Iraqis could solve their problems within 6 months

[burythehatchet]

and by their problems I mean the US occupation.

During Coretta's service there was clip of an interview of Coretta with Tavis Smiley. Tavis asked her whether non-violence as a political weapon was still relevant. She answered that it is much more relevant.

Imagine if the entire nation of Iraq laid down their arms, ended the armed insurgency and began an insurgency of non-violence. Condust a nationwide strike for an indefinite period of time. No work. Nothing. What could the occupation forces do? Nothing. When the British viceroy incredulously asked Gandhi "what do you expect us to do, just leave"? Gandhi answered "yes, in the end you will realize that the cost of controlling us is too great and you will simply leave"

The lessons Gandhi taught India are more valid now than ever. Without a doubt, US and British forces would step up their false flag operations and conduct more bombings to make up the diference. But over time the exposure of these crimes would force them to end.

Sometimes I believe that our biggest problem is a lack of imagination.

[ECH1969]

1. People are walking into each others mosques

and blowing themselves up on a daily basis.

Think Lebanon in the 1970s and times it by several dozen.

[burythehatchet]

2. your point?

do you honestly think this a whole new level of violence? I've seen people beheaded by mobs in front of the victims families. This ain't nothin new friend.

[Roland99]

5. The mindset of the terrorists is to attack Muslims "corrupted" by the West

Watch The Power of Nightmares.

[burythehatchet]

8. I've seen that film

India was in very much the same situation. Except instead of Sunnis and SHia it was Muslims and Hindus, still is. The brutality was the same. The difference was that swords were used instead of high impact explosives. People have always been and will always be the same. We tend to believe somehow that our situations are different, they are only different in terms of the stakes, people are always the same. Their motives are always the same. Their methods may differ, but they all want the same things. The Muslims you speak of are a very small minority. During partition in India, do you have any idea of the brutality that occurred? What Iraquis are doing when they take up arms is giving legitimacy to the occupation. They understand this, the extremists want the US to remain and bleed us dry. The common Iraqi knows no better.

Gandhi always said he was just an ordinary villager (after he got over his English law degree). He was. If a leader can inspire the imagination, as Gandhi did, anything is possible. People will always be the same.

[Roland99]

15. You brought up a good point, "a leader can inspire the imagination"

What leader in the world today comes even close to doing that?

They're all selfish and arrogant and worried only about staying in power or keeping the next person their supporters like in power in order to keep their hold on that power and spread some wealth.

[burythehatchet]

16. Politicians can rarely be leaders

Leaders do not choose the road of political. Rather, leadership is thrust u
AS for as today, its important to note that leaders come from the oddest of circumstances.

[Solo_in_MD]

14. That sort of thing makes the claim of false flag operations

a little harder to believe

[genie_weenie]

3. Errr, Iraq/India not the same thing

The nation of Iraq is made up of people. People are short-sighted and believe they can use the US forces to advance their "groups" interests.

And even if the Iraqis did nothing it wouldn't affect us, because we are not at the level British Involvement in India circa 1900-1947 were, The Brits had been there for 350 years, gained complete control in the 1750s, put down a rebellion in 1856, were invested deeply.

In fact, the "Iraqis", whoever they are doing nothing would be a benefit for US forces.

[burythehatchet]

4. really? Iraq and India not the same? Come on.....

I..then R and N are very close together...:sarcasm:

There are plenty of decent arguments against what I posit. Your arguments are weak.

[genie_weenie]

Yikes, sorry

I wasn't, like, insulting your intelligence. I didn't know you were just using hyperbole in your post.

[burythehatchet]

10. its OK, and I wasn't

:)

[cantstandbush]

7. But non-violence is the same, no matter who practices it. n/t

[burythehatchet]

11. Right..!!Look at what Martin accomplished in his short time

here on earth. That's why they killed him, because his way was much stronger. Unfortunately, his legacy was not carried forward by enough people. This is sort of what Clinton was asking when he said "what do we do now". He understood the power.

[cantstandbush]

6. Somtimes I think the greatest minds in the world are right here at DU! n/

[burythehatchet]

9. Gandhi understood that in order for the country to function

the British needed Indians. He basically took away the ability to run the country. Consider that the occupation in Iraq is 140,000 people. They could not run one province if the Iraqis chose to lay down their arms and THEIR COOPERATION. That is the essence of non-violent resistance. There are two parts non-violence, which is the spiritual component, and resistance, which is the temporal component. Its the only way that will always work.

[sandnsea]

12. Well of course

so one question is, why don't they. Another is, why don't the anti-war people suggest that to the Iraqi's, I'm sure it would get global support.

On the other side, what the heck is wrong with the message of "military disengagement" to the US because if our troops laid down some arms, it would take the steam out of the insurgency too.

There's more than one way to say "end the war", ending it is what matters.

[burythehatchet]

13. Sadly the answer lies in the religiond born in Jerusalem

Judaism, Christianity and Islam preach exclusivity of faith. These are the religions that peach conversion (except Judaism), and violence as a means to that end. Hinsuism has survived waves of conquerors and opressors, and although fanatical Hindus are capable of much violence, at its core the religion is accepting of all faiths. Remember, Gandhi was able to inspire Muslims to follow him as well, until Jinnah saw the opportunity to rally Muslims to violence. Its all about leadership. I cannot believe that if a leader emerged in Iraq, the comon Iraqi would not follow him, if it meant that he could live his life in peace.