I am a peace lover who has thought of an alternative to the war on terror. I have even gone so far as to spend time doing research on the very subject of how to eliminate terrorism peacefully. I have come up with several ideas on the very issue backed by some research. I have so far come up with an answer. And that answer is targeted education.

My ideas spawned from the very epiphany of the man Gandhi himself and the laws of nonviolence, diplomacy, and tolerance. What I mean by teaching tolerance is we would have to have the Peace Corps volunteer to go into the Middle Eastern school system and teach tolerance to those residing there. If we can teach tolerance to the youngsters in the Middle East, perhaps this will stop them from becoming terrorists in the future.

Another one of my ideas is that education in the Middle East needs to be improved. With better education, Middle Easterners will be focusing on becoming teachers and doctors instead of terrorists. Children in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan want to learn. (“. . . orr showing a classroom full of excited eight-year—old girls how to use the first pencil sharpener anyone has ever cared to give them . . .”—from Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin.) Encouraging them further will only boost their learning experience and ensure a good healthy future.

Yet another idea is that we need to bridge that gap that creates an inequality between men and women in the Middle East. We need to send women enjoys such as Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama to speak in Middle Eastern countries. We need to be respectful in doing this. This will achieve great roles for women in the Middle Eastern society. With the woman’s touch on the Middle East, fewer terrorist activities will occur. Or at least the people there will be less afraid.

These ideas implemented would hopefully create more peace than the war on terror is creating at the moment.—Paulina Fisher, S.B.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.