Hysterics and Histories
I am so weary of those who persist in linking Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan with the U.S. invasion of Iraq. With the death of four more Canadian soldiers yesterday, the naysayers are out in force, urging the return of our soldiers and accusing the Harper government of being in bed with George Bush.
History lesson, folks. Why are we in Afghanistan in the first place? Does anyone still remember September 11, 2001 when at least two dozen Canadians were killed by Islamic terrorists? Remember the Taliban? Yes, those nice guys who supported Ben Laden and his bunch. Canada joined an international force to overthrow a terrorist regime who had proven their intent to attack us and our allies. These are the same people who attacked innocent citizens in Spain, Indonesia, India, and Great Britain since 9/11. The same who inspire young people to plot acts of terror, like those arrested in southern Ontario recently. They killed Christians and other religious minorities when in control of Afghanistan and urge their followers to continue such actions today in other countries. Oppression and violence mark their paths and free people have a duty to do something to stop them.
The invasion of Iraq...well, that is beyond the scope of this blog and irrelevant to the discussion of Afghanistan, regardless of the hysterical and blatantly unhistorical assertions of some who support their position that Canadian troops have no place in Afghanistan by linking the two. I have no problems with those who hold to a different position on Canada's role in Afghanistan, militarily and otherwise. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I wish some would try harder to get their facts straight before they come up with one.
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9 comments:
but has the military invasion of Afghanistan done anything to help that society become a just one in which religious freedom is respected and the people are able to to peacefully build their families etc. etc.? I won't argue with you that something had to be done about the Taliban and its murderous support for terrorism along with its appalling human rights record, but we have to ask if there was a better way to attack and fight for justice there.
-Matthew L.
www.xanga.com/foolishyetwise
Any suggestions?
um, for starters, we might have to get over this funny idea we seem to have that democracy will create peaceful and stable societies all over the world once we get all the kooky people and insurgents flushed out. It seems to me that democracy is hardly the panacea for injustice and instability that it seems to be made out to be-- look at how well it's working for Afghanistan!
The U.S. might have tried not rushing into another war before the one in Afghanistan had plenty of fighting left in it.
Those are my initial suggestions...
-Matthew L.
www.xanga.com/foolishyetwise
Thank you. Please continue if you have more. You make some good points, although I do wonder what concrete alternatives you might have. It is easy to see what isn;t working. Much harder to suggest something that actually might.
I think what needs to happen is for us as Westerners to genuinely rethink our cultural values. You and an earlier commenter dialogued about how "security" is now a foremost concern among Americans, and I think that's not the best value to have, especially as Christians with a President who claims to be a Christian. If our values are to be guided by the Bible we should seek peace with other nations rather than just being insulated from them. In terms of going to war and such, we have to carefully examine the culture that we're attacking and honestly determine if this is a culture that is truly ready for democracy or if there's another kind of government that would better provide for the justice and peace of its inhabitants. Or, perhaps, not going to war in the first place if we can't truly "fix what we break," as it were. Derek Webb's song "In God We Trust" addresses some of these issues...
-Matthew L.
www.xanga.com/foolishyetwise
A very thoughtful response, Matthew. Thank you. This is a good starting point.
I actually made some similar comments back on February 5 weblog entitled "Democratization is No Simple Solution"
Is there a way we can read your February 5 article? I'm sure there are others who haven't seen it, and in light of this discussion, it sounds interesting.
Now on to some comments and questions. Whether or not we take up arms, whether we can or will become politically involved, and whether or not we can participate in any "pragmatic" solution, I propose that we still have a God Who's bigger than the mess we humans have managed to make in this world. As you mentioned in a blog some time back, prayer is pragmatic and the most effective weapon we have. I believe that any opinion needs to start with a dedication to prayer. By VOM's emphasis on prayer, you've set a fine example of that, and have encouraged me to do the same. Still, I wonder if there's something else Christians can do. Is there another political solution, and how can we assist in the process of setting that up? Is there anything we can do to help implement healthy change in areas of terrible unrest? What are the best ways to support believers when contacting them could put their safety, and at times their lives, at risk? Because the foundation of any problem is a heart issue, we recognize the need for these people to come to know Christ. How in the world does the Christian community fulfill the Great Commission in a situation like this? How can we support believers there in becoming effective “disciplers”? I’m sure you’ve had contact with at least some of them. I’ve heard you repeatedly say that persecuted believers ask for prayer to remain faithful even unto death. Is there anything else we can do?
To find the February article, click on the February 2006 Archives on the right hand side of this page. You will find it there.
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