I want to thank the Daily staff for including the “President Bush can’t end war on terrorism too soon” guest column in the Jan. 22 Daily. It was good to finally read something other than hippie propaganda in regard to the war on terrorism, which I feel I have been inundated with since the Daily continues to publish articles for Time for Peace.

I find this a convenient way for the illogical organization to spread its word without working too hard; all Mr. Tesdell has to do is write his usual weekly piece and voil , his group has their message spread by the school paper.

The pinnacle of my disgust was the article about Martin Luther King Jr. “rolling in his grave” as we observed his birthday while continuing the confrontation with terrorists. I was disgusted because Mr. Tesdell failed to consider that the nonviolent reform which Dr. King supported was in regards to a local, national and internal issue.

Segregation was a horrible practice which could be changed by peaceful resolution and by making the bureaucracy realize that they were participating in a terrible civil injustice. In the case of the war on terror, it is not an issue which can be resolved in an international tribunal, the only alternative that Time for Peace people seem to be willing to offer.

The Taliban believes religiously in what they did Sept. 11 and in their greater mission to make the world an Islamic paradise. No talking or resolving is going to make them stop.

Myself and others find it occasionally maddening that Time for Peace does not offer any alternatives, which history shows is part of why the movement led by Dr. King was so successful. They don’t offer alternatives because the practices of Dr. King’s nonviolence are inapplicable to this case. They insist there are alternatives, yet a plausible one has yet to surface.

I am frustrated because Time for Peace fails to listen to any form of logical arguments, which I know because they gave my own informative letter an appreciative (for its sensibility) but apparently deaf ear. I listen to the opinions of others and take them into account. If I find their thoughts make more sense than my previous ideas, I am open to changing my views.

If they expect others to consider their ideas and opinions it would be wise of them to listen to the ideas of others as well, and I believe that if they consider the facts and the situation they may realize that while their ideals are good, the reality of the circumstances mandates that their ideals are unreasonable.

Jeff Goodenbour

Junior

Genetics