theory 9/11, unburnt telephone directory in Pentagon on 9/11, no Plane remenants near Pentagon, No window in plane that hit WTO (hence no civil aircraft). Claim of WMD in Iraq and failure. Commercial ties with Bin Ladens

Americans are fooled by their politicians. The foreign policy of US has been decided by bad politicians and advisors who are selfish. Fareinheit 9/11 says Bush and chenny are benefactors in Iraq and Afg. Still you didnot impeach those scoundrels. you gave them another term. **** on the face of USA is their rule.

Why even the average Americans have turned selfish. Mumbai recieved more rains than New Orleans. We survived and showed our unity and love. People allowed strangers to stay at home as it poured. In US, many girls were mercilessly raped. Massacre in relif camps. Govt leaves citizens starving in camps.
Freequently school kids kill fellow kids and teachers using guns.

Only one way out:
Follow Christ's word of love, discipline and Affection though you may not be devout (Am no Christian but you might be and hence those words). select the correct leader. shed selfishness. read between lines in Politicians' words. Be righteous

Though you may not be able to undo iraq and kosovo (afg so called cause might be acceptable for some). it will not repeat. nLet goodness prevail and grow.