Self-Criticism of an American

Posted on August 29, 2007
Filed Under Fatih Syuhud

I’m glad watching Doug Pritchard –co-chairman of Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)– who held press conference live on CNN today in which he said “We believe the illegal occupation of Iraq by multinational forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq today. The occupation must end.”

He made a very good point when he said,

“We have tasted the pain that has been the daily bread of thousands of Iraqis,” he said. “Why have our loved ones been taken? Where are they being held? Under what conditions? How are they? Will they be released? When?”

American people with a good sense still in place should distance themselves from their government to make reconciliation with the rest of the world easier. Let the rest of the world knows that American people and their government are two different entities.

US administration multiple standard way of talking, no here and yes there, should be read as ‘political compulsion’ of US politicians. The ordinary Americans who enjoys liberty in their hands and are not drunken with pseudo-patriotism should follow the path of Doug Pritchard in condemning the war in Iraq and plain yet grave mistake done by Bush in making the war and attrocities happen.

Had majority of American people had the empathy and understanding as much as Mr. Pritchard has in looking at many events around the world involving the US, the world would much have been closer to them. Unlike now.

The only way for American to be “wiser” is simply try listening to any voices, not only to speeches made by Bush and his colleagues from Republican.