Graham English

I feel sad and, well, unsatisfied with the death of Saddam Hussein. We went to war with Al Qaeda in response to 9/11. Yet Bin Laden still lives. Then we went to war with Iraq and declared mission accomplished over two years ago. We have now lost more Americans in that war than those who died in the 9/11 attacks. Today Saddam Hussein was executed. Has justice been served?

I know Saddam did some bad shit and I know many Iraqis feel justice has been served. But we, the US, went to war with Iraq based on misleading intelligence connecting him to terrorism and Al Qaeda. I just can’t make the connection in my mind to our capture of Saddam and his execution. Of course that’s not his trials were about, but it’s one reason why I feel unsatisfied.

I’m an American and I can’t truly understand the plight of the Iraqi people. And not many Americans can. Which is why I feel extremely uncomfortable with our presence in Iraq. There are far too many Americans ready to give their opinions about Iraq and the Middle East without having any understanding of these cultures. Imagine someone coming into your home and telling you how to live your life and raise your family. And imagine that person coercing you to value what they do, shopping malls, manicured lawns, and intelligent design. Then you just might be able to put yourself in the shoes of an Iraqi. It’s a type of cultural gentrification.

Peace might be too much to ask for; Compassion is not.

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