Land of the Student Activists

[H2O Man]

{1} "I do not care what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing."
--Hopi Elder to Phillip Berrigan and Elizabeth McAlister

Last night I attended a program at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. The St. Patrick’s Four, who were the first people prosecuted for federal conspiracy charges for an anti-war protest since Vietnam, spoke about the war in Iraq and issues including torture, habeas corpus, and the 2008 elections.

There is a branch of the democratic party that is uncomfortable with being associated with the anti-war protesters of the 1960s and early ‘70s. Sometimes, they react even more harshly than republicans when confronted with the voices of conscience from the past. One of the St. Patrick’s Four told a story that Elizabeth McAlister told him recently. She was stopped in an airport, as those who have a history of protesting wars are often on "the list." The officer interviewing her was polite, but she was surprised when he said, "Do you mind me asking if you are the Elizabeth McAlister who destroyed draft records?"

She said that indeed she was. "Well, I want to thank you," he said. "You burned my draft records. I really appreciated that."

{2} "Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children. …. We could not, so help us God, do otherwise. For we are sick at heart, our hearts give us no rest for thinking of the Land of Burning Children. We ask our fellow Christians to consider in their hearts a question that has tortured us, night and day since the war began. How many must die before our voices are heard, how many must be tortured, dislocated, starved, maddened? ….When, at what point will you say know to this war?" – Daniel Berrigan; Catonsville, Maryland; May 17, 1968

The St. Patrick’s Four participated in an anti-war protest in the style of the Berrigan brothers & friends, on March 17, 2003. They told the students how many people in their own church oppose their tactics. Some church people tell them that they are crazy. Others question their patriotism, because of their opposition to torture and Guantanamo. They told about a discussion that took place in their church, under artwork that showed Jesus being crucified between two other "criminals."

Clare Grady spoke about Daniel’s "Land of the Burning Children" when she showed evidence of what is happening to the children of Iraq. We do not hear much about it, because the media tends to either ignore people like Clare Grady, or present them as crazy folk, of questionable patriotism, who pose a threat to the social order. And, as we know, there are even some democrats amongst us who will be quick to point out that the St. Patrick’s Four are not Catonsville Nine, just as they remind us that Barack Obama is not Martin Luther King, Jr.

{3} "Do you ever get discouraged?" – Hartwick student

There were some interesting questions put forth by the college students last night. Some expressed concern that the general public is aware of things such as the Bush-Cheney torture policies, but are not upset by it. Others asked if it was better to focus on creating change by participating in elections, or having attorneys bring issues to court, rather than focusing on public protests.

One student voiced his concern that those opposed to the Bush-Cheney policies might be putting our nation at risk. What if there was a terrorist who had planted a bomb, and the police had only one hour to find it? Wouldn’t it be better to allow the police to torture suspects, in order to keep us safe?

Clare said that this question, while sincere, provided evidence that our nation is allowing people like Bush and Cheney to frame the discussion on issues such as torture. My son then did a brief presentation on the issue of "fear" – and how the machine running our country has created a climate of paranoia which has restricted our ability to see that we have an entire realm of choices that are fear-free.

We need to apply that "fear-free" thinking to the election. During our discussion of the issues in the democratic primary, it became apparent that the majority of people there back Senator Obama. The professor who teaches women’s and gender studies is a strong Obama supporter; she told about meeting Obama in Texas.

{4} "After being acquitted at the state level, they were prosecuted federally and received various prison terms up to six months for their participation." – Katherine O’Donnell, Professor of Sociology

The members of the St. Patrick’s Four discussed their attempts to use the media to reach a wider audience in regard to the truth about what is happening in Iraq. Peter De Mott, a Vietnam War veteran, told about the Iraq veterans who were prepared to testify about the events in Iraq. Daniel Burns talked about serving time in federal prison, and meeting Islamic people who had been rounded up after 9/11, and were being held without any hearings, and being deported. He said that they understood that there are many good Americans, who are opposed to the Bush-Cheney policies. Clare Grady told of their getting a letter from one of the victims of torture at Abu Garub.

