Had a brief debate with a friend who supports McCain. My friend explained that he and I see eye to eye on most issues, but that there's one big difference.
The issue we see differently is the “terrorist threat” posed by Muslim fundamentalists (fundies, I call them, whether Christian or Muslim). He thinks the fundies are a major threat. I won’t argue with that (not because I agree, but because I know there is no point arguing on that subject).
So if the terrorist threat is the main issue for him, then he must be supporting McCain because of his stand on Iraq and Iran. I pointed out that the war in Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism. He agreed that it didn’t at the beginning, but said that in his opinion it does now. So I asked if he thought that invading and occupying another country and maintaining a losing war in that country created more terrorists (whatever their religion may be). Destroying your image around the world and acting like self-righteous mavericks can’t help the “War on Terror” if such a war even really exists, can it?
A lot of people think my view of reality is tainted by having lived in the Middle East for a spell and because I haven't lived in the States much for the past 15 years. They tell me I am misinformed and cannot see the forest for the trees. Odd that having actually lived in the Middle East for three years would qualify me as “uninformed.”
Of course, the way I see it, it’s the Republicans who can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s anyone who believes this war was about anything other than oil and money who are blind. And it’s those who think that starting another war would make us more secure.
So to me, McCain will forever be McCan’t. And considering I support the “Yes, We Can” candidate. I think it hits the nail on the head. Go Obama!
6 comments:
Preach it, sistah! I too get blamed for "ignorance" based on my long experience living overseas. But, I would venture to say that those delivering this kind of abuse are simply unable to express themselves properly. When they say you're uninformed, what they really mean is that you don't express the blind, and yes, self-interested, allegiance that has come to define American patriotism (or rather just American). That is, when school children pledge allegiance to to "liberty and justice for all,” they should really be pledging allegiance to American self-interests… Or, maybe they are.
You’re right to point out that fear of the other, the fundy, the terrorist so-called, precipitates a call to arms - to protect, to preempt…? I’ve yet to fully understand what drives this fear, however. And yeah, maybe because I spent “too long” living among mostly well-meaning, sensible Arabs/Muslims (as well as atheists, Christians, and many more in between) in the Middle East. But, our challengers seem to forget that experience (especially potentially conflicting experiences) is a very strong cause for reflection and study, thus abating ignorance. As a result of my living here, I've striven to be more informed, to read and study the history of the region, the geopolitical circumstances that laid the foundations for the current conflicts, and, most importantly, the role that international forces, including of course, the USA, have played in shaping these conflicts. And believe me, the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq are just tip of the iceberg…. So, cynically perhaps, but nevertheless a strong-held belief, I think that the fears that Americans hold of ME fundys (and vice versa, the ME fundy’s fear of Americana-type globalization and modernization as categorically annihilating culture/religion) as more of public disinformation (with various perpetrators) than absolute truth...
But I’m preaching to the choir with you, aren’t I? So I’ll quit. But I resonate. Oh yes, I do.
Yep, you are absolutely preaching to the choir. But boy do you preach well!
I've seen the books you've been reading. Would love to pick your brain (preferably over a beer at the Horeya). When I bring up books to those who want to believe that "the other" is inherently evil, they accuse me of showing off. That's when I started keeping my mouth shut and trying not to care.
It's as if knowledge is also evil whether from books, from life experience, or whatever. There's a love for the uneducated, closed-minded, big mouth that I cannot understand.
But I think there are more people willing to vote for Obama than my cynical subconscious believes. What an image shift that would cause? Then those "others" who also want to blindly believe in the inherently evil colonialist from the West will have to rethink some things... or so I hope.
Hi Inspirosity,
I've just discovered your blog and look forward to catching up with past posts.
I agree with everything you've said here. It saddens me about how little Americans know about the rest of the world, and makes me even sadder to see that they're not even interested to find out. Television gives them all they need to know.
I live in SF where there is huge support for Obama. What worries me is that the super-delegates (the concept of which I still don't really understand) could still elect Hilary at the convention even if Obama wins popular support. It's like the status quo is rigged to win no matter what the people really want.
The fact that McCain is the only viable Republican candidate speaks volumes about where our country's mindset is right now.
Thanks for the comment tangobaby. It's great to know that in SF there's a lot of support for Obama. I'll be furious if the delegates give it to Hillary. Now that would speak volumes about the mindset.
When it all started I was sure McCan't didn't stand a chance. I have to admit I'm glad it's not any of the other Repub candidates. Still, it's pretty pathetic that he's their best bet.
Loved your blog by the way!
This message is not from an expat or SF but from the deep south, of which most of northern Florida is a part. I am hopeful that the interest in Obama says that the people of the US are wiser that I have thought in years. I hope he is really a progressive Democrat. Because the Democrats' record in the Middle East was about as good as the Republicans' until Iraq. Well, but then the Democrats voted for that also. But not Obama; so there is hope.
I hope Obama is more progressive than Bill Clinton who was center to center-right sometimes.
In general the American people have been upset about losing in Iraq, they are not upset because we shouldn't have gone there in the first place. They are not upset that if Iraq had been in the middle of Africa with no oil we would have done nothing.
I hope that Obama is such a great leader that he will be able to educate the American people and bring a great shift. A shift from us being the least knowledgable about the world yet wanting to control it.
I hope Obama can educate the American people about the history of European and North American greed in the Middle East. Our subversion of a democratic government in Iran to install the Shah; leading eventually to the embassy take over. And that's only the tip of the iceberg of our "democratic" policies throughout the Middle East.
This is my country and it is bountiful and beautiful. My son lives here and I want him to be safe and happy to bring children into this place. Please, please give me some hope Obama.
Right on Charlie Tally... I'm hoping with you. As one who voted for Gore because I thought he was intelligent and proactive and then voted for Nader because I couldn't stand either party, I'm no fan of the Democratic party.
Maybe I'm getting older, which doesn't always mean wiser but often means more cynical and pragmatic. I've been accused of being idealistic. I hardly think this is the case. In the end, my vote will be against the Republicans not for the Democrats. How pathetic and pragmatic!
But I do sincerely hope, as you do, that there is hope.
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