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No easy answers when it comes to war
| • | Hawai'i speaks up on threat of war |
By Josh Reppun
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| Joshua E. Reppun is a teacher at La Pietra School for Girls. |
Playing the curious alien, peering out of his spaceship, Sagan asked: Is there intelligent life on this planet? In the end, he thought not, and gave a dozen reasons why, including man's long history of using war as a way to resolve conflict.
Today, 13 years later, I asked my Hawaiian studies students at La Pietra what they thought about America's imminent war with Iraq. One student echoed Sagan, worrying that war is stupid and ultimately reflects badly on humankind; what other species on this planet kills its own with such regularity? she asked rhetorically.
Another student argued passionately against those who believe we need wars to obtain peace. I believe she suggested such logic is "BS," a term indicative of her frustration and fear. In our rush to war we are forgetting the children, she worried. We should be looking to the future and thinking about what kind of a world she will inherit, rather than concentrating on what I think she thinks are selfish and petty disputes.
One of her peers agreed, arguing America's rush to war will place undue stress on children and their families, both here and in Iraq. I was touched by her concern for the welfare of the children of soldiers on both sides of the impending conflict. She worried that all learning is compromised by war. We are all affected, but innocent families in Iraq will bear the brunt, she said.
Other students worried that the United States is lacking necessary international support, and that we are about to take unprecedented pre-emptive action against a country that has never physically harmed us in any way. How will war solve the problem? one student asked.
Another worried war will only make the nations of the Middle East even angrier at America than they already are. However, a student countered that Osama bin Laden and Saddam are problems and must be dealt with at some point.
What do I think? I think if one day the future of this country is going to be in the hands of these 11 women, these 11 skeptical, critical thinkers, everything will work out for the best.
