Before you read this, I feel that it is important that you know that I am by no means a warmonger. I do not feel that I am a 'know-it-all', nor am I writing this to preach to anyone. If I had my way, there would be no war. People would treat others with love and respect, and innocent people would never have to suffer or die for the ideologies of others. I am simply your run-of-the-mill former political science student who never got his degree. Yet I feel compelled to share my 'two cents' on this matter.

For the first month or so after the terror attacks on September 11, I was actually quite liberal and open-minded about the whole situation. I have a decent idea as to why many in the Arab world hate America. I have known for some time that sooner or later the American citizen would be attacked for the foreign policy decisions of our government. I told everyone I talked to for three weeks to stay calm in these angry, frightened times. However, having seen the reports of all of the anti-American protests being held in various parts of the world, my views are changing.

I have always felt that there was something fundamentally wrong with the way our society is set up. Our entire way of life is balanced on the ability of our people to buy things, much of which we don't really need. That in and of itself has always been peculiar to me. However, compared to how the majority of the people live in these protest-rich nations it is not difficult at all for me to pick our way of life as the preferable of the choices.

I am fully aware that the living conditions found in most of these areas are very poor. I am aware that many of the people chanting in the streets have no real idea what they are doing or rallying against. It is probably more of a social occasion for them, one infinitely more fun than picking the sand granules out of their beards.

Don't get me wrong...I know that the Palestinians have taken their case to the U.N. and have been ignored. It is obvious that a lot of the tension in the Middle East will subside one they have a state of their own. The creation of Israel in the late 1940s is often pointed to as the cause for all of the problems in the Middle East. This undertaking moved many of the indigenous population of that region out of their homeland. I know that America's backing of Israel is seen by most of the Muslim world as an affront to their beliefs. I am not in agreement.

During the Holocaust, Jews suffered through an ordeal never before experienced in civilized society. There have been ethnic cleansing attempts made throughout history, but none were on the scale of what the Jewish people suffered through. Their persecution at the hands of the Nazis and the Stalin regine in Russia was horrific in its scope. There is a part of me that questions the wisdom of placing Israel smack in the middle of the Arab world. But, as my Dad has told me numerous times, ‘no one wanted them’. The Jews had occupied the land that would become Israel for over 5000 years. Jerusalem is recognized historically for being the ancient capitol of Israel. While there may have been a less politcally tense solution, their historical ties to that land cannot be disregarded. I am aware that posession is almost akin to ownership, but I do not fault the decisonmakers who placed Israel where it is today.

All of these Islamic militants point to the plight of the Palestinian people as their reason for hating the Jew and the American. To me, it reeks as a ‘cause celebre’. Or worse yet, just another excuse to hate and kill. I understand that by sharing my next thought I am in danger of oversimplifying the situation in the Middle East, but I will share it anyway: THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL OF YOU!.

All of this conflict, hatred, protesting, bombing, the blowing up of buildings and innocent people could all be avoided if everyone would just acknowledge everyone else’s right to live and be. Nothing says that everyone has to agree all the time. No one says that there will not be tension. Do the champions of the Palestinian cause have a legitimate gripe with America? Perhaps. Have the Americans and the U.N. wronged the Palestinians? Again, maybe. But did 6000 people deserve to die because of it? No. Does the killing of innocent civilians truly solve anything? No, it only serves to justify some zealot’s version of what the truth is.

So, while acknowledging that there are things that could have been done to hear the cries of injustice that have come out of the Arab world, I still choose to condemn the terrorists and everything they stand for. Furthermore, I refuse to feel sorry for people who allow others to do the thinking concerning their religious and political beliefs for them. Should it come down to a choice between the blood of more American civilians being spilled or that of those who would attack us, I choose theirs for spilling. I make that choice every single time.

The terrorists and the protesters who support them are calling for more bloodshed. There are protesters in New York who are calling for peace and an end to our bombing campaign of Afghanistan. While I acknowledge that there is little more tragic than innocent people dying for the ideals of others, I vehemently disagree with the peace protesters. The attacks on our nation and people on September 11 came as a shock. Our government has issued a number of warnings since then asking us to be on alert for possible future attacks. There is no justification for the actions of the terrorist cowards. I have heard some people call the attacks 'impressive'. I have no respect for anyone who attacks unarmed civilians. There is no bravery in an action such as this.

It is becoming apparent that things may very well boil down to a choice between their blood being spilled or that of our people, Americans and those who live within the borders of those who support us. I choose their blood for spilling. Not ours, not one more drop of ours. I wonder if those who are protesting for "peace" would continue to sing their songs, sway their candles to and fro and chant their chants if it was them dying of inhalation anthrax...

My prayers and thoughts go out to all who have been affected by the cowardly acts perpetrated against us on September 11th. They are with our military and their loved ones as they face dangerous times ahead. I also pray for the innocents who will undoubtedly suffer for the acts of the zealots. May all who were taken from us rest in peace.
 

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