In a forum entitled, "Remembering Sept. 11: Obligations to Peace and Justice One Month after the Tragedies," faith-based and community speakers reflected on the violence of Sept. 11 and on local, national and global reactions to the terrorist events.
The idea for the forum came from Duke graduate student Matt Robinson, who also organized the event, which was sponsored by the Campus Y.
Imam Abdul-hafeez Waheed, a representative of the Muslim-American Society, educated the audience about Islam. The audience listened reverently as Waheed said, "Like any other faith, we have extremists and people who violate the spirit and letter of religion. They do not demonstrate the beauty of our religion."
Lt. Col. Andy Anderson, who served in Panama, Korea and Kuwait, stressed his desire for peace but also said he understands the need for military action.
"Although I'm in the military, I am proud to wear this uniform to defend peace marches," Anderson said. "The right to protest peacefully is one of our greatest liberties as Americans."
But Anderson later made an analogy that supported military action.
"Do we ignore it when a rape occurs? No, the rapist must be stopped," Anderson said. "If he is not stopped, statistics show he will do it again and again. Bin Laden has said he will attack again and again."
Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, stressed the need for mutual understanding and peaceful resolution. "Isn't it time to use our heads and not our muscles?" Kinnaird asked. "We need to teach kids about other religions and cultures so they do not first find out about other cultures as bombs drop."
Two final speakers, Gary Webb, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Carrboro, and the Rev. Carrie Bolton of Alston Chapel United Holy Church in Pittsboro, addressed the attacks from a religious standpoint.
