The New abNormal

If you had to decide between Hobson's Choice or Morton's Fork, which one would you take?


Okay, so I'm being a touch silly.  but the idea stuck in my head this morning and felt related to our contemporary political climates; both national and global.

I was listening to a recent episode of Keith Olbermann, and they were discussing the present drama in Iran - the social fallout originally resulting from last week's election - and it was frustrating to hear the "two sides" of the debate being either to go in and help overthrow the current administration (of Iran), or to never be involved in any conflict internationally.

Every time I think we've headed a step closer to adopting a more moderate and intelligent approach towards interpreting and interacting with the world, I have to hear nonsense like this - a debate wherein only the two most extreme sides are considered viable alternatives. It's like having a debate between vanilla and chocolate. I mean, sure, go ahead and argue, but honestly I prefer cookies and cream or mint and chips.

I don't presume to be an expert on international (or national, for that matter) politics; I only know what I know. But when I look at all the interference the US has accomplished with the past half-century in Iran, and see what we've managed to achieve, I just can't help but think that it's time to try something different. We've empowered rebellions, which led to a stronger anti-american sentiment that was then able to overthrow the people we used to overthrow the previous government. Then we had to make friends with another country to attack them for attacking our puppet leadership, and now THOSE friends are our enemies as well.

So now we've got even MORE enemies there than we had before we got involved - and their arguments against us are valid ones. I mean, it all boils down to "them" hating "us" for not letting them have the freedom to figure out their own destiny. At some point, the people you pull up from their struggle will resent you for not letting them work it out on their own. It just happens.

The trouble with this, however, is that to a certain extent we feel an obligation to help countries try to win their own struggles. We were there, once upon a time - more than that, actually, if you really follow the history of our nation. But especially at the beginning, we needed help to get out from under England's control.

And think, for a moment, just who it was who helped us. And how do we feel about them now? We're actually better friends with the nation who had tried to keep us under their bootheel than the people who helped us achieve independence.

Think about that for a moment.

I sympathize with the plight of the unpowered masses in Iran who want the freedoms we so often take for granted. I feel for their cause, and wish there was something we could do about it. I do.

But this is not our struggle. We cannot fight it for them. It is only through this struggle that they will gain the strength it will take for them to proceed. I should think that a preferred path for us as a nation - as the Nation we are inspired to become - would be to promise the hand of respect and goodwill for the nation Iran becomes, though finding a peaceful way to resolve their conflict. We can assure them that our opinion of them will be shaped by their treatment of their people, and accept that while we may differ in our approaches, we are also faced with different challenges, and perhaps we should strive to both learn from one another and find ways to both be the kinds of nations that the world needs. Through modern technology and communications opportunities, the world watches itself; this is the sort of responsibility we should stop taking for granted.

We should be certain they realize that any nation, as it grows, will pass through periods of turmoil and struggle as they grow and develop. Their present is our history. That should mean something, shouldn't it?

As a nation, we should also remember that we cannot afford to be distracted by the dazzling spectacles so much that we ignore the problems here at home which need to be resolved. War, for all its dispicable grotesqueries, is strikingly attractive - insomuch as it gets our attention quickly and holds it close. Debating health care, budget deficits, housing markets and unemployment rates isn't so sexy, but it does have teeth.

For what it's worth, I approve of President Obama's current vocalizations. The chaos in Iran may be historically our fault, but I think there must come a point at which we need to stop meddling in their lives. Having made the mistakes for 50+ years does not justify continuing to make the same mistakes. It's as if we're addicted to trying to control outcomes of other national conflicts. At some point, we just need to quit taking hits off that poisoned bong.

It may be that it takes a skilled General to know when to shoot; but it takes a wise one to know when NOT to do so. I think it's a shame that there are people confusing the President's wisdom with cowardice - not entirely unexpected, however. Sometimes, the bravest choice is to stand by and allow a nation its right to wrest control of its own destiny.

What's more, why do we see this as even our decision to make?  Iran is not our country. They are not one of our states, or in any way part of our national governance, so the idea that we "should" step in and try to help them in any way is kind of presumptuous, isn't it? They've neither asked for or likely desired our help.

Plus, Iran's been around (though not as Iran) a good bit longer than the United States - they're home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world's history. So who the hell are we to act like we're the grownups here?

Yes, they're going through a pretty heavy rebellion, by all reports, but so? Why not let them sort it out? Why don't we prove them wrong in their accusations of our believing we're all so much better than them?

And, yes, I know that it's a dangerous thought to go to the other extreme and turn a blind eye to the patent mistreatment of a nation by its leadership. Too many despots have been let go too far off the leash in so many nations throughout history, and its all too difficult to see them for what they are through the fog of miscommunication (or a complete lack of any communication at all). Only, generally, years or generations after the fact do we see these tyrants for what they are.

Do I believe the people of Iran have the right to dissent? Yes. Do I believe the government of Iran has the right to try and bring about order to its streets? Yes. Do I believe the United States has the right to step in and choose sides through active support? No.

Let's be honest. Most of the reason they continue this cycle of rebellion/tyranny/revolution is because we've empowered them so many times, either directly and internally or indirectly and externally. We've tried for so long to actively force or encourage other nations to be "just like us" that maybe they need an opportunity to figure this out on their own two feet. Maybe this will help them earn the government and society they want. They're not children, they're not stupid. Perhaps it's time we gave them some respect.