War,
Peace, and the Loss
of
the Space Shuttle Columbia
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War,
Peace, and the Loss |
Saturday, 1 February 2003 • 4:35 p.m. PST / Sun. 0035 GMT
Additional links added Monday, 3 February 2003, 1:55 p.m. PST / 2155 GMT
Other essays and articles about Columbia, war, and peace:
Dear Progressive Portal user:
When I checked headlines online this morning and saw the news, at first I thought -- or perhaps hoped -- that through some strange computer glitch, I was looking at news from 1986, the day the space shuttle Challenger exploded on ascent. But soon it became clear -- this was a new disaster.
The last thing our country, and the world, needs now is a new reason to mourn. Yet, it is what has been delivered, and once again we are reminded of the fragility and preciousness of life on this beautiful Earth.
I so wish we in the peace community could take a little time to set aside our daily activities to grieve this loss. But we are weeks away from war, and we cannot pause -- we owe it to the many, many people whose lives will be shattered if we attack Iraq.
There's
Never a Good Time, But ...
One hesitates to remark on what bad timing fate has chosen for this tragedy, wishing to avoid any implication that another time would be "good." However, it would not be responsible to ignore possible ramifications for the Middle East.
The crew of the Columbia comprised six Americans and one Israeli -- Israel's first astronaut. They join 14 other astronauts and cosmonauts who perished in this so-dangerous work. While most of the world will respond with great sympathy for the families and the countries of these lost souls, and for all humanity, there will be a few who will use it to their advantage.
U.S. policy toward the Middle East has been dangerous and destructive in many ways for a long time now, but as you know, it has taken a particularly dastardly turn since the rise of the "oiligarchy," the oil barrons who have seized control of the White House. It has fanned the flames of anger toward the U.S., and given radical forces plenty of ammunition to whip up hatred and violence.
Some of those forces are fanatics who have always hated Western culture, and some have been converted in response to the way our country has treated much of the world. Some have claimed it is God's will that Western interests be attacked and destroyed.
The shattering of the nation's oldest space shuttle over the skies of Texas this morning will play into the hands of this last group. Some already have begun to claim it proves God is against the U.S. and Israel. It will turn up the volume on the crisis, and increase the damage that will be done by any attack on Iraq. It will make it all the easier to recruit suicide bombers and others ready to do violence in the name of God. And it probably won't help much that George Bush's statement about the tragedy today, after starting out like remarks of a responsible political leader, lapsed into Christian sermonizing.
In the wake of an Iraq war, we fear, there will be an even more unstable, violent Middle East, and retribution against the U.S. and its allies and interests, which in turn may prompt new attacks from the West, in an out-of-control spiral. The destruction of the Columbia this morning, if it has any effect on the Middle East, may serve to make things just a little worse.
Redoubling
Our Work ...
Today's sudden, unexplained tragedy makes it even more imperative that we redouble our efforts to prevent a war. First, it reminds us of the value, and frailty, of human life, as well as the courage of those who seek to expand the horizons of human knowledge and capacity for peaceful endeavor. From this difficult lesson, let us take inspiration to continue our work for a more peaceful, just, and humane world.
Second, as described above, if the Columbia disaster has any impact on conditions in the Middle East and the implications for the future of the world, it may be to increase the risk of tragic consequences from a military endeavor by the United States at this time. If anyone should take time out now to mourn, rethink, and reorient themselves, it should be those in the White House who are hell-bent on sending American men and women into harm's way, let alone the people of Iraq and others whose lives will be placed at risk for no justifiable reason.
So, in the coming days, we will be stepping up our efforts to oppose the impending war and promote peace. We will publish new Action Alerts in our Alerts column. Within a few days, we will write to nearly 30,000 users of Progressive Portal urging them to take further action.
Some upcoming dates of note -- click the links for more information:
Many more events can be found at UnitedforPeace.org.
It has been a delicate task to write this message, and I hope it has not strayed into inappropriate territory. As always, I welcome your comments.
Peace,
Steve
Freedkin
Publisher