When the U.S. bombed Iran, Matthew Maddex was asleep. He went to church on Sunday and only heard the news afterwards.
On the evening of March 25, the Renegade Roundtable assembled in BC’s Levan Center to discuss geopolitics and Iran. Reginald Williams hosted the public panel discussion featuring librarian Ariel Dyer, history professor Javier Llamas, communications professor Maddex and biology professor Joe Saldivar. The idea is for people to represent perspectives on a dividing social or political issue.
Maddex opened the discussion with statistics. Three weeks since the U.S. attacked Iran the U.S. spent $20 billion or $500 million a day. Moreover, the economy is suffering, dozens of U.S. soldiers and Iranians have been killed and Iranians are pleading to stop bombing.
Williams said the Kern Community College District spends about $300 million annually.
Attendee and communications professor, Micheal Korcok expressed his views strongly. The U.S. has spent trillions trying to secure the Middle East since the 70s. Iran possessing nuclear weapons is “a prescription for a nuclear war,” and Donald Trump is ending that possibility. When Korcok advised to trust Trump, it was like he cued a laugh track.
When tension swelled, Williams lightened and steered the conversation.
Williams repeatedly said that war is ugly, and citing literature, said it should be avoided as much as possible.
Javier Llamas said a war with Iran is precarious because Iran is like a cultural tapestry. Trump utilized the U.S. War Powers act which allowed the use of military forces as he saw fit with 48 hours to justify his actions, which he had not yet done.
Dyer said she’s not a pacifist but feels exhaustion, horror and anger to live in a country that is doing this to people.
“If civilians are dying it’s bad,” Dyer said.
Llamas, a military veteran, said Trump has no doctrine or consistency and is not a leader but a war criminal.
Joe Saldivar maintained that there is little clear information so we should take in as much as we can and go from there.
Dyer encouraged us to ask, “What steps am I taking for the people around me’s future I want to see?”
The next Renegade Roundtable will meet April 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. to discuss “Movements and Their Symbols.”