Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
Suppose that a group of islands near Hawaii was governed by terrorists who occasionally visited and killed hundreds of innocent civilians, then retreated to their islands with hostages.
Who among us would say no to retaliation because the terrorists hide among civilians in a population much worse off than ours?
Nevertheless, we would know that any attack would not give us the right to destroy all of their inhabitants’ homes, blockade their islands from food, water and medical care, or kill and wound thousands of their children.
The dismal truth is that there are simply no black-and-white ethical choices as to what would be the “civilized” way to respond, especially if the terrorists vow to continue attacking until all of us are dead or gone.
Robert Griffon
Makiki
EXPRESS YOURSELF
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.
>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite #7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813
>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter