More Media: Part II
The first issue is that Iraqi’s don’t pose very sympathetic figures. I don’t mean that there aren’t heart wrenching stories out there, and I am sure journalists would find them, but if you contrast your average Iraqi with past countries and cultures with whom we have done battle, then they don’t come off looking to good. In many ways, Iraq is like a colossal ghetto, in the sense that everyone is somewhat involved in criminal activities, or knows someone who is. Therefore they are reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement, both out of a misguided sense of loyalty or a fear of repercussions. While many countries we have invaded have had a problem with kleptocracy, none that I know of have had as wide spread criminality.
The most annoying, and damning habit of Iraqi’s is their lying. In America, and probably most of the world, the idea of honor boils down to honesty: don’t lie. In Iraq, however, honor is almost exactly the opposite. Anytime something goes wrong, it is imperative that you never admit complicity, or guilt, no matter how obvious that your complicity or guilt is. And even if someone else does something wrong you never point the finger at them if they are a relative, which most of them in town are. Therefore, Iraqis not only feel it is O.K. to lie, they feel that they are obligated to lie.
A perfect example of this is the former-Iraqi Public Relations Minister during the initial, invasion. Even though what he was saying was obviously wrong, he continued to say it. And the people expected it of him. In fact, even though many on the left accuse President Bush of lying about WMD, most Iraqi’s are surprised that he has admitted that we are not likely to find them, when he could, at least in their mind, easily continue to claim that they are there and we just haven’t found them yet. While moral relativists may say “it is just culture, and we need to be accepting,” most Americans would get really upset at constant lying. Proof of this is the fact that we hate even the appearance of dishonesty in our politicians.
These issues are very difficult to see when you are around for ten minutes of an interview, and then hop on a plane and fly out. This is especially true since Iraqi’s have become masters of ‘journalistic manipulation.’ They have all learned the catch phrases of “where are the terrorists,” “is this democracy,” and “they only bring death.” Try and find a negative interview with an Iraqi that doesn’t include one of those phrases. They play western for ten minutes, and it gets play all over the media, but it is a dishonest portrayal of what they are and what they want. I believe that if we had journalists on the ground with us they would begin to see the cultural mores, and moral corruptness that we deal with every day. This would accurately illustrate the Iraqi’s to the decision makers back home and the populace as a whole.
While many people in American look at soldiers and say that “We just don’t understand,” the truth is that many, and especially I, do understand. Almost daily an Iraqi will tell me that I actually belong in Iraq; that I am an Iraqi at heart. Of course, that is a result of my business ‘face’ if you will, but this is part of professionalism, and working with other cultures. The truth is that ‘back home’ doesn’t understand.
I am not saying that this is impossible to deal with. However, it is by far the largest hurdle, which almost no one takes into consideration. We are trying to plug Iraq into the larger civilized world, without changing the fundamentals, which are crucial to our civilization. Honesty and hard work is the basis of Western, and in reality, human civilization. The paradigm is like plugging a 110v lamp into a 220v socket without a step down.
Soldiers on the ground understand this, because they see it every day, but people in America and the world do not. But the problem is larger than can be fixed on the ground, or even dealt with. We need a political solution as well, and in order for that to happen the political bodies in the coalition need to be properly informed. That means the people as well as the leaders.
The most annoying, and damning habit of Iraqi’s is their lying. In America, and probably most of the world, the idea of honor boils down to honesty: don’t lie. In Iraq, however, honor is almost exactly the opposite. Anytime something goes wrong, it is imperative that you never admit complicity, or guilt, no matter how obvious that your complicity or guilt is. And even if someone else does something wrong you never point the finger at them if they are a relative, which most of them in town are. Therefore, Iraqis not only feel it is O.K. to lie, they feel that they are obligated to lie.
A perfect example of this is the former-Iraqi Public Relations Minister during the initial, invasion. Even though what he was saying was obviously wrong, he continued to say it. And the people expected it of him. In fact, even though many on the left accuse President Bush of lying about WMD, most Iraqi’s are surprised that he has admitted that we are not likely to find them, when he could, at least in their mind, easily continue to claim that they are there and we just haven’t found them yet. While moral relativists may say “it is just culture, and we need to be accepting,” most Americans would get really upset at constant lying. Proof of this is the fact that we hate even the appearance of dishonesty in our politicians.
These issues are very difficult to see when you are around for ten minutes of an interview, and then hop on a plane and fly out. This is especially true since Iraqi’s have become masters of ‘journalistic manipulation.’ They have all learned the catch phrases of “where are the terrorists,” “is this democracy,” and “they only bring death.” Try and find a negative interview with an Iraqi that doesn’t include one of those phrases. They play western for ten minutes, and it gets play all over the media, but it is a dishonest portrayal of what they are and what they want. I believe that if we had journalists on the ground with us they would begin to see the cultural mores, and moral corruptness that we deal with every day. This would accurately illustrate the Iraqi’s to the decision makers back home and the populace as a whole.
While many people in American look at soldiers and say that “We just don’t understand,” the truth is that many, and especially I, do understand. Almost daily an Iraqi will tell me that I actually belong in Iraq; that I am an Iraqi at heart. Of course, that is a result of my business ‘face’ if you will, but this is part of professionalism, and working with other cultures. The truth is that ‘back home’ doesn’t understand.
I am not saying that this is impossible to deal with. However, it is by far the largest hurdle, which almost no one takes into consideration. We are trying to plug Iraq into the larger civilized world, without changing the fundamentals, which are crucial to our civilization. Honesty and hard work is the basis of Western, and in reality, human civilization. The paradigm is like plugging a 110v lamp into a 220v socket without a step down.
Soldiers on the ground understand this, because they see it every day, but people in America and the world do not. But the problem is larger than can be fixed on the ground, or even dealt with. We need a political solution as well, and in order for that to happen the political bodies in the coalition need to be properly informed. That means the people as well as the leaders.
posted by David Benson | 6:46 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home