2008 Woodie Awards
Jesuit's lecture focuses on Nicaraguan oppression
Ashley Patterson '09
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Last Wednesday afternoon, a public lecture on mission and justice in Central America by the Latin American Studies program in Campion Student Center's North Lounge. Hosted by Rob Currie, S.J. the presentation aimed to create awareness about the ongoing oppression taking place in the Latin American country of Nicaragua.
Breaking from a standard presentation format, host Fr. Currie held an open discussion among a small group of faculty and students. Everyone gathered informally, sitting closely in chairs circularly arranged around Fr. Currie.
The Director of Latin American Studies, Richard Warren, Ph.D., associate professor of history, began the discussion, introducing Fr. Currie and giving the audience a brief background of Fr. Currie's personal involvement and experience in Latin America.
Before Currie began the discussion, he gave his audience time to formulate some questions about the subject matter. He later used these questions to shape the discussion. Fr. Currie specifically answered all of the questions throughout the presentation.
In the presentation, Fr. Currie explained the current struggles occurring within the campesinos (Nicaraguan term for village communities) as they resist the increasing power of the world capitalist empire. Stressing the importance of creating awareness of this divided world, Fr. Currie detailed the negative effects directly caused by the dominating capitalist nation and focused on the importance of implementing various techniques to resist the capitalist domination.
Fulfilling one of the Latin American Studies program's goals, the lecture has ignited a long-term interest and commitment to Nicaragua among the students and faculty in attendance that will convey this message to the broader community.
Fr. Currie said the unawareness of many very real problems around the world "comes from our limited experience." The question of what the people of North America can do to help Nicaragua and other South American countries facing oppression can be easily answered. According to Fr. Currie, awareness is the answer.
"There is no excuse for not being aware," he said, emphasizing the need to "share awareness with others," which had been the exact aim of Fr. Currie's lecture.
Fr. Currie's extensive personal experience in Nicaragua sparked his mission to spread awareness. Fr. Currie spent eight years of his life in Nicaragua. While living there, Fr. Currie was directly involved with the country's agriculture, working the fields in the village in which he lived. By living the life of a Nicaraguan in a village community, Fr. Currie was able to directly empathize with the damaged community.
According to Fr. Currie, it is "important to respect people in the South of the world," in order to create a well-rounded view of the world.
Breaking from a standard presentation format, host Fr. Currie held an open discussion among a small group of faculty and students. Everyone gathered informally, sitting closely in chairs circularly arranged around Fr. Currie.
The Director of Latin American Studies, Richard Warren, Ph.D., associate professor of history, began the discussion, introducing Fr. Currie and giving the audience a brief background of Fr. Currie's personal involvement and experience in Latin America.
Before Currie began the discussion, he gave his audience time to formulate some questions about the subject matter. He later used these questions to shape the discussion. Fr. Currie specifically answered all of the questions throughout the presentation.
In the presentation, Fr. Currie explained the current struggles occurring within the campesinos (Nicaraguan term for village communities) as they resist the increasing power of the world capitalist empire. Stressing the importance of creating awareness of this divided world, Fr. Currie detailed the negative effects directly caused by the dominating capitalist nation and focused on the importance of implementing various techniques to resist the capitalist domination.
Fulfilling one of the Latin American Studies program's goals, the lecture has ignited a long-term interest and commitment to Nicaragua among the students and faculty in attendance that will convey this message to the broader community.
Fr. Currie said the unawareness of many very real problems around the world "comes from our limited experience." The question of what the people of North America can do to help Nicaragua and other South American countries facing oppression can be easily answered. According to Fr. Currie, awareness is the answer.
"There is no excuse for not being aware," he said, emphasizing the need to "share awareness with others," which had been the exact aim of Fr. Currie's lecture.
Fr. Currie's extensive personal experience in Nicaragua sparked his mission to spread awareness. Fr. Currie spent eight years of his life in Nicaragua. While living there, Fr. Currie was directly involved with the country's agriculture, working the fields in the village in which he lived. By living the life of a Nicaraguan in a village community, Fr. Currie was able to directly empathize with the damaged community.
According to Fr. Currie, it is "important to respect people in the South of the world," in order to create a well-rounded view of the world.
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