With continuing neglect of the negative economic impacts of the war in Iraq, and the increases of tuition for public universities, we, the students of the University of California, should feel it is our responsibility as youths to voice our generation’s dismay toward the war.
The unnecessary and inhumane war has created immeasurable difficulties both for our country and the entire world.
The number of American lives lost in combat has escalated to more than 4,000, while Iraqi deaths number in the hundreds of thousands. The human cost of this war is too great. Therefore, we must rise up in protest for our sinking country.
In addition to the appalling human cost, the needless financial burdens brought upon the American people by the war divert attention away from critical domestic priorities.
The cost of food is skyrocketing, poverty is widespread, homeless shelters and welfare organizations are in desperate need of government support, violent crimes against minorities have intensified, and the sense of community and unity is diminishing as Americans face more debt and policy setbacks.
Now is the time. We either continue to pay the price for an unacceptable invasion, or we protest and bring change to the system.
As of today, we are deprived of financial assistance while facing yet another dramatic increase in tuition. In the future, we can expect to carry this country’s financial burden caused by the Bush administration’s bad decisions. Keep in mind that we will also be struggling under the burdens of heavy taxation.
Though the forecast is discouraging, together we can make a difference.
The reason behind today’s scheduled anti-war rally is that the money for war directly comes from our pockets. Therefore, we are the ones being directly affected by the decisions our politicians are making. I believe that it is crucial to have a student-led protest, one that is not affiliated with any political party or represented by anyone with individual motives. We want our voices to be heard.
Now is the time to show our frustration and anger with the increasing cost of education caused by the continuation of the Iraq occupation.
We hope to raise awareness among young intellectuals on campus about how the war directly affects our generation and our access to social benefits, whether it is financial aid or health care.
There are two options ahead: We pay the prices of liberty and freedom, exhaust the great resources of this country, blindly sacrifice the valuable lives of Americans and Iraqis, and destroy our own futures; or, we protest and fight against this unjust war.
As students and youths, we have waited far too long. Now is the time to make a wise decision for ourselves and for our country.
Lin is a third-year political science student.