Fear or Forgiveness?
by Garrett Clevenger

It seems that the argument to attack your enemy first, before they get you, is probably used by our supposed enemies. That is the problem with fear. In knowing you are vulnerable, you want to dispose of your threat. Thus we are are fearful of people who are fearful of us. Both sides fearful legitamately (ie Israelis and Palastinians)

We will always live in fear if we let fear dictate our lives. And by doing so, you give others reason to fear you in return, which continues this cycle, ad infinitum.

It seems that our supposed "Christian leader" should remember one of the greatest teachings of Jesus Christ: forgiveness and compassion.

All of Bush's rhetoric, from speaking of retaliation against the "evil-doers" (and by using words like crusade and infinite justice) to spouting off his belief in God, show's his ignorance, arrogance and lack of leadership.

Has he seriously spoken at all about why people want to bomb us? Until he does such, he show's his lack of compassion and empathy as well.

Bush speaks to the lowest common denominator without an in-depth analysis of our crises. That is not leadership, but dictatorship.

But we should expect nothing less from a person who sued in order to become President.

Then we have the whole oil issue. Which in my opinion, is the most likely reason this oily person and his cronies want to liberate Iraq.

Certainly Saddam needs to go. But our past policies, from funding Saddam and selling him weapons, including chemicals, while knowing he was killing people with these chemicals, show that our government does not have the best intent. I have no reason to think the intent has gotten better.

How can we trust this administration that is obviously unpatriotic and getting away with screwing over stock holders, the environment and our civil liberties while lining their pockets with power?

Some people hate American policies. Some people are willing to die to kill this "Great Satan." We can go after these people in blind rage, further igniting this hatred against us, or we can sincerely contemplate our policies and remedy the root of this problem.

Every one of us is responsible for killing people in the Middle East. Are their lives less valuable then those who tragically died on 9/11? If you think yes, then we will always be barbarians. If you say "No," then stand up and tell the world you will not take part in policies that will force our grandkids to be just as fearful of those awful evil-doers as we are today.

Peace