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Activist
Editorial
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. . And What To Do About It
by John M. Miller
 ow
to oppose so all- encompassing a war-without-end? As noted above, under
the rubric of the war on terrorism the Bush administration has dispersed
troops throughout the world and threatened civil liberties at home. At
times it seems that the Republican right (corporate wing) is using the
war to justify ramming through its entire agenda, however tangentially
related.
And, also as noted above, it’s our task to resist that agenda. WRL stands
for resistance. Resistance is part of our middle name. Resistance means
first and foremost taking risks and speaking out—speaking truth to power,
making our dissent clear. The League—its National Office, its locals and
its individual members—has been resisting war agendas for almost 80 years
in general and this new war since last September 12. But resistance can
take many forms, and many of us aren’t certain which to adopt in this
crisis. With assaults (actual and planned) on peoples abroad and liberties
and rights at home so broad and all-pervasive, what is most effective?
Below are some suggested guidelines for action.
- First—and last—whatever you do, be visible. There are many
too frightened or uncertain to speak out. Visible opposition, whether
in the form of nonviolent direct action or letters to law- and policymakers
and newspapers or in the form of weekly vigils or calls to talk shows,
not only expresses our own dissent, it may inspire others to do likewise.
It sends up a flare by which others can find the confidence to ask questions
and search for answers.
- Defend and work with the most vulnerable among us. The U.S.
government has especially targeted Muslims and people from the Middle
East and South Asia. We need to stand up for the rights of all, citizens
and non-citizens, documented and undocumented. That’s not only a moral
imperative, it’s sound strategy. For one thing, when any government
cracks down on rights, it comes first for the most vulnerable or least
popular. We must speak out and defend our Muslim, Arab, and South Asian
neighbors, because once the Bush administration has successfully diminished
their rights, it will come after the rest of us. Beyond that, however,
non-citizens may be dealing with stresses and pressures that those of
us who grew up here can’t even comprehend, and we have much to learn
by seeing this country and this culture from their perspective.
- Build alliances in all directions: left, center and possibly
even right. Some will oppose this or that aspect of the war or this
or that way of framing the question. Some who oppose going to war with
Iraq don’t question the attack on Afghanistan. There doesn’t need to
be a consensus on our whole antiwar platform to work with others on
one or several aspects of the current situation.
- Make yourself understood. (This is often a hard one for activists.)
Yes, much of the history of U.S. foreign policy is hypocritical and
sordid, but pointing that out doesn’t necessarily tell people where
you stand. Emphasizing that the United States helped prop up Saddam
Hussein in the 1980s does not help people understand what you propose
should be done now. Describing the history is not the same as prescribing
policy alternatives—and can alienate your audience before you get to
your real point. In that same vein, this country is not the root of
all evil. We should celebrate its strengths, not least the Bill of Rights
freedoms and the impact of popular movements. The American Revolution
inspired anti-colonial movements that followed. Mass movements ended
slavery and segregation and stopped the war in Vietnam. The United States
could stand for human rights around the world, if we could organize
to have those basic principles applied consistently at home and abroad.
By speaking to the best of U.S. values, we can show how the current
war strays from them,
- Pay attention to the periphery. U.S. troops are active around
the world. How much have you heard about Somalia or Yemen, where Al
Qaeda were supposed to have fled after the U.S. attack on Afghanistan?
Or about Southeast Asia, another battleground, with U.S. troops back
in the Philippines “training” its military? Or Indonesia, the largest
Muslim country in the world, where the United States is set, Congress
willing, to resume the military training cut off a decade ago?
- Finally, be creative—and try, even in these grim times, to
bring some measure of energy, respect for those who don’t agree with
you and even joy to the task. You’ll last longer—and communicate more.
John M. Miller is a member of the WRL Executive and Publications Committees
and is the Media and Outreach Coordinator of the East Timor Action Network.
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