 london diary Open Letter to the War Protesters: [1] [2] [3] [4] War. War, war, war. It does feel like the world has gone mad, doesn't it? There are opinions flying, commentators shouting, marches—for and against, daily email forwards asking you to sign this petition and that. With all the hullabaloo it is difficult to think straight, to reason out the pros and cons, to see at all clearly what the real issues are and how they are best to be handled. And what a long journey it has been—a long exhausting journey from the first whispers of conflict, the first mention of the word, to the sounds of air sirens and whistling bombs tinned out through our radios and TV sets. I hesitate to add one more voice to the ruckus, to add another opinion to the multitudes out there. But since this is my (albeit badly maintained) column and war is the only topic on everyone's tongue these days—here I go. I support it. There I have said it. Liberal forefathers turn in your graves, friends disown me, spiritual leaders take away the key to the gates of the pearly heavens… I am coming out of my conservative closet and saying out loud what I have been hesitant to say for the last six months- frankly, I support the war. I think the reasons to remove Saddam Hussein outweigh the reasons to continue hesitating, I think there are very serious fault lines in this world that need to be handled by those with the capabilities to do it, and I think that a regime change in a proud, glorious country that has been slowly dying for the last twenty years is a matter of urgency. Now. Having said that I support the war- does this mean that I wish it could have been dealt with in a different way? Of course! I blame Bush (learn to speak English), I blame Powell (make up your mind), I definitely blame Rumsfeld (Scary. Full stop)--- AND I blame Putin (where does he get off? Mate, check out your own backyard and stop slaughtering the innocent people of Chechnya), I definitely blame Chirac (you idiot. The only reason people voted you in was to prevent Le Pen from winning) and above all—and it seems that quite a few people forget to add this man to the list of people to blame (yes, you Michael Moore)—I blame Saddam Hussein. The man is a madman. If only Bush hadn't relentlessly pushed war as the only option. If only the West had shown a united, indestructable front. If only the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, China, Russia (I grumblingly include you) and the U.S. had said from the start- "Saddam, you are no good. You make endless trouble for your own people, the Arab world, and the international community. We want you out and we mean it." If only we had approached the reasonable, concerned leaders in the Middle East, treated them like their opinion mattered, and worked with them towards solution. If only we had said that in 1991 and followed through on it. But it didn't happen that way. America bullied, Europe hemmed and hawed, Iraq spread seeds of discontent and lies and the old adage turned out to be true- united we stand, separate we fall. The situation grew so heated that no one would budge. France and the US took polar opposite stands and started slinging mud like there was no tomorrow (I'm sorry—"freedom fries"??). Thousands upon thousands of people took to the streets and begged for war not to happen—and were completely ignored. This all happened. I, and everyone else that I know, wished that it had occurred differently. But it didn't. So here we are with another "shit or get off the pot" scenario. And here you go war protesters… this is why you piss me off: although the situation wasn't handled in the right way, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't be doing what we are doing now. Wake up. Your marches don't do anything but block traffic and give you a self-righteous sense of purpose in your boring, unfulfilled lives. Your protests don't do anything but make Saddam laugh. He isn't Che Guevara. He isn't Malcolm X. He is Pinochet, Hitler and Osama Bin Laden rolled into one. Stop blaming the wrong people and start protesting the man who has been torturing his own people and everyone around him for the last 2 decades. And when you protest, don't do it just because you missed out on the sixties. And don't do it during rush hour, please. Saddam, and other maniacal leaders like him, need to be removed by the rest of the international community. It is called responsibility towards your fellow man and towards yourself. In fact, it is pure socialism. (Which is why I don't really understand why the French aren't on board). This "let themselves sort themselves out" and "it's none of our business" attitude is ridiculous, capitalist selfishness of the highest degree. Of course it is our business. If a man is beating his wife and kid right under your nose you stop him. Or you call the cops. And guess what? America, as the most powerful country in the world, is in the position of policeman. We should accept that role with dignity as part of our responsibility. Other countries should stop bellyaching about it our 'unchecked power' and help us out with the responsibility. (Frankly, most countries are all too happy to have us police their problems when they really need us—cite WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Yugoslavia etc). We are now in a terrible place. Innocent women and children are dying, and we are the cause of it. It is mind-boggling, heart breaking and tears me up inside. But I refuse to believe that this horrible, horrible occurrence isn't ultimately for the best. I want those women and children to have what I am so grateful for—the freedom to write this column, the education that has supported it, and all the wonderful things that come along with living in a democratic country. Iraq is the cradle of civilization; Iraqi's are proud, beautiful people whose dignity is being stolen from them. And so I ask myself: Is this war about Bush's pride? Unfortunately, I suspect it is. Is it about oil? Of course it is. The bloody world runs on oil. We need it—and they need the money, so shut up about the oil. Is the death and destruction worth it? I don't know. Should those other reasons prevent my support? I don't know. Do I want my country to fight for the liberation of the people of Iraq? Yes, yes—YES!! I wish it didn't have to be this way. But it is. I look at the last decade of life in Iraq and see horrible poverty that our (the West's) embargo has created and the fear of torture, rape and death that Saddam's regime imposes. I hope that a fast and furious war, a few weeks or months of horror will effectively end that and prevent another decade of slow death. I think we are fighting so that someday we don't have to fight anymore. Someday we will live on a tolerant, peaceful planet that rates love and creativity above violence and power. I know that, given the base nature of humankind that likelihood is slim. But I support the war because something needed to be done. And, god willing, it will be now. a debate is in store, read some response and rebuttal >> [1] [2] [3] [4] |
London's
Calling Livin', Lovin' and Wailin' On... Back in London May 15 April 2 March 5 January 16 January 2 December 27
eurozone |
copyright © 2000-2005 - www.stellargirl.com |
|