THE EDITOR, Sir:
YOU HAVE heard it said, "Love the sinner; hate the sin." Jesus forgave those who were murdering him while in the act. So, this attitude is possible. But, the verb "support" is a verb of action rather than one of heart and mind. Is it possible to support the United States while opposing the war?
Considering the common practice of talking about "supporting the United States" in times of hostilities, I wish I could let the president know how I feel. With all due respect, I want the president to know that as they participate in this conflict, they are not serving me, and I don't support them. Speaking for myself, I feel those who are participating are damaging the reputation of American democracy, and further endangering us by creating hatred that will some day be returned.
This action will not lead to a safer world, but a more dangerous world of pre-emption and unilateral decisions to commit mayhem. I don't support that. The only people this war is possibly serving are those who agree with this act of military aggression. This military aggression is carried out under a president who avoided combat duty, a man who enriched himself through crony capitalism. This is a man who lost the popular vote for president, but was handed the presidency by a Supreme Court influenced by his father and through voting irregularities in a state governed by his brother.
This war is serving a man who unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, ignored the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rejected the International Criminal Court and Kyoto Protocol on global warming.
I feel for the troops and the difficult decisions they must make. I hope that they are making a conscientious decision that they will be proud to accept complete responsibility for making. Is this conflict really necessary at all? Why kill all these people?
I am etc,
NEVILLE COOKE
prinkle4850@yahoo.com
Austin, Texas
Via Go-Jamaica
