Originally posted by Dulcimer
My simple question is, do these people know the facts about these conflicts, or are they distorting the truth.
I don't know if they know the facts of the conflicts but I certainly would assume they do, simply because it would be foolish to form such strong
opinions without knowing at least some of the facts.
Most modern 'anti-war' people are not just 'crazy hippies' carrying flowers and wanting to spread peace and love, man. The anti-war activist of
today is usually an extremely well-educated professional, has a family, doesn't do psychedelic drugs and educates him or herself in the substance of
the conflict. That's what makes them anti-war. They have researched it and formed these opinions.
I have no formal source on that, but I'm speaking from personal experience.
Now, as regards democracy... The very basic definition of a democracy is a government BY the people. A government formed by the people. The very
thought of having a democracy gifted to a people is contradictory.
Imagine giving a 21-year-old a house as a gift, free and clear. Imagine how well they'll take care of it if they didn't have to work for it at all.
Imagine how much it would mean to them, how much work they'd be willing to do to keep it in repair and take care of it. How much would they
appreciate it? Can there be pride in something that's given to you?
Now, imagine co-signing a mortgage for that same 21-year-old for a house that they really want and they've asked you to help them acquire. They have
to work and make payments and pay the insurance. Imagine how well they'll take care of it knowing how hard they have to work to make the payments.
Imagine how much it would mean to them, how proud they'd be of doing it for themselves. Imagine how much work they'd be willing to do to keep it in
repair and take care of it.
I know Iraq's not an 21-year-old and I know democracy's not a house, and I know that they have suffered through these last few years, but the
analogy illustrates that a government created by the people, a government they have to fight for and work hard for themselves will thrive, be
something to be proud of and to appreciate and hold onto whatever the future brings.
Whereas a government that they're really unfamiliar with, that is thrust upon them will surely die the minute we leave. This Iraq Democracy did not
come from the people, it was handed to them in the middle of a terrible conflict. Sure they may say now, "Yes! We want a democracy"!, but I'll
guarantee you that 21-year-old said, "Yes! I want a house! Thank you"!
This story, I also bring from personal knowledge. The house fell to disrepair within a few years. There were rats. It wasn't appreciated. She didn't
know what she had. She didn't have to work for it. In fact, she complained that it wasn't nice enough.
I would love to see a democracy in Iraq, if that's what the people really want. Think of how the US struggled to gain their democracy. The people
were part and parcel in creating the government. It was their idea, they had to work hard for it, they had to work together.
Only through the
experience of creating our democracy did the people find pride, appreciation, determination, strength of conviction, and patriotism.
And in our elementary history classes, every generation is taught the struggle that the people waged and through that knowledge, the feeling of pride
and patriotism is passed down to each of us.
