Dear Salam (part seventeen -- a note of praise)
Dear Salam,
I would like to correct a deficiency of my past letters. I think I have given a false impression regarding you and “most” of your countrymen (and women). I write these letters not simply out of Christian love and fellowship, and not simply from a desire to explain America. I write these letters as a show of support for those I so greatly respect and admire – the millions in the Middle East who risk the lives of themselves and those they love by standing up for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law in their countries.
We civilians in American lead pampered lives. Democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are not threatened here in America. (Some like to proclaim otherwise, but that is just political babble.) While people like me tell ourselves that we would personally answer the call should our freedom be truly threatened, events never truly test our resolve.
You are not pampered, Salam. You did not inherit democracy, freedom, and the rule of law from your ancestors. You inherited autocracy, repression, and the rule of violence.
I write letters from the safety of my home country without any fear of reprisals. You, Salam, and millions of others, live in an environment where violent reprisals are commonplace. We here in this country do not give you enough credit, Salam. We focus too much on those around you that are anti-democratic, anti-freedom, and anti-rule of law. We are wrong in overlooking all that you risk, all that you have already lost, and all that you have already accomplished.
Please understand, Salam, our soldiers and marines remain in Iraq for only one reason, and it is not oil. The sole reason is our universal desire to aid those who don’t have democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, but who are willing to fight to achieve them. Brave, noble, Iraqis risk death fighting for freedom. My government honors their bravery by sending troops to assist in that fight. This decision of my government is not universally popular here in America. This letter will not attempt to explain why. All this letter will do is apologize for not giving enough credit in the past to those so worthy of credit and praise – the men and women in the Middle East who risk all for freedom.
I praise and admire each and every one of them.
Bye for now,
Clarence
I would like to correct a deficiency of my past letters. I think I have given a false impression regarding you and “most” of your countrymen (and women). I write these letters not simply out of Christian love and fellowship, and not simply from a desire to explain America. I write these letters as a show of support for those I so greatly respect and admire – the millions in the Middle East who risk the lives of themselves and those they love by standing up for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law in their countries.
We civilians in American lead pampered lives. Democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are not threatened here in America. (Some like to proclaim otherwise, but that is just political babble.) While people like me tell ourselves that we would personally answer the call should our freedom be truly threatened, events never truly test our resolve.
You are not pampered, Salam. You did not inherit democracy, freedom, and the rule of law from your ancestors. You inherited autocracy, repression, and the rule of violence.
I write letters from the safety of my home country without any fear of reprisals. You, Salam, and millions of others, live in an environment where violent reprisals are commonplace. We here in this country do not give you enough credit, Salam. We focus too much on those around you that are anti-democratic, anti-freedom, and anti-rule of law. We are wrong in overlooking all that you risk, all that you have already lost, and all that you have already accomplished.
Please understand, Salam, our soldiers and marines remain in Iraq for only one reason, and it is not oil. The sole reason is our universal desire to aid those who don’t have democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, but who are willing to fight to achieve them. Brave, noble, Iraqis risk death fighting for freedom. My government honors their bravery by sending troops to assist in that fight. This decision of my government is not universally popular here in America. This letter will not attempt to explain why. All this letter will do is apologize for not giving enough credit in the past to those so worthy of credit and praise – the men and women in the Middle East who risk all for freedom.
I praise and admire each and every one of them.
Bye for now,
Clarence
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Posted by swamppundit on
Monday November 13, 2006 at 12:43am