September 21, 2007 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

www.smumn.edu/cardinal Editorial September 21, 2007 9
Act of free speech or offensive display?
BY AMY KALINA
Copy Editor
September 11 is a day when
Americans unite to remember those
lost in the terrorist attacks six years
ago.
It is a day to remember the attacks,
not to engage in attacks of our own.
On that date this year, a display set
up by Saint Mary’s University students,
apparently on behalf of College
Republicans, stirred up controversy on
campus. The display, located outside of
Hendrickson, was probably meant as a
memorial to those who have lost their
lives in Iraq. The flags exhibited in the
turnaround represent the American
death toll, one that keeps climbing as
the war continues.
However, banners that accompanied
the flags were removed because of
their discriminatory message and their
political affiliation.
But don’t we have the right to voice
our views, regardless of whether it is in
accordance with popular opinion? One
might argue that on such a patriotic
day, we should especially be engaging
in the rights granted to us as citizens. It
is true that the First Amendment grants
each of us the freedom of speech.
However, if we as citizens have the
“right” to do something, does that
make it okay? I am choosing to exercise
another constitutional privilege,
freedom of the press, to share my
views on the flaws of this less-thanpatriotic
display.
Any marketing or public relations
student will tell you that an essential
part of sending an effective message is
knowing your audience. The audience
of SMU is one that values its sense of
community. The error behind displaying
a political banner is easy to
explain. To exhibit a particular political
message on campus, especially in such
a prominent location, is to suggest that
SMU itself is affiliated with that party.
Such an affiliation would be unethical.
Another flaw in the message was its
blatant targeting of a particular religious
group. Though a Catholic university,
SMU welcomes members of all
faith traditions. To attack a specific
group, especially one represented by
fellow students, can be seen as a promotional
act of discrimination. By targeting
a part of our community, regardless
of its size, one threatens our unity.
It is important for everyone’s voice to
be heard, but there is a difference
between what is allowed and what is
appropriate.
Regardless of its flaws, the ideas
behind the display were perhaps honorable.
The flags continue to grace the
turnaround to serve as a reminder of
our American heritage.
Here are some important numbers to
keep in mind as we remember those
who have lost their lives:
*Total American deaths in Iraq since
March 19, 2003: 3,776
*Number of non-American coalition
deaths: 299
*Estimated Iraqi civilian deaths:
75,000
*American casualties on Sept. 11,
2001: 2,646
*Non-American casualties on Sept.
11, 2001: 327
(Courtesy of CNN.com)
Just as we have a social responsibility
to treat one another with dignity and
respect, we have a responsibility to
ourselves to be aware of propaganda,
analyze the messages that bombard us,
and filter those that are potentially
harmful. As students, we know the
importance of critical analysis. Make
your beliefs your own, and base them
on substance rather than display.
What is Peace and Justice?
BY MARY GLEICH
Guest Writer
No, we’re not just a group of hippies.
We are a diverse group of Saint Mary’s
University students who promote a
genuine servant community dedicated
to the works of peace, justice and reverence
for life. We strive to take effective
action against injustice and foster
life-long seekers of justice.
As textbook as all that may sound,
we are a casual group that meets weekly
to discuss anything and everything
having to do with Peace and Justice,
both here at SMU and worldwide.
We work in a four-week cycle focusing
on one Catholic Social Teaching
(CST) every semester. The CSTs are
broad topics describing the Catholic
responsibility to justice in our world.
The cycle will include round-table discussions,
activities, field trips, movies
and maybe even a few potlucks!
BIG EVENTS:
Common Threads Clothing sale Oct.
25-27. When you’re home for October
break, bring old clothes back to school
with you.
Our trip to WHINSEC or Western
Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation (formerly known as SOA
or The School of the Americas) is Nov.
16-18. WHINSEC has trained over
60,000 Latin American soldiers in
counterinsurgency techniques, commando
and psychological warfare, and
interrogation tactics.
These graduates have consistently
used their skills to wage war against
educators, union organizers, religious
workers, student leaders, and justice
workers. (courtesy of www.soaw.com)
There will be an informational meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. in
Room B. The deadline for the WHIN-
SEC rally registration is Oct. 10.
Contact Mary Gleich, Laura
Holupchinski, Andrew Rath, Glenna
Krzyzanowski or Andy Pass.
American adventure
cont. from page 8
They are people in transition who decided to live in a foreign academic setting to
realize their educational objectives, away from friends, families and relatives.
For most of them, the first weeks are a phase of excitement when they are discovering
a new place and new people. However, after a couple of weeks, they
start to feel frustration, boredom and homesickness. Can you imagine coming to
a college with only 70 pounds of luggage, and the thought of not seeing home for
the next couple of months? How would you feel if you had to spend
Thanksgiving or Easter several thousand miles away from your family, sitting in
your dorm over break? What about leaving a girlfriend or boyfriend that you
dated for the last couple of years? A long-distance relationship is extremely hard
to maintain.
For me , the transition from the European way of life into the American one
was a long and exhausting process. College education in the United States is different
from a European university. Homework, in-class discussions, presentations,
essays, and pop quizzes are not a part of the academic routine in Europe.
Both systems have their positive and negative aspects, but I believe that most students
from Europe and Asia find the American education system less rigid and
friendlier. Add differences in culture, language, or even food to that and you will
have a feeling of it means to be an international student.
From a personal aspect, I regret that it took me two years to adjust to a new
environment. To avoid the mistakes I made because of my fears, freshmen and
returning students should get involved in the huge variety of activities at SMU.
We can build a friendly environment and a safe community, which helps us
appreciate that we are all uniquely different.