Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 January 2003 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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Columnist focuses on reasons for possible war

The discussions about the impending war against Iraq are heating up. There hasn’t been this much debate since the devastating war in Vietnam - a long lasting and unforgettable war that divided the country on many fronts. In remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. and his opposition to the Vietnam War, this column focuses on the main reason for opposition towards the war against the Iraqi people ... America’s double standard for-, eign policy campaign. Many Americans have undying loyalty and support for our U.S. government and its relentless efforts to convince the world that war is the best possible solution to bring about peace. Since the American Revolution and the fight for independence, the U.S. (a super power), has been a country constantly at internal and external war. The effects of the American Civil War, North vs. South, are still being felt today. Although the war ended more than 130 years ago, many groups are still holding firm to the very beliefs that divided our countiy over a century ago. .The fight to remove all semblance of the attitudes of the “oldSouth,” mainly the display of the Confederate flag, have people fighting tooth and nail on both sides of the issue. Protests and court hearings continue in the South, debating whether this loyalty to and support for the Confederacy is causing more harm than good. Students at Cherokee High School in Canton, Ga., aredivided, mainly along racial lines, over the popular T-shirts that carry the Confederate-theme. Girls enjoy wearing the shirt that features the Confederate battle flag in the shape of a rose. The boys often wear styles that discreetly, but unmistakably display the Dixie Outfitters’ rebel emblem logo. During the American Revolution, we gained our independence. During the Civil War, slavery was abolished and we became an even •“more perfect union.” And at the conclusion of the two world wars, we continued to flourish as a democratic society that has given us freedom and peace-of-mind, unlike any other place in the world. The way of life that we enjoy today came as a direct result of each of these major wars. But what about the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and even the 1990 Gulf War? What have been the rewards for these courses of action? Did the lives of the veterans who fought for our country or the living conditions of the American people improve at the conclusion of these three battles? We are currently moving forward into another war, and possibly a world war, with ramifications that may not serve in the best interest of the freedoms and peace of mind that we all enjoy. The inspectors for the United Nations have been sweeping through Iraq and have yet to find a shred of evidence that the government is in possession of weapons of mass destruction. The time for the U.N. inspections is about to run out and the U.S. is hinting that the inspectors should have more time to do their job. The intelligence agency says they are in possession of solid proof that the Iraqis have violated the rules under U.N. Resolution 1441 which was an agreement to disarm and end the movement to build weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqis recently released confidential information about its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapon programs to the U.N. The U.S. is said to have found many discrepancies between the I raqi version and the information Washington hits collected from its own intelligence sources. Again, no proof hits been given about these “discrepancies” or what Iraq is attempting to hide. And in regards to Iraq’s connection to the 9-11 attacks? Again, no solid proof, but more accusations about their “possible” involvement.

Education Does Matter By Leroy Robinson

“World leaders today urged North Korea to reverse its decision to withdraw from the key nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But Pyongyang immediately upped the ante instead by threatening World War III,” read a recent headline in USA Today. The North Koreans also sent another message to Washington, stating “a new Korean War will finally lead to the Third World War and we (North Korea) can hold our own in a fire-to-fire standoff.” Why isn’t the build up along the Korean peninsula the same as it is in the Persian Gulf? Although, no evidence has been provided by the U.N. inspectors or the U.S. government about Iraq’s nuclear weapons, the build up in the Persian Gulf and the surrounding area is sending a very clear message ... Iraq and its leadership is about to be destroyed. As anti-American sentiment continues to grow in South Korea, China, and Japan, the North Koreans have again exposed the double standard of American foreign policy. Kim Jong II has made it very clear that North Korea will continue with its nuclear weapons program, regardless of what the world community thinks. Saddam Hussein, who is complying with the U.N. inspectors, released over 12,000 pages about his weapons programs, released the names of500 Iraqi scientists involved in past banned weapons programs, and has allowed the U.N. inspectors to search his largest, sacred, and most secured palace. These are not the actions of a defiant man who wants a confrontation with the U.S. Hussein is by no means a saint and has committed war crimes, human rights violations, lied to the world community, and has even murdered his own people. I n the history of the United States, haven’t we been and continue to be, guilty of similar violations of legal, moral, and ethical laws? The possible threats by the “Axis of Evil” and from the many terrorist groups who aim to cause America harm are indeed reasons

for the U.S. to be on the offensive. But the question that seems to register in the minds of many is “Why do they hate us?” The answers can be found in our impartial foreign policy legislation throughout the years and the double standard that our government applies to those countries from which we can receive some personal gain ... at the expense of the loss of more innocent lives. What have we learned from the fall of Egypt, Babylon, and Rome? Will the U.S. follow in the same footsteps of these once great empires? Will the internal and external conflicts be too much for America to survive the hypocrisy that fills the “confidential” files of the intelligence community? With the great wealth of information that is currently available through the current advances in technology, a wide range of factual data, historical events, and views from “the other side,” is making the general public more knowledgeable of past and present world events. When will our government realize that WAR does not equate to PEACE? Will America Rethink its foreign policy legislation and begin to respect and value the lives of citizens from other countries as it does our own? When will America listen to the cries of the millions of innocent men, women, and children who have become victims to our foreign policy campaigns? Those citizens have no choice in their origin of birth and they have no vote in their political leadership. These are the countless individuals who have feelings that can’t be expressed, thoughts that won’t be recognized, and voices that won’t be heard. When will America head to the consciousness of the world community, which radiates the message: Please End American Campaigns of Exploitation. Authors note: The 16 empty warheads that were recently discovered in Iraq do not fall under the realm oPevidence.” The Iraqi officials stated that these items were mentioned in their 12,000 page declaration to the U.N. Also, evidence of chemical or biological agents have not been detected in any of the warheads. For speaking engagements or education workshops, contact me at: educationdoesmatter@ hotmail.com or write me at: 9701 E. 63rd St., Indianapolis, IN. 46236. My contact number is (317) 502-0272.

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