You relate Wesleyan’s involvement with the military-industrial complex on the basis of the Iraq war, with a lesser extent to the Afghan war. I can understand that. I can relate to it. But think about those wars you didn’t. The Gulf War had a United Nations mandate. All of those companies that you demonize in your Wespeak, they or those like them had a hand in providing the armaments for our current wars and those before them. Whether or not you agree with the Korean, Vietnam, or World Wars is irrelevant. A great deal of Americans supported these wars and the fact of the matter remains that there is a need for these companies that support the Defense Department. By stripping them of our funding, and by that example encouraging others to do so…where does that leave us? To be colloquial…up shit creek without a paddle.
It’d be nice to think that we didn’t have need of those companies and of the military supplies that they provide…but that’s foolish. I’ll be damned if I’m going to support divesting in these companies on some desire to allay the feelings of pacifism on this campus. You’re not looking at the big picture. Yes, America wields a great deal of power on the global arena these days and many past (we need that power) …but I think that is infinitely preferable to some of the countries that we single out as enemies wielding power. Can you imagine living under despotic nations’ rules?
So, when disasters like 9/11 happen (dear God, I sound like Ann Coulter right now, forgive me), be thankful for our investment in the military and what it does for us. Those are men and women that fight for us! We have that luxury because of the militaristic aspects that America has had since its inception.
As for the investment aspect and its long-term implications…have ya’ll ever talked to the Trustees? I have. It is not so simple as choosing to divest from a company/industry. It’s a give and take operation. We can’t choose what the investors (whom we hire) decide to invest in. If we made too many demands, we’d be told to hit the road. There is always a balance in life. They’re trying to maximize our profits. We give them some freedom, and we get some leeway in some matters. But we are an institution in need of money. I do not like being seen as Amherst and Williams’ red-headed stepchild. We once had the highest per capita endowment in the nation. I want to see that happen again so every student that wants to come here can experience the greatness that is Wesleyan.
I also can’t help but notice that your group seems to place greater emphasis on the lives of Iraqis than it does on American soldiers. You mention them (Iraqis) first…without adding documentation to support your claim of “hundreds of thousands” dead. This may just be me being patriotic and loving my country here…but shouldn’t American dead concern you more? To know that your countrymen are coming home in caskets and will never see their families again? It terrifies the hell out of me. It saddens me.
God forbid your group highlight the fact that American soldiers in Iraq are disproportionately from rural and urban poor areas. This is clearly not an area that most Wesleyan students have familiarity with. Take the silver spoons out of your asses and come to grip with reality, please. Instead of protesting at military recruiting centers (which dictate primarily to those of low socio-economic status) and also which, correct me if I’m wrong, ya’ll have tried to or have organized to go to in the past, go to the politicians that actually call the shots. Which I believe you have also done in the past. Please, continue with that behavior. It’s respectable. Just don’t denigrate the need for the military in the US. It’s irresponsible, out of touch with reality…and just insulting to those that give their lives for us.
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