Diseases plague man's existence

Paul Schwartz

We seem to have many "enemies." They're so often referred to as consisting of an unspecified group of terrorists, but are these people
really our enemies? They appear to be living, breathing beings, like everyone else. They do not appear threatening in pictures on
television. They probably have families, mothers, fathers and children.

So why are these people our enemies? Have they directly done anything to us? Many would answer "yes" to this, but the truth is, they
have not even seen us before.

They may have seen us on television, just as we have seen them. But they do not really know us and we do not really know them. We do
not understand them, or why they are on bad terms with us.

Some may argue there is nothing to understand. They may also say these people are evil, that they are all murderers -- they believe our
country is evil.

Perhaps they do. But then, we believe the same about them. They have killed us, and so they deserve to die. We have killed them; do
we deserve to die? No. 

There is not a being alive that deserves to die. The "enemies" we so often hear about do not deserve this. Those responsible for the
Sept. 11 tragedy believed they were fighting for a great cause.

Their views were and are still wrong, but the truth is, they were seeking happiness. They believed that somehow, these acts would ease
their own suffering.

Is pursuit of happiness a crime?

One might feel a wave of anger sweep over oneself in reading that question. That anger that was felt -- is the real enemy.

Anger, greed and jealousy are the real enemies. Do not be deluded into believing these three diseases missed America. We are as sick
as everyone else.

They did not just magically appear in certain Middle East countries, with certain oppressive governments. These torment everyone
equally.

Once again in our haste towards what we perceive to be the problem, we have missed the point, and instead of digging up the root of the
problem we are only pulling off the stems and leaves.

We are not fighting this war because we want peace. We are fighting because we are angry and we want revenge. Someone has done
us wrong; now they have to pay. So let's make them pay. Will we be any happier for it? No. We will feel more powerful.

Good for us. But a power trip is not going to cease anyone's suffering. War will not magically turn into peace. Death and suffering will
continue, and we will be on our separate complacent ways, until a new problem arises to oppress us. 

War is only a symptom of a deeper sickness. The Taliban, terrorists and Osama bin Laden seem like the problem. The real sickness is
right in front of our eyes. It is an uncontrollable fire burning within all of us. Anger, if not watched, will burn down the world.

People aren't the problem. The anger, greed and jealousy that arise within people are the problem. Even if we kill all of our known
human "enemies," those three hindrances will continue to exist, as will the cycle of suffering.

The only true end to our problems lies within each of us. Only when we want anger, greed, jealousy, hate, unnecessary death and
violence to end, will they end. A war will not blow up these things. Only perseverance, loving, kindness, non-violence and compassion

will kill our true enemies.

Schwartz, a freshman sociology
major, can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.