President's Peace Commission

Dr. Charles Cotrell, President of St. Mary's University, discusses the work of the President's Peace Commission and presents Dr. Mary Lynne Gasaway Hill, St. Mary's University professor of English and Communication Studies. (Dr. Hill delivers the acceptance speech of Brother Cletus Behlmann, recipient of the Third Annual Art of Peace Award, who was unable to attend.) Dr. Hill also discusses themes in Brother Cletus' artwork. St. Mary's fine arts professor, Sharon McMahon, then narrates a slideshow of Brother Cletus' works. Finally, special award recipient Dr. Amy Freeman Lee delivers remarks on the power of choice, and connections between art and life. (51 minutes)

Mr. Rudy Reyes, of St. Mary's University Campus Ministry, presents Dr. Jim Donovan, director of the Corporate Responsible Investment Coalition, and Mr. Larry Boudreau, director of the Maryknoll Mission Education Center and a staff member of the Mexican American Cultural Center. Dr. Donovan discusses aspects of third world debt -- its origin, magnitude -- and economic, legal, and political grounds for forgiving this debt. Mr. Boudreau focuses on the moral problems the debt presents and religious and philosophical justification for third world debt forgiveness. He further notes that some expected results of forgiving the debt would serve the United States' material interests. (64 minutes)

Mr. Ben Domingue of the President's Peace Commission hosts this session. Dr. Raymond Boryczka discusses the transformation in attitude concerning child labor that occurred during the early 20th century in the U.S. He suggests a similar revolution in thought needs to occur today in developing countries in regard to their own child labor laws. Dr. Boryczka stresses that it was not simply economic or structural change, but also a shift in cultural perception which enabled the transition of children from objects of economic value to objects of sentimental value. Mr. Jaime Martinez discusses his experiences with organizing labor and the difficulties faced by workers seeking to unionize. He stresses the value of unions to workers and criticizes the "right to work for less" legislation that has come into effect in much of the country. Mr. Martinez asserts that difficulties of organizing have increased in the era of the multinational corporation and that unions must accordingly become transnational if they are to retain efficacy. expected results of forgiving the debt would serve the United States' material interests. (71 minutes)

Ms. Sophia Henrichs of the President's Peace Commission serves as host of this panel. Ms. Diana Hamby, a debt counselor with Consumer Credit Counseling Service, discusses the uses and misuses of credit, the cycle of debt in U.S. society, and suggests methods for avoiding the debt cycle. She emphasizes that credit should be thought of as potential debt. Reverend Robert Mueller advises seeking personal guidance when learning about debt and personal finance. He outlines how personal choices lead to debt avoidance by offering examples from his own life. Reverend Mueller also explores the moral choices involved in the use of credit. He links the television marketing of acquisitive values to indebtedness and asserts that 'when the values are clear, the choices are easy.' (45 minutes)

Mr. Andrew Espinosa of the President's Peace Commission hosts this panel. Professor Beto Juarez addresses the question, "Does past societal discrimination create a debt that needs to be repaid through affirmative action programs?" He reviews the Supreme Court's approach to the issue over the past 150 years and critiques how it is and has been applied and suggest how it could be better applied. Prof. Juarez illustrates his assertions by examining the impact of affirmative action on legal education. In so doing, he questions the validity of current standards, including the LSAT and the bar examination, as appropriate measures of qualification to practice law. (47 minutes)

Mr. Jonathan Hook, citizen of the Cherokee Nation and President of the American Indian Resource Center, sketches the history of American Indians in the United States, including: early exploitation by European, including methods of genocide; contributions made by Native Americans to the formation of U.S. democracy; the massacres at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee; and attempts by political and religious structures to shift traditional community-centered values to an individual focus on personal salvation and wealth accumulation. While indicating the ethnocentricity that underlies the concept of 'civilization,' Mr. Hook relates details of Cherokee history and culture, and states that the issue of identity -- who is considered an Indian and what definition is used to make the determination -- exacerbated by U.S. government policies, has become the most critical and divisive issue among American Indians today. He concludes that in order to make reparations, the first step should be an apology and the second step should be to honor existing treaties. (45 minutes)

Fr. Willis Langlinais, theologian and chaplain of the St. Mary's University School of Business, presents James Ball, professor of theology at St. Mary's, and Deborah Myers, physical therapist and member of the San Antonio Archdiocesan Peace Commission. The panel discusses the economic consequences of homosexuality in U.S. society and what should be done to address related economic discrimination. Professor Ball, analyzing the situation from the perspective of Catholic teachings on human dignity and the right to work, concludes that the issue is one of justice, rather than sexual ethics. Ms. Myers, approaching the topic from a legal perspective -- conditions in employment contracts, as well as anti-sodomy laws -- asserts that gay, lesbian, bi-sexuals, and transexuals are not asking for "special rights," but for equal rights. She decries the Catholic Church's support of anti-gay legislation and concludes that the psychological and spiritual consequences of sexual discrimination are even worse than the physical and economic consequences. (46 minutes)

Dr. Alice Kersnowski, professor of English and Communication Studies at St. Mary's University, presents Lynn Cuny, Executive Director of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., John Bachman, member of VOICE for animals and former nuclear engineer, and Jennifer Kohnke, a student at St. Mary's, WINGS Coordinator for the St. Mary's University Service Learning Center, and volunteer at the Animal Defense League. Ms. Cuny states that humans need to acknowledge that they are themselves animals, and that animal protection is a portion of the debt owed to this planet. Mr. Bachman criticizes the habitual materialist perspective in which animals are viewed as sources of food, entertainment, and companionship, without consideration of the emotional and spiritual dimensions of such domination; he asserts that peace among humans must include peace toward other animals. After a brief video is played, Ms. Kohnke cites linkage between abuse of domestic animals with child abuse and other family violence. The panel advocates voluntarism and the need to limit humans' ability to infringe on the lives of animals. (60 minutes)

Dr. Inmaculada de Melo-Martin, professor of philosophy at St. Mary's University, presents Dr. Irasema Coronado, professor of political science and Latin American/Border Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, and Mr. Enrique Valdivia, founder of the Esperanza Environmental Justice Project and staff attorney for Texas Rural Legal Aid. Dr. Coronado defines environmental justice and environmental racism -- any policy, practice or directive that differentially affects a group based on race, or ethnicity. Her discussion of environmental problems and inequities in El Paso is illustrated with slides. Dr. Coronado considers environmental racism to be based in politics, rather than chemistry. She asserts that responsible consumption by individuals is no longer enough; commitment by knowledgeable scientists who have can shape policy are needed. Mr. Valdivia relates a historical overview of the environmental justice movement, explains the need for legal, economic, and organizational resources and ability to attain environmental protection. He urges community members to monitor legislative actions, identify issues of local environmental justice, and become active in local environmental protection organizations. (56 minutes)

Adán Balboa, St. Mary's University student and member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Susan Hughes, Secretary of the Bexar Audubon Society, Jerry Morrisey, Conservation Chair of the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club, and Christine Bergren, representing the San Antonio regional office of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC). Ms. Hughes asserts that the 'natural world' in which nature exists free from human manipulation no longer exists, and that, therefore, we must manipulate nature wisely. She urges vigilance for large scale, and especially, local environmental issues. Mr. Morrisey discusses his own odyssey away from and back to nature. He states that if one considers nature worth protecting then one must be politically active. Ms. Bergren discusses the work of the TNRCC as Texas' counterpart to the EPA. She urges people to engage either professionally or, at least, civically in environmentalism. (66 minutes)