Editor,
Now look people, just what do you think you're saying when you say that anti-war protestors are irresponsible, unpatriotic and even traitorous?
No one is saying that the attacks on the United States were justified; no one is saying that they should go unpunished; no one is siding with the terrorists. Self defense is not justice, but it is necessary. The people who pulled off the attacks are dead; they died, however wrongly we feel, for their cause.
Did someone order the attacks? We don't know.
Did someone mastermind the whole plan? We don't know.
Did Osama bin Laden cause the attacks? Possibly.
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Under our laws, he would at least be arrested for inciting to riot. I'm all for a war on terrorism. The entire world is willing to cooperate with us to break up terrorist groups, supplies and finances.
Find 'em, arrest 'em, try 'em and execute the convicted ones. A united world bent on doing so can wipe out terrorism. But, if people in this country want to call for an end to the attacks on a sovereign nation that did not attack us, then shouldn't they be allowed to?
Even if a country had attacked us, dissent is allowed. The proud, heroic traditions of our country don't just allow dissent; they demand it. It is as patriotic to dissent as it is to demand justice.
It is our right; it is our duty to do so. If we do not practice dissent, we do not have that right.
Maybe the attacks on Afghanistan are wrong? Maybe they are not hurting the terrorists at all? Maybe they are actually playing right into their plans to create a holy war?
Where is the debate, the discussion?
We cannot say we are defending our right to dissent by asking people not to dissent. When is the right time? After the bombing? After the war is over? What if the war never ends because it is not effective? What if it is illegal for a U.S. President to make demands of the government of a sovereign nation, no matter how good we think those demands are?
If someone hits me, threatens me with great harm or death, then I will defend myself.
I don't go to his neighbor's house and trash it because I think he supports the guy who hit me. That is not justice. Revenge is not justice. Labeling dissenters as unpatriotic traitors is not justice, nor does it help the cause of justice. We should direct our righteous anger against terrorism, not each other.
Terry Mulcahy
UNM staff
