Mr. Bush wants to bring the American people into a ‘war’ with Iraq. We have no right to do this. We cannot go in and kill innocent people because we fear their leader will kill us first. With this mentality, all the countries that Mr. Bush named in his “axis of evil” should be allowed to wage war on us because we are now a threat to them.
Iraq has not attacked us; we have no right under international law to do this. This so-called ‘war’ will result in tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths and thousands of American soldiers could also die. Political change cannot be induced with violence against others. It is not okay for us to terrorize and massacre hundreds of thousands of poor and defenseless people in order to remove Saddam Hussein, all under the guise of ‘defending’ ourselves.
Why are our innocents more important than their innocents are? As Arun Gandhi says, “We must move from seeking to be respected for our military strength to being respected for our moral strength.” And he says, “What will we gain by destroying half the world? Will we be able to live with a clear conscience?”
Violence, hatred, and anger will never bring us peace. Going into Iraq will not give us a sense of security and keep us from being afraid anymore. On the contrary, it will cause us to be even more vulnerable to attack. I don’t know about you, but I personally do not want to line up for a smallpox vaccine. Instead of a vaccine against smallpox, we need to vaccinate ourselves with the truth and with the courage to stand up against men in positions of power who have taken our lives in their hands with this decision to go into Iraq to kill and destroy.
Our allies in Europe are not supportive of this action, and neither is most of the world. Congress is supposed to be able to declare war, not one man, George Bush.
If you do not agree with this ‘war’ on Iraq, I urge you to call your Senators today and express the right that was given to you by our forefathers. Tell them you do not support going into Iraq in this so-called ‘war’. Your mind may try and tell you that it doesn’t make a difference to voice your opinion, but it does, even if it is to keep you free from being a part of the madness through silent acceptance. It is only with our voice that we can make a difference. Silence is approval; silence is deadly.
Alethea Guthrie