Fighting for Justice?

[ This timely "Column of the Americas" essay by Patrisia Gonzales entitled, Fighting for Justice? comes to us just days after the terror bombing in London ]

The other day at a picnic, the words of a friend's son, a U.S. Marine who was recently deployed in Falloujah, caused me to question the precepts of democracy and freedom. (The London bombings are making me wonder whether the days of open and free Western societies are numbered as it has created the pressure to further militarize society). While his father is staunchly anti-war, the son did not speak out against or in favor of the war, even as he is being reassigned. He simply encouraged everyone to become civically involved. It was the same day that the president spoke in defense of the war.

I'm also against the war, precisely because I take the time to listen to him when he speaks of soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice. What comes to mind is the numbing daily count. I also think of the marine at the picnic - wondering if this is the embodiment of No Child Left Behind - an initiative that requires schools to make the names of students available to the military. (In his particular case, he's a little older and readily admits he knew precisely what he signed when he enlisted). The soldiers the president sends off to Iraq are fighting for our freedom, the president says. Yet, his rationale seems disembodied. He certainly did not volunteer to fight in Vietnam and few lawmakers have family members serving in Iraq.

We are constantly being told that the Iraq debate is now irrelevant … that our only concern should be about winning and supporting the troops. We're also encouraged - especially after the London bombings - to link Iraq with the “war on terror.” (The bombings have actually made conservatives giddy). Forget the reasons why the president is sending young soldiers to war? This demand for unquestioning loyalty is the epitome of dehumanization more associated with militaristic societies. The people we're killing, secretly imprisoning and even torturing are terrorists or savages not worthy of coming under the protection of the Geneva Conventions. Yes, there's “collateral damage,” but that's war and the price of freedom, says the president. (Sound familiar?) Apparently, my freedom is also dependent upon the slaughter of thousands of innocents. That's nonsensical circular logic. The president is sending young soldiers to kill or be killed… so that we may remain free? Since when did Iraq have a say-so on this matter and since when did it acquire the capability to threaten our liberties? It never has. Yet, you'd never know this by the president's recent patriotic exhortations.

That's not why we're at war. The president - without admitting his faulty claims and lethal miscalculations - is now claiming that we're fighting to bring democracy and freedom to Iraq. Beyond that, he also sees himself as the one chosen to bring God's gift of freedom and democracy to not just Iraqis, but to the entire world. (He's the conservative answer to Che). The only problem with his millennial vision is that not everyone reads the same Bible. That's the point. In his vision, everyone should be reading not the Koran, Vedas, the Sutras, nor even the Old Testament, but the New Testament. This is why we're at war: to spread not just democracy and freedom, but to spread the Good News and “free market” economies to the infidels. This is why our sons and daughters and friends are being repeatedly sent off to war - even though not all of them share in the president's apocalyptic vision. Regardless, has it been worth it?

The president has determined that the death of and maiming of thousands of Iraqis and Americans, is a small price to pay to spread his vision. Yet, is it freedom and democracy if it's premised on demonstrable falsehoods and if it requires foreign troops and marital law to maintain it? Lest we forget, this system of governance cannot be imposed, but has to be won. What we have instead is a crusade, occupation and a classic quagmire. As a result, at home, we also now have less resources for our own social needs, less rights, privacy and freedoms and little trust in government. What we have more of is a crushing debt, a steady move toward Big Brother government and plenty of fear to fight the president's permanent wars. (Seems like the president will not be happy until we're all living in fear). That doesn't quite sound like freedom… and I'm not so sure that that's what our friend's son is fighting for.

[ © Column of the Americas 2005. The writers can be reached at: XColumn@aol.com or Column of the Americas PO BOX 5093, Madison WI 53705. ]