TO THE EDITOR:
I am writing in response to Chris Buchheit's letter to the editor ("Immediate withdrawal in Iraq would be detrimental," March 20). While I agree that a swift exit from Iraq would not be the best solution, I believe the protest was meant to be more symbolic of the increasing dissatisfaction Americans, especially young people, are feeling with our current situation.
Buchheit makes the point that we have had an equally high number of military deaths throughout our last three presidential administrations. How are military losses an argument for staying in Iraq? Should this not, instead, be motivation to take a stand against this gruesome pattern?
While a few hundred students protesting are not going to end the war, it may have an effect on the decisions future presidents make about whether to engage in military action, and as young people, this will prove very important.
The purpose of the protest was not meant to pit students against each other or attack anyone's personal beliefs but was rather a way to get students thinking and conversing about the war and the impact it has had over the past five years.
The very fact that we are still discussing it shows that it has done just that, and I am happy to be part of a campus that is willing to make this conversation happen.
Robyn Mitchell
Junior
Journalism
