Iraq: Setting Benchmarks for the U.S. First
As American politicians and commentators search desperately for ideas to end the war in Iraq, the word “benchmarks” has become a household word. For the most part, the talk has been about setting benchmark dates for the Iraqi government to meet American demands for independence and stability.
Am I alone in seeing the irony of the U.S. unilaterally dismantling a country’s government, blowing up most of the infrastructure, inciting the insurgency of radical terrorists, failing to establish a secure environment, supporting a corrupt reconstruction paradigm and then righteously complaining that said nation get itself together or else?!
What about benchmarks for ourselves? How can we set parameters for other countries, especially those we have attacked, when we aren’t able to accomplish our own goals.
There is a story worth sharing here about Mahatma Gandhi.
The great master was asked by a mother to talk to her son about eating too much sugar. Gandhi asked the women to go away and come back in a few days. When the woman and the boy returned, Gandhi told the boy, ”Stop eating sugar!” The women was outraged and asked, “Why didn’t you just say that three days ago?” “Because,” said Gandhi, “three days ago, I was still eating sugar.”
We, too, must not give advice, or set benchmarks, until we can speak with the integrity of our own accomplishments. How can we demand more of others than we are willing to do ourselves?
What is my suggestion then? Maybe it’s time for setting some U.S. benchmarks, things like:
- The End of
U.S. War Crimes - An Apology for the Scam of Iraqi Reconstruction
- A Negotiated Peace for the
Middle East
We might even go beyond our mess overseas and set progressive benchmarks here at home:
- Healthcare for all Americans
- Recommitment to
U.S. Infrastructure - Repair of Dismantled Government Programs
- Democracy Free of the Stranglehold of Big Business
As individuals and nations, the Greater Good is best served when we stop seeing ourselves as infallible and others as flawed. Gandhi knew it, and we can live it:
What is good for any of us.. is what is good for all of us!
Anne McCrady
InSpiritry.com
May 16th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Having voices like this to get real discussion started about what we need and can do to clean up our own mess is the only hope we have for progress .