As I watched the Channel Eight news helicopter hover curiously over the science tower recording people making banners declaring their desire for peace, I realized the country was listening to the students of Wesleyan that Thursday afternoon. The extremely large media presence at the anti-war demonstration last week exhibits that this country is ready to hear opinions against the War in Iraq. Furthermore, the presence proves that the American public especially respects the opinions of students, even of a relatively tiny and elite school. The demonstration was a greatly needed first step that helped create stronger ties between the University and the town and received significant print media coverage. If we continue this upward trend and are able to bring more people onto the streets at the next protest, our message can be heard on an even larger level.
Some might argue that protests in general are not efficacious; however this is untrue when they receive as much media attention as did the one on Thursday. Of course a protest in itself cannot end a war, however it is an effective way to put political pressure on politicians that can. Next time, when there is a larger crowd, we will receive airtime on major Television stations, and thus be able to broadcast that $315 billion has been spent on this war, $87 million of which came from the people of Middletown. This coverage will alert many people (at least in Connecticut) to how the war is indeed affecting them and thus provide incentive to put pressure on their politicians to start a serious debate concerning the war.
Public pressure on congress is imperative to ending this war. Currently, there is a resolution on the floor of Congress sponsored by three Republicans calling for a serious and lengthy debate on Iraq. Nevertheless, this resolution is well short of the votes required for adoption. Without congressional debate this war will simply drag on just as it is doing now. Yet, without public pressure Congress has no reason to even debate the War.
Skeptics say that the American public will never listen to a bunch of privileged students, but the substantial media presence disproves that argument. Additionally, students are in a position to be in the forefront of social change in this country; we don’t have careers to worry about, we don’t have families to raise, and we are supported by our parents. Of course the previous statement does not apply to every student, but the ones I am addressing know who they are. The vast majority of us, are indeed, privileged. My privilege was highlighted as I marched alongside the children from Traverse Square that joined us for the demonstration. I realized that I, a middle-class white male, would almost certainly never set foot on an Iraqi battlefield, but the big brothers and sisters of the children next to me were the ones currently fighting and dying in this war. Yet I was not ashamed because I was using my advantage to take responsibility for the actions of my government and to defend those less fortunate than myself. The demonstration only lasted two and a half hours and all I had to do was be there.
Finally, I do believe that we, as students, have the power to inspire. We can show the United States that young people care about this country’s social, economic, and moral welfare. Many are against this war, yet few are speaking out. Let’s use our privilege to be the spark that starts the fire.
There is going to be a large demonstration against the war in New York on Saturday, April 29th. Students for Ending the War in Iraq will be selling tickets for the Peace Train to New York that cost $13. We have also chartered a bus to and from the New Haven train station so you won’t have to arrange additional transportation.
Leave a Reply