Intern Insights

A Mission of Peace
By Zachary Hacker

In late November 2009, Sisters Ruth Kuhn, Nancy Bramlage, and Jean Miller went on a peaceful protest with thousands of other individuals to speak out against the injustice occurring in Ft. Benning, Georgia, at the former School of the Americas. This institution, entirely funded by the U.S. taxpayers, is infamous for its training of men who have violated endless human rights, and who have brought about the deaths of many important people, most notably Archbishop Oscar Romero.

“They’re not training soldiers to protect their country, they’re training soldiers to protect their government,” insists S. Nancy Bramlage. Furthermore, despite changing their name to WHINSEC ( Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), S. Ruth Kuhn proclaims “new name, same shame. All that’s been changed is the name, there have been manuals found that teach torture [which are] the same books the School of the Americas used.”

This sense of determination pays off, as S. Ruth feels that the weekend of peaceful protest is the “experience that makes the rest of the work all year have meaning.”

The protest itself started back in 1989 with nine people, and has now grown to the point where numbers have reached 12,000 to 15,000. The Sisters of Charity have sent a group to Ft. Benning for 12 years, and the highest number of participants the congregation reached was sixteen Sisters and Associates, two years ago. These numbers “show a spirit of deep commitment to an overwhelming cause,” says S. Nancy.

This year’s numbers were slightly down, around 3,000, which S. Ruth attributes to “inevitability: everyone can see the writing on the wall.” It did unfortunately rain on the demonstrators this year, but “it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit,” says S. Ruth.

Having spent considerable time in Africa and Central America, S. Nancy is able to bring a different perspective to WHINSEC and the annual protest, and she says, “It’s overwhelming seeing our country’s power to influence the rest of the world. People in those countries are so aware of how much our government affects their government; I’ll often hear someone say ‘I like you, but not your government, so go back and change it.’ The weekend of non-violent protest is really a way to firsthand affect change in the government.”

The action begins on Saturday morning with a teach-in at the local Jesuit College that outlines Catholic Social Teaching, and provides detailed history of the movement and the SOA. On Saturday afternoon, there is a rally at the gates of WHINSEC, featuring speakers from both America and Central America. Following that, there is a display of tables set up, and the people get a chance to interact and talk. Sunday morning the main protest begins with a pledge of non-violence and a solemn funeral procession, nearly silent, with a chanting of every name of every person that was victimized by a WHINSEC graduate that year. The gatherers then cover the barbed wire fences with white crosses, and the event closes with a prayer, just as it began.

The representatives were in agreement on the most inspirational factor of the protest: the involvement of the youth. “With the young people there is hope. The college and high school students come and learn about peaceful protest,” says S. Nancy. S. Ruth observes, “The number of younger students attending has grown, and that is an inspiration.”

Uniquely this year, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati had their first table display, where they were able to pass out bookmarks and converse with the crowd. “It [the booth] allowed us to get the message out, and the Sisters of Charity to have a real presence,” said S. Ruth.

The future of the movement looks promising, and some countries, such as Venezuela and Argentina, are beginning to stop sending their soldiers all together. This is unprecedented, as the school is free to any participating country, yet they still decline because of what is taught at WHINSEC. As far as the American government’s stand on the issue, there is a measure before Congress, which last time was voted down by only six votes, and it looks likely to pass. In Cincinnati, Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Price Hill, has expressed that he will vote to close the school.

S. Nancy feels that “there are definite measures that must be taken before it will really be closed, beginning with an investigation,” and S. Ruth says that there is a good chance it could be closed in two years.

Overall, the protest is an emotional, spiritual journey, and a true testament to the power of the people. “It’s a gathering of people of like mind with the goal of peace, and lives dedicated to peace,” says S. Ruth. “With the blessing of health, and other willing Sisters, I will go again,” she said.

S. Nancy would like to “encourage those who can’t come and join in this kind of protest to write letters and influence government leaders to stop the violence.”

In addition, S. Ruth “would like to thank all of the Sisters of Charity and Associates who have supported us on this journey each year - through prayers and good wishes on the banner.  One of the pieces of candy that I opened while we were there this year had this saying on the inside: 'The blessing is in the journey.'  So it has been with us ... and together we still remain 'a voice for the voiceless.'”

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Zachary Hacker is a sophomore at the College of Mount St. Joseph majoring in history and English. He is a cooperative education student in the SC Communications Office this fall 2009 and spring 2010. The co-op program is funded by an SC Ministry grant through the College of Mount St. Joseph.

 

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