Comments on: Are you allowed to have an opinion on Iraq? http://www.servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq Thoughts, Musings, Reflections, and Ramblings of a campus minister, father, husband, and a Jesus-follower Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:08:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Eddy E http://www.servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq#comment-395 Eddy E Tue, 12 Dec 2006 22:19:12 +0000 http://servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq/#comment-395 <i>I say this as a white male. So clearly my opinion is more important than yours. Boo-yah!</i> And that's why you are even given more space for comment... I say this as a white male. So clearly my opinion is more important than yours. Boo-yah!

And that’s why you are even given more space for comment…

]]> By: Tyler Watson http://www.servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq#comment-391 Tyler Watson Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:08:26 +0000 http://servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq/#comment-391 I think it is fair and just to ask Iraqi-Americans about what should be done in Iraq. They will likely have a better understanding of the culture, etc. than someone not of that ethnicity. But as you say here, race shouldn't trump all in arguments. (Also I like how you're able to tease out how race does play a de facto trump card.) In the case of a war, there are many factors and many areas of expertise that need to be consulted -- military, economic, religious, engineering, etc. The trick is for all of us to be humble enough to listen to the input of the experts in different areas. A strange trump has emerged in recent years. One cannot refute the opinions of the military, soldiers or their families, or victims and their families of the Sept. 11 attacks. If one does so, they are seen as callous or offensive and that kind of knee jerk reaction isn't helpful to public discourse. If anything, the intensity of the opinions held by various groups affected shows us that we are dealing with real and serious issues that affect our lives. I think you misread the comment on the blog and I think the commenter misread your intentions. It was a case of talking past one another. In my understanding you meant to bring in your heritage as another aspect in the debate, whereas the commenter read it as you trying to play a trump card. I do think the commenter -- as I know the person -- would respect the input of someone with your heritage on the matter. The commenter simply wouldn't agree that one person's experience will be the final statement in any argument. I say this as a white male. So clearly my opinion is more important than yours. Boo-yah! I think it is fair and just to ask Iraqi-Americans about what should be done in Iraq. They will likely have a better understanding of the culture, etc. than someone not of that ethnicity. But as you say here, race shouldn’t trump all in arguments. (Also I like how you’re able to tease out how race does play a de facto trump card.) In the case of a war, there are many factors and many areas of expertise that need to be consulted — military, economic, religious, engineering, etc. The trick is for all of us to be humble enough to listen to the input of the experts in different areas. A strange trump has emerged in recent years. One cannot refute the opinions of the military, soldiers or their families, or victims and their families of the Sept. 11 attacks. If one does so, they are seen as callous or offensive and that kind of knee jerk reaction isn’t helpful to public discourse. If anything, the intensity of the opinions held by various groups affected shows us that we are dealing with real and serious issues that affect our lives.

I think you misread the comment on the blog and I think the commenter misread your intentions. It was a case of talking past one another. In my understanding you meant to bring in your heritage as another aspect in the debate, whereas the commenter read it as you trying to play a trump card. I do think the commenter — as I know the person — would respect the input of someone with your heritage on the matter. The commenter simply wouldn’t agree that one person’s experience will be the final statement in any argument.

I say this as a white male. So clearly my opinion is more important than yours. Boo-yah!

]]> By: Samer Farhat http://www.servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq#comment-387 Samer Farhat Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:41:07 +0000 http://servingbread.net/2006/12/10/are-you-allowed-to-have-an-opinion-on-iraq/#comment-387 You make a very good point here, Eddy. I think all opinions are important to a discussion, but the those most involved should definitely be heard. You make a very good point here, Eddy. I think all opinions are important to a discussion, but the those most involved should definitely be heard.

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