What can I say to a man that thinks himself a scholar when he behaves as a fool

So I've got these cheeseburgers... haha just playin.

Thursdays are always great because until Saturday I usually forget that I even have an Internet connection, so I figured I'd make this "alles klar" post before embarking on the voyage.
I was up late last night playing well with the other children (MATT DAYMEN!)

I got an email from a few friends at Georgetown who are currently doing a study on St. Maarten and the current political climate of Caribbean nations. St. Maarten/St. Martin is currently trying to revitalize its economy since the hurricanes have been so merciless.

"We were wondering what you thought about its relationship with the United States since you spent so much time there. Also, what do you think about their continuously recanted and then reasserted support of the war, especially since in many ways they are still a French/Dutch colony?"

There's these dope green monkeys on the island that will follow your car for miles. Sometimes they throw fruit or shit, but only because they aren't used to favorable interaction with tourists. Mostly they just watch you from the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of you so they can alert the other ones to get out of the road. Monkeys are neat.

The island itself is pretty much at the political mercy of whatever international superpower visits them the most. I can remember a time when Desert Storm (or maybe it was still Desert Shield at that point) and my cousin went to Iraq, where he spent most of his time on munitions shit (I rarely understand what he does during the day, although I have to say that it mostly just involves his graduate major, chemistry). He told me that the soldiers came back tired and that a lot of what he worked on, what we now know is a derivative of Agent Orange, injured many soldiers on both sides. He described 115 degree heat, melting his boots. And he also told me many times about how much he hates, as he put it, "sand niggers." Now, St. Maarten/Martin as a collective island is pretty diverse in its international citizenry. But on the dutch side, St. Maarten, there's a fairly large contingent of Muslims from Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc. And they support the local economy so well that most of Philipsburg is dependent upon them for its survival during the summer months, when the economy slows. So for at least half the year, in St. Maarten, "sand niggers" run the show.

The debate about the war, at least at this point, has become rather moot. We're in there, neck deep. So for the residents of that island they're just as in as everyone else. But because its a small island, completely dependant on its beautiful beaches, liquor, and tanned rich women and medical students, you can see how uneasy the huge political rigamarole is. I mean, after all, we're just a bunch of hedonistic freaks to most of them anyway. While the prostitution trade on the island can pretty much assure you the girl of your dreams for one thousand dollars a night, most girls are fairly devout Christians if they are island natives.

I asked a friend or two of mine from there to give me some insight.

"So the political establishment there, at least those who make actual decisions, are in a tough spot: these soldiers that park their boats near our shores, enjoy our island nightlife, and actually aren't too loud or mean or crazy are not exactly a burden on our island. They are great for our economy. Some of them married our local women or men, and some of them mean a lot to our own families. It's a small island, and a lot of us are indirectly related here. But in the inverse, we're an island of poltical refugees. Many of our people that are now citizens of St. Maarten are definitely not natives. Many of them came from the same countries that are currently being invaded, and by supporting the war in some ways we support those who fled Saddam's reign. But some of them have also left family there, most of whom are now either impoverished or in the process of fleeing the country.

"So what do we do? If we support your stay, Reece, we stand the chance of losing a lot of our economic partners. The island depends upon a lot of the trade in Front Street for its ability to function as a cohesive trade market. Nevermind the fact that many of us bought our wives their wedding rings, bought presents for our daughters and sons for christmas, graduation, and birthdays there, so losing those businesses would also leave a little something in our memory behind.

"But if we don't, surely even more people will die and the economy will most likely get worse anyway. Consider it from an international perspective, and you'll see that most of our impotence is based upon a stark inability to choose between what will mostly likely impoverish us and will most likely kill other people.

"But we CAN say that we are not in support of the start of this war. We say that because we are not in support of the start of anything that leaves us, your friends, with no options. While it was your decision (yes, yours Reece) to start the war, it is up to everyone to pay for it. I indict you and your country for trying to take the process away from me even though you want me to help you. I don't like the fact that you, Reece, say you do not support the war, yet you say yourself that you have driven yourself to job interviews for the past three weeks in a car with poor gas mileage. I don't like that you, an American, considers yourself that much of an impact while instead of taking the buses that run on natural gas in your country, you drive your Buick. What can I say to a man that thinks himself a scholar when he behaves as a fool, even though I do the same as he does: the best he can? I say that you yourself must make a choice as to what you think your life means and what your decisions mean for others."