The drums of war have ceased and the sounds of fury are being unleashed as Iraq’s population of 24 million braces for the bombs and bullets, the strikes of light seen in the dark sky igniting the immediate fears and future hopes of a people well accustomed to suffering and pain.
We’ve spent the past few months reading hundreds of articles and studies filled with cogent arguments against this war, against the “Bush Doctrine,” and we, like millions of Americans, remain adamantly opposed to this war. The administration can abrogate multilateral treaties, conspire to take away the “relevance” of the United Nations and pursue a maddening policy of pre-emption, but it cannot escape its own arrogance and injustice. Facing the realization of the administration’s decision, our arguments now turn to prayer:
We pray that as President George W. Bush offers his own prayers he is able to discern his own feelings and emotions from the voice, direction and love that God gives to all who call upon his name.
We pray that our leaders will no longer arm with weapons of mass destruction and lend legitimacy to pernicious dictators such as Saddam Hussein in the name of fighting any war, whether it is against “Communism” or “terrorism.”
We pray that in this war, unlike the past Gulf War, our military leaders will ensure the safety of our troops as they go into the theater of battle, rather than wantonly expose them to harmful substances only to deny their syndrome upon their return.
We pray that out of this contempt for humanity and out of the deaths of civilians in Iraqi cities will come peace and an escape from the legacy of an initial U.S.-sponsored dictatorship and eventual sanctioning of an entire people.
We pray that our leaders will not forget the disorder leading to two deadly world wars and will return to supporting a truly collective security to ensure the maintenance of peace.
We pray that America uses its overwhelming military power to pursue just interventions where humanity has failed to stop the scourge of hate and violence, rather than pre-emptive unilateral aggression.
Lastly, we pray for comfort and peace for the relatives and casualties from both sides of this conflict.
Kathryn Kinports and Jessica Lurie are University students. Mikael Lurie lives
in Eugene.