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The Brave and the Bold
One of our regular visitors and frequent participant in the comments threads is my friend Tim Gasco. We've known each other from the early Detroit years before my coming out to New York to draw comics in 1975. We renewed contact recently after running into each other on the web and have since exchanged many correspondences, catching up on each others' lives. In a recent email, Tim pondered claims made by the Islamic Jihad, in a video he saw on the web, promoting the organization's struggle in Iraq against American military forces: Mike; I came across this video before I began corresponding with you. It is extremely upsetting to me as, even though I don't want to believe the opinions expressed by the makers of the film, I am sure that they are at least, in part, true. Of all of the people I know, I think you are the most knowledgeable as far as Mid-East events are concerned. I have always been against the Iraq war, but feel that we had to go into Afghanistan because that is where the real enemy that hit us on 9/11 was. They have some compelling arguments in the video, although I am unsure how truthful they are really being. I know that you are not afraid of controversial topics, so watch this and tell me what you think. http://207.44.245.159/article7468.htm Tim. Below are a few excerpts from the transcript of the video message at the site Tim gave the link to: People of the world! These words come to you from those who up to the day of the invasion were struggling to survive under the sanctions imposed by the criminal regimes of the U.S. and Britain. We are simple people who chose principles over fear... ... It is our duty, as well as our right, to fight back the occupying forces, which their nations will be held morally and economically responsible; for what their elected governments have destroyed and stolen from our land. We have not crossed the oceans and seas to occupy Britain or the U.S. nor are we responsible for 9/11... ...We do not require arms or fighters, for we have plenty. We ask you to form a world wide front against war and sanctions. A front that is governed by the wise and knowing. A front that will bring reform and order. New institutions that would replace the now corrupt... ...This conflict is no longer considered a localized war. Nor can the world remain hostage to the never-ending and regenerated fear that the American people suffer from in general. We will pin them here in Iraq to drain their resources, manpower, and their will to fight. We will make them spend as much as they steal, if not more... ...Lay down your weapons, and seek refuge in our mosques, churches and homes. We will protect you. And we will get you out of Iraq , as we have done with a few others before you. Go back to your homes, families, and loved ones. This is not your war. Nor are you fighting for a true cause in Iraq . And to George W. Bush, we say, “You have asked us to ‘Bring it on’, and so have we. Like never expected. Have you another challenge?” I understand that my answer to Tim below will perhaps appear, to some, to be overly simplistic. I believe, however, that without delving into a prolonged and detailed essay, the following points touch upon the core root of the issue at hand. The deception in the Islamic Jihad message above is similar to the deception the American government uses in justifying the war in Iraq. George Bush only tells a selective part of the truth in order to maintain public support for the war. The Islamic Jihad does the same in their propaganda. All things considered, it's true that the Jihad is struggling against foreign military abuse by the West but it's also true that the Arab world opens itself up for such a situation by allowing the extremist Islamic elements the measure of violence they employ in their struggle, such as in 9/11. These facts are only a selective part of the greater picture, however. There's more. Neither the Islamic Jihad nor George Bush, have the real support of the people they claim to represent. There is no voice of the people in the Arab world - yet, as of today. When this voice rises, America will not need to take the measures it takes to defend itself. Opportunist Western leaders, doing the bidding of the money wielders, will not have the excuses they use today because the Arab people will choose a peaceful solution to the standoff between the cultures. The West's present military action will not be able to bring the change it declaratively seeks in the Arab world. The Arab world will not undergo its populist revolution to raise the voice of people for true peace and democracy under Western military occupation. This will only begin to happen when the American people begin pressuring their government to employ the use of diplomatic means to alleviate the standoff between East and West. It will only begin to happen when the West begins to set the good example of seeking co-existence and co-operation with the Arab people - not economic prosperity and supremacy through trade-merchant one-upmanship. The voice of the people in the West is deeply buried today and led astray by the propaganda machine of the money wielders of the Western world - who are waging this war in order to force the Arab culture to fall into a superficial democratic rule that will open its markets to the West. It will not succeed. Because force of power has never been a lasting formula to co-existence and co-operation. The West can't succeed in this effort because a peace forced by military rule cannot become true peace. Western leaders haven't yet made the proper effort to understand the Arab culture. The manner in which this relationship has developed since the industrial age can perhaps be summarized as follows: A Western diplomat visits an Arab country, full of pride and flaunting his economic superiority at his hosts. The Arab world is not moved by the tempting gifts of a rich lifestyle and material gain. They have a code of honor which Western leaders don't understand. When the Arab leader (also overly proud) realizes that the Western diplomat is not interested in their code of honor theatrics, and only wishes to reap economic prosperity, (albeit for both cultures but with no sensitivity to the Arab tribal code), the Arab honor is then put on notice and awaits the next opportunity to slash the trespassing Western diplomat's throat. Western leaders, in turn, point to this attitude as indicative of hostile intentions and begin organizing "defensive" colonization efforts in order to defend their lifestyle of relative freedom and democracy. The events then eventually snowball into the situation we have today.
What Western leaders have to do in order to truly bring an age of peace and co-operation between East and West, is to learn how to communicate with the Arab world in their peculiar code and not as if the Arab culture automatically falls in step with Western ethics. This is the only way both sides can live side by side and prosper together. This, of course is very difficult to do when the snowballing aggression on both sides reaches the degree it has today. The American people must raise their voice for true diplomacy with the Arab world. All this, of course, doesn't turn the likes of Bin Laden and the Islamic Jihad to angels, not by far. These organizations and their supporters are cold blooded and thirsty killers, liars and manipulators and they revel in the spilling of blood and wanton destruction. They're fueled with the same religious zeal which the Christian front is using against them today. They care nothing about freedom for anyone because they've been the worst oppressors of their own people. They revel in ecstasy when Western leaders are so shoddy so as to allow them to justify their sick barbaric wars. The don't really represent the Arab people. They do not allow the Arab people to raise their voice for true freedom and democracy - and they have the West's aggression as an excuse to cause the snowball to roll and grow. It will take a new, wise and just Western leadership to change the tides of the conflict in the Middle-East. A new leadership which betters understand the Arab culture and how to soothe the fury which the Islamic Jihad sows. This is why America needs The Comic Book Creator's Party in 2008. A coalition of leaders who better understand the mechanisms of such conflicts and whose interests lie in bringing prosperity to both sides of the conflict through co-operation and understanding - not through military might and humiliating conquest. A brave spirit for America, a bold hope for the world.
Permalink Posted: 7:01 PM EST
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