The first thing on the local paper was This. What the hell? Id like to think Im one of the worlds most empathetic people, if not in action, at least in thought but what use is being compassionate in thought? I dont think theres any worth really, but better a good intent then an evil one. Thats the Singaporean way after all, an opinion on everything but the will to act on nothing.-
I read through the article and tried to imagine, what if I was an insurgent. I suppose its a rather juvenile thing to do. Imagining your someone else, but its entertaining. And it helps you to understand the people you think you hate.
Even if its extreme wrong-headedness to picture the person who said you were possessed of a stupidity stemming from the lack of self-control to have said all that, being so void of anything else to do (having been just dumped by her fiance at the later a few weeks ago and somehow managing to gain a hundred pounds in a fortnight).
I can see why they are doing all these nonsense, but no amount of trying to sympathize can get the phrase I hate them out of my head. I hate their religion and everything it stands for. But before you come upon me with a barrage of prejudiced emails, let me say that it is not the One True God I hate, but just the God of all the people I hated. How can my God be the same as that of the person who tells me shed be sending me to hell?
Its a fine frustrating piece of work, and good luck to the people who have to solve it. Is it not possible to work out a compromised solution? Can compromised solutions ever really work in the first place among nations at war when they cant even seem to be reached by nations who are tolerant of each other.
But the insurgents do have the upper-hand. Carrying on with all the mindless killing and propagation of fear might be effective in throwing a lot of nations out of Iraq, but eventually, the US army will remain until things are done the Bush way; or until a second term is confirmed as something only possible in a alternate reality, like the sort you read about in SF novels. (And would them leaving be a good or bad thing come the situation present during the election period?)
All right, presume they do stop the kidnappings, but retained holding whole nations hostage under the threat of columns of rigged cars [that] will not stop [exploding]. I actually imagine that might be effective in getting the world to listen to what they want. Those people truly know how to use fear, and raise nationalistic passions; I believe that many people, the general populace, the vulgar horde, people like me, would nod out heads fervently if the insurgents so much so as suggest a compromise.
Look, they are behaving like children, and the rest of the worlds behaving like mothers on menopause. If the kids would stop chanting for a cookie and give a reason why they should be given the cookie, and prove half-way that they should be given it (i.e., stop kidnapping so many people), and if the mothers were to listen and accede on the condition that they do their homework and eat their dinner after Dont tell me its a stupid analogy, it isnt. Human behaviour is predictable, and our relationships are all ruled by similar sentiments, whether on a domestic or global scale.
I read through the article and tried to imagine, what if I was an insurgent. I suppose its a rather juvenile thing to do. Imagining your someone else, but its entertaining. And it helps you to understand the people you think you hate.
Even if its extreme wrong-headedness to picture the person who said you were possessed of a stupidity stemming from the lack of self-control to have said all that, being so void of anything else to do (having been just dumped by her fiance at the later a few weeks ago and somehow managing to gain a hundred pounds in a fortnight).
I can see why they are doing all these nonsense, but no amount of trying to sympathize can get the phrase I hate them out of my head. I hate their religion and everything it stands for. But before you come upon me with a barrage of prejudiced emails, let me say that it is not the One True God I hate, but just the God of all the people I hated. How can my God be the same as that of the person who tells me shed be sending me to hell?
Its a fine frustrating piece of work, and good luck to the people who have to solve it. Is it not possible to work out a compromised solution? Can compromised solutions ever really work in the first place among nations at war when they cant even seem to be reached by nations who are tolerant of each other.
But the insurgents do have the upper-hand. Carrying on with all the mindless killing and propagation of fear might be effective in throwing a lot of nations out of Iraq, but eventually, the US army will remain until things are done the Bush way; or until a second term is confirmed as something only possible in a alternate reality, like the sort you read about in SF novels. (And would them leaving be a good or bad thing come the situation present during the election period?)
All right, presume they do stop the kidnappings, but retained holding whole nations hostage under the threat of columns of rigged cars [that] will not stop [exploding]. I actually imagine that might be effective in getting the world to listen to what they want. Those people truly know how to use fear, and raise nationalistic passions; I believe that many people, the general populace, the vulgar horde, people like me, would nod out heads fervently if the insurgents so much so as suggest a compromise.
Look, they are behaving like children, and the rest of the worlds behaving like mothers on menopause. If the kids would stop chanting for a cookie and give a reason why they should be given the cookie, and prove half-way that they should be given it (i.e., stop kidnapping so many people), and if the mothers were to listen and accede on the condition that they do their homework and eat their dinner after Dont tell me its a stupid analogy, it isnt. Human behaviour is predictable, and our relationships are all ruled by similar sentiments, whether on a domestic or global scale.
Your perspective is quite correct. I guess just knowing human nature counts for a lot. Saddam Hussein ws in violation of UN accords from the time we left pretty much. What happened over the years is that under Clinton's watch, Saddam was coddled like a baby. He would build up weapons, or fly in no fly zones, and we would do nothing, or just do something little. He got away with more and more, because no one would stop him. It's appeasement all over again. Bush finally said: Enough is enough. You are putting our friends in serious danger (Saudi Arabia, Israel), you are destabilizing the region, and you are going to be an example of what happens when you think the US is weak and spineless (that means you, Iran, North Korea, and Libya). We are tired of not backing up words with action. This war was quite necessary. It also had a lot of benefits. People take us more seriously now, Iraqis are now free, and the middle east peace situation looks like it may be able to be worked out. Additionally, a lot of countries are willing to work with us now to avoid any conflict. North Korea toned down its rhetoric, although we may go in there yet if Kin Jong-Il keep up his lunacy and oppresion.
Lastly, France and most of the other countries who opposed the war had worse motivations than us in wanting peace. They had deals with Saddam to buy oil off of him. They stood to profit off of the oppresion of the Iraqi people. It's sickening how people hold up France, China, Germany, and the others as a bastion of freedom, enlightenment, and peace.
Very interesting journal entry too.