What our education can — and should — be
PAT McELWEE
Senior Staff Writer
A Notre Dame education, as with any reasonably complete education, encourages students to grow curious, to inquire, to test old adages and to confront the pressing moral issues of our time. I can say that Notre Dame continues to do this, despite the growth of a trade school mentality in some circles, because any student who sought out a real education here could have found it.
During the past four years, this perpetually manicured campus has given us a semi-retreat from the harsh realities of the world — an environment where moral, scientific and philosophical discussions could take place free from the weighty concerns of political correctness and career advancement.
I am worried, though. I am worried about how many Domers did find time to learn, challenge and explore. I am worried about the death of the foreign language requirement in four out of the University's five colleges. I am worried about racist overtones in comments about Arabs, political statements torn from my bedroom door and a general unwillingness to question the status quo and even a disinterest in its immoral consequences.
This is no time for complacency. The past four years have been politically tumultuous on a global scale. Rather than binding together in mutual understanding, the world is searing itself apart with hate and violence. Terrorists turned peaceful airplanes into weapons, targeting thousands of American, French, Muslim, Mexican and other victims in two of the tallest buildings in the world. The American government has responded with two full-scale invasions that killed and maimed at least as many innocent people — whether or not those wars were justified, the dead must be remembered.
Indeed, this semester, the American government, unprovoked, invaded a potentially oil-rich Third World country, weakened by 12 years of civilian sanctions and almost daily bombing. The justifications given by our government were flimsy and certainly appropriate targets of informed moral inquiry. Yet, although the Pope, the U.S. bishops, other churches and global public opinion (outside the United States, Britain and Israel) denounced the war, the infamous weapons of mass destruction have not been found and the "liberation" of Iraq is occurring even as the United States props up equally undemocratic regimes throughout the world, many students have opined that it would be inappropriate to question the American president at a time like this. This certainly reflects the mood of the country and of Fox News, but I worry that it has come to characterize the otherwise morally inquisitive campus of Notre Dame.
Now is exactly the time when those who benefit from an education such as ours should perk up their ears, pay attention to U.S. foreign policy and demand that such grave actions be taken within a rational, moral framework. Unfortunately, I worry that the dominant mood at Notre Dame has been dismissive of dissent. But, I may be wrong.
There are some indications that I am. For one thing, many students have experienced the force of Catholic Social Teaching through classes, late-night rap sessions or service-learning activities with the Center for Social Concerns — perhaps the most laudable institution on campus. The Catechism leads us to challenge any economic system that fails to provide dignified work, the right to collective bargaining and a just wage. In fact, it has inspired some students and campus workers to question publicly why workers at this University are denied a just wage. Others have joined with the Coalition of Immokalee [Farm] Workers in Florida in asking Taco Bell to pay for a wage increase for tomato pickers — an increase they have not received in over 20 years.
Students take part in the community, often in ways that challenge the status quo with an eye toward improving American and global society. They teach the path of non-violence through "Take Ten," complete internships or volunteer work with public interest organizations like Center for the Homeless or get to know their neighbors or the "townies." Plus, on the part of those students either against or for the recent war against Iraq, there has been a public discussion.
In any case, people who have received a top-notch education at Notre Dame, Saint Mary's or Holy Cross cannot morally lay down and allow the established line to prevail unquestioned and untested.
We are men and women of privilege, and one of the unfortunate things about privilege is that it can blind us to the injustices endured by others. Our education should be the antidote to that. If we are really to follow the example of Our Lady, we must look to the downtrodden, to those who bear a heavy cross, to those who must give birth in a stable. We must strive not to join their oppressors, but to recognize our human solidarity with them. This knowledge is what a Notre Dame education can impart, and it is what many of us will take away.
Pat McElwee is a graduating senior and former Associate Viewpoint Editor.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, July 11, 2003
