Readers' Soapbox

It slays me to hear the pro-warsters saying that our troops are fighting for our "freedom." If that truly be the case, the soldiers should be squaring off against George W. Bush and company; they're the only ones I can see that have been a real threat to America's freedom, liberty, and justice since our involvement in WWII!

Twig Menne
Edmonds

This war is being waged by a president who used his privileged family status to avoid service in Vietnam. He went AWOL as a member of the Air National Guard during that war and faced no consequences. Now this unconstitutionally installed chicken-hawk president has the audacity to send our armed forces overseas to die, not for freedom, but to create lucrative opportunities for corporate America in a post-Hussein Iraq.

This is not the America I was proud to be a part of.

Hudson Dodd
Bellingham

I admit to not being the most informed person about this war, but let me make sure that I have one thing straight. We are killing people to teach people that killing people is wrong. Is this not the bottom line here?

Tamilyn Roberson

The media keep saying that we are "at war" with Iraq. They are not attacking us. We are attacking them. I see it as "the invasion of Iraq."

Ericka Berg
Seattle

Why do I hear so many Americans saying, "We must support the president"? Apparently, many of us feel it is our responsibility to fall in line behind our leadership during this difficult time of war and terrorism.

However, I believe it is our duty to question our leaders at all times, and especially during times of great challenge, like those we face today. Instead of giving in to the dogma of blind faith in a misguided and weak administration, let us practice true patriotism: Let us be faithful to the principles upon which this country was foundedequality, freedom, and dissent itself. America was created as a place for people to speak their minds, free of coercion to "toe the government line." We are still freefor the moment, at least, despite the efforts of John Ashcroft and the entire Bush administrationand it is our obligation to speak out if we believe that our country has fallen into the hands of those who would harm her people and weaken her principles.

The Bush administration has always seemed to encourage the idea that dissent against them is tantamount to treason. This position only underscores their weakness: If the leader of the free world is not strong enough to endure dissent, he hardly has what it takes to lead the people of the United States. Not only should we expect our leaders to endure and in fact welcome dissent, we must require them to consider different voices and answer these voices with compassion and intelligence. The Bush administration has done neither. Tell me, Mr. Bush, if many of your own people, and in fact most of the world, believe your position to be wrong, isn't it just possible that you are wrong? End this war now!

Heidi Fischer
Edmonds

For months the Bush administration predictedalong with talking-head experts, the media, and other punditsthat a war with Iraq would be swift and quick. Now Bush says, "A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict." For the sake of the innocent people of Iraq, the troops, and the entire world, I hope for the former but fear the latter. Since Saddam is reportedly a master at hiding weapons, knowing that his life is at stake, I suspect he'll be even better at hiding himself. Who knows what kind of hidden bunkers, secret tunnels, and other methods of self-preservation he has set up?

If this is true, then the only way for the military to make sure that Saddam and his sons are removed from Iraq is to destroy every place he might be hiding, which could be anywhere, including vital utilities, hospitals, schools, and oil wells. Think this will be easy? For over a year we've been hunting amongst caves, mountains, and plains to get bin Laden. And apparently he's still at large.

Clarence Moriwaki
Bainbridge Island

WAR SONNET: AMERICA VS. IRAQ

My heart terrorizes me, burning my throat. I cry too much, . . . I do not want us to kill each other anymore. I have something to say that has waited nine months to come out. There is no other time but now to say it, . . . there is no other way than out . . . kindness is needed. Kindness is needed. War kills us all inside and out.

Jennifer Walker
Seattle

DE-EVOLUTION: A PARABLE

When man first began to walk upright, the need for social organization was simply solved: The strongest would take what they wanted. The frail could choose to supplicate . . . or perish.

In time, the cunning found a response. Enter mythology. Invoking the will of unseen forces to select a ruling caste, they called themselves kings and imams and prophets.

But for the supplicants, life did not change. Secretly they began to imagine daring new forms of rule, all sharing the forbidden goal of self-determination. The most brazen was called democracy.