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Well, I haven’t posted here in a while, but it’s not for lack of writing. In addition my essay-a-week classwork, I just co-wrote an editorial for the Yale Daily News, on the subject of campus apathy concerning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
You can read it here if you’re desperate for my latest insights.
It didn’t make it into the editorial, but it’s worth noting that there actually seems to be more Iraq/Afghanistan-related activism just in the New Haven community than among the student body. This is quite the opposite of what I would have expected.
As my readers undoubtedly know, the issue of Iraq is of great significance in the current campaigns. McCain advocates continued involvement, leading eventually to a Korea-like presence; Obama on the other hand proposes complete pullout within 16 months. I would like to propose a middle ground.
The goal (one of them anyway) of the Iraq war was to create a stable democracy. The essence of democracy is popular sovereignty, the ability of the people to decide their own interests. If America truly stands by this noble ideal, the plan for Iraq should be clear.
We should ask the Iraqi people.
Not an opinion poll. Not a representative sampling. Rather, there should be a national referendum, a referendum of the Iraqi people and sponsored by the Iraqi government. It should present a set of simple questions, the answers to which would chart America’s involvement there in the future.
To suggest that America should remain in Iraq without that nation’s consent is the height of nationalistic arrogance. To say that America should leave without Iraq’s blessing is the height of nationalistic selfishness. Both paths lead to national dishonor.
We must demonstrate our commitment to partnership, not domination – prove our ideals of democracy, not imperialism. It is possible; it is within our reach. But not if we decide the path for ourselves.
