Port 80

My dissatisfaction with the “Week of Student Action Against the War” continues. I just sent off an e-mail to Paula Smith informing her of exactly why I won’t be eating at Kennedy Union on Thursday during the “Play for Peace” concert. I’ve also created a poster, suitable for hanging on most college dorm doors, outlining my position if you want to join in the boycott. I may back this up on my door with some help from the signs over at ProtestWarrior. I’ll say it once again: I am fed up with having my tuition support positions I vehemently disagree with. I am not going to stand by while my money pays for protests aimed at stopping Operation Iraqi Freedom, which appears to be the only way to free thousands of Iraqis from brutal oppression.

Am I carrying this too far? Maybe. But then I remember that the lives of people like Salam Pax are on the line, a fellow who will almost certainly die if any of Saddam’s supporters find out who he is. This isn’t about the military-industrial complex, this isn’t about oil, this is about saving the lives of Iraqi civilians and making the world a safer place. Pure and simple. I will not stand by while my tuition is used to buy a temporary measure of “peace” with Salam Pax’s blood.

UPDATE: Upon reflection, I am dropping the idea of using ProtestWarrior posters. They are a little too glib for my tastes, and seem to be an unnecessary escalation of the debate on campus. I might use them if the debate goes sharply south, but I’m not going to be the one to take it there.