Dear Editor:
President Bush is unimpressed by the vast number of Americans who participated in the numerous peace rallies across the nation and the millions more who did so around the world. Many ordinary citizens have challenged the belief that a patriot is one who will “rubberstamp” their government’s policies without weighing the evidence provided.
But where are the Congressmen and Senators who represent us? Those, it would seem, prefer to remain quiet. Where is the media — happy to not probe too deeply so as to satisfy corporate owners?
Who is willing to challenge the idea that Saddam is the mastermind behind the Al Qaeda who killed thousands of Americans? For at least a decade we’ve known he’s evil, but why has the US suddenly decided that he must be removed and another regime installed? Remember that there were no Iraqis who flew planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Who will ask why the US isn’t helping to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian war and making sure reconstruction aid is adequate in Afghanistan, instead of starting a new war with Iraq?
Where, also, are our religious leaders? A knowledgeable cohesive unit of such leaders can provide the stamina required to lead our country in bringing order, without causing the deaths of large numbers of Americans and Iraqis, the massive destruction by our cruise missile “shock and awe” program of Iraq’s environment and infrastructure that will severely affect civilians, and a disastrous spread of conflict into adjacent countries. It’s time for us to impress upon them the important part they can play in this historic time and tell them to uphold their religious tenets and speak against killing, and in favor of a nonviolent response of continued inspections and other necessary investigations. They can be the role models all of us need to carefully question our nation’s policy.
Evelyn M. Dette