Dominic Bonevitacola: The pursuite of peace, the necessity of war

The pursuit of peace is a honorable, noble cause to rally behind. It a righteous vision, yet the hardest to ever achieve. I am a strong believer in the inherent goodness of humanity and our ability to rise above whatever challenges and obstacles are presented to us to become something still greater than we are today, and if the world laid down all its arms and weapons, all hatred and violence, I would gladly join the cause of peace and unity.

Unfortunately, we do not live in that kind of world.

Walking to class a few weeks ago, I passed a small demonstration on College Green. A large sign read "STOP BOMBING." The students, apparently, were calling for peace in Afghanistan. But in order to achieve peace, we must first have some understanding as to what peace really is.

Peace, as I understand it, is achieved by a mutual agreement between two or more parties to seek a non-violent solution to their problems. So I suppose my question to the protesters -- both here at Penn and the community in general -- is this: How do you suggest we reach a peaceful compromise with a group of individuals whose primary goal is to slaughter you, your family and everyone you love?

How can we negotiate with people who have fervently stated that all Americans all over the world should be killed on sight? Where is the common ground?

These groups and their leaders use violence and destruction to intimidate those who oppose them. They rally their troops behind cries of hatred, abhorrence and indifference. They have rejected peace in all its forms.

So let us review what peace has gotten us in the past.

On Feb. 26, 1993, terrorists set off a bomb in the basement of the World Trade Center. Six people died in that attack, and 1,000 innocents were injured. The United States responded by launching Tomahawk missiles at abandoned terrorist bases, which, in reality, did nothing. We adopted the cause of "peace."

Then, on Aug. 7, 1998, simultaneous terrorist attacks were launched against U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two- hundred-nineteen people were butchered in those attacks with 4,722 people injured. The U.S. again did very little. Then, on Oct. 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked in the port of Aden, Yemen. Seventeen sailors, almost all under the age of 20, were killed. And yet again, we call for "peace."

Then came Sept. 11. Thousands dead. Downtown Manhattan, leveled. We have seen the results of inaction in the face of this threat. These terrorist organizations cannot be allowed to operate, governments like the Taliban cannot be allowed to safeguard them. Their leaders must be arrested, their camps must be destroyed and their financial assets must be frozen. Their plague must be eliminated from every nation.

How many more Americans need to die before those that peace marchers realize this? How much longer must we all raise our eyes to the sky in fear, wondering whether each trip from our homes will be our last?

The activists are able to sit there in comfy chairs in the safety of their homes or on the green and demonstrate for peace because of those that have fought for that freedom, because of the sacrifice of those who died for what so many of us take for granted.

Our country has been violently and viciously attacked. Thousands of our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters lie fallen. Are we to turn a blind eye? Look away and still take no action, waiting for the next atrocity? To set such a precedent would be suicidal.

There is a time to march for peace. There also comes a time where a nation must defend itself in the face of an enemy, to stand up and fight for its own preservation.

When I saw the campus peace rally, it reminded me of similar rallies during the outbreak of World War II. Back then, Europe so desired peace that they granted Nazi Germany virtually absolute rights to conquer countries as it saw fit. Look what sitting back holding a peace sign accomplished in that situation. France was conquered, England and the rest of Europe lay burning in shambles, millions Jews continued to face the horror of genocide.

What will the blind march for peace cost us now? What has it already cost us?

I challenge the advocates of condition-free peace to come up with an alternative to our current course of action, not simply the edict that "there must be peace." None of the peace marchers I have met can suggest any alternative to military action.

They should seek a solution the ensures the safety of my family and friends. They should seek a solution so that the people of this country will no longer live in fear. If they can't, I suggest that they put down that peace sign, take down their banners and pick up an American flag.

Dominic Bonevitacola is a senior Architecture major from Broomall, Pa.

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