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11:09 p.m. - 2002-09-17
Middle East Musings
Two of the women I have volunteered with for many years on educational issues are with their husbands who are currently assigned to positions in the Middle East. Our friendship has stood the test of both time and distance. We communicate by e-mail and visit when they come home each year. Their skills are sorely missed in the community.

Like any good guest, they have tried to be respectful of their hosts' wishes and practices. They have each adapted to the life they must lead in their new environments in different ways based on their own personalities. Both are the type who will always try to make the best out of whatever situation they find themselves in.

They have experienced a lot of negative effects personally and in their day to day activities as a result of September 11th's fallout. Some of the population where they live do not want any North Americans around - particularly not women. It has become increasingly difficult for them to leave their homes, especially for the one who lives in the country's capital city. They have to be very aware of their personal security practices at all times. They are very vulnerable.

This past year has been quite a strain. One of our favorite pastimes, when they were in town, was to discuss matters closest to our hearts including the political and social issues of the day. Once they moved overseas, and because it is not possible to secure e-mail, I have always thought carefully before expressing a point of view that might be interpreted as inflammatory. Some issues I don't raise at all. If I'm not sure about a topic I'll follow their lead on an e-mail exchange. That has become even more important now.

The news of the past week or so and the editorialization surrounding it gives me great concern. To me, there is an increasing air of extremism - of taking polar positions that will not address the underlying problems that exist. It makes great copy and sells newspapers and Lord knows their sales need all the help they can get but brinksmanship in such a volatile time is not responsible. There are too many flashpoints; too many groups of people just waiting for the opportunity to throw off all restraint if global scrutiny is lost because of the sight of two giants going toe to toe.

Think of the conditions between Pakistan and India, China and Korea, China and Taiwan, Korea and Japan, or the Palestinians and Israel. Think about the threatened or actual genocide occurring in Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Bosnia/Macedonia. It is difficult to adequately address even one of these now. What happens if one of the giants steps out a little too far? There will be no such thing as a controlled nuclear or biological strike - that is an illusion. The giants will not be "in control".

Stereotypes and demonization on all sides allow each of the above to persuade their populations that the next step is just like a surgeon's knife. Go in, cut out the cancer, then retreat. Destroy what you perceive is destroying your life before it gains any more power over you. That's part of what the terrorists used for their rationale; that and revenge for perceived wrongs. 3000 innocent people died in one hour as a result, if the numbers quoted in the paper are anything to go by.

I guess my fear for my friends makes me very sensitive to the tides in global trends. In the history of any military action, 80% of all the dead are civilians, with that number increasing with more sophisticated technology. Escalation of the tensions globally will not stop the terrorists - it will only increase their opportunities.

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