I'm sure you wonder about my wondering. I'll take it a step at a time, because I want you to understand this different perspective on this issue.
We as a nation have every right, and even responsibility to defend
ourselves from those who would destroy us.
Yes, we do have every right and even a responsibility to defend ourselves against those who want to destroy us. However, the Iraqi people were not the identified culprits of Sept. 11, 2001, so we have no reason to believe that Sadaam Hussein and the Iraqis are trying to destroy us. Ties to Al-Queda? Maybe, but Iraq and Sadaam seem like a distraction. I'll leave that there.
Much like the children of Israel
had a right and responsibility to defend themselves from those nations that
would try to destroy them, there are evil forces in this world who would
love to see the United States cease to exist.
Agreed. Israel, the home of the Jews, has every right to defend themselves from nations who would try to destroy them in the past and the present. The Jewish people have been a persecuted people for centuries and they have found a way to survive in the world despite their persecution. God bless them. Yes, there are evil forces in this world, but I never knew that there were nations who would love to see the United States cease to exist. That sounds much like the fear Israel has about its existence. Is that where we are?
That concept is a little far fetched, considering the US is a world leader and many countries depend on the US to maintain their economies. We are second, only to Great Britain, as world colonists, perhaps we've even moved Great Britain aside in that regard.
Our issues with nations that don't like us are not to the extent that they want to destroy our country, if that were the case, we would have experienced horrific events on our soil long before 9/11. Historically, the only countries that came over here to fight us and try to run this country are now our closest allies, European nations, among them our beloved sister country, Great Britain. However, there is more than one way to skin a cat, isn't there? Maybe we should take a clue.
Thankfully, our forefathers
understood this and defended our country to their death so that we could
enjoy the great freedom and liberty we enjoy today.
Yes, our forefathers, including my ancestors, which were African slaves, have defended this country to the death so that we? could enjoy the great freedom and liberty we enjoy today, but there is still an air of supremacy among those who make critical decisions about US foreign policy.

When one segment of our country is still trying to heal and conceal the guilt of its past and the other is trying to figure out if we really do have the same rights to education, economic opportunity and healthcare, like they say "All Americans" deserve, one wonders what's really going on? What's wrong with a draft? What's wrong with white and black kids going to the same schools, if they all speak English? What's wrong with black and white kids learning the same history---the history of all ethnicities that inhabit this country? What's wrong with telling your kids and my kids the truth about Slavery in this country?

"The powers that be" have committed transgressions against people in THIS country that they have put a Band-Aid on, but they want EVERYONE to be supportive to the death, of the president's agenda.

Some things can't be swept under the proverbial rug. Some things stay, linger, rot and fester until they explode. Then everyone has the nerve to be surprised when things are allowed to happen right here at home, under their nose.

I believe that's how the planes were hijacked. United Airlines pilots were not happy. Let's keep in mind, things of this magnitude don't manifest overnight. They were disgruntled employees in a critical industry, that is part of our infrastructure, that is very wealthy. But not wise enough to understand that those pilots are the first line of defense against hijacking. People in their ivory towers were debating about what to cut and who to pay when the working pilots have the power of life and death in their hands everyday.

When people get so money and power focused, which seems to be pandemic since deregulation and the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Under this act, all regulatory bets were OFF. The government leaders were and are being compensated by corporate powers to do their bidding, but they seem to forget what is really important---taking care of the people that keep them in business--their employees. So of course you will get dissenting views when it comes to agreeing with the mindset the US should take over a nation and force it to embrace democracy, rather than their chosen form of government. After all, look how democracy has been handled in this country. Nonetheless, we still wouldn't like it, if another nation did that to us.

In fact, isn't that why we are fighting the terrorists? Probably not.

God has blessed me and many others I know, but there are many different "frames of reference" based on the individual life circumstance, experience, orientation and education that influence the way people feel about this war.

We have healing to do in this country.

Healing from the affects of Slavery that people don't want to deal with. They don't even want to TALK about it. White guilt is paralyzing any effort to really "get over it," as some Talk Show radio pundits would say.

The textbooks in our schools skip over the salient issues that explain Slavery in this country. It's like the mainstream has tried to conceal their truth by illuminating facts about the contributions and accomplishments of a few Blacks, by giving us Black History Month and acknowledging MLK, but they make a concerted effort to conceal and obfuscate the evil deeds of the economic plan that created the Negro in this country. Please click on the link to enlighten yourself, unless you already know about this plan.
It is now our turn to
defend this nation from its enemies to insure that our children have the
same freedoms should the Lord tarry in His return.
My father served in the military for over 25 years. He was a career military man. I was an "Army Brat." I thank God for my upbringing and I respect the work and commitment my father demonstrated to this country.

Yes, it is our turn, my turn, to defend this nation from its enemies to ensure that our children have the same freedoms my father fought for. However, that does not mean that we have to use the same means to achieve that end. We don't have to use the same tactics to achieve the desired goal. That's why I supported John Kerry, because he had the guts, confidence and inner strength to change his mind when he was enlightened with more information. I only wish more people had that propensity.

This letter is a lot longer than I ever intended, Bill, but I hope you have read it in its entirety. Please let me know if you think I am totally off base, or if you understand where I'm coming from. I am a broadcaster who wants to do talk radio, but a Black woman in today's conservative Talk Radio, is more than most program directors can fathom. I am also an educator, so I have a lot to share.

Thank you for your time, Bill, and may God continue to bless us to reach out for more and new information/perspectives to solve our problems, rather than to behave in the same manner and comfort zone we have become accustomed to each and every time we encounter a dilemma that looks familiar, but has very different causes and consequences.

In His,
Karla With a K