Columnist says 'Utopia' not achievable
Peace protestors have good intentions, but are misled
Joe Eaton
Issue date: 1/27/03 Section: Editorial/Opinion
The fact that there is an anti-war movement is not what makes me angry; nor is the fact they are allowed to express their thoughts publicly.
What does upset me is the unrealistic utopian view their protesting is based on. What the anti-war position amounts to is a solid argument that war in and of itself is wrong, but it is drowned by thoughtless, emotional and facile rhetoric.Â
People who stand heavily by utopian ideals are more apt to support emotionally-charged arguments than any kind of factual logic, which is why the anti-war stance is damaged ad nauseam by ignorant, naïve and ill-informed people who argue sentiment over fact.Â
It's as if the anti-war group believes they have reached nirvana, and are on some plane of higher moral being because they do not wish to engage in military action. This arrogant stance seems to be based on the assumption that if the United States merely abstains from war and military force, the rest of the world will miraculously follow suit, resulting in world peace and perfect harmony.
People who believe this are out of touch with history and reality, and think that what you can't see, can't hurt you. Unfortunately, sweeping a problem such as this under the rug will only work until you start tripping over the mess you've accumulated.Â
Don't fall victim to the idea that Iraq is a quiet, serene country that loves its leader and would be peaceful if it wasn't for the big mean United States. A prime example is March 16, 1988, when Saddam ordered an unprovoked chemical attack on the Kurdish city of Halabja in Northern Iraq. The results:Â Roughly 5,000 innocent civilians died painful, horrific deaths from mustard gas and other chemical gases, with another 10,000 maimed. This was not an isolated incident. Throughout the 1988 Anfal campaign, international estimates concluded Saddam killed 50,000 to 100,000 Kurdish Iraqi civilians -- yes, his own citizens.Â
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of listening to audio of Peta Lindsey, a student coordinator for A.N.S.W.E.R -- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. (As if somehow the two are related). In a hysterical frenzy, these are a few of the things she cried: "We know the people of Iraq are not our enemies ..." and "... (Bush) is the enemy of freedom here in America ...," yet somehow Bush simultaneously speaks "... the name of a freedom we have never known."
What does upset me is the unrealistic utopian view their protesting is based on. What the anti-war position amounts to is a solid argument that war in and of itself is wrong, but it is drowned by thoughtless, emotional and facile rhetoric.Â
People who stand heavily by utopian ideals are more apt to support emotionally-charged arguments than any kind of factual logic, which is why the anti-war stance is damaged ad nauseam by ignorant, naïve and ill-informed people who argue sentiment over fact.Â
It's as if the anti-war group believes they have reached nirvana, and are on some plane of higher moral being because they do not wish to engage in military action. This arrogant stance seems to be based on the assumption that if the United States merely abstains from war and military force, the rest of the world will miraculously follow suit, resulting in world peace and perfect harmony.
People who believe this are out of touch with history and reality, and think that what you can't see, can't hurt you. Unfortunately, sweeping a problem such as this under the rug will only work until you start tripping over the mess you've accumulated.Â
Don't fall victim to the idea that Iraq is a quiet, serene country that loves its leader and would be peaceful if it wasn't for the big mean United States. A prime example is March 16, 1988, when Saddam ordered an unprovoked chemical attack on the Kurdish city of Halabja in Northern Iraq. The results:Â Roughly 5,000 innocent civilians died painful, horrific deaths from mustard gas and other chemical gases, with another 10,000 maimed. This was not an isolated incident. Throughout the 1988 Anfal campaign, international estimates concluded Saddam killed 50,000 to 100,000 Kurdish Iraqi civilians -- yes, his own citizens.Â
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of listening to audio of Peta Lindsey, a student coordinator for A.N.S.W.E.R -- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. (As if somehow the two are related). In a hysterical frenzy, these are a few of the things she cried: "We know the people of Iraq are not our enemies ..." and "... (Bush) is the enemy of freedom here in America ...," yet somehow Bush simultaneously speaks "... the name of a freedom we have never known."
