8/20/2004 03:42:54 PM|||Sarah|||

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the feelings of the Iraqi people concerning our presence in their country. I never bought into the idea that our soldiers would be greeted with flowers and hugs. The psyche and history of the country would not lend itself to such ready belief in freedom. However, I am disappointed in the recent interviews with members of the Iraqi soccer team. They do not like President Bush using their Olympic triumphs in his speeches, and some say they would be fighting with the insurgents if not competing in Athens.

Some Americans have been raising questions. Why are the Iraqis so ungrateful? Don't they realize we freed them from a tyrant? I can understand these questions, but they aren't entirely fair. Those of us fortunate enough to be born in the United States have only known freedom and prosperity (yes, prosperity ... we have no idea what real poverty is compared to the poor of other countries). Young Iraqis, including the members of the soccer team, have known no other leader besides Saddam Hussein. There is a certain comfort in the known, even if that known is torture and oppression.

On a simple level, I relate it to families. I could beat up my sister and taunt her mercilessly. But, once someone else made fun of my sister, I jumped to her defense with fierce loyalty. Iraqis perhaps feel the same way about their country. Unfortunately, Saddam Hussein and the country of Iraq have become fused through their long relationship. We see our involvement as being for the removal of Saddam Hussein and creating a free Iraq, whereas I believe the Iraqis may not see a distinction between removing the leader and removing the country itself.

We have seen this confusing behavior before. Shortly after the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union, there was a movement to return to the old regime. At least people knew what to expect. I did a lot of research for my senior thesis on the future of political ideology in Russia. I remember reading about one woman who said that at least under Communism the government told you what to do and you never had to think. She liked being taken care of (I guess she was one of the lucky ones).

I think that Iraq and other countries of the Middle East can and will have democracy. But, we cannot pretend to understand the current mindset of the people living there who ultimately must make these changes happen. I hope that the near future brings democracy and new opportunities to the Iraqis. I know it won't be like America's government because the powers involved are so different. I do, though, hope that the Iraqis will understand that our intentions were to give them this freedom of choice and to make a safer world for everyone.

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