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Looking back, it is hard to imagine how
different the world was just five years ago. A few weeks ago, the world
commemorated yet another tragic anniversary of the 2001 September 11th
attacks. Before the dust had settled in New York, Washington, and
Pennsylvania, the United States government was already planning how to
respond to these violent attacks on our populous. Within months, American
troops were on the ground in Afghanistan, and a war against terror was
being waged across the globe. Two invasions, thousands of deaths, and five
years have now passed, and it is debatable at best as to what progress we
have made. As global hatred of America seems an ever more pressing
problem, it has become painfully clear that those in charge of U.S.
government policy do not have any idea how to effectively combat terrorism
at its roots—misunderstanding.
Instead of focusing on how to combat
hatred and ultimately terrorism from a long-term perspective, we seem to
be focusing on immediate results. In some ways, military campaigns may
protect us from death at home, but they in no way inspire the kind of
understanding that is required to rid the world of terror once and for
all. The military invasion of Iraq, for example, seems to have inspired
even more terrorist activity in the troubled region than under Saddam
Hussein’s rule. Indeed, the mere presence of American troops, whatever
their intentions are, seems to primarily spark violence. Rather than the
imperialistic attitude the rest of the world seems to think the American
government has, we need to begin to project a positive attitude of mutual
understanding and a desire for international cooperation.
The exact solution to this conflict
will take many years to develop and perfect. It most certainly will not,
however, involve merely military might. As proven in Iraq, the true
miracles of these operations are not the number of terrorists we can kill
or capture, but rather the desire of the Iraqi people to lead free and
prosperous lives. The establishment of schools, reliable government, and
other community efforts are things our government should support. By
creating jobs and aiding the Iraqi economy, we take the first step in
providing an out for the ordinary Iraqi embroiled in terrorist activity.
This will not only help the Iraqi people free themselves of terrorists,
but will also project the kind of positive image of the United States that
needs to be seen globally. Outside of Iraq and the Middle East, our
government can take simple steps to encourage positive global reaction to
our policies. Taking a renewed interest in the well being of global
citizens, aiding countries and peoples where needed, and attempting to
teach a culture of international understanding to our students will all
combine to create a more positive global atmosphere.
Terrorism and hatred will not
disappear overnight. It will take a generation to develop a new global
understanding that will eventually cause its downfall. This new education
needs to begin now, for the sooner it does, the sooner the world can free
itself from the chaos and stress of terror.
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