The Highlander

The convergence at the gates of Ft. Benning to close the infamous School of the Americas has for years been called by many on campus a protest. I have always subtly gone along with this idea, thinking that there is no harm in semantics.

Everything, as it turns out. Conflating the term "protest" with what actually happens in Georgia is damaging. The rally to close the SOA, the vigil, the direct actions to this end, and the entire time spent by so many thousands in Columbus, Georgia this fall will not be a protest. Nothing about the advertising, nothing about the run-up to this event, is about protesting. I am making a protest here, by manifesting my opposition to the continual existence of this odious institution. My travel, and time, in Georgia will be so much more than that.

Yes, I dislike the SOA. I would shed no tears at its closure, and work tirelessly to that end. However, one needs only to look at the schedule of events (available at www.SOAW.org) to see that what is happening with the convergence of people of faith, of political conviction, and of good hearts is that we are creating community.

The week begins with a group known as the Puppetistas who create artwork, puppets, and banners for use later in the week. This is the first event, an expression of art and humanity.

This is followed up on Thursday by non-violence trainings, film showings, and speakers. Friday begins much the same with more non-violence trainings and meetings of people such as the Catholic Worker and Veterans for Peace. There is a film called "From Violence to Wholeness," peacemaker training, a teach-in related to Columbia, and a concert sponsored by SOA Watch.

Saturday includes a Ignatian family teach-in under the Ignatian Solidarity Network (IGN) in which Regis will participate, a rally at the gates that includes speakers from Amy Ray to Amy Goodman, and even people like Fr. John Dear S.J. and Sister Helen Prejean. At the site of the rally, dozens of families will set up food and beverage stands. The Puppetistas will stage some street theatre, artists groups will sell art, political groups ranging from War Resisters League to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers will ask for signatures on petitions. They will also distribute information on how people on the street can contact their representatives, some people will dance, some will sing, some will take in silent prayer and reflection at the gates themselves.

That night, mass will be celebrated by thousands of Christians and people of other faith traditions in the large tent of the IGN. It is a mass entirely pulled together during the weekend, with a call for volunteers going out on Friday and Saturday night.

Sunday, tens of thousands will again be present at the gates of Ft. Benning, this time to hold a vigil for the murdered and the disappeared. Names of the missing and murdered are sung by several, while the rest march slowly in ghandian waves to the gates and place their crosses. Some stop for a moment of reflection, some a little longer. A few will brave the now three fences between the civilian side and military side and offer themselves in a sort of Christian sacrifice, placing themselves on the altar of Ft. Benning awaiting and inviting what reprisal the government will mete out.

After all have placed their crosses, coffins, and staged their die-ins, the crowd will move into a festival of resistance and street theatre.

This is not a protest, this is community building. This is us changing the world by changing our minds. We celebrate life, we celebrate love, we celebrate resistance to the greater western macrocosm of power through the force of death and hate. We celebrate the power of the people, in the United States, in El Salvador, in every country where people of conscience believe in peace not war, love not hate, life not death.

Political activism cannot stop at changing just a few schools or laws. If it does, it has lost its focus. We are here because we know a better world is possible, and we are doing what we can to achieve it.

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