Lower guns, raise standards

National Catholic Reporter, March 7, 2003

* It's my fault. I should have seen this coming. We did not get to the brink of war overnight. When budget after budget grew the defense numbers in the face of growing poverty, illiteracy and lack of health care, I should have woken up. When munitions and war technologies were exported from our shores at an alarming rate, I should have raised my voice. When foreign governments were bought and sold with American dollars, I should have written my congressional representative. When I first realized that "American interests" were not necessarily in the best interest of the world, I should have taken to the streets.

I've been duped, lulled and silent when I should have been alert, wiser and outspoken. George W. drew his guns on Sept. 11 and they have not been holstered since. "There is only one way to deal with terrorism," he said. Of course. It is how we have dealt with everything for my entire adult life. Why is it so clear to me now? It has been right in front of me for a long, long time. Will we ever be able to put our guns away? Who will hold them for us while we struggle with the duct tape? Is "guns drawn" the posture I want to sustain for the rest of my adult life?

I owe my children more than that. I owe my neighbors who have filled the streets of major cities around the world more than that. I owe my conscience more than that.

There is a way to deal with the present terror. This world abounds in wisdom and resourcefulness. As a neighbor on this tiny planet, we would do well to lower our guns, raise our standards, and sit down with those we do not understand. It will take years to undo what has brought us here. We did not get here overnight.

BOB KLOOS
Cleveland Heights, Ohio

* President Bush is a religious man who offers prayers on public occasions. The Book of Wisdom, Chapter 9, presents a prayer offered by King Solomon, which may be offered by the president of the United States: "God of my fathers, give me wisdom, the attendant at your throne, for I am your servant, a man weak and short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and laws. Send her forth from your holy heavens that she may be with me and work with me that I may know what is your pleasure." I trust that President Bush is humble enough to offer this prayer in his own name. The prayer in its entirety can be found at Morning Prayer for Saturday of Week III in the Liturgy of the Hours.

(Fr.) CHARLES E. MILLER, CM
Camarillo, Calif.

* I am currently about 10,000 miles from home on vacation in Thailand. As the antiwar protests increase around the world so do the Thai press coverage and headlines. "Iraq: an adults' game, but a child's hell." A small part of the more than 6 million people across the globe who took to the streets on Feb. 15 were 5,000 Thai peace advocates who marched to the U.S. embassy in Bangkok. They carried banners with slogans "Say no to the Bush War," "Stop the madness of King George W." and "Give peace a chance."

Forty years ago this spring Pope John XXIII wrote Pacem in Terris. Will it ever catch on? It is more important today than ever for all of us as members of an international community. In early February while visiting one of the many Buddhist temples in Bangkok, a monk gave me a handwritten note that states: "If we wish to bring peace to the world, we must start by changing our erroneous ways. World peace stems from inner peace." How relevant for our day and so similar to Pope John's vision for peace and his words in Pacem in Terris. "Gestures of peace spring from the lives of people who foster peace first of all in their own hearts."

LEE KASPARI
Lakewood, Colo.

* President Bush and his administration seem determined to lead this nation into war. Not because it's necessary. Not because it's supported around the world, or even in our own nation, though he seems to be under the illusion that it's necessary and supported. This war cry seems strange coming from the president, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice. They have never seen war's ugly facts or terror. Three of the above did all in their power to avoid serving in Vietnam, yet are supporting, nay, demanding the sacrifice of young men and women today. The president is adding to the power force on or near the Korean peninsula and sending troops and "advisers" to the Philippines. A reminder, perhaps, of how we became so deeply involved in Vietnam?

The power of the presidency does strange things to people, particularly to not elected by the populace of this nation. Many seem to feel they no longer need to act with responsibility nor intelligence.

We and our elected officials must remember that our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. We cannot be led where we do not want to go. Make yourself heard, loud and clear. As the strongest and wealthiest nation in the world, we owe it to the world to be kind, strong and caring. War does not build friendship nor build confidence in our role as a world leader. War kills, not only people, but faith, hope and justice. It creates economic chaos everywhere. There is no building of peace and security by war, any more than there is by fanatical terrorism. They are one and the same. Maybe we should all be praying more for love of our fellow man and not trying to kill him. We obviously do not love enough. I think God is leaving it to us to figure out the way to peace.