I have not yet formed a clear view on what the obligations of the UK require as regards Iraq, or what actions going beyond those obligations might be appropriate, because I find the strategic, legal and ethical considerations extremely complicated. Maybe I will come to a clearer view later, but it's quite possible that I won't, because not all of the relevant information is publicly available, and even if it were, I do not have any specialist training in dealing with it. One thing I am clear on is that having made the decision it has, the UK bears a heavy obligation to make provision for reconstruction and for what political structure comes next. Therefore, my head tells me that for the moment I should do nothing either to further or to hinder the war, but should do what I can to further reconstruction and self-determination. That will probably take the form of donations to the Red Cross or Red Crescent, and a letter to my MP.
I would have hoped that people would see feelings of national loyalty in the same light, as an involuntary feeling, in contradiction to our chosen stance, that we would make a deliberate effort to change.
I don't perceive a contradiction between my feelings of national loyalty and my chosen stance, but I suspect there may be different assumptions at work between us as to what "national loyalty" entails. I would consider it contrary to my national loyalty to further an attempt by my nation to do something dishonourable. Just as I consider it consistent with the loyalty I owe to my partners to provide a reality check if I think they are doing something seriously wrong, so I consider it consistent with the loyalty I owe to my country to protest if I think its Government is doing something seriously wrong. I am more likely to express a protest by letter-writing than by demonstrating, but I have been known to do both at different times.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2003-03-29 01:12 am (UTC)I have not yet formed a clear view on what the obligations of the UK require as regards Iraq, or what actions going beyond those obligations might be appropriate, because I find the strategic, legal and ethical considerations extremely complicated. Maybe I will come to a clearer view later, but it's quite possible that I won't, because not all of the relevant information is publicly available, and even if it were, I do not have any specialist training in dealing with it. One thing I am clear on is that having made the decision it has, the UK bears a heavy obligation to make provision for reconstruction and for what political structure comes next. Therefore, my head tells me that for the moment I should do nothing either to further or to hinder the war, but should do what I can to further reconstruction and self-determination. That will probably take the form of donations to the Red Cross or Red Crescent, and a letter to my MP.
I would have hoped that people would see feelings of national loyalty in the same light, as an involuntary feeling, in contradiction to our chosen stance, that we would make a deliberate effort to change.
I don't perceive a contradiction between my feelings of national loyalty and my chosen stance, but I suspect there may be different assumptions at work between us as to what "national loyalty" entails. I would consider it contrary to my national loyalty to further an attempt by my nation to do something dishonourable. Just as I consider it consistent with the loyalty I owe to my partners to provide a reality check if I think they are doing something seriously wrong, so I consider it consistent with the loyalty I owe to my country to protest if I think its Government is doing something seriously wrong. I am more likely to express a protest by letter-writing than by demonstrating, but I have been known to do both at different times.