I’m sure everyone in the US was distressed when we woke up to the news that our country was engaging in combat. I choose to believe that all Americans want peace instead of war.

However, politics or different views about other countries and/or risks or other factors can play in. But I absolutely think this is a wrong policy for our country, for many reasons. So, as I frequently do, I wrote to my elected officials in Congress, asking them to oppose this war and to end this combat in Iran. The best way to do this, as I understand it, is to request that they vote in favor of imposing the War Powers Resolution Act (the legislation about Congress declaring war) and to vote AGAINST going to war with Iran.

This is not to say that there are not many concerns about Iran. However, I don’t think going to war is necessary at this time. If you agree, please contact your members of Congress. I don’t think it is a coincidence that this started Friday night/early Saturday morning when so many Americans are not at work and are “relaxing.” So it you disagree with this policy, it would be great to record your disagreement with your legislators this weekend so that they come in Monday to an avalanche of protest communications.

If you are interested, these are the main reasons I asked my representatives to stop this US-initiated conflict:

1.  I believe in working for peace.  I think war is absolutely a last resort.  The last I read was that negotiations resolving our issues with Iran were ongoing and at least some thought they were making some progress.  So this attack seems premature at best.

2.  According to The Washington Post, President Trump called this a “war.”  It appears this not just a limited strike, like the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Arms Development operations, but an ongoing combat situation.  I’m a teacher, and having taught both American History and American Government, I know that only the US Congress can declare war.  So this “war” appears not only to be premature, but unconstitutional.

3.  What is the purpose and end goal of this combat?  While Iran has been opposed to many US values and alliances, I don’t see that it is an immediate threat to our country.  According to President Trump, we destroyed their nuclear capability.  So why are we attacking them now?  We may not agree with their policies or how they are treating their protestors, but since when do have the right to interfere in other countries’ affairs?  If we want to protect the endangered, we should start with more support to Ukraine, whose government has requested our support since their citizens have been under siege not from their own country, but from attacks from Russia.

4.  North Carolina has always provided a large number of people to the US military.  Recent data suggests that North Carolina is the state providing the third largest number of personnel to the US military, even though North Carolina is the ninth most populous state in the nation.  Therefore, it is reasonable to think that this war will have a disproportionate impact on North Carolina citizens.  In addition to my sympathy for my NC neighbors who may be killed or injured in this war, the Trump Administration has made huge cuts to services to veterans.  So dealing with the impacts of this combat is likely to have disproportionate effects in our state budget to cover the lack of funding for veterans injured in this combat.  But, as you know, the Republican-controlled NC legislature has still not passed a budget for our state.  So NC citizens, sent to war for unclear purposes, who require support if injured, are kind of in limbo.  And our military deserves better than that.

5.  President Trump did not even honor the dangers he was ordering US military to engage in by staying in Washington, DC to watch the initial operations from the Situation Room in the White House (if that hasn’t been torn down).  Instead, he announced the war from his private home in Florida, Mar-a-lago, where he was throwing a million-dollar-a-plate fundraiser this weekend.  That demonstrates that he is more committed to raising money for his political purposes than watching how the attacks that he alone had ordered were playing out for the US military.

Elected Representatives hearing from their constituents is a critical component of democracy. So in addition to voting on March 3 (if you haven’t voted early, as I did), communicating your opinions on this major turn in American politics is part of keeping our democracy healthy and vibrant…even if you disagree with me.