March 18, 2003
Altered States...
It's not too difficult to gauge the sentiment of grass roots America by the proliferation of numerous faxes that are making their rounds. It is difficult to gauge our own personal feelings as we view such tripe. Some are less tasteful than others but contain a common theme that leaves out those of us with more reserved opinions.
The fact that lives will certainly be lost on both sides is troubling. The fact that the general Iraqi public are gripped by the fear that America will not be able to intervene before Saddam takes out their oil, their families, and likely other lives of those deemed sympathetic to our aims in the region, as well as the possibility that he (Saddam) will follow through on his threat to use the very weapons he claims no longer exist.
The most troubling aspect of all this is the callous degradation of all Iraqi people with various racial slurs. As if they were all responsible for the state of their nation... and that stands to reason as all nations, including America, take offense to being lumped in a single minded group, supposedly representative of the feelings of ALL Americans. There are many groups who have become more outspoken regarding the validity of OUR claims that, eventually, Saddam will utilize his hidden weapons again, and not just on his own people this time. The fact that there is a "real and present danger" to our security, as well as the security of other nations on the European continent does not take into account that not all people in that nation (or ours) hold the same political views and aspirations as their current leaders .
I certainly understand the sentiment, but, our fear that we will again be hit by another terrorist attack similar to the events of 9/11 or worse, weigh heavily in our decision process as to our overall support for our government. But what I do not understand is how America, and the racial tension between peoples in our history have taught us nothing, that there are no absolutes when we judge all peoples of another country or religion of any nation or people by the actions of a few.
We should be the first to remember slavery and the lessons learned (and are still learning) in the disparity between the truth and our own fears of anything different than ourselves. We should be the first to remember:
That there are Americans of all nationalities, and should not be judged by the color of their skin or the God of their choice.
The first to remember the injustice of Japanese internment camps during WWII, or the still present pain it causes today in the generations that have forgiven but never forgotten OUR betrayal, even in the interest of "National Security".
The shame of America in dealing with compassion for all those Muslim Americans who have been tortured by the recent actions of others in their faith, as their interpretation of the same Koran differ from those who, in their own birthlands, have been brainwashed at an early age that we are the enemy, just as many of us were taught that other races on our own soil are somehow less in humanity than we are. Less deserving of compassion, more deserving of our anger over the actions of a few.
If we are doing what is honorable and the best thing for our country and the world, regardless of the atrocities that have yet to be committed in the name of future world peace and security, we should remember first that as Americans we will answer historically for the hate in our hearts for those trapped and imprisoned by their own governments' policies and the powers that will not be changed by death when speaking out against them.
I support our efforts as a country, appreciate the gravity of the tough decisions being made by those whom we've entrusted those decisions, and detest the prejudice that we apply to all peoples of any nation that we are at odds with... I'm sure not all the French people have forgotten our contribution during WWII, and support our cause.
Likewise, the Iraqi people who are stuck in an impossible situation do not deserve to slighted, called offensive names, or otherwise treated less than we would want ourselves to be treated.
Remembering the Golden Rule,
Bobco