Let me begin by making it clear that I can respect the opinions of my conservative board members whose right-wing opinions have been expressed here. That said, I must passionately disagree with much of what has been expressed in this thread regarding our terrorist plight in this country.
I don't agree with 80'sU2isbest theory that we, as American citizens, would have to make the type or number of sacrifices he mentions in order for Arab countries to stop hating us so much. If I'm to buy into 80's thesis than I'm to believe that the only way the Arab world will stop hating us is for America to become a society of Muslims. That of course will never happen yet 80's insinuates that will be the only way to resolve our differences with the Arab world, therefore making the types of sacrifices he mentions necessary. But I disagree.
Before our elected leaders can begin to effectively change the way the Arab world perceives us they must do a better job at analyzing the problem from the perspective of the Arab world. We, as Americans, are of course biased and we see things only from our perspective. 80'sU2isbest suggests that the Arab world hates us for the clothes our women wear, the movies we make, the music we listen to etc. I acknowledge that certainly this plays an active role, but it goes much deeper into the cultural and political realm than just those things. I mean, just because someone may like jazz music while you may prefer rock music is no reason to hate someone. Therefore, we must look beyond the surface items that mark our differences and look deeper.
Look at it from the plight and perspective of the Arab world and it's citizens. They see an America that suffocates Arab citizens in the Middle East with embargoes and policies that stymie economic development. They see an America that trys to force democracy down their throat with the threat and actual use of bombs and military action. Our government says me must do these things to "protect our national interests" yet I ask you, and this is difficult for us as Americans to even fathom, but would you like it if the roles were reversed? If it was Iraq patrolling OUR airspace and bombing us, cutting off food supplies and "inadvertantly" killing innocent civilians? I know I wouldn't like it and I bet no one else would either, yet that IS the reality to the citizens in the Middle East on a daily basis. It is not shocking to me why they look at us as "the Great Satan". We bully them constantly...and NOBODY likes a bully!
Maybe some of you caught this the other night, but CNN's Crossfire had the former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq on the other night. He served in that role for over 20 years. It was his job to live in Iraq, learn and understand the culture, it's people, traditions, history, and policies. It was then his job to report what he learned to the President and his Cabinet so that they could better understand Iraq. Anyways, all this former Ambassador could say was much of what I've outlined here. That yes, animosity towards America is strong in that region because America is constantly exerting it's influence, power, and policies over there. The former Ambassador went on to say that yes, our economic sanctions have destroyed a generation of families and relegated them to a lifetime of poverty.
My brothers and sisters on the political right would argue that these outcomes, while unfortunate, are a necessary outcome of protecting America's interests in that region. That if we don't keep ourselves actively engaged in that region than the world would be an unsafe place. Well, I don't think it can get much more unsafe than the current environment we find ourselves in so really, does that arguement really have any merits?
I think that if we, as Americans, could analyze this matter from a practical standpoint we could better understand the hatred the Arab world has for us as a country. When America's policies dictate bombings, economic sanctions, and strong-armed tactics against Arab nations, the logical response is going to be outrage and hatred by the people those actions are affecting. Again, nobody likes a bully and I'm afraid that is how America is perceived in the Middle East. And lest we as American's forget, we may be the biggest and most forceful country at this present time in history, but eventually, as history proves, America will NOT be the world's superpower forever. As our beloved Bono wrote in the poignant tune "October", "...kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall..." This is true throughout history and it is naive on anyone's part to think that America will be the ultimate exception. So one day, the tables may very well be turned on us in America, maybe not in our lifetime or our children's, but eventually. We will be the afflicted, we will be the ones getting "bullied" around and I guarantee those who are living here than won't like it much, just like those in the Middle East don't like it today.
No, I don't believe bombs are always the answer. We are currently spending millions upon millions of dollars to effectively bomb a country of nomadic peasants. The irony, of course, is that while we bomb Afghanistan we drop thousands of pounds of food and supplies, apparently to "show our goodwill towards the people of Afghanistan". I'm afraid that while yes, the majority of Americans support this military action it is only adding fire to the flame and further adding to the hatred Arab's in that part of the world have for us.
