GOOD FRIDAY
Crucifying Imperial Power Then & NOW!
Today is Good Friday in the Christian calendar, the day Jesus was executed by the Roman Empire for the crime of sedition (stirring up the people) in occupied Palestine. For the Romans, crucifixion was up front and personal. Troublemakers were tortured and executed in public places. Pubic torture and crucifixions were meant to deter others from stirring up trouble for the empire.
The U.S. is today’s global empire. It’s crucifying power operates on a much wider scale, and is more stealth in nature. But the intent is much the same: get rid of troublemakers, deter and stop others from resisting imperial domination. Today’s crucifying power takes many traditional imperial forms: torture, troops on the ground in occupied areas, and modern chariots of empire called Stryker urban-assault-vehicles. But modern crucifixion also includes the exotic: Depleted uranium (DU) radiation weapons and “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) otherwise known as drone airplanes. U.S. hunter-killer drones are well named (Predators and the more advanced Reapers).
DU radiation weapons have been used at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the center of Hawaii Island contaminating the ‘aina. Drones also train at PTA and are now being widely used as missile-firing aircraft in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries. Drones can be operated from comfortable distant locations in the U.S. where those doing the killing are a half-world away from their victims.
The U.S. empire, like the Romans, and other empires, believe that violence is a solution to problems. Jesus on Good Friday taught a new way –that being willing to die but not to kill, is the way to new life, justice and peace. His witness proved that the blood of the martyrs is the seed to a new movement of non-violent resistance, what others call –the church.
Where is the church today? Have we as church members become slackers? After 7 years of war and occupation in Iraq and nearly 9 years of war and occupation in Afghanistan, and threatening war against Iran, where are the voices of conscience speaking out for justice and peace and against war and occupation? How many Christians, Buddhist, etc. are refusing to participate in the wars of empire? How many churches, temples, etc. are actively supporting the empire’s wars? How many churches, temples, etc. are speaking out publicly to cut off the war funds and redirect spending to education, health care, and other human needs including military clean up instead of build up? And what about 117 years of occupation of the Kingdom of Hawaii?
Stop the Wars! End Occupations!
1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.Phone (808) 966-7622. Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (April 2, 2010 – 446th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
