Library Associates Events

On Terrorism

Manuscripts librarian Nicholas Scheetz
and Dr. Stanley S. Bedlington

Dr. Stanley S. Bedlington spoke to the Associates on "Portrait of a Terrorist: Osama bin Laden" on November 13 in Copley Hall. Dr. Bedlington, a frequent consultant on terrorism for television and radio, had been continually featured since September 11 in the international press, appearing on the BBC (England), DW (Germany), CNN Istanbul (Turkey), and NBC (America), among others. His lecture expanded on the theme of his 1997 talk to the Library Associates: "Religious Terrorism: The Roots of Islamic Extremism."

Dr. Bedlington's books include Malaysia and Singapore (1978) and Combating International Terrorism (1986).

The Holiday Party

University Librarian Artemis Kirk, Fr. Walsh
and the Chimes at the Associates holiday party

The Library Associates' annual holiday party in Riggs Library featured remarks by Kathleen Maas Weigert and songs of the season from the Chimes.

Dr. Weigert is the first Director of the new Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service at Georgetown University and Research Professor in both Sociology and the Program on Justice and Peace. Asked for a summary of her remarks to the Associates, Dr. Weigert had this to say:

"The Catholic social tradition, with its roots in the Old and New Testaments and its vision of a world of justice and peace, distinguishes three dimensions of basic justice (as does much philosophical reflection): commutative justice (the fairness in exchanges), distributive justice (the just allocation of income, wealth and power in a society, evaluated in terms of its effects on those whose basic material needs are not being met), and social or contributive justice (implying that people have an obligation to involved and productive participants in their societies and that societies have a duty to enable this to happen). But no matter what the terms, the important idea is that we "do" justice. That we work for the common good. That all of our acts of justice be informed by love. The Georgetown University mission statement talks about 'our commitment to justice and the common good,' and holds to a high ideal: 'Georgetown educates women and men to be reflective lifelong learners, to be responsible and active participants in civic life, and to live generously in service to others.' As the Director of the Georgetown's Center for Social Justice, it is a privilege to be part of this work."