It struck me that John McCain did not once look at Barack Obama during last week's debate. What's behind this approach to dealing with one's opponent or enemy?
I found this approach symbolic of the Republican Foreign Policy strategy. Their criticism of Democrats neive attitude toward dangerous leaders of Iran, Pakistan, North Korea may have some validity--but Republicans have been equally neive about the culture, values and worldview that shape our "enemies". In refusing to deal with them, they are out of touch about how to deal with them. Republican Foreign Policy has been quick to label "them" as the "bad guys" who don't deserve any priviledges--and they ought to know it!! (I believe Sarah Palin actually used the terms "good guys" and "bad guys" in her recent Couric interview.)
There seems to be an assumption that understanding our "enemies" is not as important as beating them --the problem being that we often beat down opportunities for cooperation because we're to focused on maintain our tough-guy stance. Perhaps one of the most flagrantly foolish examples of our resistance to understanding the other side was the insultantingly few number of people sent to Iraq (sheltered by the Green Zone, of course) who actually spoke the language of the people we were trying to reach. There will never be "victory" in Iraq unless it is a victory of both sides. Until we understand our enemies, we will have force, but no victory.
We've had enough years of being the bullies on the playground. Let's become true mediators.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
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