Oh, to etech - to anyone who thinks that these are just the ramblings of some inexperienced, naive little boy, I just thought I would clarify.
I'm a 19-year-old, middle class white male, living near Seattle. I am in college, studying economics. Used to be a liberal Christian, now I'm agnostic.
My granddad served in WWII (as a Seabee), my father served in Vietnam. Both my parents are moderate, with conservative leanings. Both have worked since they were ~12. I've held a steady job since I was 12, this last year (freshman year of college) being my first time in seven years without a job.
I do not hesitate to say that I am somewhat naive. I haven't traveled much (lot less than either my parents or my sister), but I have read, and I have watched the changes in my country in the last eight years or so.
I am not naive enough to think that all the world's problems can be solved, either immediately or in the long-term. Neither am I foolish enough to believe that America and her allies are without fault in the problems that have been created. We say that we're superior to these nations in the Middle East, yet some of our social policies are just as archaic - we say that we're "the land of the free", yet it was only 30 years ago that black people were given basic civil rights - 80 years ago that women were given the vote.
I find it interesting that the first generation of Muslims considered men and women to be equal - it was only the subsequent perversions of power and social structure that perpetuated the violently patriarchal situation that exists today. I find it interesting that Islam, in its original form, helped to foster scientific and intellectual innovation. I find it interesting that Mohammed was accomodating and accepting of both Judaism and Christianity.
Meanwhile, I cannot deny that there are serious issues that plague the Middle East - splinter religious factions have really fuggered things up (simplistic explanation, I know). However, I don't think the solution is as simple as turning the whole area into a parking lot, as so many of you are privvy to suggest. Neither do I think it's as simple as removing Saddam from power and eradicating any person or faction who opposes the US and our moral values - the moral values of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are not so far removed from each other as you would think, nor are their social values. Given time, and containment of those violently opposed to the US, I think that those in the Middle East can attain the same state of social advancement, welfare, etc. that we enjoy in the US.
I think the main difference is that we have no right to force these values on Middle Eastern countries. That is my main point, and I think what I've been thinking of for a long time. We are a sovereign nation, but we are not the world's moral police, nor are we the world's protector. Leave that to the UN. We have the responsibility to police and control our own borders, and engage in international trade, but any sort of coercion, just as it is prohibited in business, should not be allowed in trade.
Just some splintered thoughts for the moment.
I'm a 19-year-old, middle class white male, living near Seattle. I am in college, studying economics. Used to be a liberal Christian, now I'm agnostic.
My granddad served in WWII (as a Seabee), my father served in Vietnam. Both my parents are moderate, with conservative leanings. Both have worked since they were ~12. I've held a steady job since I was 12, this last year (freshman year of college) being my first time in seven years without a job.
I do not hesitate to say that I am somewhat naive. I haven't traveled much (lot less than either my parents or my sister), but I have read, and I have watched the changes in my country in the last eight years or so.
I am not naive enough to think that all the world's problems can be solved, either immediately or in the long-term. Neither am I foolish enough to believe that America and her allies are without fault in the problems that have been created. We say that we're superior to these nations in the Middle East, yet some of our social policies are just as archaic - we say that we're "the land of the free", yet it was only 30 years ago that black people were given basic civil rights - 80 years ago that women were given the vote.
I find it interesting that the first generation of Muslims considered men and women to be equal - it was only the subsequent perversions of power and social structure that perpetuated the violently patriarchal situation that exists today. I find it interesting that Islam, in its original form, helped to foster scientific and intellectual innovation. I find it interesting that Mohammed was accomodating and accepting of both Judaism and Christianity.
Meanwhile, I cannot deny that there are serious issues that plague the Middle East - splinter religious factions have really fuggered things up (simplistic explanation, I know). However, I don't think the solution is as simple as turning the whole area into a parking lot, as so many of you are privvy to suggest. Neither do I think it's as simple as removing Saddam from power and eradicating any person or faction who opposes the US and our moral values - the moral values of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are not so far removed from each other as you would think, nor are their social values. Given time, and containment of those violently opposed to the US, I think that those in the Middle East can attain the same state of social advancement, welfare, etc. that we enjoy in the US.
I think the main difference is that we have no right to force these values on Middle Eastern countries. That is my main point, and I think what I've been thinking of for a long time. We are a sovereign nation, but we are not the world's moral police, nor are we the world's protector. Leave that to the UN. We have the responsibility to police and control our own borders, and engage in international trade, but any sort of coercion, just as it is prohibited in business, should not be allowed in trade.
Just some splintered thoughts for the moment.
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