-Aristotle
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
War in Iraq
The war in Iraq is obviously a big factor in determining the GNH. As it has been with all of America's past wars, there is always a pro-war side and an anti-war side. In this case the very formidable and significant anti-war side is very upset which drastically lowers the GNH of the United states.
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I really liked the way you focused on the intensity of the anti-war position. Do you think there was an equal amount of passion on the pro-war side? Did these two groups balance each other out, thereby keeping the happiness level fairly steady? To what do you attribute the intensity of the anti-war position?
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that the war in Iraq is a major factor in the GNH. The pro- and anti- Iraqi war people express their concerns equally. I know that if I had a family member in Iraq I would want them home ASAP. What is the truth about Obama's next step? Now even with more troops on foreign soil can we be happy with the amount of brave women and men being shipped overseas? I don't think America's GNH would be very high at a time like this.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this site
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022702644.html
Houdini
Hi Houdini,
ReplyDeleteWhen you say, "The truth about Obama's next step," to what are you referring? I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit I'm not aware of the debate about his next step.
The link you posted is excellent!! Some really great voices are included in that discussion. Is there one view that seems to be in line with yours?
Mrs. McCabe
This is certainly a leading issue that is making a lot of people unhappy not just in the US, but around the world. War, and everything that comes with it, is not something that makes people happy. It generally does the opposite, and there are a variety of war-related issues that people argue with each other on, and this makes people even more unhappy. Things such as; should we send more troops over or should we withdraw them? was there even a real reason to start this war? why are we putting so much money and time into this? These are questions with no answer and there is widespread argument and debate about it, and both sides of each argument are strong and will not concede to the other side. This is making a great many people unhappy; there is no unification, and there is fierce animosity between some groups because of different views on the issues surrounding this war.
ReplyDelete-Karl Marx
Is our Gross National Happiness related to how the rest of the world feels about us? If so, how?
ReplyDeleteMrs. McCabe
I agree that the war in Iraq is very influential in the GNH. I think that overall, the war along with the anti-war population are lowering the GNH.
ReplyDelete-Harriet Tubman
War definitely plays a big factor in the GNH. This issue brings about plenty of different arguments, due to many differences in opinions of what is best for the country and the people overall. When people do not approve of the occurrences and decisions in war, the Gross National Happiness is not in balance and faces a great toll. Since the views of everyone differ and contradict often based on personal conditions, not everyone can be satisfied whether there is or is not war and what it brings about.
ReplyDelete-Harriet Beacher Stowe
Basically since 2001 we have been fighting in Iraq, but really it is very confusing to what we are fighting for. We already accomplished all our goals, (and fairly quickly, I believe) under the Bush administration, but now there really is not a common enemy for the American Public to come together against. If there was a huge enemy that the public could all hate together then possibly Americans could be happier, but because we are in a war, and there are so many questions about it, Americans, in general, are not going to be very happy. Anyone with family members in the war is distraught, hoping that one day they will all come home, so that is a serious pull on the negativity of Americans. There has been so much talk about bringing troops home, but really all anyone can focus on is how the troops are still there. Unfortunately, with war it is very tricky to try and establish Gross National Happiness becuase once we pull everyone out and bring the troops home then the families will be happy, but anyone that wants us to stay there in Iraq in order to 'help' the people there will be upset. At this point in time there really is not a definite answer that will make the most people happy.
ReplyDelete-Evita
Basically since 2001 we have been fighting in Iraq, but really it is very confusing to what we are fighting for. We already accomplished all our goals, (and fairly quickly, I believe) under the Bush administration, but now there really is not a common enemy for the American Public to come together against. If there was a huge enemy that the public could all hate together then possibly Americans could be happier, but because we are in a war, and there are so many questions about it, Americans, in general, are not going to be very happy. Anyone with family members in the war is distraught, hoping that one day they will all come home, so that is a serious pull on the negativity of Americans. There has been so much talk about bringing troops home, but really all anyone can focus on is how the troops are still there. Unfortunately, with war it is very tricky to try and establish Gross National Happiness becuase once we pull everyone out and bring the troops home then the families will be happy, but anyone that wants us to stay there in Iraq in order to 'help' the people there will be upset. At this point in time there really is not a definite answer that will make the most people happy.
ReplyDelete-Evita
Although not everyone will be happy with pulling the troops out of Iraq, most Americans will be. They have been there for too long, and many Americans feel, and have felt for a while now that it is time for our men and women in Iraq to return home. Gross National Happiness will be higher with our troops home as opposed to still in Iraq. Even people who feel that our troops should stay in Iraq, cannot be mad with the thought of our troops being home safe with their families. The most happiness comes with our troops being home safe. Everthing that needs to be done in Iraq has been done, so its time to pull out.
ReplyDelete- Kim Jong-il
I agree with Evita. With war, it is all but impossible to have a high GNH, let alone a dragged-out ordeal like is currently going on in Iraq. The only reason the war had the public's approval in the beginning was the September 11 bombings of the WTC. Now that the immediate al-Qaeda threat is removed from the public's mind, approval ratings have plummeted. Perhaps the only way to improve GNH related to this is to pull out troops-- making 70% of the people happy is acceptable, even if it is at the expense of the other 30 percent.
ReplyDelete-RAMSES