Annabelle de St. MauriceAs this editorial is being written, bombs are falling on Baghdad. Despite all the protests and lack of world support, our elected officials have decided to initiate war against Iraq. As we wrote last week, Student Life is-and will continue to be-against the war efforts in Iraq. However, at this point, to focus our attention entirely on our own anti-war views is not only ineffective, but insensitive to the American troops risking their lives. War is inevitable, and despite our individual differences of opinion, we should unite as a nation around those principles that we can all agree on.
One of these principles is that we should all support our troops during this war. This does not mean we have to sacrifice our anti-war stance, but despite our dissenting opinions, we cannot forget that those fighting this war are Americans too. They are human beings risking their lives for their country. Now that we are already committed to this course of action, it is counterproductive to focus solely on our anti-war opinions while ignoring the plight of our soldiers.
People who serve in the U.S. military are making an incredible sacrifice. They give up any possibility of a stable family life, they are shipped around the world at a moment’s notice, and even during peace times, their lives are at risk because they are always targets. Their families-mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children-have all had to say goodbye with the knowledge that their loved one might not return.
We can still protest, but we should do so in ways that respect the dignity of those fighting. Some people have suggested walkouts. Walkouts, however, do little to express our discontent and do nothing to respect our troops. Walking out of class does not disrupt the government, society, or even our little corner of St. Louis. It only interferes with Washington University’s primary mission-to educate its students. This is a mission that should be upheld at all costs, so that we may become educated leaders who in the future can prevent such tragic wars from occurring in the first place.
Rabbi Shaffner, Father Gary, and Father Mike Kinman-the stars of “Missionary Positions”-recently had an idea that would unite their three religions in a “lament,” not a protest. A lament involves grieving for the lives that will be lost during this war, while supporting and praying for our troops’ safe return. The focus is not on arguing against the war, which we can do nothing about. It is on lamenting for and giving our support to those individuals that may lose their lives in this conflict.
An example of protesting we do not support is the kind of vulgar and inappropriate graffiti that is currently displayed on the green construction wall around Olin Library. Student groups reserve those spaces in advance to announce their upcoming events. Reserving a space is free, and anti-war groups could reserve them through Student Union just like any other group. However, the graffiti artists have instead chosen to spray-paint their messages over other students’ hard work. Furthermore, their messages are often vulgar and in poor taste, and they do more to discredit their position than support it. Rather than embracing this graffiti as free speech, students should be embarrassed that visitors and prospective freshmen are given the impression that this is how we express ourselves.
Understandably, many students will be extremely upset that war has begun. Many students have worked tirelessly over the last several months to convince the public that war is not necessary. The only way that their efforts will not have been in vain is for them to continue their efforts in a way that preserves the dignity of those currently fighting.
We should also remember to protest in ways that reflect the intelligence of our dissenting viewpoints. While the phrase “bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity” may be catchy, it does not represent an intelligent argument that a reasonable person can stand behind. It promotes an atmosphere of hostility that is damaging to the morale of our loved ones who are fighting abroad. It certainly does nothing to convey the respect we hold for those Americans willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to serve their country, however misguided their country may be.