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Life presents us with many opportunities. Free will guides our choices, defining what is most important during certain phases of life. As children, we are concerned with playtime and food, but as we age, restraints fall away and the world is at our fingertips. Take Virginia Wesleyan for example: a small, Division III college and the perfect place to indulge yourself in everything it means to be a student and an individual.
Students attend class, (a collegian's no. 1 priority) and still have time to commit themselves to numerous leadership organizations, honor societies and other social clubs. This is one of Wesleyan's greatest strengths – the freedom and opportunity to become a leader in a variety of capacities. At Wesleyan, the die hard athlete can play a different sport each season and escapes the pressure and limitations felt by Division I athletes. Theater majors can work on various plays, Communications majors can work on the newspaper or radio and Science majors can join the science club. Commuters and residents have opportunities to join clubs and organizations. Any one of these students can become presidents of these honor societies, sororities and fraternities and other organizations – and they do.
It is probable that if one surveyed the leaders on this campus, they would find that many of them are involved in multiple activities. Leaders thrive here. If allowed, leaders will grasp every opportunity that crosses their path, dipping their hands into anything, at least once. However, there are some individuals that attempt to chop off the very fingers needed to grasp life, by thinking their needs are always number one. When these people pressure leaders to choose one thing over another, or attempt to inhibit their natural tendency to lead, they are actually modeling a very unrealistic perception of life. Life to a typical college student is complex and includes many facets. Not any one sport, job or person rules the life of that student. There are many things in life that are important, each taking priority at some point.
To those coaches, professors and staff who believe that their domain is the only one out there: please lighten up. There’s much more to life than your particular specialty. To the natural leaders on this campus: now is the time to juggle eight balls at once, sort out what's important and learn from mistakes. And to those who need to be gratified by feelings of precedence: some of the best leaders lead many, all at once. Please allow them the freedom to decide for themselves what's important, instead of impaling them with your own concept of duty.
Lights, camera, applause. That was the backdrop of President George W. Bush’s march to the head of the joint session of Congress only a few weeks ago, where he gave his first State of the Union to a Conservative majority-held House of Representatives and Senate. I watched the annual address with pride, seeing control of the legislative branch and the US presidency in Republican hands - all in one TV image. I had worked hard for this day as a Young Republican in high school and College Republican Chairman at VWC. However, once Bush got to the war issue, I listened with my mind, not my heart. At the end, I felt pleased on domestic points and was left concerned about the possibility for immediate war.
I thought that if I, a person who worked for Bush’s campaign, was not feeling full enthusiasm for advancing to war without the same Gulf War allies, I was sure others would be split on the issue in varying degrees. The Virginia Wesleyan community was no exception. In addition to interviews, a poll of 100 faculty, staff and students was conducted on Feb. 5, asking respondents to chose one of three answers on their basic opinion of military action in Iraq. The majority of responses favored the immediate attack on Iraq, with 37 percent of the vote. Only one percentage point separated the opinions of those who believe there is not enough evidence for war at this time from those who believe that war should not be an option, unless we are directly attacked. I, like many Americans, listened to the speech, searching for what was "provably true." I heard discussion of the potential attack on Iraq and the reasons for doing so based on evidence of possession of tons of VX gas, botulism toxins and bio-weapons, in addition to the workings of a nuclear program in infancy, bad past relations and suspected ties to terrorist groups. Victory against Iraq would ensure that Saddam Hussein would no longer have weapons to use in a new 9/11, or to sell to those with a similar agenda. I'm in favor of a war to remove those weapons, and while we are at it (waste not, want not), ousting Saddam will bring liberty to countless oppressed people.
"If you aim to kill a snake, you don't step on his tail, you cut off his head," said Frank White, US Navy veteran and VWC maintenance employee. As the address continued, I kept watching for proof of immediate need to attack. I maintained my belief in a combat action against Iraq, but only if there was a willingness of the allies to join the battle. Alumnus and political science major Emily Bowling said, "I'm not a pacifist. I like big guns and jets, but I think they must be used responsibly." We are the globe's only superpower, with the world's strongest military. This noble title comes with the expectation that our forces will be used only in the most dire of events, striking swiftly, with just cause and with the utmost care taken not to squander life. Striking alone would be viewed by many of our allies as the actions of "Yankee Cowboys." Some may lose respect for the US, leaving fewer economic partners and military allies for the future, and those enemies who hate us now, will hate us even more.
