Against The War Essay -- Argumenative Persuasive Papers

Against The War I began exercising my rights as an American citizen in earnest when I was 12 years old. During lunchtime at school, a few kids in my class placed thumbtacks on my teacher’s chair (an old trick). She was understandably very upset when she sat on them. Not having DNA and fingerprint testing at her disposal, Ms. Hana issued the ultimatum that unless those who had committed the act came forward, she would be forced to punish the whole class. We had until the end of the day to produce the guilty persons. The next day Ms. Hana came in and said that we would all be facing detention that day since she had not managed to find out whodunit. I raised my hand and respectfully said that I was sure I was voicing the opinion of many in saying that those who had no part in the act felt the group penalty was unfair. Ms. Hana said that perhaps next time those who were guilty would think again about getting their friends in trouble. I was unsatisfied with her answer and at the end of the day pac ked my book bag and proceeded to walk out of the classroom as usual. â€Å"Where do you think you’re going, young lady?† â€Å"I’m leaving. School is over. I refuse to be held accountable for something I didn’t do,† I replied. My dissatisfaction was duly noted, and I was unceremoniously shepherded back into the classroom and given an even more intensified punishment for daring to argue. I was put in the corner and told to put my hands over my head. As I stood in the corner, humiliated yet defiant, my classmates gave me looks that said, â€Å"Why did you speak up? Why couldn’t you just accept it? Detention is no big deal.† Similarly, the Afghani people must now stand and collectively raise their hands above their heads. The difference is th... ...housand miles away, where the sounds of bombs falling cannot be heard and the screams of dying people can be ignored, perhaps we can justify this outrageous war. Many people will do so in an attempt to sleep at night. Others, like me, will go to bed with a little less hope in our hearts and a little more sadness. We are now being fed a diatribe of righteous indignation and are told that war is our only option in the fight against terrorism. Not only is it the only option, it is the only patriotic option. Whoever speaks out in opposition is labeled a traitor and put in the â€Å"them† category. So be it. I hereby, officially, register my opposition to the war effort against the people of Afghanistan. I register my opposition to a bombing campaign that will â€Å"regrettably† result in civilian casualties. I do not want my tax money to kill a child. Is that so much to ask?