A War of Words Over U.S. Foreign Policy

The antiwar movement made history on Feb. 15. Hundreds of thousands of Americans marched, rallied and protested in the streets of major U.S. cities in support of peace. Around the world in hundreds of cities, millions of their fellow global citizens voiced their opposition to the impending war and its destructive consequences. People had different reasons for coming out. I would like to share some of mine.

As a U.S. Muslim, I was spiritually and religiously motivated to participate in the rally to show my support and solidarity with my sisters and brothers in Iraq. As a student of religion, I wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with Christians and Jews, as well as peoples of other faith traditions and spiritual expressions, to promote peace and justice.

As an educator and history-social studies teacher, I endeavored to model for my students what I discuss in my classroom about democracy, social justice and the ideals of nonviolent resistance. As a future historian, I desired to be a part of change, something I could look back on and reflect with passion and zeal.

May God’s peace descend upon the world, its peoples and those entrusted with the responsibility of its leadership.

Fawad M.S. Yacoob

Garden Grove

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Many Americans who support President Bush’s war agenda are furious at nations such as Germany, France and Belgium for their strong opposition, stooping so low as to call them ungrateful, out of touch with reality and unqualified to judge.

Rather than perceive these nations as rational voices of dissent, all of whom have experienced bloody wars on their soil, these Americans instead irrationally regard Bush as the all-knowing world leader whose prescient opinion is the obvious and only right answer. It is appalling and frustrating that my fellow Americans so self-righteously assert the U.S. and its presidents’ preeminence in global affairs, ignorantly disregarding the leadership, intelligence and experience of our allies and peace partners around the world.

Courageous leadership leads a nation away from war and not into it. The most intelligent and talented of leaders do not direct nations into war but lead them to peace.

Dee Anna S. Behle

Dana Point

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When I read in the California section about the protest in San Francisco, it is really very hard for me to get excited. First of all, with San Francisco being one of the two liberal meccas in California (the other being Los Angeles), what would you expect people there to do?

What would surprise (and impress) me would be if they launched a pro-war rally. Then my thoughts would be “Wow, what really motivated these people to do this, and what are their thoughts?” This is an area that you can be sure is pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage and definitely anti-Bush.

The vast majority of these individuals wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in learning the details of Bush’s thought processes, details about Iraq’s behavior that the administration is unable to release but are behind the president’s strategy with Iraq, and why intelligent people like Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell are supporting the president as they are.

President Bush certainly doesn’t have to worry about losing votes in the Bay Area. Probably both people who voted for him in the last election will do so again.

Chuck Sharp

San Clemente