Do the Iraqis Deserve to be Free?

From: http://shrillblog.blogspot.com/2004/09/wall-street-journal-reporter-farnaz.html#comments
"I asked a 28-year-old engineer if he and his family would participate  in the Iraqi elections since it was the first time Iraqis could to  some degree elect a leadership. His response summed it all: "Go and vote and risk being blown into pieces or followed by the insurgents and murdered for cooperating with the Americans? For what? To practice democracy? Are you joking?"

This sad comment made me reflect on the risks that the people of what's now the United States faced when fighting for their own freedom to participate in self-government. Like the Iraqis we faced a choice between submission to tyrrany and facing danger to win our freedom. Unlike the Iraqis we had little help (well the French made a token appearance) and little guidance and no history of past revolutionary successes to encourage us. Yet with massive US support and a history of free governments around the world to look to for examples, many Iraqis would rather not be bothered to fight for their own freedom. They'd rather submit to the tyrrany of mullahs, the threat of persecution, the terror of bombs and the intimidation of gangsters than take a little risk for a life of freedom.

When America fought back against English oppression the rebels faced the same dangers citizens of Iraq face today. They risked their lives because they believed that the rewards of freedom were worth any risk, even if they were only enjoyed by their orphaned children. Liberty meant something to them and they wanted it enough to die for it. If the Iraqis aren't willing to take a little risk with the US army holding their hands and watching their backs, then perhaps they deserve the future of oppression which their complacency and cowardice earns them.

In this world those without principles or convictions beyond saving their own skin are the weak prey of predators with principles they will fight and die for no matter how abhorent they may be. I may hate the terrorists, but I still respect them more than the common citizens whose innaction allows free reign to terrorist abuse. Until the people embrace freedom as a principle as sacred to them as religious bigotry, nationalism and the lust for power are to the forces of terror, they will live degraded lives of violence and horror with nothing better to look forward to.

If you won't fight for the freedom you ought to be entitled to you end up with all the oppression you deserve.