Editorials

We ought not become terrorists ourselves  

Editor: 

I have been in a state of shock since the acts of terrorism in NYC and DC. Unable to work, I have spent my time trying to collect my thoughts.  

Naturally, we must first protect our country against future attacks, and find the people responsible for this atrocity. In doing so, we must guard against becoming terrorists ourselves by indiscriminately bombing innocent people. The rest of the world would see this act of aggression as an unjustified immoral crime against humanity. This great nation’s basic principals of freedom must be protected as well. 

Turning the other cheek is not an option. But I am asking that everyone step back and think before proceeding. Think about exactly who is to blame, why this has happened, when it started, and what could be done to end it peacefully.  

In 500 B.C., the Chinese sage Sun Tzu wrote “there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.” He also wrote that the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy “without any fighting.” Revenge will never bring back the dead or reassemble the buildings. It would only harm us, and environment. 

There are reasons for the actions of the two worlds; us and those we’ve labeled as terrorists. We each see our stance as justified by the actions of the other. Since a multitude of historic events clearly illustrate that violence solves nothing, we need a new way of dealing with this conflict.  

If we could see the view of the others, to view the world from the perspective of those that we now view as the enemy, we would be doing a very big thing. We would be making an investment in a true and lasting peace, and steering humanity in the right direction for a change. 

While understanding may seem to be more difficult than dropping millions of tons of bombs on whoever is responsible. In the long run, a war would create a horrible legacy for many future generations to deal with, as we have had to deal with those of the past.  

One such recent example is the largescale destruction of Vietnam’s forests with Agent Orange, which did not accomplish its intended goal of stopping the enemy. Quite the contrary, it poisoned millions of people and acres of both sides of the conflict with dioxin, an extremely long-lasting and toxic chemical. Its cancers, genetic damage, and suffering have been and will be passed on to the future generations of all affected, without regard to which side they were on. 

Without understanding, there can be no peace and many lives will be lost on both sides. Many would be of people that just want peace. We who want peace through understanding must be louder than the drums of war.  

The most vocal are the warmongers, making orders and pushing buttons from secure military bases. But why would they make such bold statements? Could it be they will profit immensely on investments in oil and implements of destruction? Could it be for political reasons? Historically, these have been among the key reasons for wars. 

There is no amount bombing that will accomplish what is intended by terrorists or those seeking revenge. There is too much at stake to ignore the power of peace and understanding.  

Paul Goettlich 

Berkeley 

Editor: 

The government wants to bail out the airlines with the taxes of travel agents whom the airlines are putting out of business. This just after a crisis where travel agents were the only ones helping stranded passengers all over the world. 

Terrence M Regan, CTC 

President Northside Travel 

Berkeley