Every day, thousands of Americans raise their hand to their hearts and pledge allegiance with the commanding statement – “with liberty and justice for all.” The majority of these Americans are young children– students who believe that their country is just and in pursuit of liberty. Do these attributes apply only to Americans? Does the phrase “with liberty and justice for all” apply past American borders? The events of the past month indicate evidence to the contrary.
Our government has certainly failed to live up to their own pledge of allegiance. They support the killing of innocent people giving Israel the “green light” to attack South Lebanon. The U.S. supplies smart guided missiles that attack innocent people in their homes, ambulances, churches, mosques, the Red Cross, UN posts and civil defense aides. Our government promotes this war by supporting Israel in these atrocities. Our own tax dollars fund the mass killings of innocent children, women and aged men, making all Americans complicit in these crimes.
The “War on Terror” is not a war; it is terror itself, incarnate. It is no hunt for “weapons of mass destruction,” it is those very weapons unleashed. It is incumbent upon all of us to promote justice, not by the American administration’s terms, but by the universal, humane definition of justice. To treat all human beings with dignity and righteousness without regard to race, national origin or religion. We cannot justify the savaging of innocent civilians in the name of “self-defense” and hide behind false notions of “homeland security.” The numbers are painfully clear – this war has nothing to do with justice.
We must stand united, American and non-American alike, Congressmen and the working man, the poor man and the President, to condemn these horrific acts of violence. We call on all men of conscience to stop these atrocious crimes and for all religious organizations to pray for peace and an end to the hostilities. We ask the media, the American media in particular; to remain unbiased and impartial in portraying the events in the Middle-East, presenting the truth as it happens on the ground, not biased to soothe the American government and its citizens. We must ensure that “Liberty and Justice for All” rings true for all.
When justice is established, peace automatically prevails.
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