Worth It?

A good day in Iraq. Yep, they prefer democracy, alright. And who wouldn't? Doesn't it make your heart feel big to see these people rejoicing in their ability to vote? It does mine.

Now, let's back up two years. What if the Bush Administration had told us that forming a democratic Iraq (which hopefully will arise in some form) was the reason we were going to send young Americans to kill and die in Iraq? I don't think the American people would have let it happen. Of course, the folks who simply defend anything Bush chooses to do (you know... the ones now defending torture) would have had no problem with it, so long as it wasn't their asses getting fired at. Also, the Project for a New American Century folks, who are the most intellectually honest and at the same time the most disturbingly imperialistic members of the conservative landscape, were advocating the invasion of Iraq long before the WMD rationale arose. But the rest of us would have had serious reservations about bombing a non-threatening country into democracy.

So now, the question all the pundits are busy farting is: if a democracy emerges in Iraq, will it have been worth it? Worth "it"?

It (n.) The death of tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens; the death of at least 1,500 American soldiers; the dismemberment of thousands of American soldiers; the re-ordering of American values to encompass torture; reduced standing in the international community; and $180 billion and counting of our tax dollars (adding to record deficits).

Now, It has not directly affected me much. I haven't lost my legs. I haven't had to kill or torture anybody. Nobody I know has been killed. My life has basically gone on as it always has. In fact, I haven't even had to kick in any extra money for the war, because our president has decided to put it on the national credit card. So, I can see how it would be easy to sit here in my comfortable condo and watch Iraqis courageously voting on t.v. and think "sure it's worth it."

But would I have sacrificed my sister or my friend so that Iraq might someday turn into a democracy? Would I have given my life? How about my legs? Would it be worth it?

Now what will we sacrifice so Saudi Arabians might have a democracy? Pakistan?

Today Iraqis voted, and that makes me very happy. I am proud that this tragic mistake of a war has finally produced something that is worthwhile, and I'm impressed with the heart shown by the Iraqi people today.