The Jesuits go down to Georgia
A Special Report on Loyola's protest of "The School of the Americas" at Fort Benning, Ga.
John Dougherty
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
Georgia's third largest city, Columbus, is a clean, cozy visage in brick. Once an industrial town, many of the buildings used to be factories, foundries, and mills.
Currently, Columbus is undergoing a renewal, in an attempt to attract tourists and, perhaps, to counteract the negative stigma that WHINSEC protests have earned it.
It is an undeniably pleasant place, but also undeniably unfamiliar. Upon watching a group of Loyola students pass by, one resident commented: "All these damn Yankees sound like hippies." A pamphlet distributed on a street corner includes an unfavorable depiction of the protestors: "With their unkempt appearance and bizarre dress, many participants engage in street theatre and childish outbursts of singing and chanting, reminiscent of the hippie gatherings of the 60s." On the whole, the residents of the town were extremely cordial, but there was always the underlying tone of disagreement. Upon learning the purpose of our visit, one resident asked, with a smile: "And what's wrong with the School of the Americas?"
Over the course of Friday night and Saturday morning, attendees were educated on exactly that. The Ignatian Teach-In was held in the Columbus Convention Center, once a naval munitions factory and now host to a massive peace rally. We were a multitude in college sweatshirts, fair trade clothing, and slogan t-shirts ("I'm Already Against the Next War"). Banners announced the presence of schools such as Scranton, Fairfield, McQuaid, the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkley, and a veritable directory listing of other Jesuit high schools and colleges.
The first speaker of the event was Loyola junior Geoff Browning, whose speech was chosen from many other entries to open the event. "We are Jesuit students," Browning said, "and we cannot let the dollar trump human dignity." Presenters spoke on issues of justice and faith, on immigration, poverty, human trafficking, the history of El Salvador, and attempts to promote social justice on campus. The speeches ranged from the mainly educational to the incendiary, with most of the heat aimed at WHINSEC. Throughout the night, a message of nonviolence was reaffirmed.
Currently, Columbus is undergoing a renewal, in an attempt to attract tourists and, perhaps, to counteract the negative stigma that WHINSEC protests have earned it.
It is an undeniably pleasant place, but also undeniably unfamiliar. Upon watching a group of Loyola students pass by, one resident commented: "All these damn Yankees sound like hippies." A pamphlet distributed on a street corner includes an unfavorable depiction of the protestors: "With their unkempt appearance and bizarre dress, many participants engage in street theatre and childish outbursts of singing and chanting, reminiscent of the hippie gatherings of the 60s." On the whole, the residents of the town were extremely cordial, but there was always the underlying tone of disagreement. Upon learning the purpose of our visit, one resident asked, with a smile: "And what's wrong with the School of the Americas?"
Over the course of Friday night and Saturday morning, attendees were educated on exactly that. The Ignatian Teach-In was held in the Columbus Convention Center, once a naval munitions factory and now host to a massive peace rally. We were a multitude in college sweatshirts, fair trade clothing, and slogan t-shirts ("I'm Already Against the Next War"). Banners announced the presence of schools such as Scranton, Fairfield, McQuaid, the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkley, and a veritable directory listing of other Jesuit high schools and colleges.
The first speaker of the event was Loyola junior Geoff Browning, whose speech was chosen from many other entries to open the event. "We are Jesuit students," Browning said, "and we cannot let the dollar trump human dignity." Presenters spoke on issues of justice and faith, on immigration, poverty, human trafficking, the history of El Salvador, and attempts to promote social justice on campus. The speeches ranged from the mainly educational to the incendiary, with most of the heat aimed at WHINSEC. Throughout the night, a message of nonviolence was reaffirmed.
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Lee Rials
posted 11/29/07 @ 12:38 AM EST
I am the Lee Rials quoted in the story, public affairs officer for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. First, let me say the story is well written and well told. (Continued…)
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