What is Good? North Parkers Explore Campus Theme Amid Racial Turmoil featured image background
North Parker Magazine Winter 2018

What is Good? North Parkers Explore Campus Theme Amid Racial Turmoil

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More than 100 students and faculty gathered to hear North Park professors discuss this year’s campus theme, “What is Good?” in light of the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and the NFL’s national anthem protests.

Professors Nancy Arnesen (English), Gwendolyn Purifoye (Sociology), Ilsup Ahn (Philosophy), and former NPU dean and history professor Kurt Peterson analyzed the panel’s theme: “From Charlottesville to DACA: How Do the Humanities Point Us to the Good in our Public Discourse.”

The panel discussed the recent rise of the “alt-right,” a white nationalist movement. Dr. Ahn questioned the notion of a neutral concept of “good” when we live in a country where huge income gaps, gun violence, and forced migration of the poor are the norm.

Dr. Purifoye stated: “How can we be a Christian nation when we’re cool with some of these things?” She noted that the United States still struggles with racism even after electing President Barack Obama, a man of color.

“We try to tell ourselves America is post-racial,” Dr. Purifoye said. “That’s part of the story we tell ourselves.”

In examining the symbols, imagery, and logos used by the KKK and the “alt-right” movement, Dr. Arnesen found that the groups borrowed heavily from Medieval ages. She noted how symbols such as the swastika, which once symbolized peace before being co-opted by the Nazis, could be corrupted through misuse.

“Context is everything,” Dr. Arnesen said. “What does it mean to have your hand on your heart during the national anthem this week as opposed to several weeks ago?” she asked, referring to the recent NFL “take a knee” controversy.

Ultimately, Dr. Peterson, director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago, challenged students to make a difference: “Who will you be in a world where racial violence is normative?” he asked. “Be a source of healing, not violence.”

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