After viewing a video in Social Work 300 concerning America’s grossly violent history and our continued obsession with it, I was chilled to the bone. And neither my thermos of tea or my heavy coat or the heat from my vent which I hovered over when I got home in a fit of angry tears could warm me. My anger continued and my sorrow only deepened when I once again heard the news stations and read the headlines that reiterated our president’s promise of vengeance against those “responsible” for Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Vengeance? More violence?
Let me ask a few questions to all those who are in favor of a violent retaliation: Will blood shed ease your suffering? Will images of thousands dead in Afghanistan or other Eastern countries resurrect the thousands who have already died? Will continuing the cycle of violence help you sleep better at night? Will violence secure your freedom? I think not.
For are we really free when we are held prisoners of blind terror? When we are captives to this cycle of violence? We will only truly be free when we cease to respond to hate with hate, ignorance with ignorance and answer violence with more violence. So when you hang your American flag or sing our national anthem ask yourself what you are really uniting in. I, for one, hope it’s not war.
Kelli Drummer
