Wishful thinking and serious ponderings
Nov. 18th, 2003 02:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamIf only I was rich...
So much pretty stuff... Pretties... I want.
Oh, well.
Read a very interesting article on the subject of the Geneva convention and the occupation of Iraq today. It was in Norwegian, otherwise I'd give a link. It raised the question of there being a legal right for Iraqis to fight the American occupation. (My own country fought back when we were occupied in 1940, as did many other European countries, which is probably why we cling onto the Geneva convention.) The Geneva convention does give the legal right for citizens to fight an occupying force - however, there are a lot of stipulations. For instance, there is a lot of emphasis on avoiding or minimizing civilian casualties.
And with the UN and Red Cross being specifically targetted, the Iraqi resistance is certainly not paying much attention to the Geneva convention. And I must admit, I'm really not inclined to even mention the Iraqi resistance fighters in the same breath as the Norwegians, who I have grown up to think of as heroes.
But my perspective is flawed. I am Norwegian, so of course I think of the Norwegian resistance against the German occupation as heroic.
What would I think if I had been born in Iraq, I wonder?
Sometimes I wish I could walk a mile in someone else's shoes - that we all could. Perhaps it would change the world.
Or perhaps not. We'll never know. But because I am an optimist at heart, I rather think it would makes us a little better.
So much pretty stuff... Pretties... I want.
Oh, well.
Read a very interesting article on the subject of the Geneva convention and the occupation of Iraq today. It was in Norwegian, otherwise I'd give a link. It raised the question of there being a legal right for Iraqis to fight the American occupation. (My own country fought back when we were occupied in 1940, as did many other European countries, which is probably why we cling onto the Geneva convention.) The Geneva convention does give the legal right for citizens to fight an occupying force - however, there are a lot of stipulations. For instance, there is a lot of emphasis on avoiding or minimizing civilian casualties.
And with the UN and Red Cross being specifically targetted, the Iraqi resistance is certainly not paying much attention to the Geneva convention. And I must admit, I'm really not inclined to even mention the Iraqi resistance fighters in the same breath as the Norwegians, who I have grown up to think of as heroes.
But my perspective is flawed. I am Norwegian, so of course I think of the Norwegian resistance against the German occupation as heroic.
What would I think if I had been born in Iraq, I wonder?
Sometimes I wish I could walk a mile in someone else's shoes - that we all could. Perhaps it would change the world.
Or perhaps not. We'll never know. But because I am an optimist at heart, I rather think it would makes us a little better.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-17 07:57 pm (UTC)If you ever do have money to devote to the Noble Collection, devote it. Their items are beautiful. The Evenstar is wonderful, and Hadhafang really comes in handy when someone's annoying you. *wink*
Anyway...
Sometimes I wish I could walk a mile in someone else's shoes - that we all could. Perhaps it would change the world.
Sometimes I feel like I spend too much time imagining myself in other people's shoes, not my own. I understand others' points of view better than I understand my own. But still, you're right. In this world, too many people are so absorbed in their own opinions and beliefs that they refuse to see that there may be other points of view.
~Shada
no subject
Date: 2003-11-17 08:31 pm (UTC)I bought the Trivial Pursuit LotR version, but it's movieverse and is way too easy. Next I hope to get Middle-earth Risk board. Mmmmm...
I love getting discounts at work. ^^
As for the American forces in Iraq, I was against the war from the start 'cause I was skeptical of the "weapons of mass distruction"; they didn't have any solid proof for their accusations. Anyway, overall and for the long run, I think they may have done more good than harm, but now the country is in the shambles and isn't getting much better. *sigh* It's a tough subject.
Go Canadian Peace Keepers...
I want in.
Date: 2003-11-19 05:31 am (UTC)Laureril1110 @ Hotmail . com
Re: I want in.
Date: 2003-11-20 09:42 pm (UTC)