O. G. Pamp of Tweed, Ontario, writes in the December 30 issue of NOW Toronto:
RE To Send or Not To Send (NOW, December 9-15). Canada should not act as a gofer for American-imposed elections in Iraq, which at best would be an obscene joke. Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan needs democracy, but peace, and that can never occur until the American invaders leave.
Let's leave aside the wrong characterization of the election as "an obscene joke". To be fair, no one in December really knew how things would work out. Of course, lefties would do themselves a favour by leaving themselves a bit of wriggle room, instead of speaking in absolutes ("at best"? You sure about that? No chance whatsoever that it might work out OK?)
What I found most interesting was the bit about democracy versus peace. "Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan needs democracy, but peace." Maybe a recap of non-democratic regimes on this planet is in order.
North Korea - not at peace. Iran — not at peace. Sudan — not at peace. Myanmar — not at peace. Syria — not at peace. Saudi Arabia — not at peace. Cuba — not at peace.
The list goes on. In each case, these non-democratic countries could hardly be considered at peace. They are either at war with their neighbours, or at war with themselves. Even the ones that are relatively quiet, like Saudi Arabia or Cuba, are rife with discrimination and government abuse of their citizens.
O. G. Pamp might have the formula for peace without democracy. Nice trick if you can pull it off. My read of history and current events suggests that whenever you form a society in which the people are ruled by those who do not subject themselves to the judgment of those same people, whatever peace you might have is false. The government-for-life inevitably begins to see the body of citizens as potential threats to its power. Potential enemies that must be tracked, controlled, turned against each other, and if necessary, punished.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
Nice argument, except you left out the part about "O.G. Pamp" from Tweed, being a crank who writes letters to the Toronto free weekly "Now Magazine" every week. And they publish them in the letters column.
And most of his letters are just flame-bait. But if you're looking for a man of straw, I guess you found him.
2 - Steve
Though he is a serial letter writer, his argument in this letter does resonate with what a lot of people, especially on the hard Left, are saying -- Get out, get out now. It would be better for Iraquis if the Americans get out now! I think history would judge the United States harshly if they took the advice of Pamp or his colleagues.
3 - Dave Nalle
But Jim, you're a serial blogger who's just a flame-baiting crank and we listen to you.
As for peace, the only time you ever get peace is when you're stiff, cold and 6 feet under.
Dave
4 - Jim Carruthers
David, the point is that if you use mere opinion to prop up a specious argument, you are just a dumb punk looking to pick a fight. So, by this measure, you are a close, personal friend of Ernst Zundel.
Since you are objecting to my pointing out your reliance on straw-man arguments, I can only conclude you have a hobby of shoving gerbils up your ass, and going into hospital emergency departments under the name of "Richard Gere".
Don't worry, I won't tell anybody about your career in gay porn, that's strictly on the QT, Hush-Hush, between you and J. Gannon.
5 - Dave Nalle
All this name dropping of people I've never heard of. Should I be intimidated, impressed or just bored? Ah, I'll go with bored.
Dave
6 - Jim Carruthers
So, as you did during your tenure in a Twisted Sister cover band as Dee Nalle, what you treasure most is your profound, total ignorance.