The UN reports that 34,452 civilians have been killed in violence in Iraq over the past year and about 36,885 people have been wounded. Gianni Magazzeni, head of the UN human rights office in Iraq, accused the government in a press conference on Tuesday of failing to provide security and blamed some of the violence on militias colluding with or working inside the police and army. The figures are much higher than any statistics issued by Iraqi government officials. The government itself branded the UN’s last two-monthly report in November as grossly exaggerated and banned Iraqi officials from releasing data.
No comparable data for 2005 were immediately available, but Iraqi and UN officials, along with evidence collected by reporters, indicate that sectarian bloodshed has risen dramatically in the past year, especially in Baghdad.
Decent Epicureans should be appalled at the uncaring, callous treatment of a country whose citizens had done nothing to harm America until America invaded them. (No, any Republicans out there, nothing!)
Robert: I grant you the fact that now, in retrospect, the us invasion of Iraq was not justified, however to use the word holocaust is a bit much, dont you think? After all, while the Iraqui civilian casualties may have been an indirect result of the instability caused by the US annihilation of Saddam’s army; the US has not, to my knowledge, targeted civilians for death, unlike of course, saddam did to the kurds, or the arabs have done in Darfur or the iraqis have done to each other; there is no moral equivalent, here; and of course this is the same UN that supposedly had sanctions against saddam but had some of its leaders making millions off the oil for food scandal. there is a lot of blame to go around, including the shiites, sunnis, and others killing each other because of their particular belief in their one true god. Of course, what of the billions of $$ us citizens’ money being spent in iraq by iraqi leaders, callous, I dont think so. holocaust, not even close; a sad state of affairs in which we should get out of as quickly as possible, yes. OK so I’m new to epicurus; what does he say about how we are to treat other humans? Is there a golden rule in epicurus’ teachings similar to teachings of jesus or buddha?
In retrospect I entirely agree with you, and was just about to zap this posting, or at least edit it. Over the top! I had an angry moment when I read those statistics, something Epicureans do try to avoid!
As you rightly say, there is plenty of blame to go round. A complaint I have had since the invasion started has been that the Iraqi casualities are seldom mentioned in the mainstream media. The American casualties are dreadful (and the way injured servicemen are being treated is shameful, too). But dwelling only on your own casualties in this day of blanket media coverage, when everyone is aware of what the major American media is saying, or not saying, and when it’s picked up by every anti-American TV station and paper on the planet, only gives the US an even worse image – – quite unnecessarily as well.
Anyway, apologies for venting in that unrestrained way.
If the sermaon on the Mount hadn’t been attributed to Jesus, it could just as well have come straight out of the mouth of Epicurus. He was a great one for moderation, friendship and doing unto others what you wished they would do unto you. Here are just a a few of his principles:
The greatest objective in life is happiness, peace of mind and tranquility (ataraxia in Greek), freedom from fear and anxiety.
Make and cultivate friends: they provide security and pleasant conversation.
Avoid upsetting and offending people and take no part in the activities of the polis (body politic)
Make agreements with others (laws), so that we do not disturb one another.
Live justly and obey the laws. Thus you avoid the anxiety of wondering if you will be caught and punished.
Thanks; Robert; here is an idea:(of course it would mean more work for you and others so well versed in Epicurean philosophy) Is there a way to set up an online “class” of sorts, either on this blog but maybe on yahoo groups;, the class would study and discuss a saying or writing of epicurus, either say once a week or month?
Mickey
I think that would be a good idea, but it would need a quorum of people to make it worthwhile. Six to ten people? It’s a lot of work, I imagine, and one would have to do it properly. I’ll think about it, Mickey. Thanks for the idea.