http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=24064 Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Letters to the Editor, UCLA Daily Bruin
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Government should protect citizens, ensure health care
Robert Johnston, in his letter to the editor,
("Pacifists rejected, not 'silenced,'" April 22) turns
logic on its head.
He said he rejects pacifism because "every government
has a moral obligation to defend its citizens from
harm." Not only does every government have this moral
obligation, but every person has a moral obligation to
protect him or herself from harm. But Johnston is
under the limited presumption that violence is the
only way to do that.
One way to protect Americans from harm would be to
ensure that we have health care. Harbor Hospital, one
of the biggest hospitals in Los Angeles, is regularly
threatened by closure for lack of federal funds. But
there were millions of dollars spent on Tomahawk
missiles, which landed on Iraqi cities, killing
soldiers and innocents alike. And plenty of money is
spent on housing the United States' weapons of mass
destruction.
But where is tax money for housing Americans from
harm, including the homeless in Westwood, Santa Monica
and downtown Los Angeles? Are those people not
Americans?
Andrew Kay
Liberman, Extension,
& Coffee House Teach-Ins
http://www.stopUSwars.org