January 29, 2006

"Hi. How Can We Help Put A Smile On Your Face? Leave You Alone? Hmmm.... Well Okay."

Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life - I Thought Democracy was the Answer

Lots of people talk about democracy without really understanding what it means. Spreading democracy isn't about making the more places share American culture, it's about giving people the freedom to choose their way of life. The hard part for the U.S. government is that sometimes their choices will be different from the ones Americans would like them to make.

Fabulous commentary! If you are subscribed to the Quote of the Day feed, you will see this twice. Sorry! But this is such a fantastic point, that having two copies in your feed-reader isn't such a bad idea. And you can delete it if you disagree. :)

So here's the question:

The American Way, or the pursuit of happiness, is a nice thing, but I can think of a TON more bad things that have come about because of this pursuit, than I can good. Now don't let that statement cause you to believe I think we are evil people! Most of us are good, honest, hard working folks, and the ability to seek happiness coupled with the ability to seek such happiness via the mechanisms afforded us by Freedom, is often times a *VERY* good thing!

But happiness is defined at a personal level. Not at a national level, and ESPECIALLY not an International level. While I would not want to live in ANY other country from a long term perspective, there are a lot of things we take for granted, and assume that others, even though they come from *COMPLETELY* different cultures, backgrounds, and more, all believe that the "American Dream" and the "American Way of Life" is the end goal.

It's not. In fact, we're an *EXTREME* minority!

What then brings happiness to others? I have my ideas, but they're just ideas... In reality, I don't know what help brings a smile onto the face of someone living in the apartment next door to me, much less another culture in another part of the world I've never visited, and more than likely, even seen in pictures. But I know who to ask:

Them.

Helping to bring happiness to others is a good, admirable thing for us to do. But how about we ask the titled question, first, and be prepared for the suggested answer, respecting others desires to live their life in the way THEY think is right and WILL help keep a smile on THEIR face.

Not ours. Theirs. Isn't it THEY THAT MATTER MOST? [UPDATE: In fact, is that the general idea behind Freedom? One's ability to choose for THEMSELVES, and not have THEIR choices made FOR THEM? By trying to give Freedom, do we instead take it away? Maybe not intentionally. But the best intentions don't always bring the intended results.]

Question: Is the good, happy, warm feeling you/we feel because of "helping" shared with those in which you/we help?

Maybe next time asking first isn't such a bad idea?

Or better yet, if they can, let them ask us.

What if they can't? Something tells me if they can't, we already know. For example, the people of Zimbabwe need our help. Senator Hatch even wrote me a return letter suggesting he would support aid.

I'm 100% certain the aid has not arrived yet.

Maybe it got held up in customs?

Probably, huh?

No. Probably not. In fact, DEFINITELY NOT!

Why?