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The Sophistry of American War rights if they’re not willing to
By Kyle Howe Contributer
In 2007, Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg directed a political documentary titled “Soldier’s of Conscience.” In this film, made with official permission from the U.S. Army, eight American soldiers are profiled: four who believe its their duty to kill if necessary, and four who have decided, since joining the military, to become conscientious objectors. Maj. Peter Kilner, a philosophy instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, provides the backbone of the “justness” of war argument propounded by the American military, and it’s his polemic philosophy I ultimately take issue with in light of America’s past and present military operations. I would like to interrogate Kilner’s central argument on the morality of killing in war. He believes a person cannot say he or she believes in human
defend them. He further explained his position by use of the Good Samaritan parable. In the story, Kilner commended the Good Samaritan for stopping to help. However, he entertained the notion: What if the Good Samaritan had travelled earlier, witnessing the man actually being assaulted? What then would the Good Samaritan have done? Would it be more just to watch the man get attacked than offer help or intervene to protect the man from an attack altogether? Kilner believes the more noble thing to do is to step in and protect the victim, injuring or killing the perpetrator(s) if necessary. In the parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, the Good Samaritan “soothed his wounds with medicine . . . and took care of him.” While proponents for the moral use of lethal violence have adopted language like “defend,” “protect” and “responsibility” to cushion their justification for killing, it’s evident this language is being used deceptively to advance less honorable agendas that otherwise might be questioned. The U.S. military justifies nearly every military operation in just war theory language using terms—“OperaWar Continued - pg 5
Contact Genny Santos, santogl@millsaps.edu
Diversity: is it black T HE and (mostly) white? P URPLE
By Mo Wilson Contributor
It’s the time of year when admissions counselors are telling prospective students what makes Millsaps College better than all the other schools they’re considering. We’re all probably familiar with the catchphrases that they use: small family atmosphere, personal attention from professors and a diverse student body. Except the diverse student body isn’t so diverse. I remember hearing about what a “diverse student body” this school had when I was applying. Since I came from a semiurban public school in Atlanta, I wasn’t expecting to arrive at the pinnacle of integration once arriving at Millsaps, a school in Jackson, Mississippi. So, I wasn’t necessarily surprised when I saw how many students were white, but I was a little disappointed.
Millsaps is very open-minded, liberal place, especially considering how conservative Mississippi is. However, anyone can see that this is a predominantly white school. Millsaps may have a lot of great things, but ethnic diversity is not one of them. In each of my classes there will be maybe one or two students who are black, if there are any at all, not to mention the even fewer number of Asian or Hispanic students whose representation is shockingly low. With many of the black students on campus involved in sports, they tend to socially hang out almost exclusively with eachother which causes further separation between the black and white people. Instead of a mix of students throughout the Caf ’, there is an all black table and a couple of black students sprinkled throughout the fraternity tables. This Caf ’ situation seems to be the same with regard to the Asian students. Something that further shows the lack of diversity on campus is the Greek system. While there are a couple of minority students that are in the five main fraternities on campus, the status of the black sororities and fraternities
hipsterindisguise I’m dressed like a robber and I’m going grocery shopping #dryweek sororitysophomore printing 120+ pages from the library right now. don’t judge me sassyfratstar Watching freshmen use the Meltemp in lab is like watching a baby gazelle walk for the first time loudandproud If I nod at the things you say and make eye contact with your good eye a few times, you’ll totally think I’m taking notes. #millsapsprobs biochemblonde Um. Yes, I can her you whispering through the halls of new south.
MillsapsProbs Should I be offended that no one’s ever tried to get me anywhere near the M bench? #ImAttractive…Right? #millsapsprobs seniorsrock Gin o’clock @parlormarket with friends galore marks a beautiful beginning of the end of a senior year at Millsaps. #jacktownforever ThatKidInPlaid I was in a bad mood and then I saw a s**tload of squirrels in the bowl, so that was cool. babyhandz I put a dollar into the drink machine for a Diet Coke, but it gave me a regular Coke instead. #FirstWorldProblems elusivesophomore brushing my teeth with brown water was definitely the perfect start to my day #fixfranklin
hipsterindisguise Major Access outrage at 5pm
sweaters. There’s a laundry thief up in ezelle hall.
MeowsapsSenior got to the library & opened my laptop, forgetting that I had been watching black swan at the highest possible volume. uhhhhhoops
artsysenior How does anyone stay awake in this library?
biochemblonde Getting whiplash in the caf due to looking at the door every time it opened. @MillsapsProbs seasonalsenior If I could major in napping, that would be just lovely. @ MillsapsProbs Not-Really-Redhead Putting off doing homework by doing other homework that is less excruciating. #IAmDefinitelyBackatSchool FroBro hide your pants, hide your shorts, and hide your ugly
Editor-in-Chief... Kenya Strong-Johnston Managing Editor... Lana Price Visuals Manager... Sonum Sanjanwala Layout Editors... Catherine Pereira Maryam Qureshi Photo Manager... Genny Santos Graphics Editor... Sonum Sanjanwala Business Manager.. Juan Fernandez News Editor... Abed Haddad Opinions Editor... Genny Santos Arts & Life Editor... Madeline Rardin Features Editor... Anna Nations Sports Editor... Ellen Bouyelas Advisor... Woody Woodrick Contributors... Carpenter Stevens Sara Sacks Kyle Howe Mo Wilson Andrew Rafferty Douglas Kennedy Josh May E-mail corrections to Editor-inChief Kenya Strong-Johnston, stronkk@millsaps.edu.
Diversity Continued - pg 5
#definitelybackatschool: A tweet cycle Compliled by Genny Santos Opinions Editor
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elusivesophomore my laptop has recovered from its virus but the only things it won’t let me do is go on facebook or twitter. it’s like it knows what’s best. sportyinpink You know it’s going to be a good weekend when you lose your debit card on a thursday night. #collegelife gingerbreadgirl Dinner and a show?! Oh millsaps how you spoil me. #buskateers #kavahouse babyhandz My mom just told me she wore my old prom dress to a party last night… #whatthewhat?!
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