Last week, an editorial in The University News called for Saint Louis University students to “take a stand” on the war in Iraq. I thought the article was inspiring. But, then again, it doesn’t take much to get me inspired about issues concerning peace and justice. Last Friday, somewhat inspired by this editorial, I made a new “End the War in Iraq!” sign to take with me as I headed out to join the little vigil at the peace pole in front of Cook Hall. “Why do you stand out there to hold vigil for peace?” someone asked me. Why stand out in the cold and let my peers look at me with annoyed/amused/angry/confused glances? I stand out there because I believe this war is wrong. I believe war in general is wrong, and some aspects of this one are especially bothersome. We sent our troops-for many of us, our friends-to Iraq. Why? To save the world from Saddam Hussein? To protect American oil, ahem, security? How many of us actually know for sure why we’re fighting, or why we went there in the first place anymore? I don’t just hold a vigil because we have troops in Iraq right now. I hold a vigil to pray for peace in general. Maybe a higher power can do something about this madness, since men and women can’t seem to figure out a solution. I hold a vigil to stand with a community that believes that the American culture of violence is wrong. Anyone who had the privilege to hear Kathy Kelly speak on campus earlier this year knows that the “war” in Iraq has been raging for almost 20 years, as innocent children and elderly women were attacked under the harsh economic sanctions which predate the current conflict. The United States has a military presence all over the world. Our nation spends more money on “defense” than on anything else, and the recent budget does nothing to change this sad fact. These things are so overwhelming! And I just wonder, what can I do about them? I barely have time to get my homework done, much less dedicate time to political issues. If I’m not active on issues of war and peace, I get antsy. I feel like there’s something missing in my life, that there’s something important I’m not doing. I sometimes feel that one more small voice-one more lonely soul standing in front of a small stone engraved with peaceful words-is unlikely to change anything. That I stand out there won’t make the president bring the troops home any sooner. But what if my presence there makes one other person feel like they can stand up too? What if someone with a brother in Iraq is comforted a small bit that people are praying for peace? What if my one-person presence actually does somehow make a difference?Sometimes I get mad about my country being so internationally involved. Sometimes I feel sad that my friends abroad become ashamed of their homeland because all their foreign friends hate the United States. But most of the time, I am just confused. I am confused about which media sources I can trust. I am confused about why we are even at war.That’s why I hold vigil. That’s the stand I choose to take. That’s why I tied a big white ribbon on almost every tree on campus last March 19 to commemorate the second anniversary of war. Maybe no one notices these things, or maybe everyone disagrees. But I just have to do something! I am not a loud speaker. I get nervous in big confrontational situations. But I care. My heart and my gut tell me that something has to be done, and I cannot be silent. It would be easier to bury my face in my physics book or flip on another episode of Friends, but instead I’ll spend an hour at the peace pole-this Friday-and any Friday. You might never hear me ranting and raving in a public debate, but when you see those people shivering and standing vigil, when you see a bunch of white ribbons again this March, know that people here take a stand. Maybe I’ll be inspired to make another sign tomorrow. And maybe, you’ll be inspired to join us and take a stand too.Mary Becker is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences