Dr. Cornel West speaks on Democracy and What it Means to Be Human

The audience provided a standing ovation as the keynote speaker took the stage. “I hope I say something about democracy that unsettles you,” he said, dressed in his signature black and white suit with a scarf.

Dr. Cornel West spoke at the Charles E. Smith Center on Thursday for the University Writing Program’s forum on democracy and public argument. The forum was created to “contribute to a broader conversation for public debate on global society,” said Derek Malone-France, the executive director of the University Writing Program.

West’s lecture focused on the question ‘What does it mean to be human?’ and referred to many subjects, such as poetry, the Occupy Movement, Socrates and the upcoming presidential elections.

Referring to what society teaches youth about success, West commented that the primary goals seem to be “material toys, social status, a trophy husband or wife and to be well adjusted to injustice.” He proceeded to explain the importance of seeking the truth and paying attention to those who are suffering.

Defining poetry, he said that real poets “use critical imagination to try to make the world a better place.”

West emphasized how crucial it is to focus on the impact your life has on others.

Engaging with an audience diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, West described the economy and the government as “survival of the slickest.” He called the recent bank bail out “hypocrisy” due to the discrepancy between the elite and the poor in the US. 

“How many Wall Street employees have been investigated and arrested. Zero. How many Jamals and Latishas have been incarcerated. Hundreds and hundreds.”

As members of the audience roared with laughter and exclamations of agreement, West clarified his position. “I’m not anti-American. I’m anti-injustice in America,” he said.

The University Writings Program decided to organize the question and answer segment by randomly selecting audience members. A number of post cards with a pen were attached to the bottom of selected seats in the Smith Center. Those who had the lucky seat could write their question and pass the post card to an usher.

Responding to a question about the predominately white participants in the Occupy Movement, West described the movement as “magnificent and desperate.” He then explained that “40% of black children are poor and 15% of blacks are underemployed.” Due to this reality, West commented that “it is hard to find time to sleep in tents.” However, he explained that if blacks are asked about the concerns the Occupy Movement is raising, they think very highly of it. He added that the lack of participation also “signifies relative failure of black leadership who are not focused on poverty but obsessed with getting elected.”

“Last thing I want to see is a take over of the White House by mediocre, mean-spirited individuals,” said West responding to a question about supporting President Obama’s re-election. “I don’t support candidates, I support principles.” 

Mentioning Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s portrait in the Oval Office, West said Obama must be authentic to what he is talking about if he wishes to uphold Dr. King’s legacy. “Respect, protect, but also correct,” he said.

West concluded his lecture with the last question, which referred to the contradiction within people who do not realize they are the problem. West explained that “all of us are part of the solution and the problem,” but it is up to us to choose which side we contribute more to. “Wrestling with the contradiction with us, the only thing that breaks it is the love of wisdom and justice.”

Federal Budget Cuts are Made... By GW Students!

GW students were able to accomplish a task Congress hasn't been able to do in over a year. Groups of students were able to agree to trillions of dollars in cuts from the Federal Budget over the next ten years. The only caveat: it was only a simulation.

Students from the GW Graduate School of Political Management and GW undergraduate students from the Political Science Department and School of Media & Public Affairs woke up early on Saturday morning to join professors from the Graduate School of Political Management, former members of Congress, and staff from The Concord Coalition to participate in an activity where they simulated the federal budget process.

The event titled: "Fixing the Federal Deficit- A Simulation" was sponsored by the Graduate School of Political Management. The Graduate School partnered with both The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan Arlington, Virginia organization that examines the federal budget, and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress.

The activity consisted of the students being divided into ten groups of anywhere from three to six students. In each group there was at least one former member of Congress who offered their own thoughts and discussed with the students the different aspects of each item that could be added to or cut from the budget.

The students were using an activity packet created by The Concord Coalition called "Principles & Priorities Group Budget Exercise Workbook." The book split items that could be cut - or in a few cases added to the budget- into five categories. One of these categories included "General Government Spending," and included items such as creating an infrastructure program to repair public schools across the country. The groups were forced to weigh the pro of improving schools with the con that it would increase the debt by 30 billion dollars over the next ten years. 

Some current federal expenses surprised students. Under the same category of general expenses the groups had to decide whether to reduce the federal subsidy for the AMTRAK rail company and other rail companies. The group I watched decided to agree to reducing the subsidy and thereby cut the deficit by 45 billion dollars.

Other major categories included Defense and Homeland Security, Health Care and Social Security, and revenue and taxes. One of the most debated issues in the group I watched was whether to increase the gas tax by 25 cents. The students wanted to do it but were concerned about how it would, if they were real politicians, affect them politically. In the end, they decided not to. Other major decisions the group made included not repealing The 2010 Affordable Care Act (known by some as "Obama Care") because a repeal would add 124 billion over ten years to the deficit according to the Concord Coalition's calculations. The group also decided to cut a major portion of Homeland Security's budget.

In total, the group I watched cut 4 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next ten years. 62% of the cutting was through tax cuts and 38% was through gaining new revenue. Almost all of the ten groups were able to meet the goal of cutting at least 1.2 trillion dollars, which was the goal of the Congressional Super Committee this fall. In the discussion that followed the exercise students mentioned that they learned how insignificant discretionary spending, spending that does not include programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and defense, is in comparison to the total budget.

During the discussion Political Management Professor Michael Cornfield, who organized the event, asked the students at the program their thoughts on whether the budget cycle should be every two years rather than the current annual cycle. All the students who responded to the question said they thought this would be a good idea because it would help politicians focus their attention on the budget rather than on how their choices in the process would affect their chances of reelection. Others said it would also help with long-term fiscal planning.

Former Congressman Dennis Hertel, a Democrat from Michigan who served in Congress from 1981-1993, believes that the best hope for solving the budget debate is educating the public more on the issues involved.

"The public is not engaged [in the details of the budget], but when they become informed they'll be able to reach the decisions we did," Hertel said.

He added, "It's taking way too long in this information age, ironically, for the information to come out."

Obama, Bono, Alicia Keys on Campus for AIDS Event

President Obama speaking at GW's Jack Morton Auditorium

President Barack Obama introduced new goals for the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS at the Jack Morton Auditorium Thursday morning as part of "The Beginning to End AIDS" event.

Reassuring those in the audience and those watching live via YouTube of the country's devotion to the worldwide fight, President Obama set a new target for the treatment of HIV and AIDS and further monetary contribution on World AIDS Day 2011. With an original goal to provide treatment to 4 million people, President Obama raised the number to 6 million and committed a $50 million increase towards the treatment for HIV and AIDS

President Obama urged the support of the global community. "Make a pledge" he said to those countries who have not yet committed, and for those who did commit, "Donate the money you promised."

He also called for countries like China, who were once receiving donations to fight HIV and AIDS, but are now in a position to give back, to switch roles at the global level.

"To all Americans, we got to keep fighting," Obama stated.

Other notable speakers such as former President George W. Bush, Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif., all resonated that where much is granted, much is expected.

"To whom much is given, much is required, " former President Bush said alongside President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania via satellite feed.

President Obama asked Congress to continue working together on this issue and put aside party lines. In a panel alongside singer Alicia Keys, co-founder and global ambassador of Keep a Child Alive, ONE cofounder and U2 frontman Bono and Senator Rubio stated, "Our example has been as much as a source of greatness as anything else."

Lindsay Maines, of Germantown, Maryland traveled to Kenya as part of ONE Moms, a group of American mothers who meet with other mothers in HIV-stricken countries.

"I took a picture of a mother and a father with their little two year old, and they said take this to your president and tell him thank you." Maines was "very proud" with President Obama's recommitment to the global fight on HIV.

Although tickets were not made available to GW students, some tickets were given to GW administrative offices, allowing a handful of students to enter the event. One of those students was junior Brian Steele who was reinvigorated by Thursday morning's event. "I signed up for the ONE campaign a while back, actually at a U2 concert, and I've done things for them like send emails. Like they said, I let it fall off so I hope to get involved again and be a part of this movement."

The event honored those who died from the disease, but took an optimistic look toward the future.

"We are going to win this fight, but this fight is not over, not by a long shot," said President Obama.

Dr. Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah, Alicia Keys, Bono and Senator Marco Rubio

To see more pictures from the event, head to the WRGW Twitter page.

-Jorge Gadala-Maria