Letter to the editor: In sep with the mission of SAU

As one who is quick to express pride in the work of fellow Ambrosians, it is not in my nature to be critical of what is written in student publications. However, the Sam Bailey editorial in the Oct. 20 edition of The Buzz, "Accountability Beats Government 498,997 - 0," expresses a mean spiritedness completely incongruent with the heritage of faith learning justice that is at the heart of SAU.

Bailey’s editorial places blame for the horrific conditions of those left behind in the wake of Hurricane Katrina entirely on the poverty stricken people of New Orleans. In his line of thinking, they had only themselves to blame for ignoring an evacuation order, for not policing and cleaning up the Superdome themselves, and for being forced to turn the television cameras on themselves like "petulant children."

Somewhere in his St. Ambrose education I would hope Mr. Bailey would take part in a Service Learning experience that might provide him with a little more compassion for those who are powerless because of societal structures, and yes, even too much reliance on government.

I hope before he graduates with a diploma from an institution named after a model of love for the poor, Mr. Bailey would learn about the "Preferential Option for the Poor," proclaimed by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and pronounced in the Social Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

But most of all, I hope that Sam Bailey and all students at this university develop an ability to solve the most serious issues of our day, not with hostile rhetoric, name calling, and blame pronouncing, but with actions that truly show respect for all human beings. That, I believe, is fully within the mission of St. Ambrose University and a challenge I hope we all come to more fully accept.

Fr. Chuck Adam

University Chaplain