On Wednesday we had the opportunity to learn about US interventions in Latin America. Our visiting speaker brought us through some of the changing periods in the history of US foreign policy, including Pan-Americanism and the Monroe Doctrine, which promoted “America for the Americans,” FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy and World War II, the Cold War Era, the War on Drugs, and the more recent War on Terror[1]. However, aside from this small number of well-publicized international policies and events, many US citizens are not aware of many of their government’s foreign interventions, especially those dealing with Latin America.
One highly controversial issue in relation to United States-Latin American interaction is the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, more commonly know by its former name, The School of the Americas. The School of the Americas is a school for Latin American soldiers where “counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics” are taught[2]. We were able to learn more about this issue from a couple of our clas
smates who had previously attended the yearly protest of the school. A few powerful points they made dealt with the variety of individuals who participated in the protests and the presence of a highly organized form of civil disobedience. Each year, some of the protest’s participants choose to cross the fence into Fort Benning, a federal offense punishable by up to six months in prison. However, those who consider crossing are provided with legal counseling and a logistics meeting before the event. The disobedience is thoughtfully considered and carefully executed by those who choose to display their opinions in this way. A vigil for those killed by graduates of the School of the Americas.
Protest and civil disobedience are just some of the ways that we can put the lessons we’ve learned in Mexico into action when we return. In class on Friday we discussed our projects and what we could do to with our ideas upon the end of the semester. Our discussions focused on how privilege (based on race, class, religion, etc.) has affected our ability to see injustice in society and how our expanded knowledge might help us become more aware of the extent to which discrimination pervades our society. This awareness can be our first step in working towards change.
The Morelos State Congress builiding in Cuernavaca,
which the students also visited this week.
3 comments:
It is so important to know that history. then you can really know who to fight the injustices
In this financial crisis the reasons given for the “root” of the problem is sub prime mortgages and their associated CDFS, CDO, and other derivatives. Let’s be clear the democratic Clinton’s administrations repeal of the Glass Steagall Act followed by the Republican administrations relaxation of CFTC oversight of derivatives (passed pre-Christmas congressional break December 15, 2000 under the direction of McCain’s former economic advisor guru Phil Graham) clearly place culpability in the lap of both parties and finger pointing at one another will achieve nothing.
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Misbah
Drug Intervention Virginia
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