They Hate Our What?

First, contrary to what the right-wingers might say, I do not condone what the terrorists, insurgents, Muslim militias or any other murders have done. Also, I do not hate America though I have no trouble admitting to being a Bush-hater. The two are NOT one and the same. Now to my point...

I simply don't understand how so many Americans can act like they have no idea why the Muslims hate us so much. Bush and the punditry say they "hate our freedom". Is that why they so want to restrict our freedom? So the terrorists will hate us less? Anyway, that is the most bizarre excuse for anything I have ever heard. What does that mean? Do they think the terrorists on the other side of the world are upset because we wear shorts and skimpy bathing suits?

Or, is it possible they hate us because we meddle constantly in their affairs? That we supply the bombs that are raining destruction on their heads. That we support Israel over any legitimate issues they may have. That we prop up dictators (including Sadaam for a decade or two) who oppress their people and steal their wealth. That we invade their countries without cause.

I am not saying the Arab and Muslim cultures are the easiest for Westerners to deal with. They are stubborn and often brutal. They have a far different perspective on the value of life which we simply cannot comprehend. How many Americans are willing to kill themselves (along with others) to be sure their families are taken care of? I would guess not too many. We would certainly run out of suicide killers before too long if we had to resort to guerilla warfare.

There is, of course, also a lot of history of Western interference in the Middle East. Many of the borders are drawn artificially by the British and/or international community. Israel was pretty much ripped from the grasp of the Palestinians with little consideration for their rights. Americans may have a short memory. We are friends with the Germans and the Japanese and even the Vietnamese. The Arabs, however, have a very long memory embedded in their culture. They also know how to hold a grudge in a way American's will never understand. Not that the Arabs have had a chance to allow their anger to subside in the past 50 or so years.

They are constantly reminded of their backwardness and inferiority to the West. They have rampant poverty in oil-rich countries where the royalty is supported by the West. They are never allowed to develop beyond third world dictatorships. Contrary to the rhetoric of the Bush administration, this is by design of the power-brokers in the West. We are not in Iraq to bring democracy to the Middle East. We are there because we wanted to put our own puppet regime in place. Just look at the right-wing reaction to Iraq's democratically elected Prime Minister taking Israel to task. They can't believe our puppet would speak out against our wishes. That is Iraq's representative government. I am curious what happens when Iraq has a completely free election in which a Prime Minister who is openly antagonistic to our government is chosen.

When it comes down to it, the Arabs are not stupid or ignorant. They know where the bombs and tanks are coming from. It may be Israeli's driving the tanks and dropping the bombs, but they say 'Made in the USA' on the side.

What will it take to make the American public understand that it is not our supposed freedom the Arabs hate but the actions and policies of our government?