対イラク武力行使

さっき、hokuleaのHNで書いたイラクネットのフォーラムでの呼びかけに対し、バグダッドに18年間住んでいた、おそらくはアメリカ人であろう男性が、コメントをくれました。

みなさまに読んでいただく価値があると勝手に判断し、こちらに引用させていただきます。
心ある方は、是非、読んでください。

わたしは海外に住んだことがないので、こんな風に自分の国を褒め褒めしてもらったことがないんですよ。今の日本の実態を見せられないな、と泣きたい気持ちになりました。

と同時に、イラクでは反日感情が高まってる、というニュースばかりのなかで、まだ、こんなことを書いてくれる人がいる。希望をもってもいいのかな、とも思いました。
国籍とか人種とか、使っている言語とかに関係なく、世の中は「人を殺してもなんとも思わない人。人がたくさん殺されてることを知っても、見て見ぬふりができる人。あるいはそれを理屈で正当化できる人」と、「たとえ遠く離れた場所であっても、人がたくさん殺されていることに痛みを覚えずにはいられない人。見て見ぬふりができない人。こんなのはどこかおかしいと気がついている人」に、おおきくふたつに分かれるみたい。

moriyaさん、ありがとうございました。
あとでレスします。

以下引用。
HN「ファントム」さんが、わたしの呼びかけ「日本のこと、日本人のこと、どう思われますか？」に対して書いてくださったコメントです。

Posted: May 19, 2004 - 08:26 PM

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Hi soccer_mom_jp and welcome to the discussion forums on iraq.net

I noticed your post few days ago but waited for Iraqis to answer some of your questions before I tell you my thoughts.

Not sure if I qualify as an Iraqi, but I lived in Baghdad for 18 years and most of my friends at school, college and in our neighborhood were middle class Iraqis from both Muslim and Christian backgrounds, and if you are willing to accept my opinion, then here is what I think……..

Japan is an inspiration to Iraqi people, they think of you as hard working, respectful, peace loving, well educated people.

Young Iraqis are hungry for knowledge, most are very studious and when I was living in Iraq, most of my freinds were studying to be scientists, engineers or doctors and Iraq’s universities were the best in the Arabic speaking counties in the region.

Iraqis want the Japanese to help them in these difficult times, but when they think Japanese, Iraqis visualize technology and brains behind advanced designs of architecture and civil engineering projects, fast trains and fascinating electronic equipment, but certainly not military or occupation.

I think the first sight of a Japanese soldier in Iraq was both a happy and a sad moment for most Iraqis. That was then, when things were not so bad, and Iraqis were still hopeful, now things are very different.

Now the occupation itself is a problem, the media in Japan may tell you a different story as you guessed, but it is bad for all foreigners in Iraq, especially if you are there because of the occupation.

If you can accept my humble opinion, coming from someone who cares about Iraq and its people, then my message to the Japanese people would be to continue their pressure on the Japanese government to pull out of Iraq as the Spanish did.

Japanese assistance will be most welcome after Iraq gains its independence and your people will surely be invited to come back to Iraq not as part of a coalition of occupation forces, but as independent consultants and engineers armed with knowledge and not guns.

Japan and Iraq have at least one thing in common, respect to traditional values, and while traditions may be different in the two countries, the basic values remain the same.

Thank you for waiting, best wishes to your soldiers and I hope they all get home safely soon.