My Dad says that I need to reassess my position on Afghanistan. He says it’s not clear-cut and coalition forces might be doing some good. He is uncertain and wants to stay silent while he ponders. He would rather I stay silent, too.
I say that in our silence, we are acquiescing in this war. We may not understand its complexities, but by saying nothing – doing nothing – we are saying that it’s ok. Silence is as strong a stance as any. The war will continue as long as we let it.
I say that my Dad needs to reassess his position, too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Andreana, I do love this simple, thoughtful, reflective post. The Iraq conflict was easy by comparison. In the UK we yelled about illegality and the sheer nonsensical stupity of it all and we put a million people on the streets of London. Afghanistan is a 'grey' war, not a black and white affair. Public opinion is turning against the war because of casualties and not a sense that the war is unjust. There always will be people like me who oppose all wars on principle but for most people it's not that simple. For what it's worth I still oppose the war. To use the third poorest country in the world as a pawn in some global game seems to me, perverse. Sometimes we forget who is watching whilst we throw our weight around. I suspect much of the Muslim world has concluded that we are still fighting the Crusades.
Philip, I am confused as to why you think that the Muslim world would conclude that we are still fighting the Crusades. Don't forget, that the war in Afghanistan was started by a fundamentalist Islamic attack on the USA. Whilst it is true that Afghanistan is a poor country, it is also deeply corrupt, poorly led and has an ancient history of warfare. Even recently - since 1945 - Arabs have repeatedly gone to war with Israel, Iran, indigenous ethnic groups, Africans, Americans, Europeans and eachother. Whilst you might oppose war, it seems that Afghanis generally don't. Afghanistan is now the fighting ground for anyone who has a bone to pick with the West - and this is the decision of the Taliban, not Afghanis and not the Coalition forces. Whilst we all feel sorry for the people of Afghanistan, the training, mentoring, reconstruction and security they are now offered due to the NATO and other Coalition forces working there, they are getting a far better deal - and a way to lessen their poverty - than they would if the West turned a blind eye to global terrorist activity.
Matthew - you say that most Afghanis don't oppose the war. Do you have a source for that?
If it is any consolation I am starting to see this war is going way to far. "Obama I am sad." It looks very much like Iraq to me. Initally I said "but the Taliban are really really bad." But what is going on now, I will not pretend I understand, but I am no longer convinced the Taliban look any worse than us.
Gem, if you think that the Taliban are no worse than us, you are mad.
Post a Comment