Our elected leaders need to get off the bully pulpit and tackle our problems with the Arab world pro-actively, not reactively if they want to make America, and hence the world, a truly safe place. I'm not suggesting changing 50+ years of foreign policy at once or withdrawing our support of Israel, but our government MUST do a better job on the diplomatic front with the Arab world.
My opinions are not about being a "wimpy" liberal or some pot smoking, peace loving freak. It's about trying to understand things from the OTHER side of the struggle and rationalizing an appropriate response. I love America and the freedoms that we have. I believe that you can love your country but not love some of the things it does to innocent people of other nations. Is rooting out terrorism a good idea? Yes. Is dropping bombs going to solve the problem? No, it will make it worse as it brings their hatred for America to a higher level.
The natural and first response to a cowardly act such as 9/11 is "to bomb the hell out of whoever is responsible". That is human nature and understandable. But I believe that if our government truly wants peace and to make the world a safer place we need to re-adjust our foreign policy and negotiate on the diplomatic front. But it must be more than words, we must take action to show to these Arab government's and it's people that we are not elitists but rather a land of peaceful citizens. I don't think a sustained bombing campaign is the answer and the longer it goes on the more hatred will build up, adding to the uncertainty of our safety not only here in America but around the world.
I know that people on the political right like to act and talk tough, and I agree that there is a time and a place for that type of rhetoric. But understand the other side, the side that says war, or killing, isn't always the answer. For there is also a time to put the weapons down and resolve our differences man to man, face to face. It may take time in this case, but I believe it can be accomplished.
I didn't lose a loved one or a freind on 9/11, but I certainly lost my innocence and my sense of safety. I was dealt a personal blow, however, as my wife, who has been serving in the Army National Guard for over 10 years now, has been activated as a result of our current military action. She, as I, loves her country and she is loyally, faithfully, and to the best of her ability serving our great land. Does she agree with our bombing campaign? No, but she serves her country diligently none the less.
In conclusion, I think that if we can begin to look at things through the eyes of the Arab community in the Middle East we can get a better understanding of their hatred for us. I contend that this current "war" will only add to that hatred, not solve the terrorist problem as President Bush and his administration would like us to believe. And let us not forget that history repeats itself and that we, America, may one day find ourselves in the same plight as the Arab world, dodging bombs and bullets and wondering where our next meal is coming from because someone imposed economic and political sanctions against our government, which inevitably afflicts and directly effects its citizens. And history will judge us as a nation during this time. The knee-jerk reaction is to seek revenge, the level-headed response is to work our differences out man to man.
So yes, in answer to 80'sU2isbest's question, I think we should try to remedy the things that cause Arabs in the Middle East to hate us and perpetuate acts of violence towards us. We are as guilty of terrorizing them as they are of terrorizing us. They killed over 6,000 lives on 9/11 in a horrific event? How many innocent Arab lives have WE killed, either directly with bombs or indirectly with economic sanctions, over the years? I contend the number is staggering but the majority of us either don't want to acknowledge it or say it was the result of, or in the name of, protecting OUR freedom. That may be so, but it doesn't change the Arab world's perception that we are terrorists in our own rights for these consequences. Remedying the situation diplomatically would not, as 80's asserts, relegate America to a country of Muslim clones, where our women have to be covered up, can't get educated, can't work, or where men have to wear beards. With all due respect to my fellow board member, that is an idea built on "fear", not on logic. For you are already finding that bombing is only INCREASING the resolve and hatred Arab's in the Middle East have towards the west. I fail to see how it is ultimately going to make the world safe, especially when you must understand that we, no matter how successful our military campaign is, will never ultimately root out all the terrorists. Unless we can change the attitudes of the Arab world and their perceptions of America, terrorism will continue and another Bin Laden will rear it's ugly head. Count on it.
We must change the Arab people's minds and attitudes before any concrete changes will be seen. Bombing them into submission won't accomplish that and it isn't the answer. It may make us here at home feel good but it will not provide any long term solutions to the problem of terrorism.
I appreciate the civil debate.
May God continue to bless America.
[This message has been edited by Like someone to blame (edited 10-10-2001).]
