PSC 222
01/24/18
Our Imperative
Once again the Turkish forces have bestowed their reign of terror upon the Kurdish minorities in the district of Afrin in the Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria. Why even give thought to an issue happening all the way across the Atlantic Ocean? Because that closed minded rhetoric ended more than a decade ago on September 11, 2001. That tragedy served as an opportunity for the United States to build itself up as a global superpower once again and prove to the world that it will not be stopped by aggressors. As citizens in a globalized world, it is crucial that we in the United States keep ourselves safe, but our allies safe as well.
So what exactly is happening? Why are the Turkish doing this to a misunderstood group of minorities? It all came to fruition at the end of the first World War in the 1920s. The Western allies, being considerate of the little guy, were ready to begin planning for an official Kurdish state for the diverse group of people hailing from places in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia. This plan was known as the Treaty of Sevres. The state of Turkey, however, was strongly opposed to the idea of giving up parts of their land in the fear of loss of territorial integrity. They struck back in the form of the Treaty of Lausanne, which left the Kurds without a state and an ever prevalent minority status. Fast forward to the twenty first century and the battle between the Turkish and the Kurds is still being waged, only this time the United States stands unwavering behind the Kurdish due to their fight against the Islamic State (IS).
To sit back and solely read about this issue is not enough. Land is land and land is for people. Period. Americans are just as guilty of exiling people deemed not "fit" enough to occupy the territory, just as the Turks are doing now. It was in the 1830s that president Andrew Jackson sent out thousands of Native Americans across the Mississippi River for the purpose of allowing the white man to grow cotton so he could make a profit. The vision of manifest destiny that was supposed to provide this undeniable logic that America was destined for the settlers under British tyranny is, quite frankly, an illusion. The sweet irony is that the settlers had just escaped an abusive monarchy, only to terrorize and dictate the lives of the Native Americans. Thankfully, as a longstanding global superpower, the United States has had many opportunities to regain their footing regarding their moral standing. After the incident on September 11, the United States knew that terrorism was and is still today a very real threat that abides in this world. While it could be seen as frustrating from an outside point of view that it basically took a deadly act of terrorism for the United States to appreciate the threat that people in the Middle East struggle with on a daily basis, I think that there is something to be said for personal experience. Human nature is at its most passionate when advocating for a cause that is near and dear to them. Give people a reason to do something and they will do it. That being said, the ability for the citizenry to "rally around the flag" under the head of George W. Bush was crucial in getting support to send troops to Afghanistan.
While not fully endorsing Kurdish statehood, the United States has formed an alliance with the Kurds for the reason that they reject the actions of the Islamic State. For this reason, I believe it is absolutely necessary for us to send aid to these people who have expressed a similar aim in eradicating an enemy. Whether that comes in the form of building a US Embassy closer to Kurdish territory or sending in more troops, it is imperative that a country based in ideals of freedom for everyone, regardless of who they are, show support for a group that, not only is adamant in destroying terrorism, but also is fighting against the state of Turkey who, as luck would have it, is allies with Russia. And we all know the deal with Russia.
So what exactly is happening? Why are the Turkish doing this to a misunderstood group of minorities? It all came to fruition at the end of the first World War in the 1920s. The Western allies, being considerate of the little guy, were ready to begin planning for an official Kurdish state for the diverse group of people hailing from places in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia. This plan was known as the Treaty of Sevres. The state of Turkey, however, was strongly opposed to the idea of giving up parts of their land in the fear of loss of territorial integrity. They struck back in the form of the Treaty of Lausanne, which left the Kurds without a state and an ever prevalent minority status. Fast forward to the twenty first century and the battle between the Turkish and the Kurds is still being waged, only this time the United States stands unwavering behind the Kurdish due to their fight against the Islamic State (IS).
To sit back and solely read about this issue is not enough. Land is land and land is for people. Period. Americans are just as guilty of exiling people deemed not "fit" enough to occupy the territory, just as the Turks are doing now. It was in the 1830s that president Andrew Jackson sent out thousands of Native Americans across the Mississippi River for the purpose of allowing the white man to grow cotton so he could make a profit. The vision of manifest destiny that was supposed to provide this undeniable logic that America was destined for the settlers under British tyranny is, quite frankly, an illusion. The sweet irony is that the settlers had just escaped an abusive monarchy, only to terrorize and dictate the lives of the Native Americans. Thankfully, as a longstanding global superpower, the United States has had many opportunities to regain their footing regarding their moral standing. After the incident on September 11, the United States knew that terrorism was and is still today a very real threat that abides in this world. While it could be seen as frustrating from an outside point of view that it basically took a deadly act of terrorism for the United States to appreciate the threat that people in the Middle East struggle with on a daily basis, I think that there is something to be said for personal experience. Human nature is at its most passionate when advocating for a cause that is near and dear to them. Give people a reason to do something and they will do it. That being said, the ability for the citizenry to "rally around the flag" under the head of George W. Bush was crucial in getting support to send troops to Afghanistan.
While not fully endorsing Kurdish statehood, the United States has formed an alliance with the Kurds for the reason that they reject the actions of the Islamic State. For this reason, I believe it is absolutely necessary for us to send aid to these people who have expressed a similar aim in eradicating an enemy. Whether that comes in the form of building a US Embassy closer to Kurdish territory or sending in more troops, it is imperative that a country based in ideals of freedom for everyone, regardless of who they are, show support for a group that, not only is adamant in destroying terrorism, but also is fighting against the state of Turkey who, as luck would have it, is allies with Russia. And we all know the deal with Russia.
No comments:
Post a Comment