The first time I heard about the Westboro Baptist Church protesting our campus was circuitously through a friend of a friend. She incorrectly believed the Church was targeting their protest against ROTC because “don’t ask, don’t tell” was repealed weeks before (and, you know gays deserve the right to murder, too).
Hmmm, I thought. I’d like to protest ROTC, but I can’t join these imbeciles. It would be like T.S. Eliot wrote, “to do the right deed for the wrong reason.” Alas, the bigots came and went softly and AU students took the moral high ground, proudly accepting homosexuality not as a sin, but as a natural part of life.
What is grossly unnatural is for an institution of higher learning to sanction ROTC.
I understand AU would face legal challenges, not to mention intimidation and laughable claims of treason, if they refused ROTC’s presence on campus. But that’s the byproduct of bravery. It would be quite the spectacle, wouldn’t it? I can see the headlines now: “Unpatriotic American University Refuses ROTC, WTF?” Instead, the Student Government quickly kowtowed and endorsed the program.
Evidence of ROTC support is rampant. Last semester, The Eagle published an editorial supporting increased access for ROTC, “Those who have joined ROTC will one day serve our country and they deserve equal treatment. These men and women deserve our utmost respect for the sacrifices they plan to make for this country.” Last week, President Barack Obama invoked unwavering support for ROTC in his State of the Union address.
Enough with the ubiquitous admiration, it’s time for a dissenting view.
AU is unique in its approach to international studies. While competing programs boast titles like Foreign Affairs or International Security, AU offers a more peace-oriented program, coincidentally named International Peace and Conflict Resolution. This distinction is important as it reflects the tactical selection many faculty employ – enacting non-violent methods to resolve conflict.
ROTC taints our university by distorting that image with militaristic solutions. Perhaps it’s fair, and within First Amendment rights, to balance peacemakers with a warmonger option. Albeit, anyone claiming that AU should be balanced with a violent approach should heed the hundreds of ROTC programs on college campuses nationwide that lack peace education programs.
The dearth of peace studies programs across the U.S. is a transparent indication that AU is an anomaly that deserves to retain its unique, unadulterated standing. It also proves how complicit universities are in generating ‘young guns’ to continue the failed military interventions of their predecessors.
Most folks believe ROTC and military ‘service’ to our country is deserving of our reverence and respect. However, the truth is, most of these folks are doing our nation a grave disservice through their participation in imperialism, violence and environmental destruction while bankrupting us as well. The cadets aren’t to blame, they’re merely victims of a predatory structure. I sympathize with those who have deluded themselves into thinking military service is analogous with preserving our freedoms or ROTC service is beneficial to America.
It seems service to our country is reserved only for the military.
I believe serving our country means starting a small business. I believe serving our country is becoming a teacher, a firefighter, a doctor, a nurse. I believe serving our country is responsible journalism, an advocate of transparency. I believe serving our country is attaining an advanced degree to mitigate conflict peacefully throughout the world.
Universities have an obligation to produce graduates who’ve dissected the difference between these types of service.
Citizens have numerous locations to join the military via ROTC. It’s a shame that AU is bogged down in toeing the line instead of boldly taking a stand.
Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist.
edpage@theeagleonline.com
