Since America was attacked on 9/11, war has been a fixture in the minds of Americans. A brief and effective stint in Afghanistan weakened terrorist organizations and began the transformation of Afghanistan from a terrorism hub to a focal point of the westernization of the Middle East. At that time that President Bush addressed the world with his plan to eliminate terrorism and any country or state that harbored terrorists. It was then that Bush introduced the axis of evil: Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
With the new year came a new focus: ousting Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s tyrannical leader, and confiscating his alleged weapons of mass destruction. With Britain by its side, the Bush administration went to the United Nations for support. The result was a mixed bag of opinions and weapons inspectors digging in Iraq. Hussein, infamous for his propaganda and elusive ways, seemed to be cooperative at first. In true Saddam fashion, however, he went back to the political games of nuclear hide and seek that have kept him in power and America on the hunt.
Now, America is a month or two from war. Our troops blanket strategic points in the Middle East, and our leader is lobbying for support by assuring the world that it is at grave danger with Hussein at the helm.
Despite the urgency of the Bush administration to act preemptively, unilaterally or not, polls show a growing concern among the public over Bush’s handling of the economy and a general wariness about the prospect of war with Iraq.
Before winter break, Cabrini students seemed apathetic towards awareness and activism. As the war plan moves from theory to practice students are coming together to share opinions and feelings ranging from home front security to war with Iraq. What’s unique about the current activism at Cabrini is that it doesn’t discriminate. At colleges around the nation, there are anti-war protests and pro-war protests separate from each other. Often they butt heads and fail to communicate ideas and knowledge.
At Cabrini, activism is bipartisan. Students are eager to share opinions but aren’t blinded by them. There is a willingness to learn, to see different angles. With the currently unstable nature of foreign affairs it is important for young leaders, like the student activists at Cabrini, to open their minds to be as well informed as possible. This is your education of the heart at work.
