>When for example I see two members agreeing that Theheran should have been bombed to a parking lot because of a revolution that had no serious consequence for the world except for the US losing face, I truly wonder how on earth people can think this way. It shows a total lack of understanding of the world outside, and even worse a stereo typical way of thinking that throwing bombs are the way to solve conflicts. More so, it shows a total disrespect of life in general. We keep hearing about 3000+ US soldiers died in iraq, but little is said about the hundreds of thousands of iraqis that died, the millions of refugees. Can anyone tell me what gives one the arrogance to value a US life more than an iraqi life ??

Walter,

Glad you mentioned exactly this example of bombing Teheran to a parking lot. It was in 2001, before 9/11!, that I met someone who suggested exactly that: We should drop a nuclear bomb on Teheran (or was it Bagdad?). I was shocked by this suggestion of this apparantly extreme-right-wing thinker, but he proved to be politically quite well informed and he mainly used rational arguments. I had a hard time defeating him in debates and he thus forced me to leave the path of simply bashing someone like him. After some months we expressed respect for each other and realized that there are enough other issues that we agree upon. I hope I have been a positive influence on him and I realize that he has had an influence on me. And, oh yes, he is a Dutchman.

Why I mention this? I think you are making the generalization mistake. The idea to drop a nuclear bomb on Teheran is not only in the heads of Americans, it's also in the head of non-Americans. It is in the heads of some people, and they also live outside the US.

The other mistake you make is that you present no alternative facts and arguments on that one. The whole idea of such a bomb is so appauling to you, that you forget to present facts and arguments against it while you are expressing your anger.

What you should do: Present arguments why dropping a nuclear bomb is a bad idea. And only address those who suggested that: individuals or groups eventually, but not a whole nation. Do not generalize and do not try to derogate too soon.