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| T O P I C R E V I E W | | Grime | Posted - 28 Oct 2007 : 02:45:22
I had an interesting encounter Friday. I was at a local Barnes & Nobels looking at a couple of Mac mags after work. On particularly nasty days, I like to go there to relax before driving back to the post I live on.
I was standing there looking over the British version of Macworld when an Iranian immigrant, who noticed my uniform, came up and introduced himself and insisted on buying me a coffee. "It would honor me greatly" he said. So, I relented. (I don't particularly hate coffee, but Starbucks is a bit too expensive for what you get in return.)
This man immigrated here 20 years ago. He wanted to escape "the oppression we suffer under our fundamentalist religious governments." Yes, fundamentalist. I questioned him on his choice of words, explaining that what we think of as fundamentalists are those who adhere to the narrow, conservative doctrines of faith. He said "Yes, that is what I mean too."
That wasn't the only eye opener either. He went on to say that he fully supports what we are doing in the Middle East. He knows first hand what the region is like, better than I do. He is glad we are, "finally trying to do the right things." He would like to see us, "continue (the) good works into my homeland." He believes we need to send many more troops into the area.
By the end of our brief, but not brief enough, discussion, I was angry. I don't disagree with doing the right thing. I don't have a problem with sending more troops, and even a military strike at Iran. I have been to war and would do it again if they sent me. And, as I see it, we'll end up in Iran before too long anyway, because it is the only way to win in the Middle East.
However, I had a problem with this man telling me what we should do. Here he was with his $200 shoes, tailored suit, iPhone and Blackberry, Rolex watch, drinking $7 coffee and willing to send me and more of my friends to die IN HIS PLACE.
Instead of doing his part, he took his money and fled his country. The mess in Iran is the responsibility of the Iranian people to solve, not ours. Our responsibility with Iran is only to protect the American people, not realign the political structure. That goes for Iraq and Afghanistan too. Yes we must secure Iraq and Afghanistan for our own protection. But, I digress.
It struck me that the growing lack of personal responsibility I see everyday is not just a problem in the US. It seems that it is a global problem. People, worldwide, fail to stand up and resist evil. People, worldwide, fail to take responsibility for their own actions.
So, my question is, if we, the American people, refuse to do the right thing, or simply stand aside while others do the wrong thing, then will we end up governed by evil, ruthless, dictators as well?
Me, I'd rather die, than capitulate to my own domination by evil. | | 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) | | AXEMAN2415 | Posted - 30 Oct 2007 : 15:54:53
quote:
So, my question is, if we, the American people, refuse to do the right thing, or simply stand aside while others do the wrong thing, then will we end up governed by evil, ruthless, dictators as well?
Grime, I only wish I could have quoted the entire post! I think that this post should be required reading for every Conservative, Liberal, Christian, Non Christian, American, and even non American. Although I am not a military man, you have validated much of what I believe about American foreign policy, with regard to the Middle East.
With that said, I answer your question thus; I give you a resounding "Yes!" That is what happened to France in WW2. That is what happened to South Vietnam.
And, in a particularly partisan commentary, I believe if Senator Hillary Clinton is elected President, we will be at least one step closer to a dictatorship. But, that is my opinion...I could be wrong.... |
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