Campaign 2008

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Carl's Word-My Country, right or wrong, my country

Here's a terrific response to Josh's view of the Russian/Georgia conflict. This is from my dad, Carl Uda. Again, I like hearing all sides to a story. My dad is great patriot and a war veteran. It has become popular to be un-patriotic and dis on our own country. I do not personally agree with all the policies America has had, but I still do love my country and consider myself blessed to live here. On a side note, I did hear a comment by an ABC anchor asking a reporter why we are so supportive of Georgia when they initiated this crisis. The reporter responded that it is because they have been such a close ally to the US and huge supporter of the Iraq war. After the US and Great Britain, Georgia has sent the most troops to Iraq.

Here's Carl's response:

"I think that it is great that you look at many sources for your information about the Russo-Georgian War. However, I would be careful about making the broad assumption that all American media is full of lies and all foreign media is full of truth. Personally, I have a lot more faith in the American media than most people. Call me gullible, if you will.


We should judge actions without bias for the system of government, but we should look at both past history and current actions when making those judgements. Having said that, I don't think a skunk can easily change its color or its smell. I believe that there are many Americans who stand with Georgia, There are many, like me, who are not totally cynical about the American Media. I hope we can all discern truth wherever it is to be found, whether it be in foreign media or the American media. For me, I hope we can trust Russia. Even Reagan trusted Russia. He said, 'Trust, but verify.' I think that is good counsel, 'Trust, but verify.'

There may be much truth in what you said about Russia and Georgia. You have to remember that when I grew up and witnessed history, I remember that Georgia, Ossetia, and Russia were all part of a larger union called the Soviet Union, also called the 'Evil Empire.' There are many good people in the former Soviet Union states, but there are still the hard core people who believe in the old ideology. So, maybe we are witnessing parts of the old evil empire doing evil amongst themselves. Whatever it is, it is horrific since many innocents must suffer, but I neither blame the USA nor am I ashamed that my country believes in supporting a democratic nation which has hopes and ideals to promote individual freedoms.

You know, I am glad I live in a free land where I can express my thoughts freely. I am glad you live in a land where you can express your thoughts freely. Obviously, in a country of millions, we have many millions of opinions and thoughts; however, as a nation, we all fundamentally believe in the Constitution of the United Stations and the Bill of Rights. We are held together by some unseen force or belief or power. Call it what you will.

I am proud to be an American and I have faith in the American way. America is not perfect, but I don't know of any other nation which can boast of our accomplishments. The fruits I see coming from America are much sweeter and more desireable than the fruits I have seen from the old Soviet Union and its fractured members. Call me a flag waving, proud, American. I am. I served my country when it wasn't cool to do so, just as our servicemen serve in Iraq when it isn't cool to do so. My fellow servicemen didn't come home from Viet Nam to ticker tape parades and acclaim. We came home. We didn't boast of our Viet Nam service. We were labeled as baby killers.

I grew up in the sixties when many people condemned our nation for going to war in Viet Nam and there were lots of civil unrest and civil disobedience. The images are disheartening in a democratic nation founded on some pretty wonderful principles. Yet, I have never seen a more ungrateful nation than that which exists today where people are quick to blame our country for everything from terrorism and rising gas prices to global warming. More people believe what the media in countries like Russia or Iran or France say than what the media in America says. I think it is a sad commentary on where we are headed as a nation. When people tell me what is wrong with America, I appreciate what is right with America. I have been to countries where they can only wish they could live in America.

So, what is my point? Why am I rambling on? Maybe I am stuck in the old Cold War mentallity. Maybe I believe that Saakashvili is a lying villain, a treacherous war criminal and murderer. After all, he belong to the former Soviet Union. Maybe, since I am stuck in my Cold War mentallity, I also believe that Putin and Medvedev are lying villains, treacherous war criminals and murderers, just like Arabs believe Bush is a lying villain, a treacherous war criminal and murderer.

John McCain, doesn't just speak for himself. I am one U.S. citizen who looks for opportunities to support struggling democracies against tyrant nations. I was taught when I was young, 'My country, right or wrong, my country.' I still believe that. I stand beside her and I hope the All Mighty will also continue standing beside her and guiding her.

I hope you will be open to contrary views and understand my love and loyalty to this country."

Josh's Word-Russia/Georgian War

My younger brother, Josh, recently sent out this email explaining his opinion on the recent hostilities in Georgia by Russia. I thought it was an excellent explanation of what is going on over there and a another point of view that most of us probably haven't heard. Remember, there are always 2, 3 or 4 sides to a story, depending how many "sides" are involved. I take a keen interest in politics and current events and the current political campaign is like the Super Bowl to me. Anyway, here is Josh's synopsis.

