Are we sure war is the answer?

To the Editor,
First of all I would like to say that the events of Sept. 11 are the most horrible events that I have ever witnessed in my life, probably any one of our lives. What those people did is inexcusable. I do not think that they should be excused, but when I read Sean Oakley’s column in the Tues Sept. 18 edition of The Appalachian, I couldn’t believe what I read. The words, “annihilate everyone and anyone who supports, sympathizes or fights alongside him (bin Laden)” made my stomach sink. Those are easy words to say, but not as easy to act upon if you are doing the acting.
My brother just graduated from Navy boot camp about a week ago. He went into boot camp fresh out of high school. He is 18 years old. Does America really want to send our youth to fight these people? I don’t want to see my brother killed over this. Enough people have died already. Will telling the survivors of this horrible event that we annihilated the people who did this, and oh by the way lost a few of our own, really make them feel better? If YOU had to go over there and kill people would you want to or be so eager to advocate it? I wouldn’t.
As a college community we have a responsibility to think farther than revenge and rage to the long term consequences. War is very messy, and rarely does either side come out happy. Please for the sake of other Americans who may have to risk their lives, stop and think about what you are saying.
Jennifer Sanford
Senior
ASU Box 13560

'Eye for an eye' not the answer for pain

Editor’s Note: This is a copy of a statement sent to The New York Times by the parents of Greg Rodriguez, one of those missing in the World Trade Center attacks. It was submitted to The Appalachian by ASU senior Samuel Streed (ss29950@appstate.edu) and Arin M. Rusch (ar49903@appstate.edu), a non-degree-seeking student.

To The Editor:
Our son is among the many missing from the World Trade Center attack. Since we first heard the news, we have shared moments of grief, comfort, hope, despair, fond memories with his wife, the two families, our friends and neighbors, his loving Colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald/ESpeed, and all the grieving families that daily meet at the Pierre Hotel.
We see our hurt and anger reflected among everybody we meet. We cannot pay attention to the daily flow of news about this disaster. But we read enough of the news to sense that our government is heading in the direction of violent revenge, with the prospect of sons, daughters, parents, friends in distant lands dying, suffering, and nursing further grievances against us. It is not the way to go. It will not avenge our son’s death. Not in our son’s name.
Our son died a victim of an inhuman ideology. Our actions should not serve the same purpose. Let us grieve. Let us reflect and pray. Let us think about a rational response that brings real peace and justice to our world. But let us not as a nation add to the inhumanity of our times.

Letters to the Editor

Respect sacrifices made for freedom

To the Editor:
Each morning since the terrible day of Sept. 11, I have raised and then lowered to half mast an American flag at Appalachian’s veterans memorial.
At the end of the workday, I again raise the flag to the pole’s peak and slowly lower it.
This ritual is an act of coping with the distress of recent days, but also a personal recognition of the Marines who died in my rifle company in Vietnam and the service of Appalachian’s veterans, described on one of the memorial’s tablets.
Friday morning, I discovered a white skull and cross bones flying on the veteran’s memorial flagpole, hand-lettered with “U.S.A. was never innocent. No revenge.”
Attached to the flagpole was a note to Dr. Borkowski.
Deep in my being, I know that no human beings are innocent, although I suspect many of the people killed in New York and Washington possessed degrees of innocence that I must respect and mourn.
I also confess that the hue and cry for retaliation frightens me because I know young men and women suffer in war plans engineered by their elders.
I did deliver the note and banner to Dr. Borkowski (for which the midnight flag-flyers can thank me).
Being a Vietnam veteran is a difficult role particularly in an academic setting.
Many of my colleagues decided early and productively that the war was immoral.
I decided much later that the terrible impracticality, amount of sacrifice, lack of support, and years of young men being tactical bait had disillusioned me.
This summer after the Robert Kerrey speech at VMI, I was ready to try to shed the burden of my mixed feelings about the Second Indochina War–to move on and forget it. I found I couldn’t: The memories of young men’s at times noble conduct in tough circumstances stayed with me, and I couldn’t shake those memories.
Although some students may not believe it, veterans tolerate protest and in some kind of crazy paradox and possibly tragic flaw defend individuals’ rights to protest.
I recall a story a past university veterans affairs officer told me about how a group of veterans had eloquently defended the political views of a Marxist historian here at review time.
But we also want to hold onto the dignity and sad memories of the work and sacrifice of mostly men but also women—many younger than most students here—in war.
Go ahead and protest, but don’t take over the one little memorial the university has afforded us veterans.
You’ve got all of Sanford Mall and the under-street tunnels as context for your expression.
If you feel that you need to seize a symbolically prominent structure for your protest, you have adopted the tactics of others who have declared war with our nation and people.
And oh yeah, could you skateboard guys stay off the memorial, too? You’re also leaving your mark.
I don’t want much from this university community. Just leave us veterans to our one small memorial on campus. We visit it proud, troubled, loving, conflicted, and thoughtful because we haven’t been afforded the wonderfully clear sense of morality and world politics that note to Chancellor Borkowski had.
We lost our innocence a long time ago and still struggle with that loss.
Thomas McGowan
Professor of English
USMC 1963-67

Pride and thanks from SGA

To the Editor:
Thanks again to all of you who have helped raise money and coordinate programs to assist in the recovery efforts from last week’s tragedies.
We should all be proud that our university and community have united and contributed as quickly and efficiently as we have. I am asking that we continue our efforts in aiding our country and keep the American pride strong.
Our new SGA Senate seats have been filled and the first meeting will be Sept. 25 in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.
The minutes from our meetings will be posted on our Web site that will be up soon. You can access the SGA Web site by using the quick-link pull-down menu on the ASU homepage or www.sga.appstate.edu.
If anyone is still interested in being a part of Senate, please come by the SGA office on the 2nd floor of the student union to pick up a petition for an empty spot. You may turn it in to any member of our cabinet.
Also, there are still some open spots available for University Committees. To find out more information please come by and talk to me.
As always, if you need anything, the SGA office is always open.
With ASU Pride,
Xan Harrington
Student Body President