Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Vermont Vets Support Ward Churchill Statement

By Rosemarie Jackowski

Veterans for Peace, Chapter 88, held its monthly meeting in Vermont on June 11, 2006. The members agreed by consensus that the following quote would be supported and endorsed. The quote appeared on the blog site http://www.mickeyz.net/ on June 9, 2006. The statement was made by Ward Churchill and is taken from Derrick Jensen’s book, Endgame.

"What I want is for civilization to stop killing my people’s children. If that can be accomplished peacefully, I will be glad. If signing a petition will get those in power to stop killing Indian children, I will put my name at the top of the list. If marching in a protest will do it, I’ll walk as far as you want. If holding a candle will do it, I’ll hold two. If singing protest songs will do it, I’ll sing whatever songs you want me to sing. If living simply will do it, I will live extremely simply. If voting will do it, I’ll vote. But all of those things are allowed by those in power, and none of those things will ever stop those in power from killing Indian children. They never have, and they never will. Given that my people’s children are being killed, you have no grounds to complain at whatever means I use to protect the lives of my people’s children. And I will do whatever it takes." -Ward Churchill

Speaking only for myself and not the other members of VFP, I make the observation that many in VFP are total pacifists, some are not. Some are Democrats, others are not. Some participate in partisan politics, others do not. Some are totally committed to non-violence, others accept resistance by any means necessary to stop aggression. To have any group with such a full range of political views endorse any statement is quite a process. The members of Chapter 88 who were involved in the discussion of the Churchill statement are an exceptional group ... mostly old vets who possess a firm commitment to dedicating their lives to working for global peace and justice. Each member put forth his/her argument with skill, passion, and an admirable level of emotion.

One member suggested that the statement be changed to include ALL children, not only Indian children. That suggestion was rejected because the authenticity of the statement would then be compromised and it would not be a Churchill quote. For those who are troubled by the reference to “Indian” children, I say we are all Indian children. We are all Iraqi children. We are all American children.

The main point of discussion was predictably the last two sentences, "Given that my people’s children are being killed, you have no grounds to complain at whatever means I use to protect the lives of my people’s children. And I will do whatever it takes." Chapter 88 is a diverse group that includes some pacifists who are deeply offended by any form of violence. The last two sentences troubled those members, but in the end consensus was reached and the statement was endorsed exactly as it was made by Churchill.

The vets in Vermont have now taken a stand. They support the statement intended to protect children from being killed by war and other actions and inactions of those in power. Will the rest of the country catch up with the Vermont vets and also endorse the statement?

When I first saw this Churchill statement on the Mickey Z blog site, my initial reaction was that it was beautifully constructed poetry. Ward Churchill, the gentle poet, that was a new concept. As I read and re-read it over and over, I came to the conclusion that it is one of the most powerful pleas for peace and justice in literature.

Rosemarie Jackowski is an advocacy journalist living in Vermont. She is a member of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 88. She can be reached at dissent@sover.net.

More from Rosemarie Jackowski

Comments (3)

Printer Friendly Format | Tell-a-Friend

Next: 'We Should Always Remember Who Makes the Rules': Derrick Jensen Sees the Big Picture -->

<-- Previous: Zarqawi and Lesser-Evil Politics: A Contest Nobody Wins

Support Press Action