Does America have resolve to see Iraq war through?
To the editor:
As I’m watching the PBS series of World War II by Ken Burns, I feel like I’m watching a show about a mythical place in some science fiction movie. It’s almost hard to believe the type of people we Americans were at that time in history, given the current culture we’re in.
I think we can all agree that war is bad. But we may not agree that a war can be waged and won on an idea — most importantly to protect the idea of freedom and the fight against the evil that wants to destroy that.
I wanted my kids to see at least some of the gruesome movie clips of the devastation wrought by the war. I wanted them to see man’s inhumanity to man, so that they can understand it is real. The kids are learning about the Holocaust now and the power of a country that could follow a dictator like Hitler — the power of evil.
There are similarities of the situation now at hand and World War II. We were brutally attacked in a cowardly fashion at Pearl Harbor, where the loss of life was great. Also, on 9/11.
We stood united, even if for a short while, that a war was waged on that day against us. Against not only the American way, but on all people that cherish the freedom to live in safety as we board a plane, work and travel through the world and other countries. Could this be really what it was like, I mean citizens saving bacon grease and tin cans to turn them into explosives and bullets? I can’t help but think of that when I saw on the news last night that our own police force is in limited supply of bullets, because so many are shipped out to our fighting forces overseas. How many of us today would gladly sacrifice anything in the name of support for our efforts to fight the war against the evil, let alone their lives? Thankfully many have and are fighting to preserve our way of life.
It’s wonderful that we have a culture of such diversity and are able to express our differences and individuality. But I believe that when we stand together about things, we are at our best. Was there dissent among the U.S. citizens about the need to go to war then? Quite a bit at first. Can we win the hearts and minds of the people now that this Iraq war is real? Given the current culture, it’s an uphill battle. Were there mistakes by our leadership then in the battle plans? Many. But how long do you think the terrorists will wait to do battle on our soil if not defeated in their own lands? How long do you think the Americans will tolerate the type of indiscriminate murder of innocent people here? What is the impact of a Middle East in perpetual chaos?
An idea is to be fought for, and it has a price. I’m wondering if we have the resolve to see it through.
Kurt Davis, West Akron
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