text: This is to those modern idealists thinking in so many words that the Western World deserves these attacks because of what they've done... whenever: The argument is that we ought first and foremost to publicly acknowledge our 'misdeeds.' Well, I for one agree with the premise insofar as theoretical exercises are concerned. Although the great challenge - insurmountable in my humble estimation - would be the scope to which one would retroactively involve the analysis, i.e., human history and pre-history is rife with one clan, gang, tribe, kingdom, land, state, nation... DESTROYING some other group of equal or lesser or greater population. Would descendants of the Visigoths need to make reparations to modern day Italians? The fallacy seems clear. Is my English sister a worthy target because her great great uncle twice removed once stuck a bayonet in some guy's liver? What say you...