| I read the thought-provoking article "an open | | | | think of people in middle-east claiming that it was |
| letter to the people of Middle East from we are | | | | not even their government that did anything to |
| not that stupid Americans" with great interest. | | | | you? |
| The article makes some interesting refrains that I | | | | Have you wondered why US ranks alongside |
| have commonly come across in my interactions | | | | North Korea and Iran at the bottom of liked |
| with my American friends. And I know that they | | | | countries? Why is it that the world clubs the US |
| are certainly very sincere when they make the | | | | among countries it considers an axis of evil? Does |
| claims such as that are made in this article. These | | | | it have something to do with use of violence? Can |
| claims broadly seek to distinguish between the | | | | use of violence by some people or their countries |
| government and the people these governments | | | | teach others to be non-violent? Can use of |
| represent. I believe that these comments, genuine | | | | authoritarian measures teach them the value of |
| as they are, miss the basic point. But before I | | | | democracy? Can installing and dethroning |
| state anything, let me make two things very | | | | governments at outsiders' pleasure teach them |
| clear. First, I have as much sympathy for the | | | | the value of representative democracy? |
| American soldiers who lost their life as for the | | | | Is it not that it is you who benefits from the |
| civilians in the middle-east who perhaps do not | | | | policies of your government? Do you not know |
| even understand what wrong did they do. | | | | that the gas prices are the lowest in your country |
| Second, this is an issue in which I have no | | | | by a long shot? Have you wondered the extent |
| interest. And oddly enough, no opinion either! So, | | | | to which your government will go to keep you |
| all I want to achieve from this article is to raise | | | | happy? Do you not know how desperately you |
| some questions that I will leave you, the readers, | | | | need power abroad to maintain riches back |
| to ponder over. | | | | home? Just how worrisome is the growing |
| Can we really distinguish between people and their | | | | presence of China in the Middle East? What are |
| governments? Before you respond, please sit | | | | American values besides self-delusion and |
| back and consider. If the democratically elected | | | | consumption of gazillions of gallons of everything? |
| government does not represent the popular will, | | | | Is it not true that the approval ratings for Bush |
| then who does? If you say that the "Bush | | | | administration began to plunge only after death toll |
| dynasty" does not represent the government, | | | | of US soldiers began to mount? Why was the |
| then who does? I am not saying that it | | | | war a just war before that and why did no one |
| represents everyone, but it certainly does | | | | raise voice against it before? Is it okay as long as |
| represent a vast majority of people. Or else how | | | | others die and your people are safe? Is it not |
| did he get elected with an overwhelming | | | | true that you want your soldiers back home no |
| majority? Why should the opinion of a writer, any | | | | matter what happens to the mess they created |
| writer, be considered more representative of | | | | and leave behind? Why are lives of your soldiers |
| peoples' will than the government they elected? | | | | more important than the civilians that accidentally |
| If you claim that elections have nothing to do with | | | | die at their hands every day? |
| popular will or foreign policies, then are you stating | | | | I have enough questions in my mind, but |
| that the United States also is no longer a | | | | unfortunately no answers. As for the people in |
| democratic country? If it is a democratic country | | | | Middle East, I have more than a handful of |
| and you do not believe in the policies of the | | | | questions for them too. But, that will have to wait |
| government, then what did you do to stop it | | | | for another time. |
| from following the policies that you did not believe | | | | Tell me I am wrong and this is one case where I |
| in? Why did you resign into accepting anything | | | | would love to be wrong. Otherwise, let me believe |
| that your democratically elected government did? | | | | in the cause of President Bush because your case |
| If it is acceptable to throw out a dictatorship in | | | | is weaker than his case. Let me sleep peacefully |
| one country in utter disregard of international | | | | with my beliefs that the war is for a right cause |
| laws, than what do you think of throwing out the | | | | and that the world will be a better place to live in |
| "dynasty" in your country? Would you authorize | | | | once the war is over. Either stop your |
| another country to disrupt your life and kill and | | | | government from use of violence or own up the |
| displace "millions of people for no fault of theirs"? | | | | responsibility for all its actions, good and bad. For |
| If you claim that it was your government and not | | | | in the eye of the world, you and your |
| people who are responsible, than what do you | | | | government are one and the same. |