Message from Fr. Louis Vitale, written at the Irwin County Detention Center, Georgia
Frank Cordaro
http://www.nukeresister.org/
December 8, 2010
HERE WE ARE AGAIN
by Fr. Louis Vitale
Two weeks have passed since David Omondi and I began our sojourn here
at Irwin County Detention Center in southern Georgia. Some may say,
"Vitale has protested himself back into the pokey below the
Mason-Dixon line" and "He has been jailed again in an effort to bring
peace and social justice." SF Chronicle 11/28
http://www.soaw.org/news/organizing-updates/3559-four-line-crossers-arraigned
Many ask, "Why do you keep doing this?" We try to respond: "Because
the oppression goes on and our nation is a major participant in that
oppression of the poor and of all creation." Specifically this
manifestation of mourning focuses on the School of the Americas
(WHINSEC) at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where U.S. military have taught
counter-insurgency techniques, including torture and disappearance, to
Latin American military. It still goes on, as recently observed with
the outrageous coup in Honduras carried out by graduates of the School
of the Americas. In fact, our involvement in oppressive militarism
extends throughout the world!
But why so many times at Ft. Benning (my fourth arrest and
incarceration, and so far from my home base)? The School of the
Americas is an icon of our intrusion into developing countries over
many years and the source of horrific massacres including religious
leaders and thousands of peasants. Also Ft. Benning is a major
military base feeding vast numbers into the war machine. Thousands
gather annually to mourn the victims and to call for an end to our war
machine that continues to grow into more bases, nuclear weapons
manufacturing facilities, even into space war (and the new X-37B
militarized version of the space shuttle).
Are we ready to declare peace and act in its presence? Let's call -
with all our energy - for nonviolent solutions now, transforming many
peoples' lives and our world. Our work is cut out for us as we must
be vigilant and active with nonviolent resistance. May we move
towards peace in the new year.
[Vitale, serving a 6 month sentence for trespass at Ft. Benning, was
moved from the Irwin County Detention Center on December 15 and is
currently in transit.
Notes of support can be sent for forwarding until he reaches his final
destination c/o the Nuclear Resister, P.O. Box 43383, Tucson, AZ
85733.]