Yep, and pretty much all you can do is apologize and offer to fogive in
return when needed.  My best friend and I have a "safe code" for when we're
fighting - if either of us just really needs the other we'll call and say
"peace at any price".  At that time we both immediately put aside whatever
it is we're arguing about and just "be there" for the other.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Again, I never saw whatever post you replied to in which she got upset and
you were subsequently offended.  But it certainly wasn't Lori's fault that
you had all those incidents occur in your life one right after another.
That's more than enough stress for one person.  But we all have stress
triggers.

I don't know if you went off about Americans.  I didn't see the post.  I do
know I'd be upset, too, if you had.

Your leaving rpca isn't the answer.  Taking a break, maybe; whatever works
for you.  We all have problems.  We're all members of this thing called the
human race.  We also all love cats.  Do whatever you need to do.  But don't
(and again I didn't see the post) come down on a nation for one thing or
another.  On his ng are all doing the best we can.

Jill

I missed the thread that brought this about, so I am out of the loop.
But {{{{Lee}}}}} I am so sorry you have gone through all of that.  I
hope you will reconsider and stay, or just take a break for awhile.  You
are valued here, too.

Ginger-lyn

thank you its over now, but I do appreciate your comments, Lee

Thanks, then truce!

Hugs,

CatNipped

Obviously, it's not anyone's fault what their ancestors did before they
were born. But we can still take responsbility for it if we are direct
decendents, or if we have benefitted from past atrocities. I don't think
that taking responsibility means saying you are at fault, or that you should
be punished, shunned, blamed, etc. But you can still work to make amends
and to correct ongoing problems that exist because of past actions.

Often brutality can cause damage down the generations, and people whose
ancestors were brutalized, enslaved, conquered and repressed, etc, may
still be suffering aftereffects. So I feel it's possible to recognize
that they might still be at some disadvantage because of the inherited
damage. Those who inherited *benefits* are in a position to make some
reparations, or at the very least, to give recognition to the people who
are still struggling with the legacy.

I'm sure the decendants of WWII victims will be dealing with aftereffects
for generations to come. Nuele doesn't need to feel personally ashamed,
but that doesn't mean she's helpless to have a positive effect, either.

Joyce

Catnipped wrote:

But maybe it's more common now because there's a good reason for it?

Thanks, Dan - my sentiments exactly. I don't think the US is the devil
and every other country is pure goodness. (Anyone who's heard me rant
about China knows that.) But because I am an American citizen, it's my
obligation to recognize and point out the things that are being done in
my name, if I disagree with them. Otherwise, I'm just being complicit.
Unfortunately, there happen to be a lot of things happening in the current
administration that I can't condone, so I'm critical a lot these days.

Joyce

No, Dan, I don't see your posts as US bashing.  I think there's a big, *BIG*
difference between disagreeing with US policies / laws / politicians - even
expressing disdain for the current administration (I do so myself) - and, on
the other hand, saying things like this or that country is more civilized
than the US.  The "US" as a whole includes me and my entire family, and I
don't feel that I or my family are any more uncivilized than any other
persons living elsewhere.  When you say things like "the US is horrible
because of (insert your reason here)" thus painting the entire country and
everyone in it with the same broad brush, that's doing a huge diservice to
those of us here who are caring, responsible "global" citizens.

Again, I really didn't mean to cause a big to-do or to insult anybody else,
but I just get tired of people here saying disparaging things about a
country and a people I think of as one of the greatest and grandest on earth
*despite* our current leadership!  The US has contributed a lot of things to
the rest of the world since its inception, decency and compassion included.
Our generosity as a people is unsurpassed, and much underappreciated.

Just as other people have justifiably been insulted by my remarks about
their country, I think it would be obvious that I can be just as insulted by
remarks about my country.  I just don't "get" why it's suddenly so
fashionable to bash the US and why it's unreasonable for US citizens to
become upset by that bashing - we're supposed to just hang our heads and cry
mea culpa?!  I'm as proud of my country as the Brits are of theirs, why is
they are justified in being insulted but I'm not by the same types of
remarks?  (And sorry, didn't mean to pick on the Brits again - you can
substitute any country into that sentence to get my meaning.)

Sorry, but as I said, this *is* a hot button of mine.

Hugs,

CatNipped

I don't completely agree with this. I guess it depends on the bitching
and how someone is communicating, but I think that talking about issues
to people can help to bring about change, too. An intelligent argument
about an issue, that gets people thinking about it and maybe rethinking
their position, can be pretty valuable. Especially if you're using a
wide-distribution method such as publishing, radio or the internet, and
lots of people are reading what you have to say. Don't underestimate the
power of the written/spoken word to change people's minds. It's not all
mindless bitching and whining.

Joyce