I am disappointed in Thomas Emmanuel’s story, “A memorial for all the fallen in the war.” Unfortunately, I believe there are many people in college who have the exact same feelings. I don’t really understand why. The truth behind the war in Iraq is the United States took Saddam Hussein out of power. Hussein murdered approximately 300,000 Shias and Kurds because they were born Shia or Kurd, no other reason. Thomas, as you wonder in your article how many have died in Iraq, I wonder how many lives were saved by the U.S. invasion.
Additionally, you can only compare the U.S. to terrorists if you don’t understand motive. You are right; every death is tragic, no matter what nation they are from. You are wrong not to see the difference between America’s noble ideals and terrorists’ immoral actions. You are also right that the Taliban are human beings with human emotions. They believe girls should have their sex organs calloused so they will never enjoy sex. They believe it is okay to base their economy on the drug trade. They also believe it is okay to fly aircraft into the World Trade Center in reaction to Americans having an Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia.
Also, Americans don’t trivialize the casualty numbers in either war by ignoring them. It is our duty as Americans to revere and memorialize our countrymen; it is Iraq’s and Afghanistan’s business to create memorials for their own fallen. There are many people throughout American history who opposed America’s use of force and usually ended up regretting it. I doubt, in twenty years when your children ask you how you felt about the Iraq War you will pull out this clipping and show them how you compared the United States to terrorists.
Submitted by:
Shane Griffin
447 N Plum St
1-210-488-8801
English Major
Sophomore
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