Osler's Razor

Phil you words a poignant. I'll sign the petition.

May I ask (or are you allowed to tell us) what you were doing in Iraq during those 3 years prior to the invasion.


ps. Prof - these code things are a little hard to read for those of us with questionable vision.


 

Regrettably, one of the things we don't do well in the U.S. is contrition. There is nothing inherently contradictory between patriotism, "supporting the troops," and a desire to have a strong nation, on the one hand, and contrition where appropriate, on the other.

But, apparently, being the U.S. means never having to say you're sorry.
 

I don't think America SHOULD do contrition. Iraq was a mess. We did our best. We did make things better.

And what about the people who served there? Does this cast their service in a negative light?
 

For Steve,

I beg to differ to this extent: there are certainly times when we do well with contrition and self examination. I encourage you to take almost any American history course at a major university with a tenured professor. I assure you that you will find whole semesters full of contrition.
 

Waco Farmer--

Do think that is a good thing, though? In other words, do you think it is "done well?"
 

Sometimes it is very good. Sometimes it is a humiliatingly gross experience for all participants.
 

IPLawGuy-- Do you think Ed Crapol's class at W & M fits what the Farmer describes?
 

Contrition is good for the soul, for the soul of nation born from a colony. The colony of one of the largest imperial powers in human history with the same attitude as none other than Anon 11:53am. Invading another country in this day and age should come with a more than well planned strategy. “Doing our best” may be the motto for the reign of mediocrity in everyday life America, but “doing our best” doesn’t really cut it for America the Super Power, not with the all ramifications involving both sides and the enormity of the consequences on both sides. History has a way of coming around to bite back and a little contrition would go a long way to soothe the bite marks.
 

I believe it is too early to know fully the amount of damage American actions in Iraq will have on the world. This story is still in play as Iraq drifts towards Iran and away from the USA.

Iraq is not a better place because of our invasion. Before we arrived they had food,schools, electricity and a sectarian society. Now, not so much. Iraq was a mess because Saddam was a mess. I hope what we did was not our best as anon 11:53 stated.

As a result of our misadventure we have lost the moral high ground and our wisdom and influence are being rightfully questioned.

We can not be talking about contrition about policy we still seem to approve of.

We love our troops, but we do not condone their behavior. We publicly see them as heroic symbols and not as victims as many of them are.

Our troops were sent ill informed and ill equipped both physically and emotionally into a country battered by our embargoes. Most victims of our embargoes were children. The world watched as our young warriors kicked doors down, sent dogs into homes ( culturally abhorrent ), threatened and shot who ever opposed their rules. There anger was stirred by watching their friends die in action. Tough stuff to live with. They continue to suffer long after they return home.
We could reach out to them as a first order of contrition. However..

Yesterday, Michigan's house made budget cuts in veteran's mental heath funding among other programs for vets. This at a time when we have record delays to enter VA hospitals.

We have thrown out rules of law and decency, a large hunk of our economy, and our good word. We have sacrificed only those who have served.

It's too early to be contrite. We have to listen carefully to those who warn us against war so that we don't get talked into more folly and violence.. Dad
 

Thank you Phil Steger and Mr. Osler. You put more eloquently than I ever could my sentiments yesterday. I nearly drove off the road when I heard Richard Perle, from his comfortable perch at the American Enterprise Institute, tell an NPR reporter that it was "not a reasonable question" to ask if the Iraq War was worth the human cost.
 

I very much like Phil’s reflection and his suggestion. Thanks to Mark and Phil for sharing it. Phil’s reflection captures my take(bias) on what I too felt to be misguided, unwarranted, tragic war … with, at best, debatable out comes … all at an enormous cost to all involved . Yet, more often than not, isn’t that where most wars leave us? More mess than clear resolve … without clear winners.

From my perspective, the absence of contrition, or even the possibility of contrition … leads to a lack of cupalitity … which then leads to a grandiosity and an arrogance that is quite troubling … whether it be for an individual or for a nation-state. Psychologically such traits are the classic hallmark traits of a narcissistic profile/worldview... a profile (ego) that defends, at almost any cost, against assuming blame or fault (and against being exposed for such). They are never wrong. And by extension, there is concurrent lack of awareness of the other, and more importantly, and lack of empathy for the other. It strikes such a posture (re: the lack of contrition & empathy) is similarly unhealthy for both individuals and nation-states.

Chris Hedges writes about aspects of this in is work on war and nationalism.

 

As for the Day of Contrition, I actually thought about it all day--and, although I think the idea is well-intended and has merit, I think I am against it for the following reasons:

1. It seems too religious. It has all the trappings of a good "sack cloth and ashes" ritual, which is very important in my faith--and perhaps in yours--but we have gotten away from that sort of public exercise. It has been a long time since we had a national day of prayer and fasting. Not sure I want to go back there.

