Life Is Not What It Seems

"Life is not what it seems"

This quote is the witches' famous line. William Shakespeare has the three witches speak with lines of contradiction. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair (Act One, Scene One, and Line 11)" is only one good example. The witches' language adds to the theme of nothing is what it seems to be. It also helps with moral confusion within Macbeth. William Shakespeare was a genius to write like this. His works still apply to this day and age. The witches have many other lines of contradiction such as my favorite, "When battle is lost and won (Act One, Scene One, and Line 4)." The best example of this quote is the war in Iraq. However, the war is the opposite of MacBeth. The war seems bad but is really good. MacBeth appears to be a good king but he is evil and murderous.

The war in Iraq began on March 20, 2003. The war is also referred to as the Second Gulf War. People came up with this name mainly because they feel the President of the United States is just finishing what his father, our former President, started. The cause of the war is very controversial. Many people are so ignorant to believe that the war is over oil. In reality, it is not over oil. The generation of today is very apathetic. People are too lazy to look up the facts on the United States oil trade. If it were truly over oil, the United States would be at war with Canada. The average person does not know that Canada supplies the United States with more barrels of oil than Iraq does. For the year of 2006, Canada has given the United States any where from 65,000 to 80,000 barrels a month of oil. Iraq has only given the United States 12,000 to 20,000 barrels. Now does it make sense for the United States to go to war with Iraq over oil when several other countries give the United States more barrels a month? No, it is not rational. Another disputed reason was that of weapons of mass destruction. This was a good reason even though it has been proven false. However, Suddam Hussein would not let the United States UN inspectors in and check the situation out. That would make any one suspicious. Other reasons for the invasion have included concerns about terrorism (let us not forget about 9/11 people!) and the abuse of Iraqis by their own government.

So what does this mess have to do with Macbeth? It is simple. The Iraq war is lost and won at the same time like the witches said. There are so many good outcomes of this war. Tragically, they are overshadowed by the bad. The war is won in many minds. Suddam Hussein is dead. The Iraqi people now have a Constitution and democracy in their country. More importantly, women are able to vote in Iraq. Women's rights are now on the mind of many people. This is a very beautiful thing. Most rape and torture rooms are now closed. No longer do the Iraqi people have a fear of disappearing off the streets for something they said. These things are so powerful. Unfortunately, most people do not view this on the news. The good in the world does not sell and make money. Most do not know about the amusement park in Iraq. The park has not been open for years and most of the rides were all broken. However, American soldiers took turns and hand cranked the Ferris wheel for the Iraqi children to ride. Those children had huge smiles on their faces. They probably have not felt the simple joy of being a child in years. No, one did not see that on the news.