[IMC-Editorial] Whoever will listen

[tina etherington]

March 25, 2003
Whoever will listen,

I do not understand war, politics, and government.  I do not understand how 
we can give the ultimatum that a person must leave their own country and not 
even have a place for them to go.
What I do understand is basic human morality, such as respect, forgiveness, 
and hospitality.  I am willing to respect and forgive that which the rest of 
my country will not and be hospitable to those who are not welcome by the 
majority of America.
I am seventeen years old; my name is Christina Etherington, and I have heard 
many people, including President Bush say, “God bless our country.”  I 
myself am not a religious person, but how can you believe in a god that 
would bless one person over another, one child over another, or a group of 
people over another group?
What do we hope to get from the death and/or capture and custody of Saddam 
Hussein and his sons, régime change, a new government for the Iraqi people, 
disarmament of Iraq, or any other idea we have for political and economical 
gain and balance?
Can we not as a country accomplish what needs to be obtained through 
invitation with respect, kindness, forgiveness, and hospitality, or must we 
suffer through war, death, disagreements, and emotional or physical pain to 
not just the Americans but to the people around the world involved in this 
conflict?
I am not writing this letter to argue semantics – only to ask one question:
Why must we demand for someone to leave their country, instead of inviting 
them to come live in ours, under our law, and with our people?

Thank you for your time and thought,


Christina Etherington


If you wish to respond please e-mail to:

binks123085 at hotmail.com






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