Editor,
"A picture speaks a thousand words," was another response to the photo that was published in the Daily Lobo that caused so much controversy and hurt many virgin eyes.
Being that Afghanistan is so far away, most of us hear and see only bits and pieces that have been spoon-fed us by the media and the government.
Up until "the picture" was published on Wednesday, the Afghanistan war read like a chapter from a history book - very one-dimensionally.
How many Americans followed the war as many years it has been taking place? How many of us knew what the Taliban was all about before Black Tuesday? What most of us Americans have never experienced is war in our homeland - in our own backyards.
Let's try and remember what brings on war in the first place. What we learned in our history classes is war is always based on a high state of emotion.
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There is always an oppressed group and an oppressor. What I saw in that published photo was a release of that emotional grip of oppression, releasing years of rage. It could be likened to a volcano exploding under intense pressure.
Now, what is it we can learn about war from this slice of history?
We don't want to get to the point where we can't see beyond our emotionally-based differences and are unable to celebrate life, our unity, our oneness - the glue that bonds us together in peace.
Thank you to the Daily Lobo for publishing that photo. You have reminded me, and I hope others, as well, of the importance of keeping our emotions in check through constructive communication, and to maintain and, in some instances, restore peace where all brothers and sisters are treated with love, respect, dignity, and kindness.
Patricia Comer
UNM staff
