Quote:
Originally posted by dekeguy
sugar and spice
Actually, the question here is rather simplistic. My point is that while there will always be bad guys we must make certain that we are the good guys. Some of our people have let us down badly and we need to correct that. There are generally accepted norms of civilized behavior which are equally valid among Iraqis, Yanks, and everyone, for that matter. The terrorists have routinely and consistently acted in a barbaric manner and brought shame and dishonor to those they claim to represent. Our own idiots have also brought shame and dishonor on us. It is a very inexact comparison since the terrorists do loathsome acts as a matter of business as usual while our idiots are an aberration from the norm. We need to clense this stain while recognizing that the vast majority of our troops really live up to the ideal of being the good guys. We need to continue the fight against global terrorism AND we need to come to the fight with completely clean hands. It really is that simple
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actually...troops follow orders and protocol, and technically any soldier that does so is being a "good" soldier.
my point is that we must be sure who we're talking about, and not speak in of people in such vague, broad terms
example...you say "we" are the good guys, and if "we" are the troops, then yes...but if "we" are those who make the policy that guides the troops, then that's a different matter. If you're typical Iraqi citizen (not that I personally know), do you think you would still view the world in such a manner? If one of your family members was killed by an American bomb, or were detained and totured, would you still view the United States as "the good guys?"
I support the troops, and I want them all to come home safe. I love my country, and I love the high ideals which we are supposed to represent. But idealism loses value with no action. How free are the Iraqi people now? Their oil money is being taken, they have no law, and their country is under occupation. Granted, Saddam Hussein was an evil dictator, but how free are the Iraqi people now?
I believe it is my duty to love my country enough to criticize when something isn't right- and this ain't right.