Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon fourth graders give their opinions on the current Gulf War

Recently, questions were passed out to Gurdon Primary School's fourth graders to get their reactions and solutions to war with Iraq.

The questions were: How do you feel about going to war with another country, and what are your ideas to stop war?

In their own words, several fourth graders responded with some interesting ideas.

"Even though it's very dangerous, I think it is the right thing to go to war. One reason we need to go to war is because it is best for our country. We gave Iraq plenty of time to get rid of their weapons. But they didn't. They had an option between having war or getting rid of their weapons. I hope they get rid of them because I know people die in wars and their family gets really upset if he or she belongs to them. To stop war, I think the American soldiers should go to Iraq and go through every house, every store, everywhere and get the weapons themselves because it seems like they aren't trying to get rid of them. I know it's a hard job and it would take a long time but that is one thing we could do. I hope the people in Iraq choose to get rid of their weapons," wrote Kirby Key.

Rachel Peirce said, "I think we shouldn't go to war. There are a lot of reasons why. People will be hurt. They could even die. That would make their family sad. War can hurt so many people. If war can do so many bad things why do people want to go to war. We could ask Iraq and the other places that are mad at us to sign a peace treaty. Or ask Iraq to stop. Then if Iraq stops trying to fight then we could stop fighting too. We could just tell Iraq we aren't going to war. I hope we don't go to war and everything would just be peace again."

Wes Boulden said, "I think we should go to war. A good reason we should go to war is they are probably going to attack us again if we don't. It that happens more innocent people could die. Also if we go to war we will kill the bad guys and they can't attack us.

I think we could stop war by signing a peace treaty. President Bush and Saddam Hussein could sign it. Then their would be peace. War is bad but it is good in a lot of ways too."

Robbie Young said, "I think people should not go to war. The first thing people should not war is that they might die and their families would be sad. It should be not helpful when they kill each other. Nations need to help to end this war right now because too many people are dying. We need passion to care for each other and not doing a war to kill someone. I think we can stop the war by showing citizens we care for them and need them."

Delano Henry said, "I have mixed feelings about going to war with Iraq. One reason I think we should go to war with Iraq is because they smashed innocent people in an airplane into the twin towers. One other reason is that they had no business attacking us.

The other reason why I think we should not have war with them is I don't want people to get killed. Another reason is lets just try to lend a little money to them. I just think that's wrong going to war with them. These are my feelings about going to war with Iraq."

Jeff King said, "I think we shouldn't go to war. If we go to war lots and lots of people are going to die. If we go to they will attack is again. We might lose. We will make people sad. I have many ideas though. The first idea is to get the leader to change his ideas. That is what I think we should do."

Brianna Harper said, "I think we shouldn't go to war with Iraq. The first reason is, Binlobin (Bin Laden) could've been nice enough not to bomb us. He could've asked for what he wanted. Binlobin could've had more respect for us. Binlobin could've thrown all of his weapons away. Why would he need all of those weapons, anyway? Iraq has lost it's people to get back at our country.

The best way to stopping our war with Iraq is to apologize and be faithful. Saddam could've thrown away all of the weapons that is what I think about us having war with Iraq."

Payton Potter said, "I think going to war with Iraq will be okay. One reason that I think going to war with Iraq will be okay is because most of America has guns that we could use. I also think that going to war with Iraq will be okay because they cannot find G-town. I also think going to war with Iraq is okay because the USA has C4 and all of those bombs. I think we could stop war by taking some C4 and some Tommy Hawk cruise missiles and using them. That is my idea."

Troy Hooks said, "I think we should not go to war with Iraq. The first reason is that people would die. Because they might want to take my best friends over their or something and they might die. The second reason I think we shouldn't go to war with Iraq is that they might start blowing us up then there will be an even bigger war. That's why I think we should not go to war with Iraq."