About 100 students listened as representatives from seven student organizations debated whether the United States has political, social, moral and economic obligations to developing nations last night in Wilson Hall.
Robert Fatton, government and foreign affairs department chair, moderated the panel, which was sponsored by the International Relations Organization. Fatton said the topic was of "great significance not only because America is the world's only existing superpower," but also because of the "huge disparities of wealth and power characterizing the global economy."
Amnesty International Representative Alexandra Tomas said her organization believes the U.S. should "be a positive role model" in promoting human rights, and should especially encourage third world nations to do the same, "even though they might be under economic stress."
Adam Greene from the Virginia Israel Public Affairs Committee said the lack of foreign aid given by the U.S. "is a major concern to our organization" and should be to all Americans. Greene said only a small fraction of the total U.S. budget goes to foreign aid.
"It is amazing how difficult it is to get a simple foreign aid bill passed" in Congress, he said.
Alumnus Roy Saunders, who represented the Association of Indonesian Students, said the issue was not to give more money to developing nations, but "how to get foreign aid down to the people" instead of to government officials that might be siphoning off the aid.
But College Republicans Executive Secretary Jeremy Scott said if the U.S. gave money directly to the people, the country would be "violating sovereignty of nations" and perpetuating another form of "American imperialism."
Ali Abdel-Rahman from the Arab Students Organization quoted President William McKinley, saying, "Isolation is no longer possible."
Abdel-Rahman compared the present international situation to the situation in the 1930s, prior to American involvement in World War II, and said isolation was the wrong choice both then and now.
Homaira Hanif from the Afghan Student Association brought up the situation in Afghanistan as an example of American misjudgment in international affairs.
Hanif said the U.S. "provided weapons and arms more for political reasons" to the Afghanis without being concerned about who got ahold of the weapons.
Scott disagreed, however, and said the U.S. provided the weapons to the Afghanis solely for the purpose of trying to prevent human rights violations.
The panelists touched on other topics besides the question of American obligation to third world countries. They also debated the U.S.'s role in dealing with modern-day Communist China.
Saunders said China's human rights violations and their "expansionist dreams" were enough justification for the U.S. to stop trading with China.
But University Democrats Vice President Ade Patton said the U.S. should continue trading with China in order to avoid future conflict.
"If we cut off trade with China, there will be greater tension on both sides," Patton said.
Third-year College student Arun Jesudian, IRO vice president and an organizer of the event, said he was pleased with the discussion.
"We wanted to bring together different multicultural organizations here. There are not many occasions like this where many students can get together at this kind of discussion," Jesudian said.
Third-year College student Gwen Catley, chair of the IRO committee that helped put together the panel, said the high turnout was encouraging.
"This is the first time we've done this, and the good turnout points toward continuing this in the future," Catley said.
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