Brown: ‘Staying the course’ not always an option
Though no solution seems easy, Iraq situation needs resolution
By Jesse Brown (Contact)
Thursday, September 13th, 2007
Stay the course. It’s a simple and short statement that retains power. Stay the course. A statement that says to not falter, to not buckle under the pressure and to not fall into that category with all the other weaklings. Stay the course. Be strong and persistent. Never give up. Stay the course.
While I admit that “stay the course” is good advice in many situations, it is not always used justly. Recently, I watched the movie “The Patriot.” It’s a movie about the American Revolution and their war for independence against the British. I know the movie was written in 2000, but sure enough, whenever the future looked bleak, the American soldiers would just plead, “Stay the course.” I guess that would be good advice in this situation because we eventually won our freedom. Sometimes, when I’m really down about being in debt because college is so expensive and I’m so frustrated with everything, I just feel like dropping out of school. I have to tell myself, “No, Jesse, stay the course. It will be better in the end. Just stay the course.” And that statement reinvigorates and compels me to stay in school and work harder. But really, is “stay the course” a good motivational statement for America’s war in Iraq?
Why isn’t recognizing one’s fault a strength? Why do we have to persist in winning, heeding no attention to the possible outcomes, positive or negative? If we did, wouldn’t that be a giant leap for mankind? I know America loves its winners, but some of the best sports movies end with the protagonist or protagonists losing. However, through all their struggles, they learn something about themselves. They walk away with a clearer image of themselves and begin to move on and head in the right direction. They recognize their faults and where they screwed up, but instead of being stubborn and arrogant about it, they come to terms with it and improve upon themselves. If I saw this in a leader, I would blindly follow him or her, because only a real man or woman would have such humility. But to constantly use that statement during the course of the war in Iraq was irresponsible and a complete misuse of such a statement.
I, for one, do not support the war in Iraq. I support our troops but it makes me angry of the deceit that brought us into this war. President George W. Bush and his administration proclaimed that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. To this day, no weapons have been discovered in Iraq. This war has had no good results other than ending a tyrant’s oppressive regime. But now we’re stuck in Iraq and this is the part where I’m torn. I want the troops to come home, but I have this notion that as America, we shouldn’t abandon those who want our help. That wouldn’t be very humanitarian of us, would it? The last time we isolated ourselves from the world, Hitler rose in power and nearly took over all of Europe. The only problem is that only half the people in Iraq want our help and the others wants us to leave. Should we stay the course? This is a question I just cannot seem to answer. I’m not adept in politics so I have no answers or solutions for this problem. All I know is that I want peace.
Brown is a Lee’s Summit, Mo., junior in journalism.
Discussion
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This author is horridly naive. Our occupation of Iraq is simply for the oil. It took the US economy 25 years to recover from the first oil crisis during the early 70's. During that period one barrel of crude oil spiked at $70 (in today's dollars). Today, oil is at $80 a barrel. But, if the US does not secure access to the oil fields in Iraq, one barrel could easily spike to $150 or $200 dollars a barrel. This would equate to making gasoline $8 or $9 dollars a gallon. This would devistate the US economy. Does the author understand the amount of human suffering that would take place with double digit inflation and double digit unemployment? I think not. Thus, this author has proven himself another casuality to the mindless, muttering, peacenik milquetoasts.
The only real discussion is how the US is going to develop alternative fuels.
Gee thanks todd, maybe you can give us a link to the presidents speech where he told the american people that this was a war for oil.
Well, Todd, how about instead of invading a sovereign country for oil (which, any other time, would be a practice we'd condemn), how about we put the billions and billions of dollars being flushed down the loo in Iraq, and the billions of dollars in tax credits for petrol companies, and put it towards R&D for alternatie fuels?
America's economic and social progress should not come at the expense of another country's people. Period.
quote
"Well, Todd, how about instead of invading a sovereign country for oil (which, any other time, would be a practice we'd condemn), how about we put the billions and billions of dollars being flushed down the loo in Iraq, and the billions of dollars in tax credits for petrol companies, and put it towards R&D for alternatie fuels? "
... seems resonable to me. I never authorized this occupation, although I think most congressmen prefer solving our oil dependency while protecting the status quo (big oil, detroit, military contractors) at the same time. it seems to make them feel warm and fuzzy when they can serve the public and make money for the rich at the same time. this is nothing new. still, the oil in Iraq will not last forever.
to clarify, the Iraqi experience has been an occupation, not a war. the only sovereignty that was ever at stake was that of saddam hussein. his removal has given the people in Iraq a real chance for sovereignty. if the Norcal Mexican drug cartel stages a revolution and takes over the counry of Mexico, and the US intervenes and overthrows the cartel 20 years later, is the US guilty of ignoring the sovereignty of Mexico? tyrannical leaders and $600 gold-rimmed sunglasses does not give a nation sovereignty. the US has not expressed any interest in retaining political control in Irag, just retaining access to the oil.
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