SAWME: More Than Slogans

To the Editors of The Crimson:

It appears from The Crimson's interview on February 1 ("New Group to Express Support for U.S. Troops") that Harry Wilson and Adam Taxin have not been very thorough in their reading of anti-war material. Despite what they assert, there has been a great deal of intelligent, in-depth discussion of why this war is wrong. Of course, there have been slogans as well.

Mr. Taxin complains that in the anti-war movement, there is "no real agenda for addressing the [Iraqi] problem." There is a wide range of political beliefs within the anti-war movement, so no one agenda will be acceptable to all. In our opinion, the U.S. government is the most powerful force stifling democracy and upholding the dictators and autocrats of the region (i.e., the Shah, Zia Ul-Haq, King Fahd, Hafez Assad and before August, Saddam Hussein himself).

Hussein will be replaced by another dictator, and the cycle will continue. Removing U.S. influence from the region as soon as possible is the only way to allow the people of the region to have self-determination. Certainly, there are countless details that cannot fit into this letter. This solution is not easy, simple or pleasing, but reality seldom is.

Mr. Wilson claims that the anti-war movement does not support the troops. We do. If George Bush supported the troops the way we do, those 12 Marines that died Thursday would be safe and warm. George Bush's support means building the largest morgue in history on the sands of Saudi Arabia in anticipation of American deaths. Our support means bringing them home alive.

Our support also extends to the thousands of Arabs, civilian and otherwise, who have died and will continue to die under American bombs. We support life and freedom.

By their nature, slogans are limited in content. If Mr. Taxin and Mr. Wilson are interested in meaningful debate, they are welcome to contact Students Against War in the Middle East. Benjamin Bernard '92   Alejandro Reuss '92   Tom Garvey '92   Members of SAWME