October 22nd, 2014 The War At Home and Abroad A few weeks ago we sent you a message looking at the war abroad and what is likely to be endless war into the next presidency. You can read that ROPnet here. Today is the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality. Let’s talk more about [read more]
I suspect that like many of you, when I found out about the replaying of the NBC footage of the attacks on the twin towers on the anniversary of September 11th, I was livid. This just hours after President Obama’s words committing to war. “We will hunt them down wherever they are… “ Suggestions that [read more]
August 12th, 2014 Dear ROPnetters: Mike Edera is a long-time ROP volunteer, leader of a human dignity group in Washington County for many years, activist, organizer, and strategic thinker. We share with you this timely and thoughtful piece by Mike on “the Cost of War 2014” – a conversation many rural communities are having right [read more]
With the drumbeats of war growing ever louder as the US prepares to begin military action in Syria, human dignity leaders are stepping up to be the voice of reason. Without Congressional approval and without public debate, how can we hold space in our hometowns to discuss what it means when our leadership goes to [read more]
Today Bradley Manning faces the beginning of his military trial. Over 10 years ago, many human dignity groups bravely stepped forward in our rural and small town communities to challenge the very popular notion that we should respond to the September 11th attacks with declarations of war. It took years to move public opinion to end [read more]
April 18th, 2013 Dear ROPnetters: When I heard about the bombings in Boston, my first thought was about my friend who was running in the marathon, and my second thought was, “oh no… What kind of backlash will this unleash?” The article below is being circulated all over social media. While we all cope with [read more]
August 7th, 2012 Dear ROPnet, With the recent attack at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, stories of Syria all over my talk radio station, and facing another anniversary of the war in Afghanistan combine to remind me that war isn’t over. The wars aren’t over. I know that. You know that. But sometimes it [read more]
“For there has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.…. War is like unto a fire; those who will not put aside weapons are themselves consumed by them”. So wrote Sun Tzu from China in the third century BCE. The current stage of the US war in Afghanistan began ten years [read more]
Last week when over 100 veterans chained themselves to the White House gates, protesting passage of a Defense Appropriations Bill and resulting in one of the largest mass arrest in years, there was hardly a whisper in the news. ROP Leader, Mike Edera shares this thought piece for the ROP and progressive community:
The third week of December was dominated by raging debate over extending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy, which will cost the nation $150 billion over two years. The liberal websites were awash in outrage. Meanwhile, in the same week, the House and Senate passed a $725 billion 2011 Defense Appropriation Act, which included almost $160 billion to continue the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Doing a Dec 18 search of Commondreams, Buzzflash, Truthout, and Truthdig, the only discussion I find of the Defense Appropriation Bill is about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (allowing gay people to serve in the military), and the Dream Act (helping undocumented immigrant youth to attend college, and to serve in the military), which were both originally included in the Defense Appropriation Bill (The Dream Act was stripped from the Bill. The abolition of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell passed as separate legislation).
In times of crisis and media hype, clarity can be hard to find. How do we stay grounded when the news is so chaotic? Yet it is the midst of crisis that we need to shake of the chaos and emerge in our communities as clear-eyed guides.
When I heard about the recent sting operation against Mohamed Osman Mohamud for trying to plan a bombing in Portland, I worked hard to see with those clear eyes. I started wondering, is Mohamud a dangerous sleeper cell terrorist waiting for the opportunity to strike? Or is he a misguided youth who happens to also be Somali and who fell into a bad FBI entrapment plan? What is right and wrong when it comes to our families’ security? Or our civil rights?