Editor,
The U.S. flag is again stained with the blood of innocent people. These stains are in addition to those already present from prior U.S. leaders who took refuge in violence when faced with conflict rather than in intellectual reason or nonviolent, sacred doctrines.
Innocent people have been killed in Afghanistan since this "War on Terrorism" began on Oct. 7. These absurd actions of the U.S. government against Afghanistan must be stopped.
The absurdity of this war is apparent by the following. This war is led by an administration that advertises the values of overconsumption, false pride based on financial domination and a superiority complex based on military strength.
President Bush has shown the world his leadership skills are similar to a tyrant infatuated with glory, honor and power. When asked by the press which politician was most influential in his life, Bush answered, "Jesus Christ."
Now, he faces terrorism under his leadership and opposes "turning the other cheek," immediately reverting to war rhetoric. At the dawn of the 21st century, U.S. leaders continue to behave like the arrogant, ethnocentric and ignorant empire the world suspects us to be.
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The corporate controlled Hollywood-style media serve as an effective instrument of war. The media entertained Americans with scenes of death in New York and Washington and came to the immediate conclusion that the attack came from an outside country, similar to Pearl Harbor. Then they placed the notion in every American's mind that the terrorists must reside in the Middle East.
This notion, imbedded in mainstream culture, appeared again, reminding us of the same racist scapegoating that occurred during the Oklahoma City bombing. The media, filled with "authorities" who either have never studied the history of international politics or whose minds are diluted with American pride, has lost capacity for thought and mistake the desire for blood-thirsty revenge as patriotism.
The nation is angry. Osama Bin-Ladin (sic) and the Taliban are easy targets. I characterize Afghanistan as an easy target because that the most powerful military on Earth is attacking a country whose gross national income is less than $755 per year.
Television has easily convinced the "too busy to care" American culture that murder in Afghanistan is justifiable, with news reports filled with empty facts and characterizing images of Islamic men with heavy weaponry as the "enemy". The American flag is now displayed to show support for the murdering of people, including children in the Third World. American children are being deceived, confirming their fears that violence is a healthy manner for solving conflict.
We create reality with our minds. We can achieve peace if we are collectively thinking "peace." Vengeance solves nothing. We have the ability to stop these actions by mentally opposing violence and vocalizing solutions.
May we think of humanity as fellow brothers and sisters. May there be peace on Earth.
Brian Ramirez,
philosophy and
political science major
