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by zazzy_one on December 3rd, 2006

zazzy_one

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When the United States revolutionarily instituted our experiment in democracy, women weren't allowed to vote and Africans were chattel. Given this history, how is it that we feel capable of imposing standards upon newly-emerging democracies?

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  • by teknimage on January 12th, 2007

    teknimage

    I think you've touched upon a central issue. Although I'm confident we have learned much since our early days, we have forgotten one, very important key: WE decided to rise up against our oppressors. No one did it for us, although we did get a good amount of aid. And certainly no one molded our emergent democratic government. We made all of those decisions on our own.

    When the US went in and overthrew the Iraqi government and destroyed that nation's infrastructure, we left a people who did not have the means to support themselves vulnerable to a small cadre of forces that we helped empower only through imposing our will. We can see the beginnings of civil war between age-old enemies because of this.

    The Iraqis did not arrive at the point where they could overcome their differences and unite together to depose Saddam of their own volition, so they have no desire to put aside whatever conflict have separated their various ethnic groups now. Iraq is being pulled apart by outside influences because it has no strong, central identity. It had been held together pretty much by force before this, and there are those now seeking to do so again. A powerful group who controls the militias and the central police are suppressing and slowly eliminating the ethnic minority.

    The Iraqis have not had the desire nor the opportunity to formulate their own inclusive ideas of government because we have pretty much done all their work for them. We removed their former leader and his government and its infrastructure. We do their "crowd control" and police work. We set up their elections and oversaw the formation of their governing bodies. What happens to a child who has parents who give them to them and do everything for them? That child is spoiled and ill-prepared to lead their own lives independent of the parents.

    I don't know that we should neglect to give aid to others, when such aid is sought, because of the shortcomings and missteps we have made along the road to where we are now. I do think, however, that we have overstepped our role in nation-building. We do not have the necessary understanding of what these people hold to be true in their hearts because we are not them. I also think that we have missed some very important opportunities to work with them productively by allowing them to call their own shots, and using us just for support, instead of us at the helm of their country.

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