When USA and other countries invaded Iraq 2003, one idea was to make Iraq democratic. It should be a model or showcase and start a domino process in the Muslim world, making state after state more democratic.
This has not happened, but if a model or showcase of democratic Islam is sought, the answer is Indonesia. It is the worlds largest Muslim state with some 240 million inhabitants on some 17 500 islands.
Indonesia has not been without conflicts, but the situation is much more orderly than in the assumed showcase, Iraq.
In Indonesia we can see how violence has lost all respectability, and the few terrorist attacks are condemned by the population. The contrast to Iraq could not be more obvious.
In Indonesia is the sensitivity for foreign involvement and colonialist tendencies quite vivid.
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Secret 2
The only reality is in the awareness...
Two people meet. On feel it was horrid, the other feels it was nice. Who is right? Both are right, as the reality is in the awareness.
If they would meet again and talk about their first meeting, they might change view. The awareness changes with communication and information about the reactions of others.
The active agent is information.
What about the patient, anesthetized and being operated on? How can he be better while being unaware? The doctors are aware of what they do.
The chaos in Iraq, is it caused by weapons or by unawareness? It was unawareness of awareness - those who wanted power did not know how much the others wanted power, what means they would use and what arguments they would use. As the awareness increases, the peace increases.
If information is so important, it might be tempting to use secrecy. But secrecy is nothing. It is wasted opportunity.
Two people meet. On feel it was horrid, the other feels it was nice. Who is right? Both are right, as the reality is in the awareness.
If they would meet again and talk about their first meeting, they might change view. The awareness changes with communication and information about the reactions of others.
The active agent is information.
What about the patient, anesthetized and being operated on? How can he be better while being unaware? The doctors are aware of what they do.
The chaos in Iraq, is it caused by weapons or by unawareness? It was unawareness of awareness - those who wanted power did not know how much the others wanted power, what means they would use and what arguments they would use. As the awareness increases, the peace increases.
If information is so important, it might be tempting to use secrecy. But secrecy is nothing. It is wasted opportunity.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Free minds
Six years after the start of the war in Iraq...
Saddam Hussein is dead, and so are some 90 000 other Iraqis, and more than 4 000 American soldiers.
For a child, six years is a long time. Those who were ten years old when the war started are 16 now. What kind of schooling have they received? What have they learned about human nature and human brutality outside school?
Militarily, the war was short, but the reconstruction of Iraq takes long time. The reason is obvious: lack of knowledge and experience. There is no lack of weapons.
Economically the war has been expensive.
So next time a dictator is asked to answer for his actions, the best option is to use an international tribunal.
Then we save 100 000 human lives, a generation of young people and a lot of money. And we avoid a lot of material destruction.
Is this realistic? Could be.
Saddam Hussein is dead, and so are some 90 000 other Iraqis, and more than 4 000 American soldiers.
For a child, six years is a long time. Those who were ten years old when the war started are 16 now. What kind of schooling have they received? What have they learned about human nature and human brutality outside school?
Militarily, the war was short, but the reconstruction of Iraq takes long time. The reason is obvious: lack of knowledge and experience. There is no lack of weapons.
Economically the war has been expensive.
So next time a dictator is asked to answer for his actions, the best option is to use an international tribunal.
Then we save 100 000 human lives, a generation of young people and a lot of money. And we avoid a lot of material destruction.
Is this realistic? Could be.
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