OPINION & EDITORIAL
Let freedom ring
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Also by Matt Modell:
- Taking responsibility for your decisions (April 24, 2003)
- An honorable and just battle (November 20, 2003)
- Fixing the problems of ASM (November 25, 2003)
- The key word is 'illegal' (December 4, 2003)
- A fond farewell to UW (December 11, 2003)
Related Stories:
- U.S Government tries to right its wrongs (May 1, 2003)
- Swinging the big stick (September 9, 2002)
- An honorable and just battle (November 20, 2003)
- How the Pentagon won the war over Baghdad and the war over public opinion (April 25, 2003)
- Hussein's death will not advance U.S. goals for Iraq (November 7, 2006)
by Matt Modell
Thursday, April 10, 2003
“I’m 49, but I never lived a single day…only now will I start living.”
— Yusuf Abed Kazim, a Baghdad imam. April 9, 2003.
Yesterday was a historic moment. For the first time in over 20 years, Iraqi citizens in Baghdad believed that Saddam Hussein’s regime had lost its grip on ruling the country.
People lined the streets celebrating, thanking U.S. soldiers and even trying to kiss them. Many Iraqi civilians were declaring George W. Bush a man of peace and a hero while Saddam Hussein was denounced as a murderer and a criminal.
In a moment that sent a heartwarming chill through the spines of many Americans, the Iraqi people tore down the 40-foot statue of Saddam Hussein located in central Baghdad’s Firdos Square.
The joy overflowed not only in Baghdad. In Basra and Kurdish cities in northern Iraq, people were dancing in the streets, burning pictures of Saddam, giving flowers to the fighting soldiers, thanking the British and American governments for freeing them and waving Iraqi and American flags.
This moment signified what is likely ahead for the Iraqi people. First and foremost: freedom. No longer will Iraqi citizens have to live in fear of expressing opinions that may be unfavorable toward an evil dictator. Citizens will have political and religious freedom again, and the torture chambers will never operate again. Iraqi civilians will be able to represent themselves and will not all have to live in impoverished conditions.
The destruction of the Saddam statue also was a reminder that Iraqis are not in this alone and will have the support of the United States and allied forces. Iraqis were unable to topple Saddam in the past without help, and they could not tear down this statue without American assistance either. But it was indeed assistance that Americans soldiers offered; they did not impose the toppling of this statue on the Iraqi citizens.
And just as we did not impose the toppling of this statue, America is not going to impose a leader, a form of government, or anything of this nature on the Iraqi citizens.
This truly has been liberation for Iraqi citizens all over the world. In Dearborn, Mich., Arab Americans marched through the streets in celebration of this victory. Many Iraqi Americans have even expressed desire to return to their native country with the impending end of persecution.
America once fought a war for its own freedom, though that was more than 200 years ago, and most of us have not forgotten how lucky we are to live in liberty. The war we are fighting in Iraq — make no mistake there is still fighting to be done — is a reminder of this freedom we have.
Yet, 20 minutes after the toppling of Saddam’s statue yesterday, the anti-war organization Not in Our Name sent out an e-mail that read, “As we react to the events now taking place in the Iraq, it is important to recognize and respect what many are experiencing, be it anger at the carnage and our inability to stop it, grief for the innocent lives lost, despair over the loss of American ideals and the erosion of freedoms for all….”
Signees who support Not in Our Name include Madison mayor-elect Dave Cieslewicz, state legislators Mark Pocan and Fred Risser, and former Madison mayor Paul Soglin.
Madison representatives may not want to accept the freedom our forces have helped bring Iraqi citizens, and make no mistake freedom has been brought to the Iraqi people, but I believe most of us are proud of our soldiers and proud of the freedom these soldiers have helped bring the Iraqi people.
Most Americans, including myself, are proud for this to be done in our name.
Matt Modell (mmodell@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
