To the Editor:
I was very disappointed to read three consecutive letters to the editor in the Sept. 25th edition of The Dartmouth speaking out against the apparently approaching military action following the tragic events of Sept. 11.
Some time ago, I was told that the definition of a conservative is "a liberal who's been raped by reality." While I do not care to discuss our nation's politics in general at this time, I would venture to say that every member of our generation, regardless of political ideology, has been "raped by reality" this week.
Many of our parents grew up with air raid drills. Older relatives lived through brutal, bloody wars that spanned several years. All of them grew up with the knowledge that there were people in this world who hated them. We did not have that knowledge.
We do now.
If the attacks of Sept. 11 are to teach us anything as Americans or as lovers of freedom, it is that there are people in this world who hate us for our lifestyle and the freedoms that we enjoy.
Furthermore, we now know that those who hate us have the means to do something about it.
Having seen what our enemies can do, we have two options.
One is to abandon the way of life that we enjoy and that we are hated for, and live our lives in such a way that our enemies might approve. Anyone who would like to do this him- or herself is more than welcome -- this is, after all, a free country. However, I won't be joining you.
I believe that our only course of action is to ensure that those who hate us do not have the means to act out their hatred through means akin to what we witnessed this month.
That may mean the freezing of assets, as was ordered recently by President Bush. It may mean other diplomatic courses of action. It may also mean military action. If it means military action, then so be it.
Please pardon me if my knowledge of history is faulty, but I believe it was after the Munich Agreement that Winston Churchill said, "Britain and France had to choose between dishonor and war. They chose dishonor. They will have war."
War has been declared on us, whether we declare it or not. Let us not choose dishonor and invite the deaths of more innocent people.
