September 20, 2001

Hi UW-Eau Claire,

I am a graduate of UW-EC and went on to complete an M. div. and I am now the chaplain at Eastern Mennonite University and have been for 11 years.

The way this tragedy has impacted me is through our students on various levels. We have several students who lost family members in the WTC and in the Pentagon and others who have friends lost in both attacks. Of course, all have been impacted because so few of our students have ever experienced such violence so close to home. These are confusing times but also fruitful times as many attempt to sort out their beliefs and values related to the use of violence in achieving goals of justice and peace.

Because ours is a tradition of pacifism or peacemaking, many of our students are now deeply concerned about a possible reinstatement of the draft and being called to service in the armed forces. It is a time of deep turmoil and searching. We do not believe that sacrificing thousands of innocent Afghani lives in the pursuit of the Taliban or bin Laden will lead to justice, peace, or even the end of terrorism. Such goals will require deep self-reflection as individuals and as a nation on our relationships with others in the global village. It’s a new world. This is a critical moment which calls for true “intelligence” and wisdom, not mere flexing of muscle, the release of smart bombs (duh!), or the deployment of thousands of forces in another costly and hopeless ground war. I hope and pray we rise to meet the dire needs of or times.

Blessings and peace,

Bruce D. Martin ’78 (A&S), Chaplain
Harrisonburg, Va.