By Tammy Ashworth (March 18, 2003)

"The moment of truth is arriving," said Secretary of State and retired Army general Colin Powell today, amidst signs of and preparations for an imminent and unprecedented U.S.-led war with Iraq, which President George Bush has previously labeled part of an "axis of evil."
 

	In last week’s Lasso Online survey of 300 George Mason High School students across grades 9 through 12, 62% of students indicated that they feel Iraq poses a threat to the United States, yet 63% of those surveyed also opposed President Bush’s current plans for a pre-emptive war in Iraq. The latter percentage stands in stark contrast with the results of last month’s Washington Post-ABC News telephone poll of 1,001 randomly selected adults nationwide, which found that 66% of Americans favor U.S. intervention. It is also only the first of several polarities of opinion between the George Mason community and the nation, as well as among Mason students themselves.
Some Masonites dressed in black and posted signs encouraging students to protest the war.  (Photo by Kory Lloyd)
The results of the Lasso Online survey, which was distributed in several randomly selected English classes last Wednesday, are especially significant in the face of Bush’s final, fateful ultimatum to Iraq today, ordering Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq within 48 hours or face war with the U.S. and its allies "at a time of our choosing." This news, coupled with America’s, Britain’s and Spain’s withdrawal of their much-debated United Nations resolution on Iraq, as well as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s ordering the evacuation of all U.N. staff from Iraq, is cause for deep worry for Masonites and the nation alike.
"It just shows again the U.S.’s complete disregard for international cooperation," said senior Philip Newton today in a remark that tallied with the sentiment of a great many of the students surveyed, 77% of whom felt that America should not go to war without U.N. cooperation. "It’s just a bad idea," wrote one freshman girl. "We’re only going to start World War III if we act without U.N. support." Among the 23% of students who agreed with the U.S. entry into Iraq was another freshman girl, who said, "Saddam needs to be brought down, with or without diplomacy…we don’t have a choice." According to the Post-ABC News survey, only 47% of Americans oppose unsupported U.S. military action.
	Each morning, George Mason students rise to pledge allegiance to the United States of America. (Photo by Kristin Sommers)
Interestingly, the males of George Mason were split nearly down the middle as to whether America should go to war in Iraq, with 73 responding "yes" and 74 indicating "no." Girls were far more divided on the issue, with 115, or 75.1%, indicating that they would not support an American war in Iraq. Only 38 girls, or 24.8%, responded that they favored a war in Iraq. Many cited the need for more attention to domestic issues such as health care and economic downturn over war, while others such as junior Casey Winzeler opined, "It’s necessary to eliminate Iraq as a future threat."
	For many Masonites, however, the increasingly potential conflict has assumed a more personal significance. 45% of those surveyed reported that they knew someone who would report to the Middle East to engage in war. Several students have also taken an active role in organizing or participating in local protests. Senior and veteran anti-war protestor Brandon Greene has attended several protests, not only regarding the Middle East conflicts, but anti-globalization movements as well. Greene said, "Protests like this allow Americans to voice their discontent with the status quo and while Bush laments how the Iraqis don't have such a right, it seems clear that such freedoms have become irrelevant to Bush himself."
Polls, be they international, national, local or school-wide show that Americans and George Mason High School students alike are divided over  the impending war with Iraq. (Photo and concept by Andrea Genovese Soares)

For, as many fear, the greatest danger to America in the face of such a wide scale international conflict isn’t so much the threat of domestic terrorist attacks or economic downturn, but an issue which has proven particularly divisive in our nation since September 11^th, that of the erosion of civil liberties and freedom of speech. "Since when is it unpatriotic to voice an opposing view?" one senior girl, echoing the sentiments of a great many of her peers, wrote on her survey. "More and more people are being persecuted simply for expressing their beliefs, especially if they run counter to what’s perceived as ‘patriotic.’"

While there is polarity in our views about whether or not the war is the right thing to do, there is no question as to support for our troops. "Even though I don’t agree with the war on Iraq," wrote one sophomore boy, "I still feel it’s our duty to support the people who will be fighting to protect our country."

For the full results of the Washington Post-ABC News poll,  visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/vault/stories/data021103.htm.