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OP-ED: Peace vigil brings hope in times of war
by Cuenin, Walter
Op-Ed | 9/4/07
Posted online at 11:20 PM EST on 9/3/07
Last year the Interfaith Chaplaincy began a peace vigil that has met every Tuesday at the Peace Memorial outside of Usdan Student Center. As chaplains, we were concerned that there didn't seem to be any response to the tragedy that is unfolding in Iraq. Yet, we knew from talking to students and faculty that many in the Brandeis community are deeply troubled by the war. We decided to offer a vigil that would not be too political or specifically religious. We wanted it to be a time and place that would allow as many people as possible to take part.
Sometimes people ask me why I bother with a vigil. What good does it do? Isn't it kind of a waste of time? To me, giving witness and standing up to face a serious issue like the war is the beginning of changing people's conscience. Every week that we have been together in vigil there are many people who pass by and look. Some give the thumbs up. Others simply hurry along as if they don't want to be disturbed. But everyone is forced, if even for a minute, to confront the reality of the war in Iraq.
Giving witness is something that can take you to unforeseen places or in unforeseen directions. More than that, we have found it very important for us to have this weekly gathering. We gather for 20 minutes, from 12:10 until 12:30 p.m. to share what has been going on in Iraq during the past week, pray, sing or reflect silently. We all express our feelings of hopelessness in front of such evil. By being together, there is a strength that comes in solidarity. Because our vigil was covered by the Boston Globe, many campuses in the Boston area are in solidarity with us as we vigil. Some people have even been inspired to start other vigils. This has created a small but meaningful link of college students and faculty.
This academic year we are moving the vigil from Tuesday to Thursday. We will gather on Thursday, Sept 6th, and I hope that many students, faculty and staff will also take part.
The writer is Brandeis' Catholic Chaplain and a member of the Interfaith Chaplaincy.
Sometimes people ask me why I bother with a vigil. What good does it do? Isn't it kind of a waste of time? To me, giving witness and standing up to face a serious issue like the war is the beginning of changing people's conscience. Every week that we have been together in vigil there are many people who pass by and look. Some give the thumbs up. Others simply hurry along as if they don't want to be disturbed. But everyone is forced, if even for a minute, to confront the reality of the war in Iraq.
Giving witness is something that can take you to unforeseen places or in unforeseen directions. More than that, we have found it very important for us to have this weekly gathering. We gather for 20 minutes, from 12:10 until 12:30 p.m. to share what has been going on in Iraq during the past week, pray, sing or reflect silently. We all express our feelings of hopelessness in front of such evil. By being together, there is a strength that comes in solidarity. Because our vigil was covered by the Boston Globe, many campuses in the Boston area are in solidarity with us as we vigil. Some people have even been inspired to start other vigils. This has created a small but meaningful link of college students and faculty.
This academic year we are moving the vigil from Tuesday to Thursday. We will gather on Thursday, Sept 6th, and I hope that many students, faculty and staff will also take part.
The writer is Brandeis' Catholic Chaplain and a member of the Interfaith Chaplaincy.
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