Columns:: Worth Repeating

since 12/15/98

Columns::October 1, 2001

Worth repeating

On Sept. 24, the Center for Humanities and Arts presented a forum on “Humanistic Values in a Time of Crisis.” Panelists were Bob Burton (philosophy), Nancy Felson (classics), Alan Godlas (religion) and Eve Troutt Powell (history), with Betty Jean Craige, director of the Center for Humanities and Arts, as moderator. Panelists applied the traditions of their own disciplines to the current crisis in the United States, emphasizing the importance of examining causes before responding to threats. An excerpt from Burton’s presentation:
“The symbol of the university is the Arch. The three pillars of the Arch are wisdom, justice and moderation. Anyone who has read Plato’s Republic will recognize these three moral virtues, and readily supply the one that is missing--namely, courage. . . .
“This forum, and the one held [Sept. 17] . . . are expressions of our [university] motto, to teach and to inquire into the causes of things. . . . What are the causes of terrorism, and what are the causes of these particular acts? We think we know what some of them are. There is a huge gap between those like ourselves, who have so much, and those who have so little. . . . Religious bigotry is certainly another factor. But why would an apparently rational adult spend years planning and training to become a suicide pilot bent on destroying thousands of innocent people? I think that we do not yet know the answer.
“It will require wisdom, justice, moderation and courage if we are to win the war that has been declared against terrorism. We are determined to bring to justice those responsible for the horrifying destruction of Sept. 11, but we must inquire into the causes of terrorism, and find acceptable ways to eliminate them, if we are to win the war.”

--Beth Roberts

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