Several Oxford residents meet with Boehner representative Mike Jackson Thursday in a conference room of the Municipal Building. (Michael Pickering)
Fervent debate arose in Oxford's Municipal Building Thursday during Congressman John Boehner's (R-Ohio) 8th District Open Door Policy visit led by Field Representative Mike Jackson.
Held at 2:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Oxford Municipal Building, Boehner's constituent outreach program drew an impassioned gathering of nine members of the Oxford community.
According to Jackson, the Open Door Policy is an open community forum for constituents who wish to get a message to Boehner or to express a concern. Oxford was diversely represented this month, with a crowd ranging from Miami University students to professors to concerned residents.
Thursday's program began with a concerned voice from Oxford resident Bob Kuginski. Kuginski, a former military member, expressed heavy anxiety for his son, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Kuginski said he feels more support should be given to injured members of the military and also to veterans.
"We think nothing of sending our children to battle, but don't take care of them once they come back," Kuginski said.
Debate over the care of returning soldiers quickly morphed into discussion of the current war in Iraq. The majority of discussion of Iraq was very negative and highly critical of the Bush administration.
Gail DellaPiana, associate professor for the department of architecture and design at Miami, stressed her desire for peace in wake of the Iraq conflict.
"We need to end the war now," DellaPiana said. "We can't continue to spend more money and send young boys and girls to war. We need to focus on peace."
Jackson ardently worked to reassure participants of the forum that Boehner continues to stress that U.S. involvement in Iraq is part of the global War on Terror.
"(Boehner) believes that if we are not fighting in Iraq, we will be fighting here on our own soil," Jackson said. "For 30 years we kept turning away from acts of terrorism. Then it hit our own shores."
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Several members of the forum continued to press the issue of Iraq, begging questions as to why the U.S. has not intervened in other areas of known conflict such as Libya and Darfur.
"People are dying each day in Iraq," DellaPiana said. "We have no idea whose hands they are dying in. We need to rethink war as a strategy."
Kuginski similarly agreed.
"We can't support one despot to bring down another," Kuginski said.
Points of discussion also centered on the phenomenon of climate change and global warming.
DellaPiana said a positive change is needed.
"We need to talk about positive change that will save all of us," DellaPiana said. "There is a selfishness today that disregards thoughts of the future."
Jackson again reassured the forum that actions were already in place to address environmental concerns such as new methods of energy found in ethanol, solar and wind sources, clean burning coal, and hydrogen resources.
Other topics of the forum included overseas jobs, unemployment rates, union formation, and diplomacy practices. While most citizens seemed dissatisfied with the overall consensus of the forum, the passion of the group was evident.
Jackson, himself, responded to the banter stating, "Debate is democracy."
Most participants vowed to bring even more residents to next month's forum.
Following the forum, Jackson reflected on Thursday's attendance in comparison to December's, which failed to draw any participants.
"Attendance varies from month to month," Jackson said. "Earlier today in Louisburg I had one person, three in Eaton, and one in Camden. Especially in Oxford with Miami University, perspectives will change."
Jackson wished to emphasize his duty to represent Boehner to the community forum.
"I'm here to reflect John's opinion," Jackson said. "His views don't necessarily mirror those of every single resident. Believing something different doesn't make it wrong."
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