A Hot Debate

Date: 15-Feb-07

From: News Center Publications
Subject: February Caribbean Memo

Dear Friends:

Let's look for a moment at the current debate in the U.S. Congress about President Bush's decision to deploy more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.

To start off with, we have a question about the discussion. Can Middle Eastern solutions be found with so much focus on American troops?

Our brief answer is NO.

Why?

Lawmakers--in this case--are talking like they argue any U.S. domestic issue and such an approach diverts focus on what's happenng there. Admittedly, that's easier, reducing the scope of inquiry to how they might respond to issues in San Francisco, California; Kansas City, Missouri; or New York City.

On the other hand, why can't these men and women do something a little different? Why not dig deeper into the WHY of this CRISIS, this WAR, by attempting to know more about the culture, history, language and politics of the region?

They should if they are really interested in solutions.

Less than a week ago, following a church service at Calvary Baptist Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a Southern Baptist missionary from St. Louis, Missouri, was asked this same question. But instead of pointing to Iraq, she was asked to comment about Ghana, where she had served nearly seven years. Ghana is in east Africa and speaks English.

These are not exact quotes but she said something like this. `I thought using English and using my education and general knowledge of the world would be enough to get started there. I was wrong. I had to be quiet, listen and learn before I could more foward.'

Here was the next question. Do you think what you learned in Ghana could help in the Iraq debate?

`They are different, but similiar,' she said. By similiar she meant, USE the same starting point she learned in Africa in the Middle East and then move forward.

And we agree.

That's what our five novels about the Caribbean and Latin America talk about. Those principles learned here can be used in Africa and Iraq, anywhere. In other words, our lawmakers should be looking for answers not reducing the inquiry to numbers like in U.S. soldiers.

All of our novels can be found on the WebSite [natcarnes.com]. Also take a look out our BLOG SITE [nccarnes.blogspot.com]. With each purchase, let us know and we'll sent free of charge an e-book version. They can be read on any hand-held device with e-mail capability.

Remember, we are interested in your comments, pro and con. In other words, that's how we learn.

Please let us know if you want your name taken off the Caribbean Memo list.

The Editors