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April 03, 2007

Women, War and Peace

This week, my evenings have been taken up with lectures that are part of the 2007 Borah Symposium. This underappreciated jewel of a film and lecture series was created in 1948 to discuss various topics associated with the causes of war and the necessary conditions for peace, established and supported by the Borah Foundation, which is named, of course for Senator William Borah, the Lion of Idaho.* It is administrated by faculty and students at the University of Idaho, and they bring in speakers from all over the world. (Three years ago, my husband got to drive Lech Walesa from the Spokane airport to Moscow--a 90 minute drive in good weather--during a heavy snowstorm so he could give the keynote address. You should ask Dave to tell you that story sometime.)

This year's theme is, as the entry title states, "Women, War and Peace". Last night, I attended a stirring keynote address by the Honourable Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland (and first female President of Ireland as well). This evening, I heard these two people speak, Sister Lorraine Garasu and Iain Campbell Smith, who discussed the long peace process on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. It was pretty incredible too. And tomorrow, I will attend two lectures by Cynthia Enloe, one in the afternoon, one in the evening. (One of the small joys for me thus far has been hearing Irish, Australian and Bougainvillian dialects from the speakers. Such lovely variations.)

One of the best parts is that before the lectures start, I've had the chance to talk to some incredible women from right here in the area. They're my seatmates. Women who are sitting next to me, waiting for things to begin. Women who hope they've been good mothers to their sons, who hope they've raised (or are raising) good men. Women whose children are grown and who have the time and the opportunity to get involved in peacemaking and are just looking for a focus. Women who are moved by the stories we're hearing and who cry along with me when hearing about the rapes and brutalities that are a seeming natural consequence of human conflict.

Men attend these things too, it's not only the women, but the large female turnout for events celebrating women's work in easing and eradicating conflict is the most beautiful part, in my eyes. It's empowering. Because we're hearing from women who have done things, women who are doing things, and we're hearing stories about other women who are doing things, and all these stories and speakers suggest that maybe, just maybe, we can do things here, too.

It's been a pretty amazing week. I'm not getting a lot of grading done, but I think it's worth it, given the experiences I've gained and the stories I've heard. Sometimes you just have to put things aside to savor the once in a lifetime opportunities.

*I know much of this because I am a proud graduate of Borah High School. Guess what our mascot was.

Posted by sally at April 3, 2007 09:15 PM

Comments

Posted by: fire4hairlady at April 4, 2007 04:12 PM

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