"Say This....Do That"

[ocelot]

I totally respect your opinion and I can see where most of your opinions come from. The thing about the corruption I find, just because someone else does it doesn't mean it's okay. It's not right for the US to be condemned like that or the UN. There are honesty people who hold their intregity very high that work for both. It's just sad that people feel the need to condemn people because of who they are connected to.

The thing about the poll and are the majority of Iraqis for or against the war. It is really hard to know. Itr would be wrong to judge by the amount of people who come up to the soldiers, it would be wrong to judge by a poll when you don't know the population that was asked, and it would be wrong to judge by the amount of attacks. I'm beginning to think it is really impossible to know where the majority of Iraqis are on this subject, unless the was a question in an election or something like that.

I absolutely agree that Saddam needs no sympathy. He spelled his own disaster.

With my last statement I was trying to get at the fact that we need to do all that we can to show that we support the people in the Middle East. There are a lot of people (the terrorists, and etc.) that are telling them that the US is the enemy. Whenever an opportunity comes to show them that the US is not the enemy they need to take it. I think they still need to do whatever they can to capture and stop the terrorists, but at the same time they need to show that they are their friend. An example of when they had an opportunity and didn't take it is the earthquake in Pakistan, Kashmir, and India. They should of done all that they could to help the victims, that would have shown that they deeply cared about the people in that part of the world. If they believe the only reason the US went in was for their own good (the US may say that it was to liberate, but actions need to back words) the terrorism will only not stop but also may increase. We need to show that we care, have love for them as human beings, and do not think less of them than we would of a person in our own country. I believe the soldiers are doing this but there as needs to be proof from the government that it is an united front with the soldiers. I agree with you that we can't change the minds of the terrorists but we can change the minds of the people who don't know where to turn. A lot of these people believe the US is their enemy, the job at hand is to show them that the US is their friend.

[shavonfan]

Khalid Abdullah and his wife Ropak are friends of mine. He moved here from Iraq eight years ago to escape Saddam. They now have three children. Here in Erie, Khalid spends much of his time outside of work helping other Iraqi people in the area adjust to living in the USA. In all, he assists about 1,200 Iraqi people here. I went to breakfast with him not too long ago. His wife Ropak allowed me to hold their newborn baby boy in my arms. We talked about a lot of things that are going on. I asked him what I should believe. I asked him if the USA was doing the right thing in his country, and if the Iraqi people agreed. He told me that the Iraqi people think that Bush is like God to them. He is their deliverer. He said that everyone in Iraq is for what the USA is doing, but that they are still afraid for their lives. He spit on the ground and mentioned Sean Penn. He raised his fist in the air and had a very bitter look in his eyes when he spoke about the media coverage. The thing that really grabbed my attention was that he said that the USA was beautiful because they are liberating his homeland and not taking over it. Every Iraqi person there knows that the USA is not there to take away any of their culture or beliefs. He also mentioned that it should be better reported that the number of soldiers in Iraq that are actually fighting is getting smaller every week. Most of the USA military there now is there rebuilding the country. Hospitals, schools, sewage, heating, etc. He shared with me that he dreams of returning to Iraq and raising his family there. He said he never thought he would ever dream that dream again when he first came here. "Bush is making my dream come true! One day I will again visit my father's burial site. One day I will show my children." So, I share this not to argue your point. You have made very good points. I agree with you on some of them. But I share this with you to enlighten you to why I hold on so firmly to what I believe. As far as why we are over there, it's called "resolve." We are there in answer to the problem of terrorism. The world need looked at. We looked. We decided that some things needed a little restructuring. The world will be better for it. I hope we can do a better job of helping the world understand as you say. It might help if the media share a few stories once in awhile like the one I share hear with a real person!

[shavonfan]

There are honesty people who hold their intregity very high that work for both. It's just sad that people feel the need to condemn people because of who they are connected to.

Well, it will always be that way, because no man is an island unto himself. We rise and we fall together. It may not be right, but it's not necessarily wrong either. Moral, virtuous people realize that they are representing much more than just themselves, and take care of their actions and words accordingly. How I treat others will have some reflection on everything else about me: my name, my faith, my country and so forth. In this case, and with regard to the UN, it is just as fair of me to question the motives of the UN as it is the world to question the USA's motives for being in Iraq. How do I know that there wasn't something to gain or lose for the UN or certain of its members by our going to war with Iraq? How do I know that those gains or loses didn't somehow motivate their decision about the whole thing? That's all I mean by it.

[ocelot]

Thank you for sharing Kladid Abdullah's story. I didn't know about it. Now that I know about it, it changes my view on some of the stuff (like if there are Iraqis that don't want the US there). It's a truly beautiful story and the type of story that needs attention.

I think that it's important that we hear a lot more of these stories from real people. So much of what we hear is manipulated, including non-personal stuff from soldiers (what I mean by this is some soldiers get told that they are not allowed to say certain things to the media). I want to know the truth not what other people think I should know. I want my feeling based on truth not manipulated in a way so that they direct me in how they think I should feel.

[shavonfan]

Okay, Leona, but I must tell you that I shared that story with you not to change your view but rather to show you why I hold mine. As far as the military thing goes, I think it is a good point that you make. However, military life is different from civilian life. They play by a different set of rules. This is all understood before they enlist, so it is well agreed upon. Think of it like this: Terrell Owens is suspended from the Philadelphia Eagles for things said and done that were detrimental to the team. It's sort of like that in the military. Well, that may be a poor example. But I'm just trying to help you understand why it is so.

[ocelot]

I know you shared it not to change my view, but I think sometimes a story like that enlightens you to the knowledge beyond what you can find in the media.

I understand that the military life is different from civilian life, it just annoys me when I see soldiers talking and I can see that they are not saying what they truly feel, especially when I just want them to be honest. I see this in more militaries than just the US army, I see it also when they talk to UN peacekeepers or even Canadian peacekeepers. Sometimes you can just tell if they are not saying what they feel. I understand how it is too. I think the Terrell Owens example was probably a good example.

[shavonfan]

Yeah, it's hard to argue with what you say. The media slants the news in its favor so much that it would just be nice to get it from those who are actually there. And that's hard to determine because of the orders they are following! The important thing to know, Leona, is that the truth is out there and very accessable. You are a very keen and responsible person, so if you continue to seek for it you will surely find it. I'm glad that you research the things you do and care about the issues enough to be informed. I completely respect your opinions, even when I disagree, because I know that you do your homework. That's a great quality, Leona!