In 1996, Madeline Albright, the then Ambassador from USA to UN, was asked about the effects of the air strikes in Iraq, which destroyed its fresh water supply, and resulted in the death of nearly half a million children which was much more than the number that died in Hirsohima, she replied saying the price is worth it for the cause of democracy. Whether she regreted the same later or not is the point. Neither is this blog an effort to demonize her. The whole point is about the perspective that any price is small to pay as long as it is someone else's children dying.
Development is worth it as long as someone else is losing their homes. Wider roads are fun to drive, and who cares whether trees had to be cut, and a few people had to move out to God knows where. A small price to pay for development.
War, is very unfortunate, but what other choice we had to put the nuclear bomb, to end the disastrous World War II. A small price to pay for peace ! And after all, didn't it help the Japanese to build up from the ashes? Maybe they should honour us!
Floods are overflowing. They say it is because of the trees we cut! Poor people. They are losing their homes. But what to do? It is a small price to pay for the dams that are giving us electricity. Let us collect donations and old clothes and send them. Thank God we are charitable!
After 14 years of Ms Albright's statement, and after 7 years of Iraqi invasion, after 1000 tonnes of depleted Uranium dumped in Iraq through US munitions (The Hindu, 23 Aug 2010), Paul Bremer III, the former Iraqi occupation administrator, said in an interview, "We can take a certain measure of satisfaction from the success in Iraq. It's not a complete success yet, obviously, but building democracy takes time". And we are satisified !
Building democracy takes time. Indeed it does.
As long as my children are safe, let it take time.
As long as I have my money coming in, let it take time.
As long as I live in mansions, let it take time.
After all, we need democracy, don't we? Let's not hurry it. Let it take time!
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