(A little background about myself)I am a born American, I have Iranian ancestory, I am also Muslim. Lately, more now then even a few weeks ago, I have been longing for us to fail in our war in Iraq. I was a huge opponent of the war and my reasons were mostly about how Iraq was never a threat to us. I am surrounded by those who are ignorant about the situation and cheer the deaths of Iraqis. Today, a few of my truly conservative friends decided that since I didn't think we should be in the war that I was unAmerican and ungreatful for all the oppertunitys this country has given me. I told them I hated our current Administration and that as an American I should critcize to help bring change. They called me an Islamic Fundementalist, I called them facists/jingoists. It has gotten to the point where I am refusing to even talk to these people. I look at Iran now, before, I was a huge supporter of reform. Now I want to see them aquire a nuclear weapon. I sometimes even find myself longing for the USSR to come back.The weirdest thing of all, is that my media is CNN and BBC (BBS too) I have no other sources of information and its been months since I've talked with my father the only member of my family that I can talk to that is actually from the ME. My mother is a typical appalacian poor white American. Why have my views on everything changed? What is my problem?
A small rural city. I live in the part of town where the people of lower economic status would reside. However, I have the potential to go to any college in the nation so I refuse to live the lifestyles of my neighbors. The friends I have now live in middle class and sometimes upperclass homes.
Your conservative friends are probably idiots, but don't be like them by allowing their extreme viewpoints to force you to the opposite extreme. Sometimes you can despise a position so much that you will willfully accept ANYTHING that goes against that position just out of spite (there are some examples on this board). It sounds like you are already reacting a bit in this way. Try not to let them force you into the adversarial role. The best measure is to try and be objective as possible about things, and instead of using your rationality just as a tool to enforce your angry response to conservative/imperialist positions, use it as a means to truly understand what the situation is and how it relates to you and the rest of the world. Understand that you occupy a unique position by having roots in both worlds, and that this is necessarily going to make you feel some internal conflict. Then try to be clear-headed in your opinions even though you are aware of the emotional conflict you feel. Since you're Muslim, it will probably be more difficult for you to have an objective stance - just as it's difficult for pro-war people to be objective about American policies and view them critically. Don't let the extremism of other people force you into feeling you need to be just as extreme in order to oppose them.
...oh, and if you're poor, then it's not strange at all to harbor some resentment towards the society that determines your value based on how much money you/your family has, and then treats you according to that value.
Bnp, you are not alone. This war has caused millions, if not billions, world wide to hate the US. I would say that it is un American to invade and occupy a country many thousands of miles away that was not trying to harm us. Remember currenty 50% of Americans don't think the war was worthwhile. Until the big time lying and deception prevailed, roughly half of America did not support going to war in the first place.. It is understandable to be very upset as American soldiers, bombs and armaments kill innocent people for an unworthy cause. However, you should also empathisize with the troops who are largely working class folks who have been lied to and often joined the military to try to better themselves economically. From the tone of your post I think you also do empathize with these soldiers or you wouldn't feel so conflicted about sometimes hoping they will lose.
You're lucky you ain't in Texas right now cuz I'd break your sorry face. My little brother is in the middle east serving our country and you up there wishing for him to lose?!? Man you dont even deserve to be in the USA. Why dont you move to the middle east or something, you ain't wanted here.
You know what it's stupid comments like that, that start of hate crimes. The man stated his opinion and practically apologized for his feelings, and you say that he is not wanted here. He is an American and just because he is against a government policy does not make him any less AMERICAN than you. One of the forefathers of this country was hellbent on supporting the opposing troops ( dickenson). He said that he wanted the colonies to lose and that they would. Why dont you move to the Middle east if you dont appreciate another's opinion . After all it is freedom of speech... I am sorry that your brother is serving in the war in Iraq, but it is partly his own choice to serve in the army right.
If you cheer for our troops to fail (aka DIE), then you ain't gonna get my support. How can you be AMERICAN if you want us to LOSE a war? YOU CAN'T. I know what hate crimes are, I've lived with it as a black man in the USA. I repeat, if you want the ENEMY to win, that's called a TRAITOR. Last time I checked TRAITORS ain't welcome here. Treason? Ring a bell? You can get sent to death row for that.
Make that two of 'em. I don't like when someone feebly attempts to take my role as D & D resident bombthrower and Instigator Extraordinare.
This guy was reaching out, trying to help understand his feelings about the situation. I understand your sensitivity to his remarks -- when family is involved, it's hard to be objective. I have family in uniform in Iraq, so I know where you're coming from. I'll keep your brother in my thoughts. But BBnP4l is just as "American" as you and me. Just because he questions our country, he's not a traitor. Because he wants America to quit bullying other countries, he's not a traitor. Not at all. If anything, he should be applauded for his honesty about the situation. He's just trying to understand why he loves his country but hates his government's actions. I disagree with some of his statements, but I can certainly understand where those feelings are coming from. I seriously doubt he has any desire to see Americans die in battle. Like the rest of us, he's just trying to make sense of current policies -- and how they reflect (or don't reflect) his values and viewpoints.
BBnP4l, Be careful. It is human nature to seek out what is most disagreeable and engage it in conflict. However, definitely be wary of the hate. Hate ruins even the noblest of sentiments. Look to the Koran (actually a Buddhist myself). Perhaps it will give you solace. As for your doubt about your own American-ness, let me bring you words from JFK, whose spirit is unfortunately all too conspicuous by its absence in America today. I believe your ability to remain skeptical is a sign of maturity and i hope this excerpt will bring you comfort, safe in the knowledge that your position is far closer to this great advocate of the American spirit than those of your more "patriotic" colleagues. Perhaps a dose of Kipling will help as well. ------------------------------- Excerpts from JFK Inaugural Speech: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. ... To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom¡Xand to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required¡Xnot because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. ... To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support¡Xto prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective¡Xto strengthen its shield of the new and the weak¡Xand to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. ... Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. ... So let us begin anew¡Xremembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. ... And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again¡Xnot as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are¡Xbut a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"¡Xa struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility¡XI welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it¡Xand the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you¡Xask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. -------------------------------------------------------- If Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream--and not make dreams your master; If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
