Forced to be free.

[Infoproliferati]

A political science professor asked my class a question a couple of years back: "Do you believe it is important to force someone to be free?"

70-80% of the class said no. This was the spring of 2003. He explained why he supported the invasion of Iraq. He was born in Iran and emigrated before the Iranian revolution. He informed us about life in Iran and Iraq and the fear of freedom of speech or difference. I remember I almost got sold.

I was just listening to Bush's interview at Facebook's HQ and he recounts the urgency of freedom in the Mideast. One of the reasons he quotes as being relevant for the "preemptive" (remember how often the White House used that word back then?) invasion of Iraq.

I don't agree with the Prof or Bush. Should people or countries be forced to be free?

[Bill Roy]

Without being able to ask whether someone wants to be free AND the person being asked being able to give a truthful answer how would you know if that person wants to be free?

Info, your questions on this political forum seem to be the only ones I look forward to reading and actually thinking about. Though I somehow think many are asked with a wry smile on your lips?

[bwhhisc]

I don't agree with the Prof or Bush. Should people or countries be forced to be free?

That is a loaded question. In some situations with brutal rulers and oppressive regimes that threaten other countries I would say it should be considered.
Best if it is done as a last resort by a large coalition of countries, as we have learned the hard way.

[Infoproliferati]

Though I somehow think many are asked with a wry smile on your lips?

Guilty as charged.

That is a loaded question. In some situations with brutal rulers and oppressive regimes that threaten other countries I would say it should be considered.
Best if it is done as a last resort by a large coalition of countries, as we have learned the hard way.

One can only hope we've learned the hard way. All it takes is for some politician to convince the rest of us by claiming "they hate us for our freedoms." Suddenly acting unilaterally wouldn't sound like such a bad idea. And back to square one.

[Raider]

70-80% of the class said no. This was the spring of 2003. He explained why he supported the invasion of Iraq. He was born in Iran and emigrated before the Iranian revolution. He informed us about life in Iran and Iraq and the fear of freedom of speech or difference. I remember I almost got sold.

I don't agree with the Prof or Bush. Should people or countries be forced to be free?

I don't think you will ever agree, because you have no clue what it's like living under a repressive regime.

And I think "Forced" is the wrong word when describing Iraq, when the majority of people desire freedom and their granted that freedom, how can that in anyway be construed as something forced upon them?

If your going to use the word "Forced" I think a better example would be something that was done against the will of the people... Like Nationalizing Health Care against our will, and placing mandates that say if you don't buy private health care coverage we punish you.

[ilovedomains]

Freedom isnt a thing, its an ideal. Its intangable. It means different things to different people. Forcing freedom one someone is an oxymoron.

Every country has a piece of paper somewhere claiming its government was formed for the sole purpose of giving people freedom, happiness, liberty and justice. Writing up a bunch of baloney like this is first thing thugs do when they seize control of a country.

In return for all these wonderful gifts (that cost the government nothing), you are expected to give them your cash. When the mafia gives you this "freedom" for cash deal, its called a protection racket. When governments give you freedom for cash, its called it taxes. Every soldier who ever died in every war that ever happened was told he was fighting for his freedom. What a crock of shit.