Dear Mr. President,
This week I have continued to struggle with my opinion on
the subject of US Airstrikes in Syria.
Even after writing my last blog entry on the subject, I have been
troubled by how to sort out information and form an opinion that I feel certain
reflects my belief system. I want to understand because the actions that you
take on behalf of the nation reflect on me as an American. I want my perception
of this situation to be accurate because if my country takes the wrong turn, I
don’t want to be lost. I want my moral compass to be intact.
These are the issues in conflict that linger in my mind:
THE PROS
We have received
confirmation of the use of Chemical weapons. The “Red Line” has been crossed.
If we ignore the use of Chemical Weapons what are we communicating? At what
point do we react to the use of chemical weapons? Will we intervene when they
are used of our allies or will we wait until they are used on Americans? Does
turning our back on the use of chemical weapons invite or even encourage
further use?
Innocent people are
suffering in Syria. We are bombarded by images of children who are orphaned,
wounded and of those who are now refugees. The United States is both ridiculed
and applauded for its acts of humanitarianism. It is the US that is frequently
the first responder to international victims of natural disaster. Americans are
known for digging deep into their own pockets to offer relief efforts to those
in need. If that image no longer defines America, what does?
THE CONS
Can airstrikes alone
serve as a solution to the problems that exist in Syria? Will this intervention
serve as a sure fire means of removing Asaad from power?
If Asaad is removed
from power will Syria be better off? Will it bring stability? Will lives be
restored to that which was normal before the conflict began? Are the US and
France willing to remain in order to enforce some level of peace, if so for how
long?
If the violence that
exists in Syria is intolerable why aren’t more countries in the Middle East
expressing their concerns? Why isn’t Saudi Arabia leading a military
intervention? If the US becomes involved militarily, is the conflict likely to
grow and increase tension in our Middle East relationships?
Can the US really involve
itself in another country’s conflict when the results in Iraq, Afghanistan and
in Libya are really in question? Can we truly justify the additional military
spending when many of the US veterans of each conflict are homeless, jobless
and disabled?
Although we have
confirmation of chemical weapons, do we have confirmation of which side used
them?
Last week I asked one of my French friends his thoughts on
military intervention and in addition to sharing his valid opinion he ended the
conversation by saying, “Ultimately, when I voted for Francois Hollande I
entrusted him with the power to make the right decision on the behalf of
France. I will support my president”.
I thought about what my friend said and then I thought about
why I chose to vote for you. I knew that you would be our president when I saw
you speak at the democratic convention in 2004.
You spoke with such eloquence that it was spell binding. You spoke to us
as though you knew what was in our hearts. My husband and I waited to see you
for four hours at Municipal Hall in Kansas City on January 29th of
2008. It was magical. US Senator Claire McCaskill stood beside you on stage to
represent Missouri while Governor Kathleen Sebelius stood on the other side to
represent Kansas. A small group of people began to chant “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” but it was quickly drowned out by the exuberant
cheers for you. There was an experience in that auditorium that day, a knowing,
as we stood shoulder to shoulder in all shades of skin color. There was a
shared knowledge that everything that had occurred in our history, Rosa Parks, The
Civil Rights Movement, The Women’s Movement, your presence justified the tears
that were spent and the blood that was spilled. We witnessed the remuneration
for work that had been done by those who came before us. You validated what we had all dreamed was
possible of our country but hadn’t quite believed could happen. You represented
HOPE before it became part of your slogan. That Mr. President is the reason I
voted for you.
Then I began to think about what the US is today and I
thought about the people that represent this country. I thought about the
people who have chosen not to become part of this conversation because they
believe that their opinion doesn’t matter. I thought about those who support
the airstrikes and the passion behind their choice. I thought about the people
that are so cynical that they say that can’t see the difference between you and
your predecessor. I thought about the people who are still weeping for those
they lost in Iraq or Afghanistan. I thought about those who lost fortunes in
investments to greed on Wall Street. I thought about jobs lost and homes
foreclosed upon. I thought about scarcity and “just getting by”.
It is hard for me to think that I go about my life
comfortably and without fear as the people of Syria suffer. It’s also hard for
me to imagine that this country could intervene in yet another country’s
struggle when the majority of the country cannot stand together in support of
it. I think that we can see that we as a nation are beginning to recover, but
we are not whole yet. We are not strong enough for another fight.
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