Full Disclosure
The ongoing debate over war with Iraq has not been a debate at all. In the absence of such discussion, the country must halt its current path toward a military campaign against Saddam Hussein.
Part of the problem is that the Bush administration refuses to release specific information that might shed light on why Iraq poses an immediate threat. The "dossier" of intelligence made public by British Prime Minister Tony Blair was hardly sufficient. As the level of disclosure currently stands, American citizens cannot make any informed decisions about whether or not the United States should go to war -- a situation unacceptable in a democratic government.
Not only has the administration failed to provide sufficient information about the Iraqi threat, but also the evidence it has put forward is lacking. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, administration officials have launched a largely unsuccessful attempt to link that country's leader to Al Qaeda. Bush also cited a 1998 report by the Atomic Energy Commission that said Saddam Hussein was close to developing nuclear capability. But when the commission checked its files for any such report, it found that no such findings existed.
What has made the debate over attacking Iraq even more frustrating is the assumption -- both in the White House and many parts of Congress -- that invasion is inevitable. War should be a means of last resort, considered only after every option has been exhausted. A real debate is long overdue.
A Stake for Everyone
College President James Wright emphasized racial awareness in his speech at Tuesday's annual convocation. In recent years, such a speech might have rung hollow by touting diversity for diversity's sake. This year, however, Wright avoided this clich, tackling the matter in a more substantive way.
Though we have already achieved some semblance of diversity, Wright challenged students -- from all backgrounds -- to consider how they fit within the fabric of college life. His speech, despite its ceremonial context, was refreshing for its candor and lack of politics. Strikingly, Wright cited his own privileged position, suggesting that his status as a white male helped him become president of Dartmouth. This example illustrated his larger point that the majority group is not the normative group, that all people should consider how race affects their lives.
Wright's speech was a good start; the year ahead will show whether or not his ideas will take hold. Hopefully, this speech will convince students that everyone has a stake in the discussion of race.
