Vigil promotes peace, education on world situation

www.bsudailynews.com March 17, 2003      by Teresa Auch, Chief Reporter

Members of the Ball State and Muncie communities joined the world in a candlelight vigil Sunday night to oppose the looming war with Iraq.

The event was organized by Win Without War. Peace supporters

The peace event started in New Zealand and 6,761 groups in 140 countries joined in throughout the day.

About 100 peace advocates gathered around Beneficence for 30 minutes of silence. People were then invited to speak.

Gina Wertz, a senior at the Indiana Academy, said she decided to organize a vigil in Muncie after reading the Web site MoveOn.org last Wednesday and saw there were none scheduled for Muncie yet.

According to moveon.org/vigil, the event started in New Zealand and 6,761 groups in 140 countries joined in throughout the day.

About 100 peace supporters gathered around the Beneficence statue for 30 minutes of silence. People were then invited to speak about peace and what they could individually do to promote it.

"I will try to become a voice for peace and learn more about it," Muncie resident Lucinda Rarick said.

Many people spoke on the need for more education about a need for war. However, there was some disagreement over the role that oil has played in the decision for war.

Stacy Stinson, an architecture student, said he believed the possible war was "dirty" because of the ties oil has had.

Sophomore Cole Smith said he disagreed with Stinson after talking with history professor Kevin Smith who said if the United States wanted control of oil, it would be better to focus on Venezuela.

Wertz said she feels oil is the real reason for a possible war.

"I feel the war is oil motivated; it's the biggest industry in the world," Wertz said. "Most of Bush's campaign contributors are in the oil industry, and everything points toward them."

Wertz said she has written to congressmen to impeach President Bush.

"He doesn't listen to the American people, and he's not honest because I feel his motivation comes from oil."

Many of the participants said they didn't believe there was enough evidence in support of war.

"It doesn't seem like there has been enough time and evidence, and it seems a lot of the reason for war is connected with Sept. 11," Indiana Academy alumna Susie Wilson said.

Michelle Lawrence, senior at the academy, said she didn't see why it mattered even if Iraq did have all these weapons when it hasn't mattered for the past 10 years.

Many participants, while against war, were not sure what other actions should be taken.

"I'm not sure what a good solution would be, but I know war is a bad one," Wertz said.

Another vigil is planned for 7 p.m. next Sunday.

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