Students react to war concerns

Picture this, students screaming at an anti-war protest reminding everyone of the 1960s. Here on the Georgia College & State University campus students are starting to react to the possibility of war.

Despite protests around the world, the Bush administration appears
ready to push ahead for a new Security Council resolution that could open the way for war.

“I think that a lot of students have a basic knowledge that Saddam is a bad guy and that things in Iraq aren’t good. Do I think students understand why a war could happen, then no,” said Roy Henry, senior political science major. “I don’t think they understand what the U.N. Security Council resolution is saying. I would be surprised if many students have actually read the Security Council resolution.”

Other students shared mixed emotions concerning the possibility of a war.

“I’m kind of torn. Well, it’s something that can’t be ignored but is this the best way to deal with it, I’m not sure,” said Karen Page, senior Theatre major.

These are different times from the anti-war activism and solidarity moments of the 1960s, and winning over GC&SU minds will be a battle of its own.

“War is not necessarily inevitable, if Saddam Hussein were to go into exile. However, seeing how I really don’t believe he would, I really think we are going to go to war,” said Henry, who is also the SGA Vice President. “We’re doing this to protect Iraqi people, and giving them the chance to live in a free society.”

What is missing now from the 1960s is the prolonged televised war, where many campuses became battlefields for First Amendment issues for students to argue their viewpoints.

“I think this is going to get students more interested in international affairs and the foreign policy of America,” said Henry. “I believe it also going to lead a lot of students to protest war and I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. We all have the right to protest and voice our differences with the government.”

For now, much of what has occurred on campus has been limited to dormitory and classroom discussions.

“War is never a good thing,” said Will Hatcher senior political science major. “Sometimes it’s necessary. At times peace can only be achieved through war.”

According to an article in Newsday, President George Bush said that the size of the protests against a possible U.S. – led war against Iraq was irrelevant.

“Yeah, it’s just kind of sad because we know no matter what we do to them in Iraq, we here are not going to feel it personally,” said Page. “We are just going to feel it through the affects of the people we killed, but we’re never going to be there to actually see it.”

Many of GC&SU students have taken action and have recently put on an anti-war protest.

“Considering that I know two people who are going over seas, one of which is my cousin it can be very stressful to try and go to school,” said Charlese Wright, junior psychology major. “You can be thinking about your loved one, your mind is always wondering; is this person going to be okay, are they going to come back safely. It can take a great toll on students.”

An estimated 300 anti-war demonstrations have been held in America during the past six months, according to the Institute for Policy Studies.

“I feel like if it is something we need to do, then it is something that must be done,” said Lindsay Sumner, sophomore special education major, reflecting on the possibility of the U.S. going to war.

Besides an anti-war protest there has been little evidence that an Iraqi war would even affect GC&SU students’ lives.

“I don’t see it having a big affect on campus,” said Hatcher.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 21 2003. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry