I want to address only one of the numerous misrepresentations which can be found in the Feb. 5 article, "Friends don't let friends let walk out." In particular, I am referring to the accusation the author, Mr. David J. Maxham III, levels at antiwar organizers that "[t]he ensuing bloodshed" of a post-withdrawal Iraq "will be on your hands." Really?
Who bears the greatest responsibility for the between 60,000 to more than 600,000 dead Iraqi civilians? What about the more than 3,000 dead United States soldiers? Who is culpable as Iraqi and American casualties continue to mount in the foreseeable future? Who is to blame if Iraq devolves further into civil war or becomes a theocratic government?
Non-Iraqi Arab insurgents? Iraqi militias and death squads? The Hussein regime? The President George W. Bush administration? The media? Supporters and proponents of the war? The antiwar movement?
Perhaps the columnist has access to some mathematical formula I am unaware of which can establish without a doubt the moral complicity of each individual for the destruction wrought in the Iraq conflict. Or perhaps we must face the fact that there are greater and lesser degrees of responsibility for this debacle. I would say, in general, that the least degree of culpability probably falls upon college students - many of whom were in high school when this war began. However, a strong argument could be made that the bloodshed in Iraq will be on our hands if our generation does not actively voice our opposition to the continued violence.
Contrary to what supporters of the war would have us believe, the walkout has a very important purpose.
Every justification which was offered up for the war has been shown to be false - e.g. weapons of mass destruction, "humanitarian" reasons, etc. Yet still the U.S. remains in Iraq.
In opinion polls - conducted by everyone from governments to universities - private polling companies to the military have found that an overwhelming majority Iraqis want the U.S. out within a year, an overwhelming majority U.S. soldiers want the U.S. out within a year, and more and more Americans are realizing that the war was a mistake. Yet still the U.S. remains in Iraq.
Americans have elected a Democratic Congress on an antiwar platform. The Democrats claim to want to see the U.S. out of Iraq. Yet still the U.S. remains in Iraq.
Our elected officials need to understand the first step toward peace in Iraq is the withdrawal of U.S. forces. They must understand the U.S. population wants them to take immediate measures to end the occupation. One way to get this message across - as the article mentions - is by cajoling legislators to listen to their constituents. Another is through popular expressions of mass discontent such as marches, rallies and walkouts.
I find it particularly ironic that the columnist decries the walkout as "disruptive" while at the same time implying that no one will pay attention. Perhaps his confusion stems from an inability to understand that mass demonstrations have historically been an important avenue for changing public opinion and pressuring governments.
"Even if," he helpfully informs us, "students did vote in large numbers, which they have never done, not nearly enough of you will show up to even give anyone goose bumps." Really?
I would urge all students, faculty and staff from Rutgers to come to the Vietnam War Memorial on the College Avenue campus at 1:30 p.m. on March 20th. Come prove to everyone that our generation does indeed have a voice, and, for one hour on one day we are going to use it to demand an end to the war in Iraq.
Who knows, you may even get goose bumps.
Timothy Horras is a graduate student majoring in library and information studies.
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