Again Australia goes to war. Again we travel thousands of kilometres to participate in a war that does not involve a threat to ourselves or our way of life. Indeed, participating in Middle Eastern conflicts can only increase, not decrease, our exposure to violence here at home.
So what’s a positive, peaceful alternative?
Rather than trying to ingratiate ourselves to rich and powerful friends, Australia’s future peace and security would be best served by becoming a neutral, nuclear free nation.
While maintaining our trade and diplomatic relations with other countries, we could claim the right not to participate in war. Being friends does not require us to fight – especially when neither ourselves, nor our friends are at risk.
I would prefer Australia to have the courage and maturity to pursue a more independent path. It is our right to determine our own destiny. It is our right to decide our own cultural values and laws. Such decisions do not constitute a criticism of other countries, but are simply an expression of our liberty.
Again Australia goes to war and again the opportunity to do it differently passes us by.
R J Poole, Lismore
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
