The news that the United States Army is looking into building a training base in Middletown spread quickly last week, sparking opposition from numerous sources, both at the University and in the greater Middletown area. Whether it’s Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, President of the University Michael Roth or the numerous student groups opposing the base location, much of Middletown appears united in its stance: the environmental costs of building a training base on the Freeman Road site are simply not worth whatever benefits the base would bring. And while this type of conservationist sentiment is understandable, I found myself wondering if there isn’t something a little deeper at play.
As The Argus editorial argued one week ago, “it is imperative for us to consider the impact that an Army base would have on the landscape, politics and culture of both [the University campus and Middletown],” (Feb. 19, vol. CXLIII, no. 30). This is certainly correct, and it cuts right to the heart of the issue: with the negative environmental effects taken out of the equation, would we as Wesleyan students embrace an army base if, for example, it were built on a different site?
As one of the most liberal student bodies in the United States, I’m afraid that Wesleyan’s opposition to the base is driven more by politics than it is by a desire to promote Middletown’s well-being. It’s probably not a coincidence that one of the student groups leading the charge against the proposed base is WesPeace, whose primary goal is to bring an end to the War in Iraq.
The fact is that the economic benefits of a base in Middletown are undeniable. A large institution such as a training base would bring a significantly higher demand for goods and services, which in turn would pump much-needed money into Middletown’s modest economy.
Also undeniable are the effects that an army base would have on the character and culture of Middletown, and this appears to be the greatest fear—other than the environmental effects—that is driving opposition to the base. Yet, it seems unclear to me what is so objectionable about a bunch of soldiers living and working in Middletown.
Are we really so self-righteous and insulated that we can’t stand the thought of living in proximity to individuals who think and live differently from us?
The reality is that the U.S. is a diverse place, and so are the Wesleyan and Middletown communities. Not everyone believes that the War in Iraq is immoral, and regardless of one’s stance on the war, most Americans feel gratitude toward the volunteers who serve in the U.S. Army—men and women whose service allows students like us to pursue our studies without fear of being conscripted to fight in a distant conflict.
If we as Wesleyan students truly embrace diversity—as we so often take pains to make clear—then we should not be averse to living in the same community as people who don’t share our priorities and worldview. We should embrace the opportunity to live and interact with a different type of person, not avoid it.
It’s bad enough that we live up on a hill in our ivory towers. The last thing that Middletown needs is the University telling the city’s residents that we know what’s best for them. If there is truly united opposition because of environmental concerns, then that’s one thing. But if the Wesleyan community continues to oppose the base even if a more suitable location is found, then that is evidence of very mixed-up priorities.
The well-being of Middletown should come first, and it seems clear to me that reviving Middletown’s economy should be more important than attempting to preserve our liberal homogeneity.
I think we can all agree that it would be preferable if the Army could find a more appropriate location for the base. Yet, assuming that they do, the Wesleyan community should make sure that it does not let its political biases blind it to the significant benefits that a base would bring. At the very least, an army base in Middletown would give Wesleyan political activists a convenient target for protests. And, let’s be honest—who can say no to that?
Leave a Reply