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Summary of Question:	Who Is Right Concerning Us War In Iraq?
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 3/26/2003 4:42 AM MDT

waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh

i would like to ask somthing about this war. Being Sikh and the views i have, i dont know who is right or wrong. It makes me feel guilty in a way because America arnt innocent and maybe somthing they have done in the past, i.e. the middle east situation and really USA have screwed many nations over the decades so maybe they are getting ehat they deserve. On the other hand bad is bad and nay violence is bad, as i dont think all reasons have been exhausted! Who is wrong? IS there a wrong or as i think, they are both guilty! Saddam and America. Lets look how UK and America gained all this power, at one stage they must have invaded other countries for their own selfish needs, so why is it wrong now for nations who have been opressed by these ppl to attack back< personally this war is stupid, it will only create another million fanatics who hate the west but then i ask myseld, if a super power with coalitions are struggeling to remove this man, how on earth would a peaceful way do it? Who is right or wrong i have no idea. The west have just as much blood soaked on their own clothes. I duuno im confused :(
Thanks

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REPLY
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Sat Siri AKaal. I'm not going to say there is a right and wrong here, though I have strong personal opinions that won't answer your question. It's all about one's perspective, really.
Here are some general points to keep in mind (I'm American, BTW). (1) No nation has the market cornered on 'right', no matter what they think. (2) Every country on this planet has acted according to what it thinks is 'right' and experienced consequences from their actions. (3) The perspective of a nation's citizens and that of the rest of the world will not be the same. What is "right" to America is "wrong" to another country or people, and the reverse is also true.

(4) Nations incur karma just as individuals do. The laws of the universe (universal law) apply no matter who is involved: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, probably you are right, America has incurred some bad karma along with some good karma. So has Iraq. It seems the (bad) karma of the two countries have come together. (5) Leaders of nations are there because the people of the nations have chosen or in some way 'allowed' them to get there; that is also a kind of collective karma.

(6) In many Americans' eyes, this war is justified or 'right'. In many Americans' eyes, it is NOT justified, it is 'wrong'. (7) The rest of the world seems equally divided.

So, I think this war has to be viewed as something that WaheGuru is allowing to manifest for reasons that are His own. For Sikhs everywhere, and perhaps especially in America, our task is to cultivate our meditative minds through Naam Simran and seek to emanate peace and neutrality, for in the Guru's mind, nothing is good or bad, it just IS. Peace begins, first and foremost, in our hearts. While you and I could debate the rightness or wrongness of this war for days, what can we do really? To serve this planet and ourselves, we must cultivate peace in our hearts and minds. Challenge your inner self to find that place of sukhsehej, pure neutrality/no duality, and then be that unto others. Remember the Naam. Guru ang sang,
-DKK