I probably should stick to my policy of keeping my political views quiet in the presence of most, but I’m gonna’ write a bit, mainly cos I need to get it out, the way I best get things out: writing it.

I’ve taken two major lessons from the war in Iraq. The first is that economic sanctions seem stupid enough that they at least ought not be a first choice. The second is that nearly imperceptible differences in values, predictions and understanding of history can and do result in hugely different political opinions.

(Actually three lessons: the third is how I react to attacks on my political viewpoint, which is not very well. Passive-Agressive and all).

I am more or less against the war in Iraq, the reasons being varied and still largely questioned by myself, although the predominant is a lack, to me, of a compelling reason for the war. However, I see people with very similar values and beliefs to me consider people who oppose the war as foolish, sometimes to the point of traitorous. It’s little differences in values, in the ways we think, in how our minds play out might-have-beens.

My hope for me out of this is that I will always remember to look at situations with those slight changes in perspectives, to not assume that because someone arrives at a different conclusion, he or she is beyond understanding. I hope that I will keep trying to understand as many sides as I can, and not forget that but for some small change, I might agree with those whose opinions I instead think are entirely foolish and unreasonable. Cos, hey, I’d guess 99 out 100, they aren’t any more unreasonable than mine.