The rally’s theme, “War Is Expensive, Peace is Priceless” sparked involvement from different on-campus organizations such as Campus Progressives, Peace Studies Program, Women’s Studies Student Association (WSSA) and Feminist Organization Reclaiming Consciousness and Equality (FORCE). The event is spearheaded by Center for Peace and Social Justice (CPSJ) member and professor Ron Loewe, and is co-sponsored by the Multicultural Center.
Although the event is said to be a rally, professor Scott Crass said it is more of a forum to discuss the “deeper issues related to U.S. interventions” in Afghanistan and Iraq. Alishia Herrick, a student and member of CPSJ’s steering committee, agrees.
“I’m expecting a lot of people to get together and not just rally for peace and not just paint themselves with peace signs, but to actively get involved in peace movements and actively voicing their opinions in the democratic process through voting,” Velazquez said.
Three guest speakers, Maricela Guzman, Anne Wright and Stephan Zunes, will join the discussion starting at 10:30 a.m.
Zunes is a Middle-Eastern policy professor at San Francisco State University and is known to be critical of the Bush Administration.
“All the money that goes to pay for war had big affect on domestic programs like education and health care,” Loewe said. “It is important to recognize what the candidates for the upcoming election are saying about the war and how views and opinions don’t quite match up.”
Politically, although everyone has differing standpoints on the upcoming presidential election, the participators have said there’s a common feeling among students to start doing something about the war.
Herrick, who has friends fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, said “I respect their decision to enlist in the military and what many of the individual soldiers are trying to accomplish.”
“There is always a need to allow peace for people everywhere, regardless of affiliation or identity,” Velasquez said. “I think that war should never be unanimous, and there should always be people to stand up and express their beliefs.”
The Peace forum on Oct. 1 is the first of, what the participators are hoping, many more awareness events on campus.
This writer’s a complete hack. Classic cut and run liberal lol. Just kiddin’. Good story ‘Hani. Keep it up girl. Young people need to be engaged in this issue because it’s us who are always the ones who have to fight these wars, while the old men kick back.
Sounds like a pretty fair and balanced event?