Forget Libya

                                                             

As Cee Lo Green would sing, forget Libya and forget Iraq, too. Cee Lo would sing it another way of course, but this is a family-friendly blog.

As one who has never visited the Middle East or North Africa, like most Americans, let me weigh in on the changes going on in that Allah-forsaken part of the world.

Let them find their own destinies. 

It's always great to see people rise up against autocratic rulers. Granted, these upheavals may go the way Iran did in 1979 or Afghanistan 10 years later, but, it's the people's choice. If they want Islamic rule that encourages the stoning to death of women, that's what they want. If these newly radicalized countries then want to fight the U.S., well, it then simplifies the "war on terror." Instead of fighting a word all over the world, we'll be doing battle with tribes and clans stretching from Tehran to the shores of Tripoli. 

It would be a war that pulverizes that region of the globe.

Another great thing about these rebellions and demonstrations is that, for the first time in more than 40 years, they do not feature the burning of the American flag along with chants of "Death to America."

In fact, we're not in the middle of the Middle East revolutions at all. How sweet is that?

Now, the same folks that were cheerleaders for the invasion of Iraq, have dusted off their poms-poms and are chanting: "Do something, Obama!" and "No-fly zone!"

Naturally, those same folks, who have never served in a foreign conflict and never will (except for John McCain), are perfectly willing to send young men and women in harm's way for essentially nothing.

Okay, oil isn't nothing. Libya's got plenty of oil as do other countries over there.

The only reason any of this matters is because some Americans are upset that it now costs about $80 bucks or more to fill up their behemoth SUVs.

That is the price of freedom.

Pay up or shut up. 

Better yet, buy a Leaf. Or, take a hike.

We Americans are a thick-headed people sometimes. After the energy shocks of the 1970s, the Iraq Wars, 9/11, the massive oil spills and now the 2011 revolutions, we still don't get the message.

It is a simple one: kick our oil addiction. 

We can't even begin the 12-step process to fight this dependency on petroleum because we believe our oil addiction is perfectly natural and good for us.

This state of denial, sadly, will result in another catastrophic event that will dwarf the attacks of 9/11.

In spite of our resistance to forsake oil, it will be much easier to wean ourselves from the "black gold" than to change Islam into a secular-progressive way of life.

We must change ourselves, not force change on others.