"Some of my friend have asked what I think about the Russo-Georgian war. I guess they want the opinion of someone who has lived in Russia. Well, I hate to disappoint, but I never actually lived in Russia. I was in the Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. I was also in the currently communist country of Belarus.

These were former Soviet States, occupied for more than half a century by the Soviet Union. With the exception of Belarus, they have made a statement condemning Russia, and they fear that they might be next. Many might think that I would side with them.

I read on the news today that John McCain said that all Americans stand with Georgia.

That might be true if all Americans received their information about the Russo-Georgian war exclusively from the American Media. They have portrayed this conflict as Russian aggression, an invasion by Russia in an attempt to annex a free and democratic U.S. ally.

I have been watching BBC and other International news, and I am frankly embarrassed by my country's position.

Here is the rest of the story that we are not hearing in the states.

Ossetia was one of the first regions to try and break away from the Soviet Union. It fought for independence from the Soviet state of Georgia. Later, Georgia also broke away from the Soviet Union, but Ossetia remained separate and gained de-facto independence and sovereignty.

During the Rose Revolution a few years ago, Mikheil Saakashvili rose to power and promised to reclaim Ossetia and bring it under Georgian rule. After much political effort, his plan was failing, and he began to position himself for war. In the meantime, he courted the U.S. as an ally, and his military was beefed up and trained by U.S. forces.

Observing this pending conflict, Russia sent peacekeepers to the region at the request of Ossetia. Ossetia had become a close ally of the Russian Federation, and many Ossetians hold Russian passports and Russian citizenship.

Last week, Georgia held a diplomatic meeting with Ossetia and finally agreed to peaceful negotiations mediated by Russia. Immediately following this agreement, Georgia launched a surprise offensive against Ossetia.

The offensive began with Georgian peacekeepers that were part of the same contingent as the Russian peacekeepers. After receiving word that the offensive had begun, they suddenly turned and gunned down their Russian counterparts.

Georgia then began to bomb and shell civilian populated regions of Ossetia and sent in columns of tanks and soldiers in a rapid advance to seize the Ossetian capitol.

After taking control of Ossetia, the Georgians then began to evict all Ossetians from their homes driving them in a massive exodus of refugees towards Southern Russia; however, many would not leave.

Georgian forces then began to attack those that remained behind. Georgian Tanks ran over and crushed old women and children in the streets. Georgian soldiers pulled people out of their homes, lined them up, and gunned them down, men, women, and children. Others, they locked in buildings and barns, women and children, and then burned them alive. Thousands were killed.

Russian President Medvedev heard the Ossetian cries for help. He called the situation genocide, and launched a counter attack to drive back Georgian forces and end the atrocities and war crimes being committed at the command of the democratically elected Saakashvili.

Russian tanks and soldiers poured across the border, and Russian planes began a bombing campaign against Georgian targets. The Georgian forces were decimated and quickly began a rapid retreat. They called for U.S. allies and others to save them from the Russian aggressors.

The U.S. stood by and accused Russia of invading a democratic country with the goal of annexation. The Russian offensive lasted a few days, and yesterday, Medvedev made the announcement that the operation was complete. He stated that all its objectives had been met, that the aggressor had been driven back and punished severely. He explained that the deep incursion into Georgia was necessary in order to destroy the entire military infrastructure that Georgia had used to commit its crimes.

Putin and Medvedev expressed frustration with the West, saying that the hypocrisy was almost too much to bear. Putin said that Saddam had to be hung, because he killed innocent civilians and destroyed villages that sought to break away, and Russia was upholding those same ideals and protecting the lives and freedom of its own citizens.

Medvedev stated that the U.S. was stuck in a cold war mentality and could not see that Russia was fighting against those evils that it once stood for. Both Putin and Medvedev expressed hope that they could work with Western friends and partners and find a common language.

Clearly, we have been misinformed by our own media.

John McCain, you can speak for yourself. I am one U.S. citizen that would NEVER stand with Georgia and support what they have done. Saakashvili is a lying villain, a treacherous war criminal and murderer. The Russian Federation was right to save the Ossetians, and they should be commended for standing up for freedom and justice, and for their restraint in not overthrowing the Georgian government, or occupying the aggressor nation.

Just because a government is democratically elected does not mean that that government is always in the right, or that we should always take their side. We should judge actions without bias for the system of government.

If you agree that all Americans stand with Georgia, then delete this. If you do not stand with Georgia, then pass this along and help the American people become informed. They certainly will not get the truth from the American Media.

Mahalo!

-Josh