Holy Cross community will join thousands across nation in speaking out about Iraq war

Holy Cross senior Sarah E. Fontaine says she’s the first to admit that she has no clear solution to ending the war in Iraq, but that doesn’t stop her from encouraging dialogue to explore non-violent ways to resolve conflict.

“We should be calling peace every single day of our lives. I respect everyone’s opinions about the war and I certainly understand the logic of those who say it would be irresponsible for us to pull out of Iraq now. I admit that I am not a political scientist or even perhaps a realist. All I can see is that men and women my age — American men and women — are dying in Iraq. This statement does not even call to mind the thousands of Iraqi men, women and children who continue to suffer due to the civil unrest that plagues Iraq. If we do not call peace and an end to all war now, when will we?”

For those reasons, Fontaine, a sociology major with a Peace and Conflict Studies concentration from Somers, Conn., is organizing a coach bus that will bring students and professors from Holy Cross to a peace rally on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Boston. Fontaine estimates that about 25 people from the College will attend the peace rally. The cost, which will cover the transportation, is $8. To sign up, e-mail Fontaine at PaxChristi@holycross.edu.

The event is sponsored by Pax Christi, a local chapter of a national organization called Pax Christi USA, which calls for the nonviolent solutions to armed conflicts. Fontaine and Tiffany Lee ’08 are serving as co-chairs this year.

The group of Holy Cross demonstrators won’t be alone. The Boston rally is one of 11 anti-war rallies to take place around the nation on Oct. 27, called for by United for Peace and Justice, the largest anti-war coalition in the nation. Tens of thousands across the United States are expected to participate in the coordinated day of opposition to the Bush Administration war in Iraq, according to www.oct27.org.

“Rallies like this bring to people’s consciousness that the war is still going on,” says Fontaine. “People continue to question the need for violence. We are just hoping to raise awareness and to put pressure on all of our leaders to readjust our strategy.”

Fontaine has been involved with Pax Christi since her sophomore year.

“I first became involved in Pax Christi because some of the people I truly admired were members. I knew little about Pax Christi when I started, but I soon came to love the community and commitment to bringing about peace and justice through Catholic social teaching.”

Fontaine believes that encouraging a dialogue against the war in Iraq is an obligation, not an option. She estimates that half of the students at Holy Cross who have signed up are not in Pax Christi.

“I think as a Catholic institution that values all forms of life, Holy Cross has as special responsibility to be involved in all conversations that promote life. Peace and nonviolent resistance promote life. We are the present and future decision makers of this country. We owe it to ourselves to become educated on all issues of peace and justice, as well as to actively resist what we may see as unjust,” she says.

Fontaine stresses that peace goes beyond avoiding conflict.

“Our country must remain open to exploring nonviolent ways to resolve conflict. Peace is not simply the absence of war. It is the willingness to lay down your arms and recognize conflicts can be solved with nonviolent means.”

Related Information:

• Chaplains’ Office