Civil Controversy--Ideal Events?

I just got done writing a paper on the private contractors in Iraq. I mainly talked about Blackwater and their role in our conflitcs. For those who don't know, Blackwater is an organization that our country pays to provide security and protection in Iraq. In other words, they are mercenaries. I think it would be interesting to listen to some of these employees. Their existence brings up some interesting questions. Since this is a private firm, they are not restricted to the same rules that our troops are. They are free to do as they please which has resulted in some very serious conflicts.

How do we feel about companies like Blackwater representing us in the Middle East???

Should they have to follow the same basic rules of war like our troops?

What specifically is their role in Iraq?

There is a proposed plan for withdrawl from Iraq but this does not include the "Shadow Army" of private contractors. I feel as though these issues are important and could make for a good event.

 Censorship, especially  a speaker with the authority to give it a more living definition and place it in the context of other social issues, especially "un-patriotism," hate speech, political correctness, etc. I'd be glad to help search for such a speaker if this seems feasible. 

When one considers that it was the co-ordinator of the "Civil Controversy" department who was clearly identified in a memo which circulated through the offices of Western President Bruce Shepard, several prominent members of the University faculty and administrators, and which alleged that this individual saw fit to send the "Roaming Moanies" a slur-soaked, offensive tirade via e-mail prior to any official AS administration of the controversy, it becomes painfully apparent that this is not only a sound suggestion, but a TIMELY ONE. Nobody seems to be in more dire need of a legitimate discourse on the tenets, nature and LEGAL definitions of "censorship" than certain members of the AS themselves, as recent events have made clear.

In addition to c.a's offer, I would bring up the activism pedigree of Professor Daniel Larner of Fairhaven College, who has been vigorously involved in the ongoing "Moanies" issue and the questions of AS conduct and "content" which relate to it. As a charter member of the ACLU's Pacific Northwestern branch, I'm sure he'd be only too happy to nominate a suitably qualified candidate for the event.

bell hooks!