Historical Perspective

We have a slow news week, everything is lazy and slow. The weather here, still cannot believe it, is perfect. We had a 15 minute downpour, dirty rain as it cleaned all of the dust out of the air, and then the stars came out. Today, low winds, sunshine, and 68 degrees, so far. Nice. Work is very slow.

Another soldier that works with the local leadership described the connection between them as “a bond of charity,” I knew it!! Every American soldier that I talk to who interacts with the local leadership speaks well of what they see, or more so, what they feel. Some soldiers are not always most kind with some locals, not every one is a saint. But still, they are tolerant and vastly kinder than gangsters in our own cities, for example.

And therein, I think, is the HUGE success story of the American military might. The charitable nature of our country and its wisdom in not only preparing itself with overwhelming power, but a battle for the heart as well, rooted in the belief that all men are created equal.

For example, Germany and Japan, great, attacking empires of evil, albeit at great cost, were smashed by America’s superior strength and willpower. But did America pillage and leave them to hate and perhaps rekindle their torridness? No! We gave again generously of our resources after the war, both materially and with life and manpower, rebuilding, guiding, teaching them to be instead industrious and free. The trademark of America, you might surmise, is not only the defeat of its enemies, but winning over and persuasion of their hearts, turning Germany and Japan from treacherous foes to wealthy, friendly, and free allies. Instead of seeking to rule and plunder the world, such nations now treat their people better and produce quality products, such as electronics in the case of Japan, and cars in the case of Germany.

And so in the past, we, as Americans, have trusted highly in the media to bring such facts to our attention. Over generations, we have come to accept all they say as true. But now that they are dominated by political agendas, we are forced to think about these things ourselves and draw our own conclusions. Watch dog for so long, now attack dog; we leave our undying belief in everything they say reluctantly down.

Hence, when the media’s idea insists that we should get out of Iraq as quickly as possible to save ourselves, (“When are we bringing the soldiers home???”) it might help to remember that it is not our habit to abandon the newly freed to be further abused by the remnants of evil and flounder. Furthermore, it has ever been in our interest to teach them, guide them, into a better way, and thus we enlist their help in fighting new evils, rather than fight them again sometime in the future.

Which brings me back to my seemingly simple and small observation about what is going on here between the soldiers and the local leaders. The soldiers bond with them, admire them, feel a charitable love for them. That changes hearts. And Operation Crayon is winning the hearts of the children with charity too. The leaders and the children, brilliant! They learn principles that will make them too, a great nation. And so, even though the cost at present seems high, generations of both Americans and Iraqis will benefit in untold ways through our proven M.O. (method of operation). Don’t let the nay-sayers and the agenda-pushers blind you to the power, goodness, and wisdom subtly involved here in Iraq.

I predict, based on the evidence, Iraq will become a good and great nation! After all, we are good at what we do. So hunker down in your bunker, we are going to be here for a long time. At least a generation, I would guess. I submit to you that the media has lost perspective: maybe get used to finding ourselves? I believe we’ll be more optimistic and wiser, especially with the help of history, and charity.

Ernie

P.S. Pics--random

1) For this great weather, we give Thee…

2) uh…Tanks?

3Children play over the wire. The favorite local colors for children’s clothing? Red and purple.