As I watched the HBO special Band of Brothers, I felt my first tear fall while thinking of my own and my fellow Americans’ futures. The HBO special Band of Brothers had a new meaning for me, while I watched, in what seemed to be a different dimension. I sit in classes where I hear the words and phrases of vengeance, revenge, war and bombs. All are spoken by men and women who know nothing, like myself, of what a true war is actually like. Our generation looks back on our military struggles, and smiles. We stand proud at the remembrance of Desert Storm (versus Iraq) and even the NATO (North American Treaty Organization) bombings in the Balkans (involved Yugoslavia). Yet, those were not wars by the measure into which we are about to enter.
Our politicians speak aggressively and eloquently of war. They speak of a “New War,” but they speak these words to young men and women who have no idea of what war really is. Any war is a “New War”, and its consequences are unimaginable. Do we, the youth of today, believe that our current military and our military reserves (the 50,000 just called) will be all that we need for this “New War”? Do we believe that the people we are pursuing and their native peoples will give up easily? Do we believe their neighboring countries will stand idly by while we, the capitalist western war-mongers bomb their brothers and sisters?
If the perpetrators of this terrorist act in the United State are who we believe they are, we are stepping into a holy war – a war where the enemy wants to die and is not politically motivated, but religiously and emotionally driven. This issue alone calls for a much larger war than our generation has ever seen. This issue leads to the action by the federal government of drafting. The federal government starts by drafting 21-year-olds, then 20, 19,18, then 22 year olds – Our fellow classmates. We-the young adults of America, the college educated and the naive-are the ones who will be drafted. Are we ready for this challenge?
The word “war” is being spoken by individuals who utter the word for a nationalist tie. If we were to speak to a survivor of the Vietnam war or a survivor of World War II, and were to ask them what “real” war is like, would we be so quick to spout such a word? The word “war” is synonymous with death, pain, struggle; and these words alone cannot describe the disgusting act of war.
Robert Burton said, “The greatest enemy to man is man.” Before we, the youth of today accept the word of our leaders, when it comes to war and generating such excitement at our demise, I hope we look at the past and see its pain and lessons. Speak to a survivor of the Vietnam War and ask them what war is like. If you are satisfied with the response, then may God grant you the eloquence to express your newly found understanding.
Revenge and vengeance are not befitting to anyone, especially a country who asserts peace and understanding. It has been said that one should think before they speak. I understand that we are all caught up in our emotions from this past weeks event; but by letting our emotions get the best of us we lose our insight and our intellectual ability. I only pray that our leaders do not or have not already lost theirs.
May God be with you all in this time of inner reflection and unimaginable terrors.
Josh Campbell is a senior studying political science.
