Why Can't We Play Nice?

The news today spoke about Iran and as I was watching I wondered why the United States continues to make enemies. What are we doing to make other people so angry. Is it really the fact that we are a very wealthy country that causes nations such as Iran to despise us? I do know that a lot of resentment in the middle east comes because of the US's unflinching support of the nation of Israel. Why do we need to go about creating hate beyond that?

I usually have nothing against President Bush. I don't think that he is the best president ever but I also don't think that he is the worst. I do not agree with the statements he made about forcing Iran to halt their nuclear enrichment program through more sanctions and more pressure. This statement was made after a US intelligence report that said that Iran halted their nuclear weapons program in 2003. We have some sort of "proof" that Iran is not currently seeking nuclear weapons. Now that the Iranians can let their guard down and stop being afraid of a US attack Ithink we should be using this time to patch relations with Iran. Not further sanction them.

If the world was a playground the US would be the bully who is holding Iran upside down trying to get lunch money from them. Then after it is apparent that the kid has no money we punch him in the gut until he tells us where he gets his food and demand that he give us his food. Now in this example the good that we want isn't food but our own security but I don't know when it has ever been a good idea to punch people to get their food. It generally just causes more resentment and so far that mentality has caused serious tragedies.

I, in no way, condone Harris and Klebold's actions on April 20, 1999. Killing another human being who is not trying to kill you is wrong. Killing innocent students is very wrong no matter how angry someone may feel. That being said, i would like to point out the similarities between what happened at Columbine and what is happening in the world.

1) Harris and Kelbold felt like they had been picked on by the bigger, stronger, and more popular crowd. -- Terrorists see America as their big, strong, and popular bully.

2) Harris and Klebold felt that what they were doing was important to make a statement and get revenge for perceived or actual offenses committed against them. --Terrorists (often coming from countries like Iran) also would like revenge for years of perceived or actual offenses committed by America.

3) It is easy for guns and weapons to get into the wrong hands ANYWHERE.

4) No matter how much the juvenile courts tried to correct the symptoms of Harris and Klebold's problems they were never able to root out the core of their issues. The punishments just caused them to become more subversive. -- Attacking more countries and "bullying/sanctioning" them is just going to cause more deep seated hatred of the United States.

The United States of America needs to stop and accept responsibility for it's actions. We need to express sympathy for what has happened and come to the table to work things out with our smaller co-inhibitors. If we can use this time to admit we were wrong about Iran's nuclear program then maybe they will help us to restore order to Iraq. We could work out a deal with Iran that they would police their borders and stop the influx of weapons and foreign fighters and we would be able to aid in keeping peace in Iraq.

If I was a bully and I wanted to benefit myself i would find it much more beneficial to befriend the small nerdy kid on the playground because the chances are that that kid has wealthy parents who would take me out places and be just delighted to have me around. I would be pleasant in their house and respectful to their son. Let us befriend Iran. Let us work together. Could it really be that hard? I find it difficult to believe that there is no way to work things out with this country which we consider our enemy.