Meeting Colgate's Congressman

With the 2014 Midterm Elections gone by us now, I have been reminiscing and pondering different questions related to the subject. Where do I fit into it all? As a twenty-one year old student, does my voice matter? Are my capabilities limited to just the box I check off in a voting booth?

I am brought back to an awesome opportunity I had earlier this semester a few months ago. As a result of different lobbying ventures, beginning in 2013 at my first AIPAC Policy Conference and then at the following year’s conference, fellow Colgate students and I developed a line of communication with legislative staff members from our Colgate U.S. Congressman’s office. What began with email correspondences with Representative Hanna’s Legislative Assistant, soon formed into a relationship that most recently offered myself and two other students the opportunity to have a meeting with the Congressman himself.

Traveling with me were Colgate first-years Abe Benghiat and Ben Ringel, two students who are also very well versed in Israeli and Middle Eastern affairs. Our conversation lasted for over an hour and we covered a multitude of topics, ranging from the Islamic State, Iran’s nuclear program, Gaza reconstruction, and the roles of other regional players such as Turkey and Qatar. Congressman Hanna is very educated on the region, so it was quite the experience for the three of us Colgate students to be able to have a conversation with him as he is directly involved in legislation relating to it. In addition, Abe, Ben, and I have all spent much time in Israel so the Congressman was delighted to hear our thoughts and opinions on the people and land of Israel. Representative Hanna has preliminary plans of making his first trip to country, so there was plenty of time for us to share our favorite Falafel spots and Tel Aviv beaches!

With all this in mind, I am reminded that in this great democracy we have in the United States of America, our ability to share our voice is not limited to the one day in the year that we vote.  Our elected representatives have multiple offices within their respective districts for the purpose of meeting with their constituents. I am truly grateful for the advice and opportunities provided to me by AIPAC and other organizations, which enabled me to have the confidence and knowledge in our meeting with Representative Hanna. Congressman Richard Hanna ran unopposed in this year's Midterms, and we look forward to him continue to represent Colgate students in the future! 

Hearing it from The Man himself: Shimon Peres visits Colgate

Last Saturday October, 25th, here at Colgate we were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to hear Shimon Peres come and speak to members of the Colgate community. As it was family weekend, quite the crowd was on hand at Sanford Field House to hear the former President of Israel interviewed by ABC World News Co-anchor and Colgate Alum Bob Woodruff. 

The Interview was itself very broad in the scope of topics discussed, ranging from Peres' view on ISIS and extremism in the Middle East to the Kibbutz movement. When asked about ISIS should be dealt with Peres said that, "We have to fight the reasons, not just the people." This type of answer underscored the overall message that Peres was trying to get across, which is that the landscape in the Middle East has shifted quite dramatically over the course of his time in politics, dating back to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. and how now enemies are no longer just armies on a battlefield, but the ideology that drives the army in the first place.  The overall message of the lecture was that the path to peace is not easy but the developments in Israel and the region over the last few years demonstrate that the right steps are being taken.  President Peres specially cited the technological revolution that even though it has not reached all corners of the World yet ,has helped to bring about peaceful cultural revolutions by connecting people and strengthening the bonds of friendship between people,across cultures and social divides.

Additionally, I was fortunate enough to the opportunity to have a question that I recorded before the lecture played and answered by President Peres. My question was, what position do you think was most influential during your political career? To which President Peres responded that it is not the position that matters so much as the drive and will of the person in the position that determines if you will be successful and influential in what ever it is that you do. I was personally honored with this opportunity and the whole Colgate community was more than thrilled to be able to host such a well respected and well known leader who was willing to share many of the insights that he has learned during his long and storied career.

The highlight of the interview was when Peres directly addressed the students in attendance  when he said that, “Each of you possess more potential than you think. You have to invest in it — it doesn’t fall from heaven,” he said. “You can make the world a better place but you have to have the courage to dream. Use your imagination. Use your brains. Use your talents. Learn.” Having Shimon Peres directly address us as students here not only made me feel proud to be here at Colgate but also left me with a sense of enthusiasm for the future as seeing that someone who has been so successful and influential in the arena of politics in one of the most complicated and treacherous regions on the planet who at 91 is still full of hope and tied to the same ideals that have been his source of inspiration throughout his life, demonstrated that is possible to follow your dreams, whether they be to graduate from college and be successful or to help attain lasting peace in the Middle East, no dream is too small and no goal is unattainable.

Max Kurzner