“We have two oceans protecting us — yet why do we fight and why do we fight so much?”

University graduate Erik Rosenberg ’08 raised this question at a talk hosted by Students for Ending the War in Iraq (SEWI) last Tuesday afternoon in the Public Affairs Center. Rosenberg, a founder and key organizer of SEWI, returned to campus as a representative of the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS), a social justice activist organization affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, where he currently works as a national organizer. YDS works with unions and other labor movements across the country to reform laws within the democratic system, focusing on issues like immigration rights, the costs and quality of education, and anti-racism and anti-war efforts.

SEWI leader Miranda Becker ’11 was thrilled to have Rosenberg return to campus to speak.

“We have a loyalty to Erik,” Becker said. “He is one of the founders and leaders of SEWI…Capitalism is engulfed in this military system, so for us the talk was really right on.”

In his speech, Rosenberg discussed that relationship between American capitalism and American militarism, explaining that the individualistic and short-sided nature of American capitalism has created a cyclical system that encourages and prospers from militaristic behavior.

He also noted the connections between government officials and weapons corporations. He pointed to Gordon England, the current United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. England served as the Executive Vice President of General Dynamics Corporation, the sixth largest defense contractor in the world.

“The first duty of a corporation is to please investors; in other words, make money and make money now,” Rosenberg said. “The same people who make the decision whether or not to go to war are the same ones profiting. This pretty much promotes war.”

Rosenberg also spoke on the connection between defense spending and universities. He noted that as the American government spends over half of its budget on military expenditures, and over three trillion dollars in Iraq, there is less available spending for domestic services, such as university funding and student scholarships.

Further, as federal funding for universities has decreased, Rosenberg explained, private corporations including weapon contractors have increased their own funding to universities. He noted that between 1980 and 1996, corporate investments in universities have increased by 847 percent.

Many American universities, such as Wesleyan, Rutgers, Columbia and the University of Vermont, have also chosen to invest in these profitable weapons corporations. The University’s endowment portfolio currently holds shares in General Dynamics and Raytheon, another major American defense contractor.

“This [investment] lessens Wes’ ability to be critical of the war and of those who support it,” Rosenberg said. “Why should Wes be against the war when can profit from it? And why should professors be against the war when their salaries depend upon it?”

SEWI has been active on campus in urging divestment from these companies and raising awareness. Last year the Board of Trustees rejected a proposal presented by SEWI calling for divestment from Raytheon and General Dynamics.

Rosenberg, however, urged the audience to continue to maintain a high level of activism.

“A big part of Democratic Socialism is the empowerment of the people,” he said. “There can’t ever be socialism if there isn’t a strong democratic base.”

Rosenberg referenced Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama’s support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which makes it easier for workers to unionize. Rosenberg explained this this support, as well as Obama’s support for NAFTA regulation, demonstrates that Obama is the candidate most in touch with the American people. Rosenberg advocated the need to stay active and involved in election politics, but he emphasized that people should organize and demonstrate for the institution of progressive policies if they want these politicians to have the greatest positive effects on peoples’ lives.

“One of the most important things I learned at Wes, besides African Dance, was that politics is not about instant gratification…it’s about trajectories,” he said.

Over the course of the speech, Rosenberg expressed his faith in the effectiveness of individual action.

“People in power are scared of students doing the most basic political action-that is voting,” Rosenberg said. “Imagine how scary you would be if you did even more than that.”