Letter - No more war

To the editor:

Those parents and grandparents with returning veterans know the effects of war; but, the rest of us must not ignore it, either. We have wonderful, pleasant lives in central Minnesota. It’s easy to forget that people are dying, children are screaming and homes are being destroyed. Whole sections of the countries we invaded have had to move, living in tents and having no sanitary facilities.

That’s war!

So, why did we stand on a street corner protesting those wars? Was it ethical concerns? This war eroding our moral principles? Was it selfishness? This war is costing every taxpayer. Is it our Christian beliefs? Jesus taught us love, forgiveness and peacemaking. Is it history? We have seen how one war cycles into the next, pain, anger, revenge, greed and hurt pride, around and around.

Has anything been accomplished by these wars? Who was hurt in these wars? The politicians? The defense contractors? The generals? No, it is our nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren, neighbors and community members. It is ordinary people leading ordinary lives.

The Peaceline began as an attempt to draw your attention to the agonies of war. As the years have rolled by, more and more fellow citizens have expressed their concerns to us.

Now it is time to pass that torch on to the younger generation. We on the street corner put down our signs and plead, “Young people carry on the work of peace.” And, we shout, “Young people, war no more!”

Kay Anderson

Garfield, MN

Tags: opinion, letters