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Officials at Saint Mary’s University in Winona held a forum Jan. 29 to discuss the SMU Alumni Foundation’s plan to erect a veterans memorial on campus. Plans for a memorial had been talked about for years. Yet, when the plans turned to action, some members of the campus community spoke out against the memorial, which seemed to emphasize war and discount the Roman Catholic teaching on war.
The camp of concerned citizens has a very good point that is made even more poignant during a time of war, such as the one we’re engaged in now: War should not be glorified. It should be a last resort. It should be just.
Those who wanted to build the memorial simply wanted to honor those connected with the community who had made the ultimate sacrifice. After all, SMU had 32 alumni who gave their life during World War II.
Rather than just let the two groups stand at loggerheads, SMU leaders, led by chancellor Brother Louis DeThomasis, did the honorable and right thing: They got both sides together and found common ground.
What could have been a campus battle in its own right looks like both sides might claim victory. The monument will now reflect the Catholic church’s teaching on war, which includes: “Those who are sworn to serve their county in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the good of the nation and the maintenance of peace.”
The memorial will also honor those who served in the five branches of the armed services.
Anyone who’s been through war will tell you there’s nothing glorious about it, just hard work and dedicated service. No monument should glorify the horrors of battle. And most of the opponents of such a memorial understand the need to honor those who fight against tyranny, which makes peace impossible.
Not only is SMU’s process an example of how to represent and honor two different and valid viewpoints on war, it was an exercise on thoughtful discussion and community collaboration. It’s great to see an event like this turn out with such a positive result. And, it’s good to remember that sitting down face-to-face is oftentimes a way of building community, consensus and solving differences.
DeThomasis summarized it beautifully: “Everyone treated each other with respect. I feel we modeled how you can have strong differences of opinion and yet not resort to mean-spirited dialogue.”
Amen.
By Darrell Ehrlick, editor, on behalf of the Winona Daily News editorial board, which also includes publisher Rusty Cunningham and online editor Jerome Christenson. To comment, call (507) 453-3507 or send e-mail to letters@ winonadailynews.com.
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