thedrifter
03-09-04, 10:27 AM
Issue Date: March 08, 2004
Iraqis must see true Saddam — a coward
By Paul J. Roarke Jr.
The recent capture of Saddam Hussein has generated a lot of discussion of its impact on the conflict in Iraq.
Some hail it as a major event while others downplay it. Only time will tell.
However, it occurs to me that the most important positive aspect of his capture might have been overlooked. A look back may shed light on its future influence.
In the small working-class neighborhood of Irish, Italian and Polish families where I grew up, we had our own scaled-down version of Saddam Hussein. Of course, he wasn’t going around torturing and killing people like the real thing, but he did spread fear and terror among all of us kids who lived there.
Almost every neighborhood has a bully. You know the type. Blessed genetics or an early burst of puberty makes them bigger and stronger than everybody else their age.
Ours was a gifted athlete, bad tempered and vindictive. At times, he seemed to take sadistic pleasure in terrorizing our daily lives. He would not hesitate to bloody somebody’s nose, demand his pocket money or even take his bike when the mood struck him.
He ruled his little regime with an iron fist, and the reports of his latest act of intimidation always were the favorite subject of hushed conversation and concern around the neighborhood.
It was a funny thing but, as much as we all feared him, there was just as much admiration.
He enjoyed a sort of hero status, and there was nobody I knew who didn’t want to be like him. It seems that bullies at all levels inspire the same mixed emotions from those over whom they lord.
On the surface, it’s hard to understand why anybody would worship and admire Saddam Hussein, especially after the despicable things he has done, including to his own people. Yet you see his supporters still out there, some waging a guerrilla war against coalition forces and others protesting in the streets.
The fact that this continues after he has been deposed and captured rules out fear as the only driving force behind his continued support.
The reasons for these mixed emotions are not simple.
I am not a psychologist and do not pretend to know the psycho-babble that explains this thought process, but it’s obvious this phenomenon is not new.
Throughout history, there are many examples of tyrants who were horrible, evil people who did horrendous things to gain and remain in power. In similar weird fashion, they were admired and worshipped by many, even to this day.
Saddam Hussein is the latest in a long line. So the more important question may not be why lowlifes are admired, but how to stop it.
A few years ago while home on leave, I ran into the one-time “king” of my childhood neighborhood.
Overweight, sloppily dressed and tired-looking, he seemed a far cry from the tough, young athlete we all feared and looked up to when I was a kid. Though he was nice enough to speak to as an adult, I had to resist a strong urge to reach out and bust him in his mouth. Not to settle old scores of juvenile wrongdoings, but because I felt stupid and embarrassed that this pathetic person was somebody I once admired.
That realization (though on a very small scale) may be the key to getting Iraqis to move beyond the days of Saddam Hussein. It’s the ability to see a bully for what he really is — a coward.
All bullies, large and small, are cowards deep down.
They use ill-gained resources (whether obtained through physical, criminal or military means) to co-opt fear, respect and power.
Men and women of character rely on hard work, personal sacrifice, respect for others and intelligence to gain a true measure of respect and success in life.
Bullies are cowards because they lack the personal courage to face people and compete on a level playing field. They hide like vampires from the light of day where they could be seen for what they really are.
Saddam hid behind huge elaborate palaces, tacky uniforms with made-up medals and grand, contrived celebrations to project an image of something he wasn’t. Namely, a true leader of his people and a person of character.
It was only with the help of murderous henchmen that he was able to stay in power.
This deadly sham worked for a long time, but eventually he was found out and dealt with. The last remnants of his regime will be defeated as the people of Iraq and the world finally see him as he really is — a lice-ridden old man found cowering in a hole.
At heart, just a common bully and coward.
Paul J. Roarke Jr., a master gunnery sergeant, is the ordnance chief for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=0-MARINEPAPER-2651317.php
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Iraqis must see true Saddam — a coward
By Paul J. Roarke Jr.
The recent capture of Saddam Hussein has generated a lot of discussion of its impact on the conflict in Iraq.
Some hail it as a major event while others downplay it. Only time will tell.
However, it occurs to me that the most important positive aspect of his capture might have been overlooked. A look back may shed light on its future influence.
In the small working-class neighborhood of Irish, Italian and Polish families where I grew up, we had our own scaled-down version of Saddam Hussein. Of course, he wasn’t going around torturing and killing people like the real thing, but he did spread fear and terror among all of us kids who lived there.
Almost every neighborhood has a bully. You know the type. Blessed genetics or an early burst of puberty makes them bigger and stronger than everybody else their age.
Ours was a gifted athlete, bad tempered and vindictive. At times, he seemed to take sadistic pleasure in terrorizing our daily lives. He would not hesitate to bloody somebody’s nose, demand his pocket money or even take his bike when the mood struck him.
He ruled his little regime with an iron fist, and the reports of his latest act of intimidation always were the favorite subject of hushed conversation and concern around the neighborhood.
It was a funny thing but, as much as we all feared him, there was just as much admiration.
He enjoyed a sort of hero status, and there was nobody I knew who didn’t want to be like him. It seems that bullies at all levels inspire the same mixed emotions from those over whom they lord.
On the surface, it’s hard to understand why anybody would worship and admire Saddam Hussein, especially after the despicable things he has done, including to his own people. Yet you see his supporters still out there, some waging a guerrilla war against coalition forces and others protesting in the streets.
The fact that this continues after he has been deposed and captured rules out fear as the only driving force behind his continued support.
The reasons for these mixed emotions are not simple.
I am not a psychologist and do not pretend to know the psycho-babble that explains this thought process, but it’s obvious this phenomenon is not new.
Throughout history, there are many examples of tyrants who were horrible, evil people who did horrendous things to gain and remain in power. In similar weird fashion, they were admired and worshipped by many, even to this day.
Saddam Hussein is the latest in a long line. So the more important question may not be why lowlifes are admired, but how to stop it.
A few years ago while home on leave, I ran into the one-time “king” of my childhood neighborhood.
Overweight, sloppily dressed and tired-looking, he seemed a far cry from the tough, young athlete we all feared and looked up to when I was a kid. Though he was nice enough to speak to as an adult, I had to resist a strong urge to reach out and bust him in his mouth. Not to settle old scores of juvenile wrongdoings, but because I felt stupid and embarrassed that this pathetic person was somebody I once admired.
That realization (though on a very small scale) may be the key to getting Iraqis to move beyond the days of Saddam Hussein. It’s the ability to see a bully for what he really is — a coward.
All bullies, large and small, are cowards deep down.
They use ill-gained resources (whether obtained through physical, criminal or military means) to co-opt fear, respect and power.
Men and women of character rely on hard work, personal sacrifice, respect for others and intelligence to gain a true measure of respect and success in life.
Bullies are cowards because they lack the personal courage to face people and compete on a level playing field. They hide like vampires from the light of day where they could be seen for what they really are.
Saddam hid behind huge elaborate palaces, tacky uniforms with made-up medals and grand, contrived celebrations to project an image of something he wasn’t. Namely, a true leader of his people and a person of character.
It was only with the help of murderous henchmen that he was able to stay in power.
This deadly sham worked for a long time, but eventually he was found out and dealt with. The last remnants of his regime will be defeated as the people of Iraq and the world finally see him as he really is — a lice-ridden old man found cowering in a hole.
At heart, just a common bully and coward.
Paul J. Roarke Jr., a master gunnery sergeant, is the ordnance chief for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=0-MARINEPAPER-2651317.php
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: