After inviting dialogue about the last issue, we were pleased that readers responded. Though correspondence received was edited for length in the printed version of The Bulletin, full versions of the letters in response to the last issue are available below.
The digital illustration (or illusion) of the U.S. flag and a peace dove on the cover of the GC Bulletin, Summer 2007, suggests a dove with a plucked olive leaf in its beak. Wrong bird! At such a time as this, the bird on the cover has to be a blood-soaked, nestbuilding casualty that got in harm’s way.
As for the essay about Mennonites’ “Faithfulness and Patriotism” – the essay tone seemed to be superready to embrace all the differing points of view and bent on conflict avoidance,
confirming the label: “the quiet in the land.”
Hey folks! There’s a real war going on, and yes, it “begs” to be debated on the level of some clear-cut issues, such as the following.
The war in Iraq is a “poverty war” that pulls in our low-income people while our young college students enjoy “the halls of ivy.”
Our young men and women are in harm’s way on the battlefields of Iraq.
Our young men and women are stressed about suicide bombers and roadside bombs.
Our young men and women must endure the 100-plus degree weather and ferocious sandstorms.
Many of our young men and women have had their eyes blown out and their limbs blown off.
Our college students are safe and secure on college campuses.
Our college students can take classes and exams and graduate in safe settings.
Our college students have access to many air-conditioned places, and can enjoy tranquil sandy
beaches.
Many of our college students can take for granted their good health and their whole bodies.
Pause a moment and ponder the 10-plus permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq and the multimillion dollar Taj Mahal-like American Embassy there too. Expect a draft eventually in our war-torn present and future. Perhaps at that time, “the quiet in the land” will find a bolder pro-peace stance.
Dorothy Word
Fort Wayne, Ind.
I just wanted to say thank you for sending me the GC Bulletin so regularly. It keeps me posted with all the events on campus and beyond. I always look forward to receiving a copy and enjoy reading it cover to cover. Thank you so much once again.
Getachew Wodaju ’72
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A quick word of thanks to let you know how much I appreciate reading the Bulletin here in Mexico. I love sharing articles from the Bulletin with my advanced English students, as well as stories about my own recent past as a Maple Leaf.
Kristina Everingham ’01
Cuautitlan, Mexico
I have enjoyed the new format for the Bulletin and very much appreciate keeping up with all that is happening on campus. Keep up the good work!
That being said, I would offer this suggestion – that you keep us older folks in mind as you prepare each issue of the Bulletin; remembering that some of us deal with bifocals and trifocals in order to do our reading. In the Summer 2007 issue, I found the article by Keith Graber Miller on pages 19 & 20 very frustrating to read. The print literally disappears into the red zones so that I needed to go near to a window where there is natural light in order to read the words printed over the red areas. Also, the yellow print on page 22 is very hard for older eyes to read. Even though all of this looks very nice, to me, it is more important to be able to easily read the pages than to have all the extra colors.
Thank you for your good work and many blessings as you continue to keep alumni informed about life on the GC campus.
Ruth Shank Martin ’66
New Hamburg, Ontario
Responses to faith and patriotism cover and article
Re: the cover illustration: It suggests that peace, symbolized by the dove with an olive branch, is an integral part of the United States of America, symbolized by the flag. In reality, our flag symbolizes suffering to many in the world because of our exploitation, oppression, and destruction in war.
Re the article: Our son Dan Wenger ’88 said before going to Nicaragua in 1989 to serve with Mennonite Central Committee that we should be as willing to die for peace as soldiers are willing to die for their cause, as Miller suggests. Dan died in an accident after serving only 11 months. I’m happy that Goshen College is sending SST groups to Nicaragua and pray they will help to restore the country that suffered severely because of the Contra War and our oppression.
Erma H. Wenger Lancaster, Pa.
Your new format is appealing and very well done. I was, however, disappointed with the cover choice on the recent edition. As an alum, and a former faculty member, I was embarrassed, and somewhat ashamed that I did not recognize it as the GC Bulletin. I had laid it aside assuming it was another mail flyer. The corresponding article was excellent, but deserved better pictorial representation.
