I’m not generally an alarmist, but this is getting out of
hand. The war rhetoric has reached a feverish pitch, and those
of us not on board are suffering the consequences. Under the banner
of patriotism, we who oppose war are being systematically silenced,
ignored and punished for our viewpoints. We are called
anti-American, cowardly and ignorant. Nothing could be further from
the truth.
This past week, Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey
cancelled the 15th anniversary celebration of the film “Bull
Durham,” because he disagrees with Tim Robbins and Susan
Sarandon’s political views. In a letter to Robbins, Petroskey
claimed that the pair’s anti-war comments “ultimately
could put our troops in even more danger.”
That is patently absurd. While embedded with the 101st Airborne
Division in Iraq, war correspondent Geraldo Rivera announced plans
for an impending invasion and drew a map in the sand describing his
location with the troops. He still has a job at Fox. Yet Robbins
and Sarandon are the dangerous ones?
Celebrity boycotts are one thing, but the problem is much more
serious. This past week CBS fired Ed Gernon, head of Alliance
Atlantis’ long-form legal division, for comments he made in a
TV Guide interview regarding the war in Iraq. CBS terminated Gernon
based on a New York Post excerpt of the upcoming TV Guide
interview. When discussing the relevance of a CBS mini-series he
produced, “Hitler: The Rise to Power,” Gernon opined
that Americans should examine our current policy in Iraq with an
eye to the atmosphere of fear in Nazi Germany. Gernon stated:
“I can’t think of a better time to examine this history
than now.” The Post admonished Gernon for
“anti-Americanism,” and called him “highly
paranoid.”
Granted, Gernon’s opinions may be offensive to some
people. But what do his political concerns have to do with his
ability to generate long-form television contracts or produce a
television movie?
I am incredibly disheartened, not only by these extraordinary
examples, but also by the daily barrage of anger spewed at the 22
percent (according to the most recent Gallup Poll) of us who dare
oppose this war. The lack of tolerance is frightening.
I am a pacifist. And because of my opinion, I have been accused
of being morally inert, isolationist and ignorant of history. I am
none of these things. I simply do not believe that war ““ any
war ““ is just. But a refusal to fight does not equal a road
to appeasement. I am firmly opposed to Hussein’s rule and
would do almost anything in my power to bring him down. But war is
not the answer ““ even a so-called moral war.
Adir Levy, the author of the recent Viewpoint column,
“Military action grounded in morals justified” (April
9), discussed the concept of a moral war. He insinuated that Hitler
would rule Europe and the South would still own slaves were it not
for war. This is a limited and flawed argument. There are too
many factors involved to make this claim. The argument can go
nowhere because no alternatives are allowed. For example,
Gandhi’s peaceful and successful effort to remove British
power in India is conveniently forgotten under this model. The
pro-war argument, which regards history in a one-dimensional
fashion, can be utterly destroyed by this one example.
And if war led to a better world, as many proclaim, I think the
past ten thousand years of war would have demonstrated that by now.
I believe we must completely eschew war in order to arrive at an
alternative and equally successful resolution. When war is still a
possibility, meaningful dialogue is almost impossible ““ as
evidenced by the overwhelming attempts to silence people like
me.
I do not think this war is worth fighting. Calling a war
“just” is a way of glossing over the fact that we are
angry (rightfully so), but we do not have faith in another
solution. A just war is an expedient end, but not a better one. A
just war is predicated on the belief that we are incapable of other
forms of resistance. And if we continue to sell ourselves short, we
never will be capable.
This does not mean that I am anti-American. This does not mean
that I am incapable of supporting and caring for the individual
soldiers fighting in this war. I do not hate George Bush. Quite the
opposite. I am moved and proud that most people support this war
based on moral grounds. I think the logic is flawed, but I
recognize the difference.
Silence is the true danger. It breeds ignorance and
prejudice.