2. I think it would divisive--nay polarizing. As I have said above, I believe we have institutions that view American culture with a goodly amount of skepticism. I mentioned universities, but there are plenty of other places (this blogging community being a good place to speak your mind and question authority). And many more. All in all, a very healthy process.

But, a national day of shame will strike too many as a self-loathing enterprise. In my view, just not worth it.

 

Thanks, Prof. Osler, for posting my piece on this. It's nice to see the discussion that it helped generate. Thanks to all who left comments. I'm glad to know your thoughts.

Christine: I carried humanitarian aid into Iraq in violation of UN/US sanctions and I carried information and stories about the experiences of ordinary Iraqi under sanctions out of Iraq to audience in the US.

Seraphim: Richard Perle's comment gets at the heart of why a National Day of Contrition is necessary. He had as much to do with pushing to country to war in Iraq as anyone. Yet he does not accept or admit any responsibility. Nor has the country made him or any other major figure take it.

Waco Farmer: America is a country of irrepressible self-promotion and congratulation, much of it well-earned. I don't think a single day set aside for serious reflection and acknowledgement of mistakes and the suffering they've caused would degenerate into a day of self-loathing. I think it could help foster more responsible and sober public deliberation of big national questions, as well as skepticism toward too much secrecy and admonitions of "just trust us" from people in government. I admit there is a risk of polarization. But the alternative is and the persistence of the wrong and dangerous implicit credo that America can never do wrong. Polarization is sometimes a by-product of and reaction to worthwhile change. So it alone shouldn't determine whether something is worth doing. The holiday name does have definite religious overtones. But so do a lot of national holidays and concepts. But I also don't see that as disqualifying. All our military-focused holidays have ritual even cultic elements to them. I don't think the holiday would create a significant risk of people donning sackcloth and actions. I do think it could create the opportunity for serious, constructive reflection. Finally, the fact that some people in some corners of society recognize veterans doesn't mean we sohuldn't have a veterans day, so I don't think the fact that some college professors teach critical American history means that a National Day of Contrition wouldn't produce public benefits.
 

Phil, you write a great piece. I humbly suggest that Day of Reflection might be better than Contrition Day. Here's why:
1. This isn't the only time America has done something Americans have come to rue. Contrition implies apology, and that's not good enough. I think reflection bears more practical fruit.
2. Contrition is not apology, is not a sign of change. Reflection, looking at oneself in the mirror, I think might be a better name.
3. Contrition, in my VERY humble opinion, is the feeling of guilt for having made a small transgression. What happened in Iraq, with Iraq, was far beyond a little oopsie. It was arrogance, hubris, and a, dare I say it, Crusader-like expectation that coming to the rescue would automatically make everyone love us.

IMHO. YMMV.
 

Phil did a beautiful job on this. My only worry is if America is really ready to have a holiday like this. It is too often in our culture that we don't look inward. Instead, masses of people could use this holiday outwardly to blame, ostracize, and persecute others. We need to evolve.

I think we need to instill this mindset of contrition as part of our culture.
 

I'm still mulling over the Farmer's suggestion that a Day of Contrition would come off as too religious. As most people here know, I am all for expressions of public values, and I don't think we should avoid those where they overlap with the principles of multiple faiths, as this does. The kind of reflection Phil talks about is deeply engrained in the Jewish faith and calendar, and I would suspect Buddhists and Hindus, as well, embrace this concept (though I don't know enough about those faiths to say).

Phil-- great job; I love the discussion here.
 

Just for the record: I applaud Phil Steger, and, from what I can glean from his extremely thoughtful piece, Mark's assessment of Phil as a person "who thinks and cares deeply about the right things" certainly rings true. Thank you, Phil, for offering a provocative thought exercise.
 

Perhaps a Day of Deference would suffice. Deference to the fact that most all of us are here not by our own brilliant choice (or deft and patient navigation of an arduous citizenship process) but by that of certain of our ancestors who decided to hop aboard ships and set sail from other of the world's countries many years ago. And deference to the fact that our fellow citizens weep and mourn the losses we inflict in the lands of their respective heritages. I can't think of anything on Earth that should come with a more heaping dose of humility than acting as the self-proclaimed "last best hope for mankind." And I've gotta imagine - based in part on my interaction with citizens of other countries - that a simple acknowledgment of that fact would go a long way towards lifting our standing in the global community. So, I agree with Phil. Though I feel use of the word "Contrition" would invite opposition from those who do not see a need for such humility as well as perhaps misguided celebration and scorn from those who seek to "defeat" America.