Lori, I don't think it's arrogant to want democracy for everyone. It could be argued that it's arrogant to assume some people might not want to live in a democracy. There's nothing different about us. This is a not a case of us versus them. The Iraqi people want exactly the same things that we do. They want peace, security and freedom. This war MIGHT give it to them. What is certain is that Saddam Hussein won't. His rule has been a national tragedy for them, and we're only scraping the surface in knowing just how much of a tragedy, because we have to rely on people who have escaped for our information. I am sure that when Iraq is liberated, the stories we will hear will stun and horrify us, and we will all feel desperately ashamed that we didn't help the Iraqi people many years ago.
Regarding Iraq and democratic values, Tony Blair told his party's annual conference a few weeks ago: "I've lost count of the number of supposedly intelligent people who've said to me: 'You don't understand the Serbs: they're very attached to Milosevic'. No, they weren't. 'The Afghans are different: they like religious extremism'. No, they didn't. 'The Iraqis don't have the same tradition of political freedom'. No, they don't, but I bet they'd like to." "Our values aren't Western values", Blair said. "They're human values and anywhere, anytime people are given the chance, they embrace them." Blair also said that a good test of what a country is like is whether: "people are trying to get into it, or trying to get out of it." I can't think of a single non-democratic country that has immigration problems i.e. a problem with people wanting to enter, rather than wanting to leave. It's not being suggested that the people of Iraq should become Christians. What is being suggested (by the Iraqi National Congress) is that the new Iraqi government be secular, pluralist and democratic. There IS no diplomacy with Saddam Hussein, Lori - really, none at all. His government lies and lies, and has been doing so for decades. He's had SCORES of chances. He really is a psychopath, a frightening man, and he does have weapons of mass destruction, according to every single knowledgeable source I have ever read or encountered. They also all agree that he will use them one day. He can't be left in power. Sarah At 12:14 PM -0800 01/15/2003, Lori Fye wrote: >It's awfully arrogant to think that everyone wants or should to live in >a democracy. Just because it works for *us* doesn't mean it will work >everywhere, and I'm still not convinced it's the best plan. (I lean >toward Socialism.) > >An additional problem with this "deserved opportunity" is that the >lines between "church" and "state" become so easily blurred. Next it >will be suggested that everyone become a christian. Sure, it would be >an easier and more peaceful world if everyone believed in the same >things, but god, how boring. > >Personally, I don't think we've exhausted diplomacy yet.