The Bush administration wanted to make an example of the St. Patrick’s Four in a high profile manner, but was also concerned that if they were provided with a high profile platform, they could encourage others to question the war in Iraq.

I spoke about the events in the parking lot outside of the federal court where they were being tried. On the first day, there was a large police presence; they divided the parking lot into two sections: one for the anti-war folks, and one for the pro-war people. There was considerable tension between the groups. But after a couple of days, we had found common ground. It wasn’t like we all were in total agreement on every issue, but both groups had reached a point where we could mingle and talk about our concerns. And even some of the police had serious concerns, by that point, with the war.

Further, I spoke of Daniel Burns' father, who had been one of Senator Robert Kennedy's top campaign aides. His father, who had been the mayor of Binghamton, was involved in RFK's communications with Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez. I noted how when people asked Chavez about how he planned to reach the larger society with his message, he said "one person at a time."

{5}"We were talking-about the space between us all
And the people-who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth-then it's far too late-when they pass away.
We were talking-about the love we all could share-when we find it
To try our best to hold it there-with our love
With our love-we could save the world-if they only knew.
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No-one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small,
And life flows within you and without you.
We were talking-about the love that's gone so cold and the people,
Who gain the world and lose their soul-
They don't know-they can't see-are you one of them?
When you've seen beyond yourself-then you may find, peace of mind,
Is waiting there-
And the time will come when you see
we're all one, and life flows on within you and without you." – George Harrison

We talked about what the student groups could do to publicize the anti-war movement, to voice opposition to torture, and to support candidates including Barack Obama. One older activist spoke about how in the Vietnam War era, there were musicians who spread the word through song, and activists who used street theater. He spoke about how today, young people can combine these methods and use the internet to reach a larger audience.

Some DUers may recall in February, I had mentioned that I was communicating with groups of students about the democratic primaries and the mass media, including internet forums. I believe that moderate to conservative democrats are attempting to use the internet – including progressive and liberal forums – to try to frame the discussions about the primaries and related issues. I think they, like the administration, try to use "fear" to manipulate the discussions, and limit what people view as their options. Two rather obvious examples are those who say "we can’t risk having Obama as our nominee, because the republicans will attack him," and "we shouldn’t advocate impeaching VP Cheney, because it will come back to haunt us."

It’s time that we stop being afraid. It’s time that we dare to dream, and what is more, it is time to make those dreams a reality.

[midnight]

1. I was at a fundraiser where Senator Russ Feingold spoke using

similar sentiments. I will paraphrase. He said that, it is time we prepare ourselves to start feeling better. I thought, yes it is.

[H2O Man]

6. Right.

This is the time to get it right.

[JimGinPA]

2. K&R

[H2O Man]

7. Thank you. n/t

[Annces]

3. The 60s brought out a lot of people

ready to experiment and try any kind of new way of living and changing society. I saw a documentary on the Weather Underground once with my mother. She loved it. I said, they are doing what Bin Laden did. So I was more conservative about it than her. Kind of funny.

[H2O Man]

4. Right.

I think that the goal needs to be a non-violent society. And we will not reach that goal with violent means.

[mmonk]

5. No fear. Not this time.

And the student movement is very visible here in NC right now.

[H2O Man]

8. I enjoy

having the opportunity to talk shop with the college students today.

[mmonk]

9. One of my sons goes to NC State.

He told me today what a sham they thought the last debate was. It's interesting how they get it when a lot of people across the country don't. They are plugged in and this election, determined to change this country. Before this election, I really didn't have a feeling about them especially since in my time, college students were quite political and vocal.

[H2O Man]

10. The level of conversation

in the classrooms is quite a bit higher than much of what is found on GD-P.

[Scurrilous]

11. K & R

:thumbsup: