Americans write to me wondering, “But where are the educated Iraqis? Why didn’t they vote for secular parties?” The educated Iraqis have been systematically silenced since 2003. They’ve been pressured and bullied outside of the country. They’ve been assassinated, detained, tortured and abducted. Many of them have lost faith in the possibility of a secular Iraq.
Then again… who is to say that many of the people who voted for religious parties aren’t educated? I know some perfectly educated Iraqis who take criticism towards parties like Da’awa and SCIRI as a personal affront. This is because these parties are so cloaked and cocooned within their religious identity, that it is almost taken as an attack against Shia in general when one criticizes them. It’s the same thing for many Sunnis when a political Sunni party comes under criticism.
There seems to be a fundamental of human nature here. The second sentence of that last para could apply to an Israeli, or an American (not you Dave, but I can think of at least three I have crossed swords with), or even - dare I say it - a NZer. Substitute Likud, or Republican, or Destiny Church respectively and you might see what I mean.
It’s like the pope for devout Catholics- you don’t question the man in the chair because he is there by divine right, almost. You certainly don’t question his policies.
Now ain't that the truth, except that the Catholic Church managed to get enlightened some time back (400 years? to the advent of the Protestant Churches?) and began allowing some "feedback" from the masses. I am not sure just when the infallibility of the Pope was finally laid to rest or if it has at all. Certainly there is no longer an Inquisition.
That aside, it is a good and I must say objective review of the impact that the recent elections might have on an "ordinary" Iraqi woman.
On his right sat an Ayatollah with a black turban and black robes. He looked stern and he nodded with satisfaction as Jaffari spoke to the students (or penguins). His speech wasn’t about science, technology or even development- it was a religious sermon about heaven and hell, good and evil.
Now doesn't that sound just a little familiar? Except that I don't believe Rummy was wearing a black turban when Powell addressed the UNSC all those months ago in 2002. Oops, sorry forgot to turn off my sarcasm switch there for a moment.
Now I am wondering, where are all of those good American people who were pooh-poohing the idea of a Shia controlled Iraqi government. Where are the good American Christians who were promoting the idea of a secular America.
It is just like the result of the election in Palestine -
Who could have seen that coming?
2 comments:
For the record, Catholics do not (or at least should not) consider 'the Pope' to be infallible: the Pope sins, as he is human. Rather, the Pope is capable of making infallible statements/decisions regarding specific questions of faith. The fact that the Holy See chose waffles for breakfast this morning does not make the choice eggs by the faithful a sin. Nor, on a more serious note, does my disagreeing with the late Pope John Paul II regarding America’s war in Iraq place me in jeopardy of excommunication or eternal damnation.
As a Catholic I can, and do, disagree with the Pope on any number of things. He can make statements/decisions that carry varying weight, but I am generally free to make up my own mind and still be in good standing with the Church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility
Tom, it was not always so. That was my point.
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