We are creating the enemies they will face in the years to come. And we are predetermining how they will meet the challenges which lie ahead.

Children do not begin their lives with prejudice or hate in their hearts. We program those beliefs into their psyches as they observe how we conduct ourselves when interacting with others. And by the words we speak. Children don't judge by the colour of one's skin or by what religious beliefs are embraced by those they encounter in their young lives. They accept others of all races and creeds based on instinct and how they are treated in return. Only as they absorb the  attitudes and prejudices with which we surround them do they acquire those handicaps. 

Perfect example.. does anyone really believe the Iraqi children hated our people before the invasion ? Is there anyone who now can believe that a multitude of children in the Muslim world do not now harbour hatred in their hearts for our people ? How could it be otherwise ? They have watched as their parents and loved ones have been killed or brutalized, seen their friends maimed or crippled for life by the actions of the ones claiming they are there to help them, and learned to live with a fear and loathing we cannot even begin to imagine. They are the future enemies our children and grandchildren will face.

Why is it so difficult to embrace the philosophy that reaching out and fostering understanding and communication are infinitely more potent weapons than the deadliest weapon ever created by man? Why is it so difficult for us to understand the teachings of our own faith and to apply them when dealing with others?

Certainly when attacked  it is imperative that the attackers be dealt with but waging a war is not the way to deal with terrorism. Terrorism is a movement, not a country. Terrorist attacks shatter our assumptions about how much security we have, or need. This is too big a question for pat answers. We may not have as much choice as we would like. But it is important to debate whether - and how much - we are willing to change our way of life to reduce our vulnerability to hijackings, bombings, kidnappings and other terrorist strikes.

We are meant to be nations ruled by law, not raw emotion. We compound the crime of terrorism if we visit the same on helpless people. And in doing so, provide a victory for the terrorists. In the best of worlds, those who embrace terrorism should be hounded to the ends of the earth, brought before justice and tried for crimes against humanity - that  is how justice works in our democracies. There is no collective guilt. To descend to the terrorists' level  legitimizes the terrorists' barbarity, and encourages more such carnage. Meeting the challenges of terrorism in this way assures an enemy, whose recruitment has been aided by us, which our children will face in the future.

Haven't we already provided them with sufficient problems simply dealing with an environment which is endangered because of our profligate and self indulgent ways ? Our planet is faced with a plethora of grave and urgent threats ... unbridled consumption, materialism, insensitive development, and booming populations all over the planet have endangered the air we breath, the water we need to survive, and threatened the survival of animal species as more and more are becoming endangered or extinct because we failed to treat nature with greater respect.

Isn't it way past time we considered what kind of future our children, and their children, will find we have bequeathed them ? Or if they will have a future at all.

"Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part
to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it's difficult. 
Even if the work seems great. Even if we don't get very far in our lifetime."

Senator Barack Obama, Jun. 15, 2008

 

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