I’ve often thought that there are many tasks we take on in life where it takes years to see the full results. The best example I can think of is raising a child. A child can be wonderful as a toddler but become a tough teenager, or visa-versa, but the only way you can really know if you did a good job as a parent is after your child reaches adulthood, 20 years later. On page 119, Eisenhower is quoted as saying (of the occupation of Germany and Japan after WWII), “the success or failure of this occupation can only be judged 50 years from now. If by then the Germans have a flourishing, stable democracy, we will have succeeded.” This is another example about not being able to see success or failure immediately. His quote makes me think about the present-day conflicts we’re involved in – more specifically, Iraq. Right now, the Iraq War might look to some as a bad idea, somewhere we shouldn’t have gone, and a situation in which we shouldn’t involved ourselves. However, if in 50 years, Iraq is a stable democracy, will President Bush's policy be vindicated? Can what Eisenhower said about 1945 Germany be applied to 2008 Iraq?
6 Comments
Katherine
5/25/2010 09:34:12 am
We had talked about this once in class not exactly about Bush, but about how perspectives change. It was mentioned that at some point in history there were presidents that were criticized for decisions that they had made. However, now they are thought to have made a good decision, I can't remember who exactly but I know it was a president. When I read Eisenhower's quote I caught myself nodding my head in agreement. From what I've heard many people dislike ex-president Bush, but I guess at some point later on in the future that will change. He will probably be seen as a man who made a change in the lives of the people who live in Iraq. For now we can only hope good comes from the war, so that later in the future it can be decided whether or not the war was a good idea.
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Andreina
5/25/2010 10:53:24 am
I agree with Katherine. I believe that telling your children of your past is the best way. The reasons I say this because it proves that they made mistakes and they are learning from them. By telling the next generation of what occurred makes them realize that it was wrong and that it should never happen again. The way that the Japanese handled themselves after the war was wrong. It shows that they do not regret the harmful things they done in the past. Therefore, saying to the next generation that what they did was okay. That way does not showing respect to the innocent lives that were lost on both sides and it is not showing sympathy. In other ways, it is basically saying we do not regret what we did, you all are the ones at fault.
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Randy
5/25/2010 11:20:46 am
I believe that people will rethink their opinions about President Bush once Iraq reaches a democracy. They will notice that his policy would be successful and that all it really needed was time to take effect. Only time will tell what will happen in the future. I agree with Eisenhower's quote applying to Iraq. As time progresses, Iraq will be improving better and more efficient. All it really needs is time for Iraq to improve.
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Andrew
5/25/2010 11:37:05 am
No, Bush in my personal opinion had made a mistake going into Iraq. I recall Ms. Cohen saying that everyone was mad a Bush Sr. for not going in and then they realized it was a good decision because when we finally did we realized it was not a good idea. I believe so, only time can tell if it was a good or bad decision. No one will kno because anything can happen. It can go completely wrong or perfectly right.
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Regina
5/25/2010 11:57:45 am
The Legacy of World War II - Chapter 9
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Justin
5/27/2010 03:00:44 am
I do think what Eisenhower said may apply to Iraq in the future. Why wouldn’t it be? There isn’t a way to see in the future until one gets to that time so with that said, only time can tell. I do think that people will change their minds. I think they feel this way because of what the war created now. People have different feelings at different moments so if the end result is good, so would the opinions of the people.
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