|
[To be published by The Stylus Campus Newpaper on 4/11/07]
To the SUNY Brockport College Community:
We are writing this open letter to the college community to inform you that as a faculty, we proposed a resolution on the Iraq war for the College Senate to consider last month. While we each have our individual stances on this issue, we wanted to explore whether or not we could identify common ground, and articulate a position on the grave situation in Iraq. We certainly aim to protect academic integrity and freedom, and respectfully give each other the space and respect to differ. Yet we also believe deliberating such a critical issue within the broader college community can serve as a tremendous example of democracy at its best. Whether or not we can come together in a majority opinion on this critical issue, involvement in a democratic process provides a powerful example of what it means to be active and engaged citizens.
We oppose the war on moral grounds, and as professional social workers dedicated to advancing social justice. First, the war itself is illegal under international law ( Iraq did nothing to provoke us, and did not possess weapons of mass destruction), and the basis for the U.S. invasion was founded on false intelligence manipulated by The White House. Secondly, we continue to send soldiers into battle without the body armor, training or vital equipment they need, nor do we adequately fund the medical and social services they need to heal when they return. Thirdly, the cost of this war, now over 400 billion, with some projections going over a trillion if one counts projected health care costs of the wounded, the rise in oil prices, and the interest on the war debt, is obscene, especially when we consider all the human needs that go unmet as a result. Last, but certainly not least, as of April 5, 2007, over 3,267 service women and men have lost their lives, as well as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, including many women and children, and millions more are wounded, homeless, or living in extreme danger and chaos due to the gross mismanagement of the war; all to what end?
As Chuck Hagel, a Republican Senator from Nebraska, stated in his 2006 article in the Washington Post, “We have misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged our honorable intentions in Iraq with an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam….The United States must begin planning for a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq. The cost of combat in Iraq in terms of American lives, dollars and world standing has been devastating.” Numerous foreign policy experts, including many U.S. military leaders, see the current course of action in Iraq as one that foments further terrorism and weakens not only our security, but the viability of other nations in the region. According to General Tony McPeak (retired, Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War), Bob Graham (former chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee), and Chas Freeman, (Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, and currently the President of the Middle East Policy Council), if we continue down this path, it could result in a World War III scenario with the Iraq war spreading into neighboring countries, including Iran.
Our aim in advancing this proposal was to contribute to the national debate on this critical issue. We believe that residing solely in the “Ivory Tower” during such critical times, when our country needs all reasoned voices to be heard on such a crucial issue, is not a reasonable or responsible option. We see our shared responsibility as faculty as being keepers not only of knowledge, but of wisdom. As other colleges and organizations of academics, such as the American Historical Association and others have done, we believe that expressing our views in a constructive manner on such a vital concern is essential for keeping our democracy healthy. There may be a precedent for our action. According to some who were on campus in the late 60s, a similar resolution against the Vietnam War was passed by the College Senate.
Unfortunately, the executive committee of the College Senate determined that this resolution was not an appropriate topic for the senate to consider, and thus it has not been introduced for discussion. Nonetheless, we hope you will join us in our continued attempt to seek common ground and participate in this critical national debate (if you would like to work on a petition to have the resolution debated in the college senate, please let us know). Further, we hope you will attend our Teach-In on the Iraq War, Wednesday, April 25, from 11:30 am – 1pm, in Lathrop 111 (please RSVP to Margery Saunders at msaunder@brockport.edu if you plan to attend).
Sincerely, The Department of Social Work Faculty and Staff
Proposed Resolution for the SUNY Brockport College Senate
The faculty and staff of the Department of Social Work, SUNY Brockport, recognize that they have a responsibility to advance ethics and social responsibility, as well as to support all efforts to enhance the principles of social justice and human rights. We oppose all forms of oppression, exploitation, needless violence, and victimization.
Therefore, the faculty and staff oppose the present war in Iraq as an unjustifiable violation of human rights. The invasion and occupation of a nation that posed no risk to American security has resulted in more than 3,100 dead members of the US military, 30,000 wounded troops and an estimated 600,000 Iraqi dead.
Further, we support those who serve in the US military by urging their immediate move out of Iraq.
Please note: The social work faculty covered the cost of publishing this article with their own personal funds .
