One of the things that I think is missed in the discussion of foreign policy is that whether you’re bombing another country, sending in flocks of Christian missionaries, or dispatching crowds of volunteers to foster educating women and birth control, you’re still intervening. In some ways the last of my examples might be harder to for the people of other countries to tolerate than being bombed from the air.
A friend and I were discussing current events yesterday. He couldn’t understand what the Hell was going on in MENA or why we were there. I told him, “You don’t understand because you are a civilized man, and as such you believe in minding your own business.” If we’d mind our own business a bit more we’d be in better shape here and abroad.
That is definitely true. Most Americans tend to live in a bubble where we think our values are, at least minimally, universal. They can’t comprehend that some “wogs” actually believe insult and dishonor, for example, is a far greater crime than murder or an unjust killing. Americans still seem to think that “free speech” and “democracy” or “elections” are the pixie dust that will bring out the little Thomas Jeffersons that secretly reside inside the heathen masses, just waiting to come out when conditions are right. There continues to be a this faith that tolerant, liberal democracy will grow if only we plant the right seed and nurture it properly.
After 11 years, the American people still do not understand the truth about the “other.” At this point, we never will. He’ll, most of us are unable to comprehend, much less accept, the motivations of our fellow countrymen, nor understand how they could conceivably support (insert party or ideology here).
Andy, I remember when Fukuyama published his famous (notorius?) essay. I remember thinking that he was vastly underestimating the endurance of Islam. That was 23 years ago. I’d ask if anyone still agreed with Fukuyama’s premise, but it is distressingly clear that many in power still do.
I think Andy gets it. I would add that we just arent as good as we think we are at changing other cultures. Even worse when we fail to understand that they dont want to be like us. I would rate occupation as worse than bombing and BC pills.
Steve