From Ralph

04/14/03

They must forgive us...

Having watched with the whole world, and probably some aliens too, the crumbling of a regime, and the realization that everything oppressive fell away from them, we watched a nation on what can only be described as a cold turkey rampage.

We may have been shocked and probably horrified at the raw human response to 'liberation'. We probably imagined that Iraqi citizens would simply exchange one regime for another, like automatons. But Iraqi people are human too, and proud. Wow! Imagine that. The intrusion was total and catatonic. They were probably more shocked than we were, and with every right to behave like banshees. We are the ones who must ask forgiveness from them. Our understanding must be greater than we have ever known. Time will heal, but meanwhile, Iraqi people must be allowed to flex and experience what it feels like to not to be in shackles.

We have merely watched them, on camera, suffer like laboratory animals, and we have entertained the audacity to pass judgement. I am just so amazed at how tacky absolute power can be. Have tyrants ALWAYS had such bad taste, and so much of it?