War, what is it good for?
March 24, 2003 1:41 a.m.
I had watched in fascinated horror as the major networks played footage of the weapons of mass destruction that our nation so willingly unleashed. I couldn't tear my eyes away, no matter how much my mind sobbed in agony, no matter how clearly the imagined voices were screaming in my mind. I could only sit and watch in almost mindless agony. My eyes strained to see the faces of our soldiers in the desert, wondering if one of them could be Nathan, or Chris, or Josh, or Ben, or Shane, or Lee... terrified that it would be one of them and that it may be the last time I saw them alive.I watched Saddam's statement that night. Amie and I laughed as he referred to us all as "American Zionists" and promised the Iraqi people that "Allah will prevail". We laughed in sick humor at the irony of that statement. Two nations with the same God, each claiming his support. I wonder if our President has called God up to ask him his opinion.
Bush: Hello, God? Yeah, this is George again. I just wanted to know if you support me in this little "conflict" I have in the works. It will be over pretty soon, and the American people will support me if I tell them that you're behind us on this. So... how's about it?
God: Haven't I told you a million times that the Muslims are my people too? You, in your narrowmindedness, are classifying an entire nation of people because of a few religious zealots who do their best to discredit you due to your religious zealotry. So, until you both learn you lesson, I'm going to sit back and watch while you remind the whole world that I gave the the blessing (or curse) of a free will.
Bush: So, is that a yes?
My campus is a mass of conflicting emotions these days. We are split, pro-war against anti-war, pro-bush against anti-bush. Somehow I feel as if I don't belong to any group. I want this war over. I want our troops back home. I want there to be no need for us to wage warfare on each other. I want our nation to start listening. If 49% of us are saying that war is not the answer we choose, then it that is enough of a majority to get the president elected, that should be enough to make him listen to us. I don't blame the United States for this. Instead, I blame the entire mindset of our culture. We need to change, soon. But no one seems to have the slightest idea of how to do it.
In the meantime, I voice my opinion, defy the opposition, and generally cause a ruckus. I will wear "Give Peace a Chance" buttons and send care packages to our troops. I will speak proudly of my friends who are willing to sacrifice themselves for what I see as an needless cause because caring about something enough to die for it is a beautiful thing, and in the same breath I will damn any congressman or woman to the nine hells for even mentioning the draft. I will wear a yellow ribbon only in support of teenage suicide awareness, not in support of war. I will speak my mind, even to the point of sedition. I will exercise my rights and tempt the "Patriot Act" as far as I feel necessary because we should not need to give up our freedom in exchange for safety. I will buy a Dixie Chicks album for the first time in my life. I will do this because these are my rights, my opinions, and my beliefs. And like every other person in America, I have a moral duty to stand up for them.
So I will laugh with sick humor and a knot in my gut at the deaths of thousands, just like we did on September 11, 2001, when we were sure that it was an elaborate joke in those early minutes. I will laugh with sick humor when my friends talk about the possibility of being drafted and what horrible soldiers we would make. I will explain what it means to be a conscientious objector to anyone who asks me, and patiently try to explain that it does not mean I don't care about my country. I will refuse to kill another man, woman, or child on the orders of any government. I will boycott foreign oil becuase I despise how the money goes nowhere except the pockets of the already filthy rich and horribly corrupt. And each night, I will struggle against the tears that threaten to fall. I will still look for my friends faces on the television. But I will pray that I will never see them. And I will pray, that soon I will not need to pray to God for such a thing ever again.
"Kill the people to set them free.
Who put this price on their liberty?"
