I suspect that side-by-side articles by Lee Cataluna and Kristen Consillio on the Jan. 13 false missile alert are the opening salvos of a barrage of similar pieces to come over the next month and a half (“Start planning now to mark anniversary of false alarm”; “Couple sues the state over infamous missile alert error,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 28).

Responding to Cataluna’s plea that “somebody ought to plan something,” I point to a modest action that, rather than waiting for the anniversary, has been held outside of the state Capitol on the first working day of each month since the infamous alarm. Between 11:30 and noon on those days, coinciding with the monthly test siren blast at 11:45, a small group of peace advocates has stood in silent witness to the need for global nuclear disarmament.

The columnist’s suggestion that the anniversary be designated as a time of healing and forgiveness is admirable. However, focusing on sirens and bureaucratic bungling is a misuse of time and energy. We need to focus on our nation’s escalating militarism and failure to join the rest of the world in decreasing the threat of nuclear war.

Wally Inglis

Palolo Valley

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