I'm writing in response to Monday's editorial, "Teaching Students to Deal with War: Students Need to Develop and Share Opinions." As youths and students, our futures will be shaped by the actions that the Bush administration takes today. A U.S. attack on Iraq will endanger the lives of U.S. servicemen and women; increase the suffering of thousands of innocent Iraqi people; encourage attacks against the United States around the world and at home; be used as an excuse to erode civil liberties; divert resources from education and social services; and subvert historical precedent and international law.
As youths and students - the future of this country - we should be disturbed by the lack of attention paid to the real needs of the American people, especially education. Financial aid opportunities and family income are rapidly losing ground to the rising cost of higher education. Low-income families are facing decreasing access to education. Student debt is increasing. All while the U.S. military budget steadily increases. Internationally, students are creating a space to develop and share opinions at this crucial time. On March 5, there is going to be an International Student Strike for Books not Bombs. Here at UB, students will be rallying in front of Capen at noon. There will be teach-ins and discussion groups the evening of the fifth so we as youths and students can understand and influence the decisions currently being made in our name without our voice.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
