SOA Installment #3
Hello everyone,
If you have been following my life at all, you know that I am going to the SOA soon. I wanted to provide some more information. I mainly would like to encourage me to pray for me and the 32 other students. But, the other reality is that it does cost us money to go down there. So without further ado, enjoy the blurb.
~~~~
For those of you who do not know, the SOA (recently renamed the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation) is a military training school at Ft. Benning, GA that instructs Latin American soldiers in a variety of capacities including techniques used for torture. I have educated myself on the issues surrounding the SOA and have come to the conclusion that this is not a school that I want my taxes or my country to support. Through educating myself I have learned the following incidences are the responsibility of SOA graduates:
• The El Mozote massacre in El Salvador, which took the lives of 900 civilians
• The Uraba, Segovia, Trujillo and the Riofrio massacres in Columbia.
• The assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador.
• The massacre of six Jesuit Priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central America in San Salvador in 1989.
Since 1990, the SOA Watch organization has been protesting the existence and the funding of this school. Each November, protesters gather at the gates of Fort Benning to speak up as a voice for the thousands of voiceless or silenced victims of Latin America. This protest is not only a time to voice our opposition to the SOA, but is also a time for us to take part in the Ignatian Family Teach-In in the two days prior to the protest. The Teach-In is an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty from Jesuit high schools, colleges, and universities to support each other and learn about other methods of educating people about the SOA as well as other social justice issues.
I am writing to ask for your support in our decision to stand up for those who are not able to stand up for themselves. This year we have a group of thirty-three students and staff at Regis University committed to this cause. As a group, we have decided to work on educating our peers about not only the SOA, but other current social justice issues. We are not trying to convince people to oppose the School of the Americas, but seek to become informed about the complex issues surrounding U.S. foreign policy.
The support we are asking for may come in the following ways:
• Emotional support- Not everyone is in favor of my protesting the School of the Americas and any encouragement through letters or cards would be appreciated.
• Spiritual support- A number of individuals on the trip are asking for spiritual support through prayer both before and during our trip.
• Financial support- We are estimating a cost of $14,000 for the thirty-three of us to fly to Georgia and to cover accommodations. We are hoping to reduce the individual costs through fundraising and your support. Checks can be made out to Regis University and can be sent to University Ministry at 3333 Regis Boulevard Mail Stop J-4 Denver, Colorado 80221. Or you can give it to me in person if your able.
If you would like more information about the School of the Americas or about my decision to attend the protest, please let me know or visit www.soaw.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
In Solidarity,
Daniel James
If you have been following my life at all, you know that I am going to the SOA soon. I wanted to provide some more information. I mainly would like to encourage me to pray for me and the 32 other students. But, the other reality is that it does cost us money to go down there. So without further ado, enjoy the blurb.
~~~~
For those of you who do not know, the SOA (recently renamed the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation) is a military training school at Ft. Benning, GA that instructs Latin American soldiers in a variety of capacities including techniques used for torture. I have educated myself on the issues surrounding the SOA and have come to the conclusion that this is not a school that I want my taxes or my country to support. Through educating myself I have learned the following incidences are the responsibility of SOA graduates:
• The El Mozote massacre in El Salvador, which took the lives of 900 civilians
• The Uraba, Segovia, Trujillo and the Riofrio massacres in Columbia.
• The assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador.
• The massacre of six Jesuit Priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central America in San Salvador in 1989.
Since 1990, the SOA Watch organization has been protesting the existence and the funding of this school. Each November, protesters gather at the gates of Fort Benning to speak up as a voice for the thousands of voiceless or silenced victims of Latin America. This protest is not only a time to voice our opposition to the SOA, but is also a time for us to take part in the Ignatian Family Teach-In in the two days prior to the protest. The Teach-In is an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty from Jesuit high schools, colleges, and universities to support each other and learn about other methods of educating people about the SOA as well as other social justice issues.
I am writing to ask for your support in our decision to stand up for those who are not able to stand up for themselves. This year we have a group of thirty-three students and staff at Regis University committed to this cause. As a group, we have decided to work on educating our peers about not only the SOA, but other current social justice issues. We are not trying to convince people to oppose the School of the Americas, but seek to become informed about the complex issues surrounding U.S. foreign policy.
The support we are asking for may come in the following ways:
• Emotional support- Not everyone is in favor of my protesting the School of the Americas and any encouragement through letters or cards would be appreciated.
• Spiritual support- A number of individuals on the trip are asking for spiritual support through prayer both before and during our trip.
• Financial support- We are estimating a cost of $14,000 for the thirty-three of us to fly to Georgia and to cover accommodations. We are hoping to reduce the individual costs through fundraising and your support. Checks can be made out to Regis University and can be sent to University Ministry at 3333 Regis Boulevard Mail Stop J-4 Denver, Colorado 80221. Or you can give it to me in person if your able.
If you would like more information about the School of the Americas or about my decision to attend the protest, please let me know or visit www.soaw.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
In Solidarity,
Daniel James
Labels: SOA
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