The Right Thing

Ho trovato il blog di un soldato americano in Iraq...il post che ha scritto descrive i suoi sentimenti, i suoi pensieri confusi, il chiedersi se sta facendo la cosa giusta e l'incontro con un iraqeno...so che siamo pigri noi italiani con l'inglese, ma ne vale la pena leggerlo.
Ho "rubato" foto e post in toto da qui

The Right Thing

So, I feel like I should just put this out there… not that I need to but I feel like I should.

I want to do the right thing here (in Iraq) I just don’t know what that is. I think like most Americans I just don’t quite get it when I think about Iraq as a whole and what the “next step” should be. I think some of the reason I don’t get it is religious, some is political, some is cultural, and some is historical.

I know I’m not going to change the course of anything here, but in my head I would like to know whether were doing the right thing or not.

I’m not sure if coming here as we did was right or wrong. I know that Saddam did some terrible things, and probably wasn’t the best leader (but is anyone best?). However I’m not sure coming in as we did was right. Of course it’s not for me to say. Were here, and I can’t change that.

But still it bugs me day in and day out.

What is the “right thing” to do?

If we just leave, will the average Iraqi citizens be safer?

I don’t know.

Would Iran meddle with things?

I don’t know.

Would the Sunni / Shia conflicts be settled or turn into all out Civil War?

I don’t know.

This is just the start of my questions.

I had a discussion with an Iraqi who I worked with for some time. I felt comfortable asking him tough questions about what was going on, and likewise he asked me tough questions.

I thank him for his patience with me, as I need to learn a lot about Iraq and its strong people before I make any decisions in my mind.

He showed me that if I take a moment and put myself in his shoes… things look very different.

He asked me what I would do if some other country came into my country and removed what most would call a poor or flat out horrible government.

I said I would be glad.

He then asked me what I would do if this “other country” then became involved in everything in our country, and began to change things in ways we didn’t like, or want.

I said I would be unhappy and would look for some kind of middle ground to work with them on.

He then asked me what I would do if I felt that the “other country” was lying to me, hurting people and ruining my country.

I thought about this for a long time, because I knew what he was saying… I said I would try to talk, but in the end if were talking about my family being hurt by these people, or my land being ruined, I would eventually after all my other options were used fight them.

He said “Thank you for being honest.”

I thanked him as well, and asked if he felt we (me and the others in my particular group) were lying to him, hurting his people and country.

His answer was just as honest as mine had been. He said that there are many good people and many bad, but that most of the time the bad are more active and louder, and easier to spot that those who are good.

I left this conversation with my Iraqi friend knowing that we hadn’t solved anything, but that we were on the same ground, truly friends. And that we both want the best for both our country and each others country.

I wish that every Iraqi and every American could have this experience. Maybe the bad Americans would stop lying, and hurting. Like wise the Iraqis who are killing other Iraqis and Americans would stop and work together to rebuild this country, and give its people the true freedom they deserve.

In the end I’m left with one main question.

I want to help; I want to do the right thing.
Can we ever agree as to what that right thing is?

And my answers are different as well.

All I can change is me, and the things I am in charge of.
I will continue to treat ALL PEOPLE as well as I would like to be treated. This is as it should always be.
I will see you as my friend until you raise your hand against me. If you choose to raise your hand against me, or the people in my care (in violence); God have mercy on your soul.