This blog is set up for the social studies instruction day at Murray Middle School. In learning how to use a blog, we are going to unpack the controversial issue of US involvement in Libya.
War in Libya
Monday, April 25, 2011
Provide a little feedback...
Murray SS Teachers,
Please react to the two articles below - what are your thougths and why?
Every year my students ask, "why are we involved in this war?" or "what were we thinking when we bombed them?" It is often difficult to give a definitive answer, as our consistent involvement in foreign wars is confusing to me. Our country is currently under such economic and social stress that jumping into yet another war across the globe could harm us in ways we cannot imagine. I say we should work on our own government and social poilicies so we don't become involved in a civil struggle of our own. Oppression is in the eye of the beholder.
If the rationale for involvement is to save civilians, what about the Ivory Coast, Yemen, Syria...the list of countries with internal conflicts is long. There seems to be an attempt to equate involvement with past US involvement in Eastern Europe, but that was a situation with evidence of genocide based on ethnic background. Libya is tribal, but otherwise quite homogeneous (Gaddafi took care of most minorities long ago) - the argument for involvement to prevent genocide doesn't wash. So - what other reasons are there for US involvement? Oil resources? A grudge against a bizarre, anti-American, terrorist supporting leader? I don't see solid reasons for the US, or NATO for that matter, interfering in a country's clan warfare. SE
Sally, that is a very thoughtful response. Thank you so much for taking your time and putting some real thought behind what your wrote. A very reasoned and practical argument. Hopefully we will discuss this more today…
Interesting take, but there is so much more to this situation.
ReplyDelete1. Humanitarian Viewpoint
2. Economic Viewpoint
3. Security Viewpoint
4. Relations Viewpoint
...could continue this ad infinitum
Interesting take, but there is so much more to this situation...
ReplyDeleteGreat point - can you expand upon these other situations and give your overall viewpoint on the crisis?
Travis
Every year my students ask, "why are we involved in this war?" or "what were we thinking when we bombed them?" It is often difficult to give a definitive answer, as our consistent involvement in foreign wars is confusing to me. Our country is currently under such economic and social stress that jumping into yet another war across the globe could harm us in ways we cannot imagine.
ReplyDeleteI say we should work on our own government and social poilicies so we don't become involved in a civil struggle of our own. Oppression is in the eye of the beholder.
If the rationale for involvement is to save civilians, what about the Ivory Coast, Yemen, Syria...the list of countries with internal conflicts is long. There seems to be an attempt to equate involvement with past US involvement in Eastern Europe, but that was a situation with evidence of genocide based on ethnic background. Libya is tribal, but otherwise quite homogeneous (Gaddafi took care of most minorities long ago) - the argument for involvement to prevent genocide doesn't wash.
ReplyDeleteSo - what other reasons are there for US involvement? Oil resources? A grudge against a bizarre, anti-American, terrorist supporting leader? I don't see solid reasons for the US, or NATO for that matter, interfering in a country's clan warfare. SE
Sally, that is a very thoughtful response. Thank you so much for taking your time and putting some real thought behind what your wrote. A very reasoned and practical argument. Hopefully we will discuss this more today…
ReplyDeleteI do not think that we should be involved in the war in Libya. I think that we have enough problems here at home.KC
ReplyDelete