“Imagine all the people, living life in peace … You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.”

These words were written by John Lennon in 1971 for his song “Imagine.” The song became an anthem for a distraught country that was attempting to recover from the past decade of sadness and war. More than 30 years ago Lennon told the world what needed to be done, but unfortunately, what he imagines for the future is nothing but a lost dream now.

It is a dream shrouded in the nightmare of a looming war with Iraq that is potentially as divisive and possibly as costly in lives as Vietnam.

Most college students were not alive to witness the onslaught of the Vietnam War. During the war, America lost her innocence. The U.S. military had never been unsuccessful in achieving its goal, and for the first time, it tasted defeat. It was an expensive and deadly war; nearly 60,000 U.S. troops did not make it home to their families alive.

These harrowing facts are what I learned in history. I’ve always known the 1960s, particularly the Vietnam War, turned “the land of the free” into America: The defeated and divided. But I didn’t live through that era. There was really no way for me to understand what the citizens of our country went through.

That is, until now. It now seems that our generation is destined to become its own history lesson. A lesson, I fear, that will be stained in blood because of the enormous rift over whether action in Iraq is justified.

Evidence of opposition to military action in Iraq was displayed this past weekend. The demonstrations not only took place in the United States, but were spread across the globe. Millions protested in more than 600 cities worldwide — from New York to Sydney, Australia to the small little town our university resides in. There were rallies on all seven continents, even Antarctica, to protest the seemingly trigger-happy, war-bent Bush administration.

Despite all these protests, despite the massive concern voiced by millions worldwide, I fear our country is inevitably going to war. Either due to pure pessimism or my sheer lack of trust in Bush, I fear the Bush administration is simply going to disregard the U.N. Security Council and go after Iraq.

With the support of only the British government — not the British people, their protest of 750,000 strong in London this past weekend exemplifies their opposition to war — our country is going to battle it out with the Iraqi regime in complete neglect for the majority of opinions on the matter, including the views of our long-time French allies.

However, Bush does have his supporters. Tony Blair, prime minister of Britain, seems to think Bush’s brain is in the right place, if such a concept is conceivable.

Also, CNN Headline News displayed rallies over the weekend that were for war in Iraq; mind you, all of these were in the United States. One of the rallies portrayed was right beside that of a peace rally. One gentleman vehemently attacked one of these peace protesters verbally, screaming at him repeatedly, “You support Saddam!”

The war hasn’t even started and already emotions are high and resistance is forming.

The state motto of Kentucky really says it all: “United we stand, divided we fall.” It was true in Vietnam and remains true today. Our country is not united nor are all convinced that action in Iraq is necessary.

This concept is the powder keg that will ignite the flames within our own nation. It is the facet that will cause blood to stain our generation’s history.

To not repeat past mistakes our country has made, for example Vietnam, the Bush administration needs to heed the lessons of yesteryear. The millions that protested last weekend are the evidence that this world is not prepared for war. Our troops, our friends and family, should not needlessly be sent off to the Middle East to die. Until the U.N. Security Council approves of military recourse for Iraq’s presumed noncompliance with weapons sanctions, the Bush administration should stay their desires to oust Saddam Hussein.

For right now, war is not the answer to Hussein. Perhaps, in the long-run, diplomacy can prevail. Maybe then Lennon’s dream of the world as one just might be achieved; peace might be achieved.

Ayrel Clark is a sophomore in journalism and mass communication from Johnston. She is the opinion editor of the Daily.