Children of War
Third-year College student Camila Figueroa and third-year Commerce student Federico Avila have been friends since pre-kindergarten. They grew up together in El Salvador, where both witnessed first-hand and survived the 1989 civil war. They, and five other University "children of war," will share their stories tonight at 7 p.m. in Wilson 402.
Figueroa and Avila began organizing the event a month ago, and will feature testimonies from survivors of war in Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia, Bosnia, Belgrade and El Salvador.
"We just want to give a perspective of what it is like to be in a war growing up. Not fighting, but suffering from attacks and killings on the other end," Figueroa said.
Most University students, thankfully, have never lived in a war-torn country and therefore do not understand how profound an impact it can have upon a child. Figueroa believes this is all the more reason to attend the panel tonight.
"It is our duty as human beings to know about these kinds of things and to try to understand them," she said. "You may be the next president of the United States making the decision whether or not to intervene somewhere, and you should know what it's like to actually be living there," she pleaded to University leaders at an open mike session at last week's Student Council meeting.
And while the circumstance under which these seven people came together is not ideal, they share a special bond because of what they endured.
"It's so comforting to know that someone has gone through the same things," Figueroa said.
Although she and Avila have been friends since childhood and shared much of the same experiences during the El Salvador civil war, Figueroa said Avila will be recounting things even she does not know about him at the panel tonight.
"It's amazing how the human mind tries to forget things. We don't usually talk about [the war] - not even with our parents. It's a taboo subject, and sometimes it just hurts too much," she said.
The panel will be moderated by William Quandt, prof. of government and foreign affairs. He also serves as Vice-Provost for International Affairs. Michael Smith, prof. of government and foreign affairs also will be in attendance, introducing a moment of silence.
Compiled by Ryann Collins
Odds Ideas? Call Ryann 924-1092.
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