ACTION ALERT – NOVEMBER 2002
GOOD SHEPHERD VOICES FOR JUSTICE
Advocate for the close of “SOA/WHISC”
(School of the Americas - Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation)
___________________________________________
We are asking you to take the following steps to support the end of funding, and cause the resulting close, of the institution previously known as the SOA (School of the Americas), recently changed to WHISC (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation).
As you pursue advocacy for this issue, keep in mind that the Prepare – Act – Reflect (PAR) methodology will be used.
The US Army School of Americas (SOA) based in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American soldiers in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. (A terrorist presence housed by our military paid for by our tax dollars.) Graduates of the SOA have been responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians, the slaughter of 6 Jesuit Priest’s, there house keeper and daughter, 4 U.S. Catholic Nuns, and countless thousands of innocent men, women and children.
On January 17, 2001 the SOA was replaced by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC). This is a result of a Department of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001. The measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bi-partisan amendment to close the school and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten vote margin.
Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Joe Scarborough (R-FL), Joe Moakley (D-MA), Connie Morella (R-MD), Christopher Shays (R-CT), and Lane Evans (D-IL) introduced a bill to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (successor to School of the Americas) on Thursday, May 10, 2001.
The bill, HR 1810, is modeled after the previous Moakley/ Scarborough/ McGovern/ Campbell amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. It calls for the closure of the school and the establishment of a joint congressional task force to assess U.S. training of Latin American military.
For more information, visit the SOA Watch website at http://www.soaw.org/
STEP 2: CATHOLIC AND GOOD SHEPHERD
CONNECTION
Catholic Connection
As we are learning from Destination Justice, social justice is an obligation for every Catholic. We are called to justice via hundreds of biblical references, e.g. “whatsoever you did to the least, you did to me”. Of recent times, numerous Vatican II documents, papal decrees, and bishop’s letters have addressed the plight of the condition of humanity in the world today, and the stance we are to take as Catholics. For example, Article 4 of Gaudium et Spes states; “In every age, the church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel.” Article 30 goes on to state; “All must consider it their sacred duty to count social obligations among their chief duties today and observe them” Standing with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Central and South America who are being victimized as a result of military training supplied by our own country is surely a response consistent with Catholic social teaching.
Parish Connection
There are 15 members of Good Shepherd who actively support this issue. 8 of them will travel to Ft. Benning on November 16th and 17th of this month to vigil for those killed, to stand in solidarity with those still terrorized in Central and South America, and to answer what may prove to be a costly call to discipleship. Any who “cross the line” onto the base risk arrest. Several who have crossed before face jail time and a significant fine.
Kate Fontanazza of Milwaukee, a 53 year old teacher and Catholic member of Pax Christi parish, is currently serving a 6 month jail term in federal prison and must pay a $5,000 fine.
Contact your Representative now. Many Wisconsin representatives have already agreed to co-sponsor HR 1810. If the name of your representative is listed below, call, write or email to thank them for their support and ask the to actively work for the bill’s passage.
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WISCONSIN |
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4 |
Gerald D. Kleczka |
..... Milwaukee Milwaukee Office |
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5 |
Thomas M. Barrett |
..... Milwaukee Germania Building |
|
9 |
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. |
..... Menomonee Falls 120 Bishops Way, Room 154 Brookfield, WI 53005 Telephone: (262) 784-1111 |
If you are not sure who your representative is, go to http://www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml and enter zip code or representatives name.
Sample Letter: (use for US mail or cut and paste for email)
November 1, 2002
Representative (Name Here)
Street Address (from above)
City, State, Zip
Dear Representative (Name Here),
First, as one of your constituents, I thank you for your past support and resulting vote to close what was the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA) in Fr. Benning Georgia.
As you are aware, the institution has been renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC). After much research, study and analysis, it is my belief that the core curriculum and base beliefs remain regardless of the name change. As a result, I write to ask you to support house bill HR 1810 that calls for the end of funding for WHISC.
I further ask that you encourage your fellow legislators to contact Cindy Buhl in Rep. McGovern’s office or John Hendricks in Rep. Scarborough's office to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 1810.
Please confirm receipt of this letter and indicate your insights into this matter. Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter,
_________________________
(Your Name Here)
(Your Address Here)
Reflection Question:
“Do you think there is connection between our sister parish relationship with Ellacuria in El Salvador and closing WHISC? If yes, can you see a theological connection? Can you see a political connection?
1. Finding a place where you feel free to write, and in a manner where you do not have to edit your reflections – pour out your feelings. This is not a grocery list of what you did, rather an expression of what took place within you. Who was involved? What happened? What were your concerns, reactions and insights? What were the areas of fear, frustration, etc.? Avoid editing or judging your feelings; simply allow them to come forward.
2. Focus on culture. How did your experience connect with what is going on in society? Can you find connections between what you experienced and what you hear about in the newspapers, on television, etc.? Did you experience cultural values that are different from your own? (Important: Allow these thoughts to arise spontaneously, don’t force them or research them.)
3. Catholic social teachings/ scripture passages. In looking at your experience, are there any catholic social teachings or scripture passages that help you understand yourself and the experience in a deeper way? (Again allow this to arise spontaneously, avoid forcing it.)
4. Call to conversion. Finally, reflect and write about how this experience is calling you to conversion. How is God calling you to new feelings, new thoughts, new behaviors, new actions, new directions, and new forms of leadership? (Again don’t force this, just listen to what God may be saying.)