2008 Woodie Awards
Workshops Waging Peace
Kim Maleno
Issue date: 2/27/03 Section: News Stories
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With all the controversy regarding the impending war on Iraq, Assumption's Sociology and Anthropology Departments found a perfect topic for their annual teach-in, which took place from February 10th to the 12th. Different presentations, which gave perspectives on peace and war, took place over the course of these three days.
James Carroll, an author and Boston Globe columnist, spoke on February 10th. In this keynote presentation called, "The Urgent Legacy of Peace," Carroll discussed how religion has been a force of creating upheaval. He used the situations with Al-Qaeda, between Pakistan and India, and between Israel and Palestine as prime examples of religion being used to excuse violence.
A controversial issue closer to home that Carroll touched upon in his speech was the conflict within the Catholic Church. In this scandal, church authority figures wrongly used suppressed violence and abused their power. The speaker illustrated how the roots of religion should not be used as justification for war but rather as a way to maintain peace.
In his presentation, Carroll also focused on the government's response to the issue of the possible onset of war. In the 20th century, strong ideas about peace were presumed to be the course of action necessary for our country and the world to take. The columnist pointed out that this previous notion about peace being the way to go seemed to directly contrast the course of action of which President Bush and his administration approve.
Sociology and Anthropology Professor Linda Ammons summarized Carroll's viewpoint of having peace as a goal by criticizing Bush's Administration for "taking a step backwards" in their approach to war and of this approach being a "radical disconnect from what our country has done in the past."
While James Carroll took a strong political stance, the panel "Religious Perspectives on Peace and War," held on February 11th, had a different approach to this topic. The panel consisted of spokespeople from various religions and backgrounds, such as Catholicism, Buddhism, Quakers, Islam, and Native Americans.
James Carroll, an author and Boston Globe columnist, spoke on February 10th. In this keynote presentation called, "The Urgent Legacy of Peace," Carroll discussed how religion has been a force of creating upheaval. He used the situations with Al-Qaeda, between Pakistan and India, and between Israel and Palestine as prime examples of religion being used to excuse violence.
A controversial issue closer to home that Carroll touched upon in his speech was the conflict within the Catholic Church. In this scandal, church authority figures wrongly used suppressed violence and abused their power. The speaker illustrated how the roots of religion should not be used as justification for war but rather as a way to maintain peace.
In his presentation, Carroll also focused on the government's response to the issue of the possible onset of war. In the 20th century, strong ideas about peace were presumed to be the course of action necessary for our country and the world to take. The columnist pointed out that this previous notion about peace being the way to go seemed to directly contrast the course of action of which President Bush and his administration approve.
Sociology and Anthropology Professor Linda Ammons summarized Carroll's viewpoint of having peace as a goal by criticizing Bush's Administration for "taking a step backwards" in their approach to war and of this approach being a "radical disconnect from what our country has done in the past."
While James Carroll took a strong political stance, the panel "Religious Perspectives on Peace and War," held on February 11th, had a different approach to this topic. The panel consisted of spokespeople from various religions and backgrounds, such as Catholicism, Buddhism, Quakers, Islam, and Native Americans.