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29 de Mayo, 2007
The Mysterious Case of The Ungrateful Natives
Categorized under El Malestar Pálido | Tags: Change, Hope, The Haunted Land
SPEAKING OF CONNECTING THE DOTS, The Glennstitution digs in under the skin. It's about time we began using such awareness in the larger spheres of political commentary. About time we all began calling things what they really are.
In general, human beings do not appreciate it when foreign armies invade their nation, shatter its infrastructure, drop bombs throughout the country, kill tens of thousands of civilians, unleash anarchy and chaos, and then proceed to occupy the country with a force of 150,000 foreign soldiers. And that is true even if a genuine monster like Saddam Hussein is removed from power and killed in the process.
No matter how well-intentioned the invaders might think they are -- indeed, no matter how well-intentioned the invaders actually might be -- that behavior is going to engender anger and resentment among the invaded populace, not to mention the rest of the world, and that resentment is going to increase as the brutality and duration (and ineptitude) of the occupation increases.
—Glenn Greenwald, After everything we did for them
Reading this gives me hope (although we recognize these things as a matter of course round here) because I know if Glenn starts spittin' it like this, soon enough it will be okay for los otros grandes sitios to recognize it. So "good up in you" or whatever those chaps say across the way.
But wut? He ain't done? Go 'head, then, Glenn.
It is one thing to argue that we invaded Iraq in order to strengthen U.S. security. But the idea that people are going to be grateful when we invade various countries and subdue resistance with extreme violence and brutality is dangerously absurd. Echoes of the same mindset are evident now as various warmongers insinuate that the Iranian population is eagerly awaiting our "liberating" campaign of bombing and regime change.
The fact that Tony Blair -- after four years in Iraq of extreme violence, chaos, disruption, brutality, death squads, Abu Ghraib, and a total breakdown of the most basic societal functions and norms -- can ask: "Why should anyone feel angry about us?," is a potent indication of just how self-absorbed, out-of-touch, and detached from reality the prime authors of this war have been.
—Glenn Greenwald, After everything we did for them
Yeah! Great stuff. Yet, not quite perfect. The fact is, it ain't just the "prime authors," it's our own countrymen, carnál! It's citizens and media and literature, and historical bias of the United States of America! Because many here, by now, may understand why Iraq is angry, overall (it's really become rather obvious what damage we are doing), but on the other hand, many of this same group won't understand why it isn't right to colonize in general, or to hold on to "stupid, backward third-worlder needing mighty murka's help" thinking, and all the tributary behaviors it feeds.
But keep it goin', bro. Because we begin talking like this, then soon we have to talk about a lot of other things, and you see, it all connects. And when we finally all begin talking about the way it all connects, each one coming from their particular ground and path walked and angle of that nexus, there comes a huge wave of realization. And potential exists for massive change. For real change. Not just Million-Bodybags-and-Richer-Oil-Exec style change; I mean for the Good.
Read the whole post, Glenn quotes some old English law and gets downright nutty. It's a keeper.
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Comentarios (6)
Changeseeker dijo:
I'm dancin'! I'm dancin'! Arundhati Roy said, "Not only is a new world possible; she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
Palabras por Changeseeker spat forth on el 29 de Mayo, 2007 at 11:33 AM
RickB dijo:
Oh yeah, Blair went mad some time ago (there is a suppressed story his daughter attempted suicide in May 2004) if only we had your lax gun control laws...Because y'know rabid poodles an all.
Palabras por RickB spat forth on el 29 de Mayo, 2007 at 12:30 PM
NLinStPaul dijo:
I can't say that I've followed the Rosie O'Donnell situation well (no time for daytime tv and all), but a cursory look at what happened tells me that she committed the ULTIMATE sin of asking US citizens to think about the war (and US soldiers) from the viewpoint of the Iraqi people. THAT IS JUST NOT DONE in this country. So Rosie's public enemy #1 now. (if anyone knows more about all this I'd love to know if I got it right.)
So I'm glad to see this post by Greenwald, but it seems to me that we have a looooonnnngggg way to go.
Palabras por NLinStPaul spat forth on el 29 de Mayo, 2007 at 03:51 PM
nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez dijo:
you wont find me arguing that.
Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez spat forth on el 29 de Mayo, 2007 at 03:57 PM
Sylvia dijo:
*dips her Sylvia Privilege toe into the post cautiously*
I do think it is a good start and a great way to stir up dialogue. It's a good step in the right direction.
*hopes Greenwald is too busy; hides just in case*
Palabras por Sylvia spat forth on el 29 de Mayo, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Chuckie K dijo:
In 1878 Britain, France and others signed a treaty with the Ottoman
Empire that set certain standards for the reform of Ottoman administration. 'Benchmarks,' you might say, if only bizno-babble had existed in 1878. The treaty also allowed them to send in 'observers' to monitor progress toward the reforms. For some of the imperialists on the spot, these measures simply did not suffice, and one of the greater enthusiasts in the region today known as Syria, enthusiastically enthused in his enthusiasm, 'Should the course of events render expedient for H.M. Govt. to act in the same sense as the wishes of the Syrian population and were they to occupy Syria with a military force, it is my impression that they would be received by the population with open arms.'
Well, the more things change, the more ....
Odd, too, that someone who resents the invasion of their country and wishes to defend it against the invaders, is generally what you call a "patriot." Unles it is, as you have reamrked, some other country.
Palabras por Chuckie K spat forth on el 30 de Mayo, 2007 at 09:03 AM