"Look at us,” said Sara McMurtrie. “It's a small wonder Iraq hates us and wants to kill us. We live in luxury. We killed in attempt to gain a comfortable life for our people through our own wars and past deeds. Now Iraq wants luxury and is killing to get it, and we are angry about it and going to war." Economies rise and fall based on one nation's relations with another or all the others. Wars fought without allies have potential to be costly in trade relations and the like. Dr. Bill Gibson's International Relations course teaches students that the actions of one nation, especially the world's superpower, has a profound effect on the world at large.
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| Photo by BLADEN FINCH One hundred students, faculty and staff participated in a poll concerning the possibility of war on Iraq in Boyd Dining Center. The poll sparked a variety of opinions in the Wesleyan community. |
When one nation invades another without allies, according to Bowling, “it looks like a dangerous, bullying, vigilante rogue state.” While others were energized by the president's address, Gibson stated that it left him "angry and depressed." I support military action against Iraq. I support fully each one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. I support the commander in chief. If called upon to serve, I would do so without question. Prudence being the better part of valor, I would want to engage Iraq when we are ready to fight in joint force with allies. I would prefer to have the maximum amount of refueling bases and launching points for our planes, partners in intelligence gathering and a multinational ground force, capable of mounting an unavoidable invasion. I would like to do these things under the American flag, along with the banners of Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Israel and allies in the Arab world such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey. When we go, let it be at full strength, with preparations for a lengthy campaign that uses our forces in conjunction with those of allies who stand with us, resolved to rid the world of terror.
If we act alone, the people of Iraq will see us as the villains their government tells them we are. Our enemies in the Arab world will grow in number. I think we can handle them alone, but it would be in error. Wisdom is seeing that power to do something doesn't necessarily make that something right, or right now. Many in the VWC community are either veterans, currently in the service or have loved ones in the military. Even among these members of the Wesleyan family, there are still more divisions over which path our nation should take.
Elizabeth Watts is the daughter of a naval aviator, and her husband, Greg, is a staff sergeant in the Air Force. She is worried by the lack of knowledge about where her husband will go but supports him and the military despite her feeling that more evidence should be shown to convince the American people that attacking with allies is better than attacking alone. "Greg will probably miss the birth of his second son, but it's worth it to me to take care of this threat now, so my son won't have to deal with it when he grows up," said Watts. "There is a time when the world must join us and take a stand against terror and brutal dictators."
Freshman Rich Pully disagreed, feeling that "no war at all is called for now" and that a more "Gandhi-like response" is necessary. Pully wants a nonviolent, diplomatic, U.N.-solved solution. A storm cloud is forming and our nation is gearing up for war. Some agree with war right now, some say wait for allies and then strike hard. For others, the answer is no war unless we are provoked intentionally. Some disagree with war until more evidence of threat is offered by our government. Sophomore Mike Smead expressed a desire to refuse to "live in fear of war." He favors covert operations to direct combat. He said humorously, "Why engage in a full scale war, when one good stealth ninja assassin will do?"
Closing his address, the president made an appeal to Heaven. He asked God to strengthen our resolve, protect us, guide us and help us walk in His ways with hearts of peace. He asked for the will to engage in battle in an honorable cause for defense of our people and freedom itself. He referred to God as "Creator and source of all power in the universe" in whom he trusts and seeks counsel. When asked how she felt about the president's closing, Watts said, "The president is entitled to the same freedom of religion as any other American. I am glad he is willing to stand up for what he believes in and is not afraid to mention God."
Democrat April Rhodes said, "Christians don't have a monopoly on God," and "while the president has a right to freedom of religion, it could be seen how non-Christian Americans could have been offended." Pully said he “wouldn't feel safe until Bush stopped using the Christian God to justify his actions and represent all the people of America." I, on the other hand, will not ask for Christ to represent all the people but to bless them. We wage war for a just cause under a great flag. I too, join the president and make an appeal to Heaven. As we enter into a time of war with or without allies, now or weeks from now, I ask for God to strengthen the faith for all Americans, meeting them where they are, bringing them comfort. I ask Him to grant us strength, resolve to stay the course and give us all hearts of peace as we fight evil in its hiding places - at home and abroad.
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