Finally giving peace a chance

Hurrah! Spokane Falls Community College is preparing a Peace Studies Program, a first in Washington state (“New college program will focus on peace, rights issues,” Feb. 13). Initiated by the SFCC faculty, at last we in U.S. education are beginning to seriously study ways of waging peace, beyond an occasional conflict resolution offering.

Our country has been studying war for over 200 years. The West Point Military Academy was established in 1805, the Naval Academy in 1845, Coast Guard Academy in 1876, Merchant Marine Academy in 1942, and Air Force Academy in 1954. And no academy to study ways of peace.

Our atom bomb killed over 145,000 people at Hiroshima and unknown thousands more at Nagasaki four days later. We continue to invent and produce more weapons capable of ending all life on Earth. Over half of our national budget is for military. Has there ever been a more war-loving government?

Change is in the air. We the people are beginning to recognize the stupidity of war and long for a world of peace. I’m proud of our community college stepping forth as the first in our state to implement studies for peace.

Bernadine Van Thiel

Spokane