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Condescension

6 comments on Condescension

Condescension
: In the comments on my post about helping to establish a free press in Iraq with the help of weblogs (below), some of the antiwar hangers-on here reveal something I think it telling in their dismissal of my proposal. One says it’s just dumb. Another suggests we don’t care about democracy there, only invasions. Another says that free speech won’t be allowed under the “re-repression of Iraq.”

What this indicates to me (and to another commenter there) is a tremendous condescension to the Iraqi people (and, of course, to our motives). It indicates part of the problem with those who have opposed this war.

What they are saying, in the end, is that the Iraqis don’t deserve freedom, that they won’t be capable of supporting it, that they were not worth liberating.

My support of our action comes out of my populism. If I believe in the inherent wisdom of the people in this country, I have to believe in the inherent wisdom of the Iraqi people.

Oh, this will take work. These people have not known democracy or free speech or free media (see the item below). But that will be the key to their future. We can offer them no less.

Humanitarian aid starts with food and water. But it doesn’t end there. It must include economic development, academic development, and media development.

6 responses to “Condescension”

  1. Pithpott Avatar
    Pithpott

    You are mistaken sir, I hadn’t seen you as ineptly
    prejudiced until now. You see a .ca and instantly
    presume its owner is both of that nationality and agrees with its government. Lazy objectivety. Innacurate journalism. This “antiwar hangeron” is neither thankyou, and is unimpressed by your false accusation of wilfull condensation. Why would I wish this lung-dripping condition on the poor folks of Iraq? Ain’t they got enough problems of their own already?
    Have you ever interviewed one of these Iraqi looters who possesses “an inherant wisdom”? Ever wondered why they’ve never had any “free speech” since they crawled up out of the Euphrates mud a few eons ago? Maybe, just maybe, they simply don’t fukkinwell want it!
    Humanitarian aid might indeed start with food and water but it is sure to end in the blood of those same Humanitarians. Ho hum, the locals will just be excercising their new freedom, and, as per
    Rumsfield earlier today, mistakes will be made.
    Hey, ain’t we all the same.

  2. Andrew | BYTE BACK Avatar
    Andrew | BYTE BACK

    I thought the post itself sounded kinda condescending, as if their democracy needed help from bloggers. As if they needed literacy lessons from bloggers [I hope everybody appreciates the humor there] Or that it is the “cheapest” form of publication.
    However, if *you* are talking potential global reach, I think there would be quite an audience for voices from Iraq – if they were in English of course. “Where’s Raed” is just one example.
    And there’s the first mistake. Iraqis who know English enough to write it and speak it – are they really that representative? I fail to see the connection on how bloggers could help Iraqi bloggers unless it’s with just pure promotion and being an audience – which cannot be discounted. Nothing about it would be the same as Western journalists heading over to Eastern European countries to advise on how to start a newspaper. Unless I’m missing something, which is entirely possible.
    Jeff Jarvis second post on this subject, instantly castigating those who don’t like the idea isn’t a good sign, however. There were 15 comments from about five people, three of whom didn’t like the idea. That’s called Jarvis reactionism – his right, of course.
    In summary, I’d like to read some more Iraqi POVs. But I believe that will come without help from bloggers. Anyway [to add new information and break the rules of a good summary] aren’t blogspot/blogger and google in the best place to help?
    [repeat of my comment posted below]

  3. Andreas Avatar
    Andreas

    condescension – patronizingly superior behavior or attitude.
    oh, you mean
    – the way the bush administration treated the u.n.
    – how the us military behaves outside their home country
    – how your posts on buzzmachine come across?
    just to stop the usual suspects from flaming to soon: yes i believe a democracy in iraq can be established. but i doubt that the bush administration has that on top of their agenda and even if they have – once the domestic problems here in the u.s. become a bigger issue (and we’re getting there fast), democratizing iraq will end up on the back burner.

  4. Pithpott Avatar
    Pithpott

    Dream on Andreas, your superior behaviour and attitude to those with a more sober sense of reality is forgiveable only because of its nobility.
    True democracy in Iraq threatens the power of the mullahs, and will never be tolerated as is the seperation of state and religion in western cultures. While Islam continues to meet the tiniest of perceived threats to its control with Jihads and its suicide bombers, real freedom for its followers will remain impossible.
    I don’t know why you overlook such reality.

  5. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    One of the fascinating things about blogging is the opportunity it gives to see just what dolts there are out there.

  6. Pithpott Avatar
    Pithpott

    Without looking like a proper one yourself eh, Charlie?
    Sorry bud, you failed. Try leaving your ivory tower for a breathe of fresh air once in a while, you might get to like it.