Wishing for failure
I don't post about politics very much, and while I'll be as random as ever on the site that aspect isn't going to change. However, I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming Iraq elections after some conversations earlier today. My heart and mind goes out to those people, and I hope it's the beginning of something better for them in the decades to come.
In politics, life, and technology, there's a tendency to lose the love for your original ideal and instead attach yourself to a side. Once that happens, you can easily fall into the trap of not only wanting your cause to win, but feeling as though you haven't won unless the other side loses.
In essence, you end up hoping that the other 'side' fails in whatever they endeavor, even if it matches up with your own cause. People are at their best when they are pushing themselves to perform the best, as our companies, organizations, and political parties... not when they are hoping to turn the other side into losers.
My idealistic hope is that no matter which side you are on, your hope is that the elections are a success and that Iraq will have a brighter future going forward.
Posted by drunkenbatmanJanuary 29, 2005, at 10:36 PM
Comments (7)
Posted by: Richard at January 30, 2005 08:36 AM
Define "success."
I like the spirit of your post although I'd apply it to Bush's entire agenda, not just the Iraqi elections, but in doing so we again have to define success.
Bush landed on the carrier and declaired success. Uh, a bit premature.
Folks seem to think that the very idea of elections in Iraq itself is a mark of success, yet the country is more destabilized and full of terrorists going into the election than it was before the invation. So, the context the election is taking place in in far from a better place as the country is now full of terrorists and that fact alone will keep us there longer than anyone planned.
That context is skewing the elections, not to mention the underlying religious and cultural differences between the groups voting.
In this country, there may be big differences between Democrats and Republicans but these are not religious groups (well... we might speculate about the Christian right and Bush...) and most of us feel free to vote any way we like.
In Iraq, the elections are free (supposedly) but the underlying culture is entrenched ethic and religious groups who do not get along all that well.
I am reminded of a great quote I heard on TV:
“Imposing democracy is an oxymoron.”
- Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State, talking about the US imposing democracy on Iraq on the NewsHour
I think she got it right and that makes me suspect of the results of these elections.
Of course, I want Iraq to be a peaceful, successful country but not in our image, in whatever image they come up with which may not look too good to us.
Sorry to rant but I think it's more complex than just rooting for success in Iraq. Success in who's eyes?
Posted by: Rory at January 30, 2005 11:53 AM
While I think most people in the West would like to see democracy work in Iraq, realistically it's not going to happen and forcing this election while the country is still so unstable is a recipe for disaster. Iraq is just too fragmented between different religious groups that hate each other. Which ever gets into power is only going to end up persecuting whoever loses.
Posted by: cremes at January 30, 2005 03:34 PM
I'm with you on this. I have hope.
Looks like your other commenters aren't too hopeful.
Posted by: Jon H at January 30, 2005 05:33 PM
Remember, elections alone are not sufficient.
Iraq had elections when Saddam was in power, after all.
And tyrants, such as the German fellow who shall not be named, have come to power through free and fair elections.
Posted by: Michael at January 30, 2005 09:42 PM
I fear success almost as much as failure, because success will tend to legitimize the military option in future disputes (and not only for "benevolent" powers like the United States).
Posted by: Tim at February 2, 2005 09:25 AM
I noticed that all of the above comments focus only on the elections part of the post and ignore what I think is the most important part:
In politics, life, and technology, there's a tendency to lose the love for your original ideal and instead attach yourself to a side. Once that happens, you can easily fall into the trap of not only wanting your cause to win, but feeling as though you haven't won unless the other side loses.Regardless of what we think of the politics in Iraq (and the U.S.) this is an importanty reminder about the dangers of polarizing ideology. I've noticed this happening in myself around the Iraq issue in particular and I think its a real pitfall, especially when it comes to the issues we hold most near and dear.
Once we are motivated by hate of the other rather than passion or love for our ideal, we become nothing more than a mirrored opposite of our opponent. We are reduced to reacting to their moves and begin lose our creativity, innovation and hope.
Well spoken, drunken.
Nice post. As much as I'd love to see Dubbeya fail in everything he does, I would much rather see the Iraqi people find some peace and quiet in their lives.