Richard Clise’s Dec. 7 letter, “Dems aid enemy by criticizing Bush,” is a perfect example of why humanity will never find peace. It is not greed, nor hatred, nor even apathy. Wars are caused by these things. They are perpetuated, however, by ignorance, fear and the manipulation of each.
I find the claim that “the enemy” wants me, my family and the rest of America dead to be utterly laughable. It is exactly what might have been said about the Jews in Germany before World War II.
In fact, the entire idea of silencing moral objections “for the good of the cause” was once a favorite piece of Nazi propaganda. This tactic of spreading irrational fear, of insisting that the enemy is out to get you and your loved ones, is an age-old way of getting people to stop talking. But it is irrational fear, not educated discord, that would ultimately lead to the degradation of our way of life. Our nation’s claim as the greatest and most powerful was earned, not by the silent acquiescence to our leaders’ wishes, but by the outcries, the protests, the great movements by the American people for change.
While some would make this a political issue, this is not about making the “right” look wrong and the “left” look right. This is about my freedom to stand up and say that I believe this war is unjust, that I will not stand idly by and watch another drop of blood, Iraqi or American, be spilled for our president’s agenda. It is still our government, and it is our sacred duty, not only to uphold but to improve that government, and that means demanding that our voices of dissent be heard. We cannot afford to be blinded by ignorance and silenced by fear any longer.
Stanwood
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