By now, everyone has seen the footage of the Iraqi journalist throwing his shoes at lame duck "President" Bush. Maybe they've even joined one of the solidarity groups on Facebook. I haven't, and this is why. As soon as I saw the video clip, I thought, "Uh-oh. That guy is in trouble." Sure enough, it didn't take long for the reports to trickle out, that he was being severely beaten by his captors, whoever they are. Yesterday the news report came that he was sorry, admitted he was wrong, and asked for a pardon from Maliki. I feel sick to my stomach, imagining under what conditions the admission of guilt came. And he still faces a long prison term. (I guess a trial is not necessary for such a heinous crime.)
Ah, yes. The U.S. brought democracy to Iraq.
Why didn't Bush intervene? He probably gave the directive to crucify the guy, that's why.
There should be international demand to see Muntazer al-Zaidi right now.
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- Proud to be a public school teacher for 26 years, I see teaching as a radical act. Practitioner of Neo-schoolmarmism. School Library Media Specialist. I am a convinced Quaker, born again agnostic, mother of 3 daughters, passionate about issues of peace and social justice. My mom was a "red diaper baby", my dad was a conscientious objector during WW2, and I grew up in the thick of anti-war protests in Madison, Wisconsin in the sixties. Not a Republican bone in my body and not many Democratic ones either.
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5 comments:
Blah.
It's all a big joke, to "W", I think. He doesn't really understand what he's done. Does that mean when he's brought to trial for war crimes, he'll enter a plea of insanity? Or maybe he'll just be sentenced to have a huge crowd throw shoes at him.
Their culture is so different than ours.... I would never even think about doing such a thing to an enemy. I suppose over hear the worse we get is spitting.
Sometimes I think the best is to let that part of the world really isolate themselves... though I know globalization insists that we don't.
So let's treat them with forgiveness, that is what a good Christian would do. You know turn the other cheek.
Dave
Dave, I have to say that I believe that the problems in the Middle East have largely come about as a result of U.S. and British imperialism of the last 100+ years. The worst despots -- our supposed enemies, like Saddam Hussein -- were installed and supported by our government.
Are Iraqi people better off than they were pre-U.S. invasion? Prior to the U.N. sanctions pressed by Clinton in the nineties they were one of the few secular Arab countries where the residents enjoyed a relatively high standard of living, and significantly, women had a great degree of freedom. Now they are war torn, riddled with land mines, lives circumscribed by radical Islamic clerics, and occupied by their invaders for who knows how long?
Don't get me wrong: I am not defending Saddam Hussein. But I think I can understand the sentiments of the journalist and why he did what he did. I have often thought about what I would say to George Bush, given the opportunity. I am an active practitioner of nonviolence, but I so much desire to see him -- as well as Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice tried for war crimes. Not seeking revenge, but seeking justice, which I think can accompany forgiveness.
A good Christian wouldn't start wars in the first place...or a good Muslim...or a good Jew....or a loving human being of any religion or non-religion
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