Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, September 12, 2005
Rosemarie Jackowski, Eugene Debs, and Jack Kerouac all say NO to war
Eighty-seven years ago—on September 14, 1918—Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to ten years in prison for opposing U.S. entry into World War I. He was arrested for making a speech deemed “anti-war” by the Canton district attorney. In that speech, Debs declared, “They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command. But in all the history of the world you, the people, have never had a voice in declaring war, and strange as it certainly appears, no war by any nation in any age has ever been declared by the people.”
To read the complete article, please click here:
http://tinyurl.com/e2fsb
+++
What would Jack do?
Kerouac found other ways to avoid taking part in the military:
http://tinyurl.com/aqp27
+++
Rosemarie’s response to a Bennington Banner Sept. 9 editorial:
The Banner Editorial contained one glaring error. You state, “...Thus, we are disappointed that Jackowski seems to be unwilling to accept the consequences of her actions...” Please allow me to correct the record. I have consistently maintained my position since the time of my arrest. I am not only willing to accept the consequences of my actions, but I will do so with dignity and respect. If it comes down to the wire and I am imprisoned, I plan to be a model prisoner.
(photo by Christine Jackowski)
What I am unwilling to accept are the consequences of the actions of my government. I am unwilling to silently stand aside while my government, in my name, slaughters innocent civilians. That, I will never do. I have seen the photographs of the children who were victims of U.S. cluster bombs...photographs that are almost never seen in the printed or electronic media in this country. There is no question that if all Americans could see the real effects of U.S. war policy in Iraq and elsewhere, the war would end immediately.
I have been arrested, incarcerated, handcuffed, booked, photographed, and fingerprinted. In court, I have been arraigned, tried, convicted, sentenced and now have appealed. This is starting to feel like a standoff between one small citizen and the government except for one thing. The overwhelming grassroots support that I have been receiving from around the world lets me know that I am not alone. This is not about me. This is about the horrific effects of U.S. foreign policy that have inflamed the passions of people all over the planet.
It should be remembered that the citizens of Bennington who protested this war on March 20, 2003 were at all times polite and peaceful. If the occupation and bombings continue, I wonder if future protests will be so restrained.
As I stated in my sentencing speech, it was my profound respect for the rule of law that brought me to the 4 corners on March 20, 2003. I only ask that my government share my respect for the law and put an end to its policies that are in violation of International Law. The Jury at my trial was not allowed to see the information that was on the sign that I held during my arrest. One statement on the sign read, Killing one is murder. Killing 100,000 is foreign policy. The killing of any civilian is a war crime. By that measure, the U.S. has committed hundreds of thousands of crimes since the arrests of the Bennington 12. When will the War Crimes Trials begin? The entire world is waiting and watching. The State may be the Master of my fate, but I will continue to be the Captain of my soul.
+++
I post these three vignettes because resistance is a duality. We should consider the individuals involved and care deeply for the manner in which their dissent might curtail their freedom. Equally, resistance is much bigger than any of us. As Rosemarie often says: “It’s not just about me.”
(This post is presented in solidarity with the Progressive Blogger Union. For more information, please visit: http://www.pbu.blogspot.com.)
Tag: PBU37
+++
Reminder: I’ll be on CFUV Gorilla Radio again tonight @ 8:00 (EST). To listen in, please click here:
http://cfuv.uvic.ca
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
