The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #77734 Message #1396554
Posted By: Little Hawk
02-Feb-05 - 12:42 AM
Thread Name: BS: Good News in Iraq
Subject: RE: BS: Good News in Iraq
I'm not suggesting that the people fighting the Americans and British in Iraq are "goodies", Wolfgang. Not at all. I am suggesting that, like the people who went to Spain in the late 30's, they are fighting in a struggle which has significance far beyond the borders of Iraq, and that is why they are willing to go there.
Everone fights for freedom...in their own mind. I mean, they fight for the freedom to do things they way they like things to be done. I'm sure the forces fighting the American occupation are just as much imagining themselves to be fighting in defence of freedom as are the young American soldiers they are fighting against.
That's the usual story.
Given the fact that I consider this to have been an illegal and unjustified invasion of Iraq, I tend to sympathize somewhat with people who fight against the occupation. That doesn't mean I approve of their violent methods. I Don't.
The most effective method of defeating the Americans in Iraq would be to do what Gandhi did...to provoke massive civil disobedience in a completely non-violent way by millions and millions of people...and to keep doing so until the Americans finally got discouraged (not to mention embarrassed) and left. It could be done, but it would require a much more aware leadership on the part of the resistance. It would require millions of Iraqis with the courage and wisdom to BE nonviolent in resistance, and the inspired leaders to lead them. There are not many Gandhis in this world. There are plenty of angry fools ready to grab a gun, a mortar, or a bomb, and go out and kill someone.
That is the tragedy of it all. Angry fools against other angry fools, and ordinary people caught in the crossfire.
Freedom is not freedom when it is forced on people. It's not freedom when a few are hugely rich, and many are poor.