Posted on 09/16/2002 8:10:36 AM PDT by The Energizer
‘Unity amidst diversity’
By TARA MAY
The State News
The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a cry for peace Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center.
Joined at the podium by religious student leaders, he delivered a message of “unity amidst diversity.” Jackson spoke out against war in Iraq and racial profiling, promoting peace and diversity to the about 2,000-person crowd.
Called “Rally for Peace: From Tears and Fears to Hope and Harmony,” Jackson’s speech focused on finding alternatives to violence after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Jackson, a civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Inc., was greeted with a standing ovation.
“This experience of attacks on Muslims is unacceptable,” he said. “When you’re that paranoid, you’re on the edge. Institutionalized racial profiling runs deep and runs ugly. None of us are safe until we come together to prevent paranoia.
“Remove the fears and embrace hope,” Jackson said. “We stand to gain when the walls come down and bridges are built.”
Before Jackson came to the stage, three student leaders - from the Muslim Students’ Association, Hillel Jewish Student Center and the International Solidarity Movement, representing Palestinians - demonstrated how bridges can be built among differing religions.
“We stand here today as three students to show that no matter what boundaries are set before us, we can come together,” Hillel President Jennifer Stotter said.
Communication senior Justin Komori said he couldn’t pass up the chance to see a renowned orator like Jackson.
“I wanted to be able to sit my grandkids on my lap one day and say I went to a rally for world peace with Jesse Jackson,” he said.
Indira Pierce said she had planned to put Jackson’s advice into practice sooner rather than later, since she was just elected vice president of Mason Hall Black Caucus.
“We want to gather ideas and information on how to make black America better for students,” the communication freshman said.
Other students will have different stories to tell future generations about Jackson’s presence on campus. Led by the MSU chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, seven protesters held signs reading “Force is necessary,” “Go home Jesse” and “We support the Military” outside Breslin.
“Jackson is a left-wing extremist who took money to advance civil rights but used it to pay for his illegitimate child,” said Craig Burgers, political science freshman and chairman of the group. “He is not a saint like publications make him out to be.
“The best way to have peace is to eradicate terrorism.”
Finance sophomore Christina Davis said Jackson’s personal life should be kept completely separate from his politics.
“It has nothing to do with the issues,” she said. “Just because you are on TV doesn’t mean that everyone should know your personal life.”
But Jackson’s personality is what makes him an outstanding speaker, Trustee Joel Ferguson said in his introduction.
Ferguson and Jackson met at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Ferguson, a Lansing developer, ran Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns in Michigan.
Jackson won the 1988 Michigan Democratic primary.
“We were both young and politically active and we’ve been friends ever since,” Ferguson said. “He really walks the walk and talks the talk.”
ASMSU Student Assembly vice-chairperson for external affairs Louis Brown said he was pleased with the event overall. ASMSU, MSU’s student government, organized it.
But turnout for the event was less than expected.
“I just wish more students would have come,” Brown said.
But students who made it to the event were glad they came, including James Madison College freshman Nathan Triplett.
“I was very impressed by the whole presentation,” he said. “It was the right message at the right time.”
Jackson ended his presentation with a message for students to take home. He led a chant, saying: “Give peace a chance. Keep hope alive.”
Staff writer Kelli Cynecki contributed to this report.
That's supposed to say "Jesse Jackball, a true Civil Rights MIS-LEADER".Let's keep the facts straight now, O.K.?
Somebody got it right!
Dear young Ms. Davis - ones personal life is a reflection of character!
How does this advance either unity or diversity? Why not ALL America for EVERYONE? If I were a racist bigot, wouldn't she want to make me better?
So, a "man of the cloth"'s personal life has nothing to do with his "issues"?
Do you REALLY believe leaders who entire public life versus his private life can be stated "Do as I say, not as I do?"
Is that what you want from a "leader"?
Things like "character", "integrity", and "values" have nothing to do with leadership then. Gee, was I brought up wrong....
Jesse was really saying "Keep the hope alive that some coed here will give me a piece." (Somebody on this thread had to do it)
Why doesn't Jesse bring some honesty to his spiel?
"Keep Hate Alive" more accurately represents Jesse's modern day view.
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