War story

I found myself greatly moved by Martin Dockery’s forthright characterization of his experience as a young lieutenant in the early days of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam (“A Dream of War,” Winter 2006). That he has settled there some 40 years later and become an educator lends his story a poignancy all the more profound.

I am old enough to have sweated over the results of a draft lottery during that war that by luck placed me beyond the military’s quota. I have often imagined what it would have been like to serve in Vietnam, as many of my schoolmates did, in a war in which the moorings of moral conduct became detached. Mr. Dockery offers chilling insight, and yet he came through—with good luck, good sense, and good will.

Andrew Anway ’92
Arlington, Massachusetts

Martin Dockery’s article has prompted me to add to the BC archive more names of graduates who served in Vietnam, from the Class of 1963: Thomas H. Fitzpatrick, Capt., USMC, I Corps; Gerard F. (Leroy) Gillis, Lt., U.S. Navy, Mekong Delta Riverine Force (Swift boats); myself, G. Kevin Hynes, Capt., USAF, 19th Air Commando Sqdn.

We all served around 1967–68, in what was anything but “a small civil conflict.” My compliments to Mr. Dockery on his well-written story.

G. Kevin Hynes ’63
Canfield, Ohio

War story II

Re “Prologue: Old Soldiers,” by Ben Birnbaum: I want to say thank you for directing my attention to the writings of Paul Fussell, for further reading. I know that honor, justice, and dignity are all given as reasons for war. Whether this is the result of “military memory” or not, I do not know. I do know, however, that after war comes a silence from those who knew it most intimately, ordinary people who witnessed horror up close and came home to lead normal lives—or not.

The prologue was personally touching, especially at a time when, as a nation, we seem headed toward yet another era of glorifying war.

Mary M. Muldoon MA’65
Arlington, Virginia

Martin Dockery wrote in an interesting way about his real-life experience during and after the Vietnam War. Mr. Birnbaum displayed a “shock jock” mentality by his use of words in his prologue to the article. It added nothing.

John A. Casey ’51
Jupiter, Florida

I just concluded reading the Winter 2006 issue and want to take this moment to write; over the years, too many issues have passed through here without an appreciative nod. The format is superb, the articles are crisp and timely, and perspectives are presented that many of us in the Boston College community need to consider. I especially found “Prologue: Old Soldiers” to be a poignant entry.

Congratulations on an outstanding publication.

Phil Bayer, MD, ’72
Carmel, New York

Ben Birnbaum responds: My thanks to Ms. Muldoon and Dr. Bayer for their kind words. My apologies to Mr. Casey and any others offended by my quoting General Patton in full.

Theologically speaking

In “Catholicism 101” (Winter 2006), my remarkable Fordham colleague Cardinal Avery Dulles puts forth a blueprint for the teaching of undergraduate theology in Catholic universities that would take us back to pre–Vatican II times. The main mission of undergraduate theology courses, in Cardinal Dulles’s view, should be to present orthodox Catholic doctrine. At one point he says, “Measures should be taken to ensure” that occurs. And there’s the rub: What measures does he have in mind?

The kind of pedagogical situation Cardinal Dulles envisions belongs to an academic culture in which universities are legally in the hands of the Church or of a religious order; the autonomy of departments to hire and have the primary say in curriculum is not respected; and theologians are not regarded as academic professionals so much as denominational spokespersons. There are some right-wing Catholic colleges where such a culture might be welcomed. But does Cardinal Dulles really believe that a return to it would ever be tolerated by the faculties of institutions such as Boston College or Fordham or most American Catholic institutions that have entered the academic mainstream since the 1960s?

Robert J. Penella ’67
Professor of Classical Languages
Fordham University

Is it really true that Catholic doctrine is no longer taught in Catholic colleges and universities, that the study of the Catholic faith has been relegated to being just another part of religious studies? Surely, every Catholic student has the right to learn the truth of Jesus Christ. And hopefully, as the Cardinal suggests, this will be amended by the powers that be.

Elaine Bandron NC’57
Navan, Ireland

Look it up

Re “Disambiguation” (Winter 2006), by Paul Voosen: You could not have known that a BC Law School alumnus is the general counsel to the Wikimedia Foundation. I started working with Wikipedia last year.

Wikipedia has the power to correct itself with a speed unparalleled in the traditional encyclopedic universe; that is its inherent strength—and we can all contribute in our areas of greatest competence and enthusiasm. The articles on en.wikipedia.org (the English-language site) now surpass one million. But the greatest opportunities lie for those who have something to offer in minor languages. Consider the troves of oral tradition, the languages with few speakers that can have a life in Wikipedia.

Brad Patrick JD’94
Tampa, Florida

Aid to families

I enjoyed Carolyn Megan’s “Once Removed,” in the Winter 2006 issue. In 1977, I started the Brockton Children and Youth Project, in Brockton, Massachusetts, and remained as medical director for 20 years. The project’s goal was to medically assist indigent, multiproblem families, many of which were immigrant. It was supported by public health grant monies ultimately deriving from Title V of the Social Security Act of 1935. The approach was multidisciplinary, involving pediatricians, nurse practitioners, social workers, nutritionists, and outreach workers.

Many families like the one described in Ms. Megan’s article did well. The resiliency of people is amazing, and the public monies have not been wasted. However, long-term support for such programs is almost impossible to achieve. In the past decades, the political drumbeat against public service projects has been deafening. It seems that the extreme right is completely triumphant in this country.

John J. McNamara, MD, ’61
Brockton, Massachusetts

About a dance

Re the University’s disapproval of “A Night in Gay Paree,” as reported in the Winter 2006 Campus Digest: I am most proud of BC when it exemplifies the catholic (with a lowercase “c”) in the Jesuit tradition: the liberal and aggressive pursuit of knowledge of, sympathy with, and generosity toward humanity and all of its peaceful expressions. I am only ever ashamed of BC when it counters these values with Catholicism (capital “C”), as it did by refusing to approve the dance “A Night in Gay Paree” because it “would not be consistent with BC’s mission and heritage as a Catholic university.”

Ever to exclude seems sadly always to trump “Ever to Excel.”

Jonathan Farina ’02
New York, New York

Daly recollected

Perhaps the most gratifying moment for a professor is a word—or letter—of appreciation offered by a former student. It was moving to read such a letter about the late Professor William Daly in the Winter 2006 issue. I was privileged to be his colleague and friend. He was quiet, unassuming, but warm and friendly. Above all, he was, in the fullest sense, a gentleman and a scholar.

Ernest A. Siciliano
Professor Emeritus, Romance Languages

Something new

The new-and-improved BCM is terrific. The writing and editing of the old version were always quite good, but the look, feel, and format of the current issue are just wonderful.

Sean C. Rush ’73, MBA’81
Bedford, Massachusetts

Bravo and kudos on the magazine’s new format. It’s spectacular.

Robert E. McCarthy ’58
Kingston, New Hampshire

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Editor’s note: Professor Seth Jacobs (history) has been awarded the 2006 Stuart L. Bernath Book Prize by the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations for America’s Miracle Man in Vietnam: Ngo Dinh Diem, Religion, Race, and U.S. Intervention in Southeast Asia (Duke). An excerpt from the book appeared in BCM’s Spring 2005 issue. The book may be ordered at a discount from the BC Bookstore.

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BCM welcomes letters from readers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and must be signed to be published. Our fax number is (617) 552-2441; our e-mail address is bcm@bc.edu.