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Daytona Danielsen Christopher Nelson On Friday, Jan. 24 about 100 people gathered in SCC's Little Theater to promote peace and diversity and to stand against war. People from all walks of life, of varying age, race and creed, were at the rally with the same message: a message of peace and awareness of alternative options to war. Parents brought their children, and many ethnic and cultural groups were represented.
Shoreline Students Against War organized the rally, which included speakers and musical performances. The advisor of Shoreline Students Against War, Linda Warren, does not approve of the possible war. "I take a stand against war and I have multiple reasons," Warren said. "But among them is that I do not believe it's in our national interest. I also take a moral stand against the sanctions." "No Iraq War" graces posters around the campus and beyond. People wear buttons displaying their anti-war position. During the week following the peace rally, The Ebbtide spoke with students on campus about their feelings on the war. For some, protesting seems to be the thing to do. "This war is not inevitable, the future is not inevitable; what is inevitable is the present," student Dyun Nguy said. "Now is the time for people who oppose the war to take to the streets to protest. The American people can stop this war and prevent an unjust act in the name of security and freedom." People oppose the war for various reasons. Some question the reasoning behind the war.
Some think the focus is on the wrong thing. "...[The President's] gung-ho attitude toward plunging us toward war in spite of the fact that we're in deep deficit...the unemployment rate is so high, the economy is so bad. I mean, the whole thing's a sham," Joan Bowers said. Some think the consequences are beyond the scope of the possible solution. Some think we're getting ourselves into more trouble than we should. "A lot of innocent people would be getting killed over something that doesn't have to do with them," Greg Gendron said. "I think that if Saddam Hussein really has all these weapons that Bush is so afraid of, that he could probably blow us up pretty good," Roshni Robert said. "So I don't know why Bush would want to go to war and, you know, provoke some nuclear attack or whatever he's afraid of." While many stand against war, others think it is a viable option for defense. "If we have to go and take care of business to prevent a future war I think it is ok," student Bronson Hill said. But only in the case of defense. "Well, I'm not a total pacifist, given there are other countries that don't believe in pacifism and might take advantage of us if we don't exercise some defense," student Larry McClellan said. "I think war is a last option and only for defense."
"I'm glad there's people demonstrating about it," McClellan said. "Until that came along I was pretty much resigned that there was not a lot that could be done about it; we were going to war. Now I question, maybe there's a chance we won't." "Everyone has a right to free speech and everything and I think that I think it's good for them to make a stand," Hodges said. "You know and I suppose the more people that protest the more the message goes across." "I hate the idea of war," Bobby Pierce said. "And in a perfect world, protesting against it and everybody getting behind [the protest] would be wonderful. It's not a perfect world." "It's not an easy answer," Hill said. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™ |
