I'm going to post it anyway.

I was watching the Today show this morning while getting ready for work.

The first story was about the Marines landing in Beirut to rescue Americans. I was thinking how great that was that those people could choose to go to an unsafe area of their own free will and yet be able to rely on the American government to save them when the danger actual comes to fruition. Then I see these people complaining about how disorganized it was and how long it's taken. That just really chaps me. Find your own way home, then.

Ok don't shoot me for this but hey! Thats us Americans for ya. We are never satisfied especially when it comes to our government helping us. I love our country and I'm soooo greatful i was born here instead of somewhere else in the world but we do complain to much. We have it so much easier then alot of the world so we expect and take for granted, its our way. Sad as it is its true. Well from my eyes anyway.

Oh I know! And then they decided not to CHARGE them! I mean, they could've made a fortune when you think about it. The nerve. They get to escape with their lives AND a take cruise ship home? Katrina comes to mind. I mean, does someone who chooses to live in a high risk area deserve to not be rescued because that may have been their choice?

Seriously, though. I think the issue has to do with the fact that every other country didn't appear to need nearly as much time to evacuate their citizens. I think it would chap me if a war broke out and these little countries were getting their citizens out in a timely fashion yet mine was busy making me sign a promissory note saying that I would pay them back. I mean, God bless our abilities to protect our citizens, but I can just imagine how terrifed I would be. And I don't know about you, but I only hope I can rely on my country whether I'm stuck in the Superdome or in a warzone.

Just my 2 cents.

Well there are many other nationals in Lebanon whose countries cannot (due to lack of funds, in some cases due to rampant corruption) afford to resuce their citizens.......African and South American nationals come to mind...........
So, I say that Americans and Britons and Canadians and Spaniards, et al. are very lucky to live in countries that care about their citizens' wellbeing (and can afford) enough to send in military evacuation protection for them.

And I have a feeling that 3FC is going to lock this one soon, kate.

Charlotte- I can definitely agree with that. I didn't mean to take such a phacetious (sp?) tone, but I can't even imagine how frightening that would be, no matter the timetable.

I agree with the first poster - there has been a travel advisory about NOT GOING TO THE MIDDLE EAST for MONTHS now. The government has officially said to EVERYONE that this area of the world is UNSAFE, that there is VIOLENCE, that you MIGHT GET KILLED, and JUST DON'T GO THERE. Yet, people have decided to take vacations there, experience the beach life, visit family, etc. THEN, when all goes to heck in a handbasket (no surprise to ANYONE), there is the demand to take care of their stupidity at public expense. This current situation is no surprise. It bugs me when there is the expectation that a government should swoop in and "rescue" its citizens who consciously make a bad decision and travel to an unsafe part of the world. AND who complain that their rescue from a self-inflicted situation just isn't fast enough.

Personally, I was surprised how many Americans were in Lebanon. Some are probably government workers, which I would expect them to help get out. For the others, they either stay or hire transport to another country or a private company charges to ferry them out to another country. The choices are very limited because of the conflict. I'd say, it'd be nice to help get foreign nationals out of Lebanon, even if they are charged a fee for it.

I would also have to say that the middle east has been in conflict for quite a while (months, years, decades). Not to say that people there are numb to it, but it is kind of something they are aware of and willing to take some risk and maybe don't feel a full out conflict would happen. So if they want to visit their family and maybe their homeland, they do so, especially since it is summer.

For those that are there voluntarily, I would say that it is very nice that the U.S. is helping get them out. I'm not sure what expectations we should have if we ourselves get stuck in a foreign country that finds itself in a conflict, if not war. I know I'd want to get out and fast.

Millenia

EXACTLY!! That's my point. It's been dangerous forever. But you go there, get in the middle of something, and then complain because the rescuers didn't get therefast enough?

My point was not that we shouldn't be there bringing those people home, but that if they don't like the way it happened, they should have arranged their own rescue.

If I drive my car onto a flooded street and realize too late it's actually a river, I don't think I'll complain that the fire department took a little while to get there. I was driving in a rainstorm. My fault, not theirs. I traveled to Lebanon. My fault, not theirs.

And I don't really make the correlation between this situation and New Orleans. My view is that if American's have the resources to travel to a foreign country, they theoretically have the resources to bring themselves back. It's common knowledge that most of the folks who didn't heed the evacuation warnings in New Orleans didn't have the resources to leave.

I heard that on TV this morning too, kateful....If you are referring to the same woman that I was watching, I felt like smacking her, the whiner.

Guys, I hope you don't all object, but we think this topic should be closed. The subject is too personal, and too political. Views on subjects like this can be strongly divided and cause heated discussions which can divide our community, which is not good for a weight loss support group. Many of you will remember that we had to ban political discussions during the election years because they inspired more twinkie attacks than votes. I'm afraid the same thing may happen here.

So while you're in 3FC land, there is no war. The world is peaceful, serene, we're all happy, and weight loss is easy

Oh, and chocolate is a food group!