Thursday evening I sat in my room watching the news. A live broadcast from President Bush explained the FBI’s warning regarding likely future attacks by the followers of Osama bin Laden.

I was warmed by the pleasant, frank and earnest (if not somewhat goofy) manner in which our president informed the people that they should be on their guard. One reporter stood and asked the president, in an almost facetious manner, if it was not foolish to spread such information, since the government knew of no absolute details. Would not such a proclamation cause unnecessary panic? To this question, Bush calmly but firmly replied with a remarkable answer: Yes, it may increase worry. Yes, it is unfortunate that no other details could by determined at this point. Nevertheless, he believed that it was the duty of the government to protect and inform its citizens, and this includes giving the respect that they deserve as intelligent creatures. This is one of our freedoms — that of disclosure. I was pleased with his integrity.

In a calmed and content state my friend and I exited our rooms on our way to eat dinner at Frary. En route I heard chanting, and was suddenly jarred by a sight that almost brought tears to my eyes. A procession of about one hundred young men and women, armed with placards and chanting, "Stop this racist war!" along with other shouts for a cease to bombing, and for peace, wore huge smiles of self-importance. There are always two extremes, if not more, to every issue. This is a fact of life. Personally, I have found myself usually somewhere in the political middle. However, I cannot fathom the ignorance that seemed to exist in this crowd’s collective spirit that would provoke such motivation.

More than 6,000 people were murdered in cold blood as they sat at their desks or flew on planes. This would be the equivalent of the utter destruction of every living person at the Claremont Colleges. This act was perpetrated by irrational, criminal individuals. These people are of such horrible, unspeakable evil, that it seems almost surreal to attempt to conceive the mindset of such a person. Nevertheless, such monsters do exist in the world.

It would be wonderful to politely ask these terrorists to stop, but unfortunately, I somehow doubt they would heed such a request. Each person who you ask will give you a different reason why they think al Qaeda and the Taliban perpetrated such acts. But the fact remains that while their beliefs are their right, such behavior is unacceptable. What then, do we, and by saying we, I mean the government, propose to do?

Our government is one that has been put in place by the people, and organized by the people — voted on, by the people. We vote for a representative government because we want to have a system in place where we can organize ourselves into divisions of labor. This division gives all of us the freedom to choose our own paths. Some choose to be doctors, others to be lawyers, or in our case, students. And it even gives some people the right to do practically nothing with their lives if they should so choose.

This division means that those in government have agreed to their share of responsibility over different portions of our society’s functions. One of these portions is the defense of its citizens. This defense allows us the peace of mind to know, with what used to be utter certainty, that if we choose to go to Snack at 10:30, when we come back at 11:00 our rooms would still be there, and would not have been reduced to a smoldering crater.

This gives an immense feeling of security that many people in the world cannot enjoy. Every time citizens of Israel go to the beach or to a restaurant, they have to think that in an instant they could be splattered with the remnants of their date or dinner guests. This scenario exists in many other countries around the world. Fortunately, until now, we had no idea what this was like. We did not know what fear really meant.

However, the cowardly monsters that have brought this misery to so many people have made a big mistake. They attacked the one nation in the world who has the power to stop them. We, meaning the government that we’ve elected, have the capacity keep our citizens safe. And our country is not acting alone. Leaders of free governments around the world have pledged their unequivocal support, both mentally and militarily, to the United States in its mission to end this worldwide threat to peace and freedom.

The only effective defense against terrorism is a preemptive offense! There can be no adequate response to terrorism after its unfortunate occurrence. Fueled by feelings of rage, due to poverty, hunger, and impressionable youthful over-exuberance, these persons are a danger to our civilized world. This is not a war against a people, race, religion, or country. The United States is enlisting a worldwide effort to end terrorism, in all its forms. This does not mean we should persecute Islam. The Taliban and other organizations worldwide, stand for no grander morals than fear, domination, chaos, and misery. The persons involved in these attacks have warped the beliefs of the Koran to fit their own militant ends.

We all want to do something to fill the gap of insecurity that has been created by the events of September 11. It may feel good to protest. It may fill some people with a sense of empowerment and purpose. However, let’s think about what gives us the right to protest. That right is protected by the very government that these individuals are uniting against. Such freedoms include the right to speak and protest, and, if it floats your boat, to run naked through the streets covered in wildberry Jell-O!

Let us instead of protesting against true freedom, do our part to contribute to that society which protects and defends not just us, but many nations and peoples around the globe. Instead of parading with signs against the government which empowers us, might it not be more effective to just work harder as students to better ourselves, and thereby our communities and nations? I believe that these would be more honorable means of expression in such trying times.