Newspapers / Mars Hill University Student … / Feb. 8, 1991, edition 1 / Page 5
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Friday, February?, February 8,1991 Page 5 erspectives N. ulf arning About irce. Sophomore; Toney country, I support^Triter decision to use Arrthree forums covering two con- liddle East. Not onlyve Tuesdays, Mars Hill College ad- hoice, but I feel itKi Its task of ensuring that debates support our mei the war would be well-informed armed forces. It is tesponsible. For Dr. Jon Crawford, e individuals feel th(or of the Center for International protest American ins and Professor of History, the 3erative to join togetse of the “All College Classroom ” was to “share aims and ideas the Gulf region and American Verhulst, English'in the war.” that the war in the Pe participants on the panels in- carried on with red college faculty and students, as idam Hussein shous outside guests. The members at heart a pacifist. Ibssed over 200 people during the s a better answer thaforums, including students, facul- i members of the Mars Hill com- unt. Junior: As I refly. all what my parents the morning forum Tuesday, t me: to live at peaciry 29, the attendees considered . I feel that we need tiew presented by Mr. Latif Fak- ent officials to maK a Palestinian who now lives in the on behalf of our cod States. Mr. Fakhoury shared iking strife betweenan Arabic perspective on causes of ! war, we need to suar and results. He feels that the en and women whority of Arabs “on the street” did not in the matter but arort the Coalition against Iraq, freedom of our couir. Fakhoury also pointed out that minued from ttle their border difference peace- i/VE KILL PEOPLE, in July and were on the verge of :, TO SHOW THATfig the agreement when the IS WRONG? Did cities pulled out. Dr. Larry Stern 'der to “liberate Ku'i indicated that the Iranians had ointed role as intertisured Kuwait to pull out of the ac- ve are so interest human rights Fakhoury also feels that this war democracy, it is W have a religious background and ly we are defending fe. Also among his views is that itry that treats its v/® and the United States were not s difficult to comprQto heal wounds for a long time. He I States has never si expressed concern about the i, or China. We do States’ “Rambo Approach." On President Bush vi'fubject of the Palestinian question, it our troops to coiTi^®ihoury feels that Saddam Hus- t, and so quick to rfihas “no interest in Palestine” except with China afterersonal gain, jare massacre. C®culty members participating in the an underlying caus’^® included Dr. Ellison Jenkins, :hat oil is the only re^ssor of Religion, on “The Role of ite economics invol'"'”: O'". Sam Boggess, Professor of T of our oil imports W. on “Contemporary Saudi 1 Bush into startin?'®”: Mrs. Carol Boggess, Professor ;, when can we play'^Qlish, on “America in the Arab ig other human beld: Cultural Comparisons.” Also Kuwait, then why concerning the Arab world f allowing crimes s^ students Kristin Rabai and Majid imittedbythelraqis’*''®'’'. (See related article, Who are i over? Who gavf for coverage of these ition the right to dra**^®''®-) ahead, we fail to se^^’’- Jim Lenburg, Professor of His- )ssibly be seen as' summarized the United States’ peaceful solution'Qn policy in the twentieth century as :empted and givei'®^®^ to establish world order. As a civilized sociaiofi’s League of Nations and the istify taking lives in Nations following the Second is time to start leaT*^ were formed in the hope that jilding. of law would prevent aggres- War sors. The Grand Alliance that led to the formation of the UN was designed so that the major powers in the world would work through the UN to force respect of law. But the Cold War “soured” the al liance and left the UN often helpless and divided. Dr. Lenburg stressed that in this first test of the Post-Cold War era that the in ternational coalition probably will not be able to hold after the war in order to set up President Bush’s “New World Order.” He feels that the best chance for not dragging it out like the Korean War is to stick to the UN Mandate and not try to utterly destroy Iraq. Dr. Larry Stern, Professor of Political Science, described the current US Policy in the Middle East as the stabiliza tion and maintenance of a balance of power in the region. There is also con cern for human rights and oil questions to be addressed. He stresses that the addition of troops in November led to the point where we had to follow through on our bluff or “lose face.” The critical nature of the Gulf region combined with the tension and has made it into a “tinderbox; it is a quagmire.” Unfor tunately, that leaves the area in the situa tion where there are “no actions or lack of actions that give us a short-term desirable outcome.” “The politics of war are always dif ficult to understand fully” was the as sessment given by Dr. George Peery, Professor of Political Science. The President’s role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces assures him that in the case of war the “war defines a presidency.” Historically, after a war the Executive Branch often dominates the Congress. Dr. Peery noted that the division of the vote reflects the division in the Democratic Party as well as division of public opinion, but “in war fare, Congress doesn’t want to get in volved.” The difference between strategy and tactics was clarified by Dr. David Knis- ley. Professor of History, as the dif ference between the big picture and details, large units and small units, ends and means. The Iraqi