Two Deaths and the New Year
31 December 2006
There are two deaths marking the end of 2006.
They are not related; even contradictory. History tells them in a starkly different way. But, both were leaders in their own time. That is fair.
First is the passing away of a great American president Gerald Ford. He is a leader known in his country quite fondly. Ford might not be as popular as several American presidents, some even saw him as an 'accidental president' but he was a leader nevertheless. He was leading the US after Nixon's Watergate scandal and the American withdrawal from Vietnam.
As a foreigner reading American history, I learned that Ford was the leader who restore confidence to his country due to the highly political environment of the Nixon era. He came into office in 1973 with 'truth' as the concept for leadership. He, as former Vice President, stayed as President not very long, only 28 months, just as a continuation of the fallen Nixon leadership.
He passed away on December 26, after living quite a long age of 93 years. His life is really something to be admired; that living long and still be remembered fondly by his fellow countrymen. Even the world.
As a former leader who was still engage in current issues, he was reported to consider the Iraq war unjustified. Ford was said consider that Iraq war a mistake; a war based on erroneous emphasis.
Yes, life is an irony. When Ford died as an honored leader, that is something for history to write. Goodbye Mr. President.
But the other death, that is of Saddam Hussein of Iraq, in the gallow, was in shame. He died in an execution on December 30. May God have mercy on his soul.
Yet, if Ford was the leader to decide, the whole Iraq politics might just be different. Saddam might be not the fallen leader of Iraq. War might not be the course of action. Current history is in an undo button.
Saddam was definitely not a good leader. He killed his own people. Many Iraqi citizens consider Saddam's death justice. But many also question the Iraq war.
This is always a question for civilization to answer: how obsolete is war? Can we just not kill, but still resolve problems?
The 2006 is over, the two deaths, of Gerald Ford and Saddam Hussein, whether we like it or not, marked the arrival of a new year.
There is so much hope that what is to come hopefully store more good things for the world. For the humanity.
I deeply wish the past could be remembered fondly. And in full. Alas, history always tells both.
The new year has to be a new birth.
Labels: the US, world diplomacy
