A small group of students and staff gathered around Fonville Fountain, despite a steady rain, at noon Thursday, March 20, to voice their opposition to war with Iraq. Details...
About 15 members of the Elon community gathered in response to the beginning of U.S. military action in Iraq. Jamie Dupont, a junior from Palm Beach, Fla., said it was important for people on both sides of the issue to voice their opinions.
“A lot of people aren’t informed about this war, so I think it’s important to be out here to open the eyes of people. Whether the gathering is small or large, it’s important to get your point across.”
Dupont said she believed most people have an opinion about the war, but haven’t expressed it because they don’t believe the war will affect their everyday lives.
“It’s kind of like voting. People don’t take the time out of their busy lives to vote, so they won’t take the time to come to something like this, either to support or oppose the war. They sit back and say, ‘It’s not going to affect me.'”
Jonathan Aleshire, a freshman from Pittsburgh, was 6 years old during the first Gulf War in 1991. “I remember that green screen where you heard bombs exploding. I didn’t comprehend it at the time.”
Aleshire said he thinks a peaceful solution can still work. “In general, I think there’s an alternative to war. There has to be some way to work with Saddam and his government to the benefit of the Iraqi people….I really think peace can prevail if everyone works toward that goal.”