strategy seems one of defense and attrition, in order to be recognized as winners by avoiding decisive defeat. The Coalition must reach a decision as quickly and cleanly as possible. Contrasting actual tactics is the con cern over “Just War Theory” as presented by Mrs. Kathy Meacham. “Just War Theory” has two main tenants: there is justice in the declara tion of war and justice in the waging of war. Declaratory justice deals with ques tions of just cause, proper authority and continued on page 6 Who Are the Arabs? The ancient Chinese general Sun-Zu warned us to “know thy enemy”; but as we approach war in the Persian Gulf, we are in a unique position of having enemy, ally and neutral who are all one people. The Arab world is a complete mystery to most Americans, who have had little firsthand knowledge of how an Arab country lives and breathes. During tlfe “All College Classroom Event” Persian Gulf War forums, faculty members and students shared perspec tives and information about the war. Stu dents Kristin Rabai and Majid Bakhtiari were among the panelists. Even though Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, most people have little concept of its back ground and position. If you are a devout Muslim, then you are to totally submit to Allah (God). Islam was started by the prophet Mohammed in 622 AD; Mohammed is believed to have received a revelation that is now written down as the Koran. Islam has three main tenants: Allah is the only god, Mohammed is his prophet and seal, and the Koran is God’s complete revelation to man. Some sects also put theological em phasis on Jihad or Holy War or on Predestination. All Muslims also adhere to the dis cipline of prayer five times a day while facing Mecca, Islam’s most holy city. Islam also requires alms giving equal to one-fortieth of their possessions. Each male Muslim is also expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecda at least once in his life. And during the Islamic month of Rahamadan all Muslims are expected to fast from sunup to sundown. Dr. Sam Boggess and Mrs. Carol Boggess taught English to Saudi Arabians for a total of three and one half years between the years of 1977 and 1985, and they shared some of their ex periences and insights into Saudi cul ture. Dr. Boggess shared that the Stan Toney Staff Writer degree of religious influence is vast and influences all aspects of life from speech to law. The culture shuts down, shops close and streets clear when prayer is called for, including at 3 a.m. The calls for prayer and the sermons on Fridays, the holy day, from the mosques are amplified by powerful speakers so all can hear. The Saudis are not rebellious and do not seem to mind the restrictions and the not-completely-free society that they live in, because they feel that if they had an unrestricted society they would become a second-class USA. Finally, he noted the great pride Saudis have in their religion, their role as protector of Islam, their language and resources. Mrs. Boggess examined the role of women in the Saudi culture and how the women play important roles despite their lower status. In the University where she taught, there was no mixing of the sexes but facilities were always equal. In public buildings like banks and in homes, there would be separate sec tions or rooms for the women to meet or do business. Only the closest male rela tives may see the face of a woman, which may account for the number of first cousin marriages. Mrs. Boggess described the “girls,” unmarried women, as interested in foreigners, beautiful but often unaware of it, as loving children and generally insensitive to the restrictions put on them except when males push them out of their time and places. The don’t like what they know of mixed-sex cultures, but they are very aware of how much they are valued. In fact, they are “queens behind closed doors” and are considered to have very important roles as mothers and stabilizers of families. Lastly, Mrs. Boggess feels that we, as Americans, can learn to communicate with the Arabs when we are not out to convert continued on page 6 War in the Gulf: Collegiate Impact Few things affect the course of human events as much as a major war. The war inthe Middle East has brought war to a new generation of Americans and raised the old questions for those who have already lived in wartime or are veterans of war. Since a college is an institute of higher learning, it is only proper that Mars Hill College examine the questions about war and of war and educate its community about reasons, causes and concerns raised by war. In the following articles The Hiiltop will examine the College’s response and actions, impact of the war, and what can be done to understand “why?”. ness means realizing, with Alice Walker’s character Shug, in The Color Purpie, “If I cut a tree, my arm would bleed.” 7. Act on that imagination-in our personal lives, in our studies, in our political action. There are possibilities. Jesse Jackson says: we must keep hope alive. And we must. Only with moral imagination and the courage to act on it will any genuinely new world order come about. Meacham continued from page 4 Iraqis, the Palestinians, the Chinese, the Saudis. Connectedness requires im agination. It means that when Iraqis die, something in us dies, too, just as when Americans die. Connectedness means recognizing and accepting our share of responsibility when things fall apart; when peace is not created; when under standing does not occur. Connected-
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