L Johnnies Attend Air Force Ira Glasser Academy Assembly —Elizabeth Trice Speaks on# Every year, the U.S. Air Force Academy too many other nations or American citi­ holds an assembly to discuss an important zens. Traditional issue facing the United States. This year’s The use of international organizations topic was "U.S. Intervention Policy in the such as the UN and NATO was approved as Post-Cold War World." St. John's Santa Fe a way to relieve the United States of its American was invited to send two delegates and chose current responsibilities as World Cop, but Elizabeth Trice and Aysha Massed. The many delegates, especially those affiliated Values three-day conference was arranged into five with the military, balked at the idea of not three-hour seininars, three keynote addresses retaining supreme power de facto. There with Q&A, and an assembly to modify and were few attempts to deny that our nation —Howard Saurtieg ratify a document compiled from the con­ applies a different standard to itself than the Ira Glasser, executive director of the sensuses of the 10 roundtable divisions. Each rest of the world, hence the uneasiness that American Civil Liberties Union, visited St. roundtable was made up of 10 to 12 delegates empowering the UN might enable it to hold John’s early this month as a featured speaker from over 80 colleges and universities na­ the United States accountable for its actions. in the Tocqueville Lecture Series. On tionwide. About 40 percent had military Suggestions that the country change its Tuesday, February 7, Mr. Glasser delivered affiliations. general policies to be found acceptable by a 90-minute lecture on the subject “Tradi­ The first keynote speaker was Dr. Arnold other countries were shot down as being tional American Values” to a mixed audiece Kanter who used to be the undersecretary for impractical in the short-term future. The of college students, faculty, and visitors from political affairs—^the State Department’s long-term future was not discussed. There throughout central New Mexico. third-ranking office. The occupations of other were some attempts made by myself and This year, the Tocqueville Series is linked speakers and roundtable leaders ranged from others to show that proactive action now by the theme, “Citizenship in Democracy." brigadier general to international lawyer to would create more long-term benefits than In a brief introduction to Mr. Glasser’s lec­ professor of political science to ambassador the current reactive policies, but it appeared ture, President John Agresto remarked that that most people educated during the Cold to CIA offical. we understand the United States to have! In the inital roundtable sessions we were War have fixed mindsets to match the stasis been founded on the premise of protecting asked to come to a consensus about the of the past few decades. individual rights, and that the several lectures characteristics of the post-Cold War world, Johnnies and the Military in the Tocqueville Series address the funda­ current U.S. interests and values, and the As St. John’s students, Aysha Massell mental issue of the relationship between future role of the United States in world and I found that we stood out in various ways one’s individual rights as a citizen and one’s politics. It was generally agreed that the in roundtable discussion. Besides being responsibility to the collective body of nation is in the position of being the sole considerably more liberal than the majority American citizens, i.e., one’s country. military superpower in a economically mul­ of the assembly delegates, we found that we Mr. Glasser outlined the 200 years of tipolar world. As expected, there was sub­ asked entirely different questions than the conflict between the general will of the stantial concern that the country maintain other delegates and were less willing to be democratic majority and the individual’s this position. Apart from national security, confined to the structure laid out by the rights, using famous Supreme Court deci­ the number one U.S. interest was identified roundtable leaders. Although I occasionally sions as examples of watershed events in to be “preserving, protecting and fostering felt that my unwillingness to allow my American jurisprudence and as illustrations the economic welfare of its citizens.” One of roundtable leader to cut short meaningful of the nature of certain historical trends in the questions that was brought up during the discussion was not appreciated, the poten­ this country’s legal thinking. The Constitu­ first Q&A and continued to be asked during tial of the critical thinking that we tend to tion, including the Bill of Rights, was the the following sessions was whether human develop here at St. John’s is respected even standard employed by Mr. Glasser to deter­ rights issues such as prevention of genocide in the military. After the first Q&A, Brig. mine whether these court decisions reflect or or economic equality with developing coun­ General Reuben A. Cubero, Dean of Faculty oppose “traditional American values.” He tries could ever be placed at a higher priority at the AFA, approached Ms. Massell and me argued that America’s founding docu­ than our own economic interests. The over­ to express his admiration for the St. John’s ments—^the Declaration of Indepedence and whelming answer was “it would be nice, but tradition. Dr. Walling, a political science the Constitution of 1789—are, for all practi­ probably not.” This attitude was prevalent Professor at the Academy who graduated cal purposes, the primary source material throughout the assembly, and after choosing from the Annapolis campus of St. John's, from which we may learn what national the “neccesary evil” of putting the United commented that he feels a little out of place values are truly “traditional." Notions ofi States above all other peoples, the discus­ at the Academy, but finds he is well appreci­ democracy and personal liberty are explicit sion was mostly bickering about how to ated for his ability to think creatively and ask continued on page 3 accomplish this objective without upsetting questions that otherwise wouldn’t arise. 2 N 0 0 M 0 0 N Peter's Walk to the Capitol -Peter Kaltreider My multifarious travels have finally brought me to Santa Fe, his name, what with these bunk specs, was very concerned about the I where I have enjoyed the companies of many old friends and been bill in question and wanted to know if he would have to fill out the coerced into writing an article for your editor Taffeta Elliott, the fine form if he merely withdrew his money from the bank, never person who stole my chair. (I'm glad she is sitting in my chair.) intending to buy anything. Taffeta’s companionship is relaxing—soothing even—and highly If you swing by the capitol you will see this man and how much recommended, but now I would like, if I may, to delineate my he dislikes the government; the main thrust of his argument centered delightful excursion, on foot, to the on his anguish at getting pulled over and asked for immigration papers ev­ state capitol. These senators are impassioned Some had recommended that I go ery time he drives to Albuquerque. I there with an agenda; I don’t mean to when it is suggested that the govern­ can understand the inconvenience. start a witch hunt, but there are indi­ ment should know when they purchase Senators should not get harrassed if viduals on this campus who would they occasionally forget their green have New Mexico change its state items with $10,000 in legal tender. cards. This is the great irony, however; vegetable, the pepper, to the status of here is the humble senator who runs state fruit, which I guess it technically should be. I would have the entire state, pulled over by some glorified security guard with a brought this to the attention of our senators but it became evident that power problem and an I’m-American-what-are-you-doing-here at­ this sort of participation isn’t allowed; I am struggling at this titude. Great, go ahead and watch them let some Cubans launder moment to resist writing a tirade against security guards, who are, as money at some rancher’s expense, but don’t you dare cruise to we all know, largely superfluous. Albuquerque in your low-rider. For the most part I was impressed with the proceedings and with The capitol is very enlightening and a total Babe-o-Rama. I our senators, even though the session opened with a really cheesy know you’ll enjoy it if you visit, especially if you go with a lot of little prayer (“...we know there are no term limits with You.”) and, curiosity and charity, since everything is better that way. But first, enchanted as I am with the New Mexican lilt, my ear took half an before you go, I must jot down the jokes of the day. The ordinary hour to distingish what the senators were saying. Once the dialect member of your pretentious intelligentsia will not comprehend the is understood, however, the next four hours fly, especially when a pertinence of these little anecdotes of humanity, but those of you touchy issue comes up. The senators all succumb to a speedy who can find solace and wisdom in the wit of great men will “unanimous consent," which is unanimous even if a few outcasts appreciate this; at one point someone, perhaps the lieutenant gov­ ' yell “No," when legislating over cement-truck weight limitations.