The first two of three planned panel discussions on the topic of war with Iraq took place Monday. There was something missing from one of the forums, though.
A dissenting opinion.
The first forum, titled "Why War, Now? The USA, Legitimacy and Preemption," included a four-person panel. Three were anti-war. One sat firmly on the proverbial fence.
"I'm not pro-war, but I'm not calling for a halt to the war," history professor and expert on American foreign policy Kevin Smith said.
Not one panel member took the pro-war stance, which happens to be the view of a majority of Americans, according to a Gallup Poll taken March 25. While college professors are often thought of as liberal-minded, that stereotype cannot be true throughout all of Ball State's campus. Surely some Ball State professor is in favor of this war.
Smith may be on the fence, but so are a lot of Americans. The view from the fence does not replace the view of those in favor of the war.
The purpose for these forums is noble. Ball State wanted to discuss this war in an organized, civilized manner, and it succeeded.
But it is easy to have a civilized discussion, when there are no conflicting opinions.
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