I have had several people (like, more than 20) ask me why I haven't been writing anything about the current War in Iraq. My first response is that I don't feel like it, but that is just a lazy cop-out.
I guess my answer is that I'm still taking notes on the whole thing. Young people (myself included) have a romanticized, uneducated view of war -- why wars start, what's worth fighting for, how you WIN a war -- and like to base their opinions on the opinions of OTHER, similarly romanticizing and uneducated young pundits.
I am not in Iraq, and I live in a country where the major media's number one interest is not truth, but cashflow disguised as news. And the other smaller, so-called, REAL journalistic outfits are just a sloppier and more irresponsible version of the big ones. Everybody in the media is saying what they are saying for a REASON. Some want to defame Bush. Some want to defame Kerry. Some want to turn us into Canada. Some want us throw away all we believe. Some want us to believe more than we already do.
Because of this state of affairs, I have decided that it is much more appealing to me to deal in absolutes: simple truths proven repeatedly over time that cut through the crap, and prove to be the quickest aid in sizing up a situation and coming to a positive conclusion.
In reference to the war we are currently fighting, perhaps it would help to plainly list a few facts to help cut through the distractions and focus thoughts on what the ultimate goal SHOULD be:
(In No Particular Order)
1. No war has ever been won through peace.
2. Murder is always wrong, and removing someone who commits/orders/allows it is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
3. No man will ever agree 100% with you.
4. No man will ever do everything you want him to.
5. It's OK to believe strongly in an unpopular viewpoint, as popularity and truth are seldom aligned. Reality and people's perceptions of reality are NEVER aligned.
6. Rules change in times of war: You have no civil liberties if you are dead.
7. People who don't want help can't be helped, and usually only know what they want to know.
8. There is always bigger picture, and a bigger reason for what's going on that nobody is talking about.
9. Some of the biggest lies contain some of the biggest truths.
10. No two wars are the same.
11. People are instrinsically lazy.
12. U.S. soldiers volunteer for duty, and are capable of choices.
13. Having, making, and spending a lot of money is OK.
...more later....
Just curious about #8.. What is the bigger picture/reason for what's going on that nobody is talking about? Please talk about that.
Are you alluding to something prophetic? Do you believe President Bush feels that we are fulfilling some prophecy? I believe that the administration and Bush feel that this was and is the right thing to do, both morally and in accordance even with God's will. But is there more to it than that?
I saw Jeanine Garafaolo on TDS mocking the president for his "backward, fundamentalist" beliefs. I guess the Taliban and Baath Party are to be praised just because they are backward, fundamentalists who call on Allah and Muhammud (and they oppressed women and killed people who dissented..)
Posted by: cmwillis at May 6, 2004 09:36 AMI would say that Bush's goal is not terrorism or Iraq or WMD's or oil, but an eventual peace in the ENTIRE Middle East. Prophetic? Probably. If I had to wager, I would say that we will be in the Middle East permanently, regardless of who wins the election.
"Fundamentalism" as a word has no negative meaning, but has been warped into a backdoor insult towards Christians. First, equate "Fundamentalism" with "crazy terrorists" or "religious zealots" or "fanatics," then simply start using the word to describe some other group that you don't like, like "Christians." It's kind of messed-up.
Janeane Garofalo is just useless.
Posted by: Bill Colrus at May 6, 2004 10:51 AMI'd like to see an addendum to #1. that says "Peaceful negotiations can help prevent war."
Posted by: Angela at May 6, 2004 10:52 AMThat is true, but it's not the same thing.
Once a war is started, it's a WAR.
At tha point, it's purely physics.
The war...my opinion...
My main concern with this war is the fact that it was a preemptive war. We invaded on the premise that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction & that they were going to use them against us. Not that they had used them, they would use them in the future, which directly ties into the "Saddam is a menace & needs to be removed". Fine...I agree Saddam was bad news. I agree that if there were weapons, something should be done about them.
