Take a look around this ‘ball of confusion‘ and what do you see?
- In Yemen right now over 80% of the total population is in need of humanitarian assistance, most severely food insecure. The impact, as usual, is most dramatic on the very young and very old.
- Since 2011-back when you were in high school?- the crisis in Syria began and is now “the biggest humanitarian crisis of our generation” with 10 million displaced, neighboring countries overburdened by the long-term influx of refugees, and no end in sight for those suffering every day.
- The refugee and IDP camps near Dadaab, Kenya currently hold 350,000 people. These camps, established in
the early 1990’s, in some cases are the only home some of the residents have ever known. - Global climate change is real and accelerating. The impact of unusually severe weather patterns all over the planet continue to be a central cause of food insecurity as crops fail due to droughts.
- Here on campus and all around the United States blacks and African-Americans seek racial justice. Our social and political climate can be polarizing.
- In each of your countries of focus there are many organizations and individuals that are working overtime on addressing various human needs, not the least of which is, simply, to live a life of dignity.
So, what should be your reaction to this (very incomplete) list of our global community’s ills?
First, don’t be overwhelmed. The human spirt is strong and when a Periclean Class finds ways to maximize the human potential in each of its members amazing things can get accomplished. And that should be your renewed goal for this semester: learn about each of your Classmates and make it your goal to help provide the ferment that will bring out their best. Indeed (to paraphrase an inspirational athlete, Steve Prefontaine), we have the gifts of each other, this program and all of the resources of Elon University, and to give anything less than our best is to sacrifice those gifts.
Dr. Lambert has said in many different venues that the world needs Elon graduates. As Pericleans, your explicit goal is to be exemplars of the ‘global citizens’ mentioned in our University mission statement. To wit,
We integrate learning across the disciplines and put knowledge
into practice, thus preparing students to be global citizens and
informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.
Your Mentors -Steve Braye, Carol Smith and April Post- are amazing, talented and deeply passionate professors who have chosen to devote this portion of their professional lives to you and your Class. Join them and your Classmates in their efforts to make this a sensational year as we all contribute to the ‘common good.’
Peace, love and Periclean!
Tom Arcaro, Director
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