ETSU faculty, students and the local community gathered in the Amphitheatre Tuesday afternoon to express their opinions regarding “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
Faculty members and community leaders expressed their views both for and against the war, while audience members were given the opportunity to state their own opinions.
Dr. Paul Kamolnick, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, supports the war in Iraq.
“Freedom is not free,” he said. “I realize that I am one of perhaps two generations that have been eating a big fat apple called ‘liberty,’ but never understood the fertilizer to make that tree grow.
“We are not fighting the Iraqi Army. We are fighting a dictator who has loyalist forces that have infiltrated, used civilian shields and wants to turn the country into a million Mogadishus.”
Dr. Lon Felker, professor of business administration, said, “This is a normal policy; we go to war. That’s scary. There is something in the human spirit that says war is wrong, and I think we ought to listen to that.
“I think war is a last resort. You don’t send troops to the Middle East in the thousands and then try to convince the rest of the world that you’re really not using war as a first resort.”
James Cross, a sophomore and an eight-year veteran, said, “I think after 9/11, most Americans finally became aware that not everybody in the world loves us.
“Many people out there think we’re selfish. We have too much money and we throw it around when people are starving, dying of AIDS because they can’t pay for medicine. They’re under oppression just like the Iraqi regime is oppressing their people.
“If we’re the greatest nation in the world and we are being put in the position to be the world police, should we not act on that responsibility? Should we not go help those who cannot help themselves?”
Vietnam veteran Don Donichy disagreed. “I don’t think we should be policing the world,” he said. “Let’s bring our children home. Let them protect our borders. They don’t need to be [in Iraq].”
ETSU alumnus Michael Garrett was pleased to see both sides expressing their views. “If we had a really functioning democracy, we would have had debates like this at all levels, including Congress,” Garret said.
The forum, which lasted over three hours, featured many diverse opinions, including some who were not pro-war, but believe the war is justified and that supporting our troops is necessary.
Kamolnick believes liberating the Iraqi people justifies military action. “On the grounds of the sanctity of every life, Iraqi and American alike, this war is absolutely justified,” he said.

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