An Eye for an Eye

Let me preface what I’m about to write with this: I am a pacifist, but I am also a realist. I know not everyone can share my convictions. I wish that war and murder, justified or not, didn’t have to exist. I wish we could solve our problems and disagreements and differences without the use of violence. I believe violence and hatred will only breed more violence and hatred, and nothing will ever really be resolved. However, I also believe that everyone needs to be held accountable for their actions.

Fact: Since the U.S. first invaded Iraq in 2003, there have been over 90,000 civilian deaths. It’s estimated to be in the 92,000-100,000 range. The number grows nearly every day.

Fact: The official number, as of September 2, 2002, of people lost by the U.S. on 9/11 is 2,819. As 9/11 seemed to be, at the very least, the *catalyst for the invasion of Iraq/Afghanistan, such a high difference in the number of civilian deaths is a little unsettling to me.

Fact: The Taliban has recently taken a 23 year old American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, prisoner. They’re claiming they found him wandering around the desert drunk. Bergdahl claims he was merely “lagging behind a patrol”. Whatever the case, the Taliban has threatened to kill him if foreign troops continue to target civilians in the name of search operations.

The Taliban is getting exactly what they want right now – they are bringing attention to all of the unnecessary, unprovoked civilian deaths. Oh, wait. No they’re not. Most of the news stories I’ve seen completely gloss over the Taliban's reason for holding Bergdahl captive. Even if they didn’t, I doubt Americans would sympathize with them. Our country would rather see thousands of Middle Eastern civilians die than one of our soldiers.

This reminds me of a thought-provoking question I was once asked—would you give up your life to save the life of one stranger? Ten strangers? One hundred strangers? How many strangers would it take? This leads to questioning how much value we put on our own lives—the lives of our family and civilians and soldiers—versus THEIR lives and the lives of THEIR family and civilians and soldiers. I’m not too fond of this mindset—whatever happened to solidarity?

So, although I’m not trying to justify anyone’s actions in this situation, and I’m certainly not saying the Taliban should kill Bergdahl, I AM saying that I understand and sympathize with the Taliban’s point of view in this case…much more so than the United States’.

*A catalyst for the U.S. invasion of Iraq/Afghanistan, even though bin Laden fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan weeks after the U.S. first invaded in October 2001 and is still believed to be there…not to mention the fact that these countries are merely the place of residence for bin Laden and Al Qaida, the forces believed to be responsible for 9/11. It seems to be the equivalent of attacking the U.S. because you are personally attacked by the Westboro Baptist Church…then when the Westboro Baptist Church moves to Canada and you keep attacking the United States.

http://www.iraqbodycount.org
http://www.nymag.com/news/articles/wtc/1year/numbers.htm
http://www.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090720/ap_on_re_as/as_clinton_al_qaida
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/afghanistan.soldier.hostage/index.html?iref=mpstoryview