As war with Iraq seems closer and closer then further and further away, it’s all getting repetitive.

It’s difficult to listen to the same things over and over again from everyone who has had anything to do with any part of the affair.

Even journalists, it seems, are struggling to find a new angle on what’s going on. The top story in the March 14 edition of the Kentucky Enquirer reads “Bush may drop U.N. resolution: U.S. could go it alone against Iraq after France rejects deal.” This headline could have been written a month ago. Has anything besides the deadline changed?

Pro and anti war demonstrations have lost any type of flair. Neither side is particularly strong or has argued their points well, which is a shame.

It seems that people are so confused by the constant back and forth that they are unwilling to jump fully in on either side. It’s good that people are speaking out and exercising their right to free speech, but is it doing any good if both sides seem confused and lost?

Arguments need to be made that don’t sound like every other thing already said. Connections need to be made on some human level, instead of on speculation and obscure history.

Facts are extremely important, but in a case like this where the entire story is still under wraps, persuasion must appeal to something else.

This cannot come from the Federal government, they have made their case and we’re still unsure if they’re right. This needs to come from citizens, or better yet, from students speaking out on campus or in their classes or writing letters.

We’ve had a fair share of letters to the editor at The Northerner about a possible war with Iraq, some well researched and well written.

Some have lacked originality, though, because they regurgitate a set of facts that seem similar to the current situation even though no one really knows what the current situation is.

The fact of the matter is, this is new ground that is being tread and we need a new type of commentary to go along with it as we wait to see what happens.