My problem is the precedent that was set by invading before we were attacked by Iraq. How do we (the US), as a world leader, now react when say, India invades Pakistan (to pick a couple of countries who loathe each other), claiming that they were only doing it to prevent being attacked in the futre. Doors have been opened that cannot be closed...
I think of the Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times" more and more these days.
Posted by: that chris at May 6, 2004 12:46 PM
Haven't conflicts ceased due to negotiations, though?
And I agree with thatchris about preemptivity and false premises.
Posted by: Angela at May 6, 2004 01:50 PMChris-
I totally agree with you.
Angela-
Yes, but almost always after one side has been so abused that they have no other choice, and at that point it becomes surrender.
Posted by: bill colrus at May 6, 2004 02:32 PMBill -- you're right.
Posted by: Angela at May 6, 2004 05:46 PM2. Murder is always wrong, and removing someone who commits/orders/allows it is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
[You’re obviously referring to Saddam, and I understand what you’re saying. However, war leads to murder (killing = murder...I don’t see the difference). Should those who declare war be removed (see Bush)?]
3. No man will ever agree 100% with you.
[I agree with you there.]
5. It's OK to believe strongly in an unpopular viewpoint, as popularity and truth are seldom aligned. Reality and people's perceptions of reality are NEVER aligned.
[It is ok to be the underdog, but there cannot be a “reality” because it refers to the truth, and we all know there is no truth because people’s perceptions differ.]
6. Rules change in times of war: You have no civil liberties if you are dead.
[Does this make #2 above ok? Just checking.]
9. Some of the biggest lies contain some of the biggest truths.
[Maybe instead of truths, it’s reasons why...reasons why this or that happened. There is no truth.]
10. No two wars are the same.
[It’s impossible for two or more objects to occupy the same space at the same time, so yes.]
13. Having, making, and spending a lot of money is OK.
[True that, my brother.]
"there cannot be a “reality” because it refers to the truth, and we all know there is no truth because people’s perceptions differ"
There is no truth? No absolutes? Are you absolutely sure?
What would that make Jesus, The Way, The Whatever-Your-Perception-Is, and The Life? Same goes for Muhammed, or anyone else. There is truth out there. Our job is to seek it.
Problems arise though, when a war such as we are in lingers on, costs more American lives than we originally thought, and the reasons for this war seem to be constantly changing. Thats why I think Bill's call to look back at some basic truths is very appropriate. However, does it answer the question for those wavering now about support of the war, have we done the right thing?
Posted by: cmwillis at May 7, 2004 04:07 PMI am 100% sure. Bill's point #3 supports it. No man - or not every man - will ever agree with you 100% of the time. Because of this, I say there is no truth. I challenge you to make one statement that EVERYONE would agree with. And if you can, I'll disagree. That's the point. Do you see it?
Posted by: Pat at May 7, 2004 07:33 PMWater freezes a 32 degrees farenheit.
That's a truth.
There are MANY truths. The fact that you will instantly reply (or at least think) that there aren't when I say there are is but one more truth...
If world events are studied using scientific logic, many truths become apparent.
Emotion+Bad Facts=Error. But that doesn't mean people won't believe it.
Here's another truth: I WILL get at least blog comment tomorrow about my ghetto prom pics posts.
Posted by: bill colrus at May 7, 2004 08:05 PMOoooooooh! Philosophy!
Idealism... Realism... Pragmatism...
Is there a hard and fast truth? Or is there only an "idea" out there that our perception compares things to?
Posted by: podge at May 9, 2004 12:06 AMWhat is water? What is farenheit? What are you talking about? I know - and believe - what you're saying (I read the same book), but can you honestly say that every man would believe it if asked?
I don't believe my responding is truth b/c there are a few billion other people out of the loop. Or maybe this isn't really me? How can you be so sure?
We are all different, and no one man is right, no one thing is true. In fact, what I'm saying is not truth. It's my perception, my view, nothing more.
The military’s job is to kill people and break things so that people (I use the term loosely) like those in the Nick Berg Video can’t kill you…don’t you Lib’s get it…End of the line.
Posted by: Paul at May 13, 2004 02:09 AM