I went to see Medea Benjamin, a courageous woman, activist, and co-founder of Code Pink: Women for Peace and Global Exchange.
Two quick stories that Medea shared about her visits to the Middle East (where she brought family members of American soldiers who died (recently) in Iraq, for peace-keeping purposes – an historical first) and an incident at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil (an event the U.S. media didn’t bother to cover at all).
First: “This is a Democracy” from the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre Brazil in January, 2005:
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (known as “Lula”) (For more info: http://www.brazil.org.uk/category.php?catid=1 or google him ) was a keynote speaker. Supporters and protesters gathered side by side as “Lula” spoke to the entire gathering. Protesters were unhappy with some things their President has done in office, saying that he has not done what he promised. They held signs, yelled, and carried on during his entire 45-minute speech. Medea watched. She saw police move in and expected them to arrest, detain or remove the protesters. They did nothing. For the entire speech. As a regular protester and activist in the U.S., Medea was shocked, as she herself has been fined, arrested and otherwise detained for various protest activities, and has come to expect it. She was shocked that nothing like what’s happening in the U.S. to dissenters occurred.
After the speech, Medea went to the Brazilian group and first spoke to the protesters. She asked: “Weren’t you afraid you’d be arrested for protesting?” They responded “No, this is a democracy.” She then talked to supporters and asked if they thought to somehow silence the protesters or get them taken away. Their response: “Sure, it was hard to hear what the President had to say and the protesters were distracting. But this is a democracy.” Medea then approached the police officers and asked why they didn’t arrest the protesters. Their response: “We are here to protect their right to free speech. This is a democracy.”
It brings tears to your eyes, doesn’t it? And makes this American appreciate how much our rights and freedoms (especially free speech) have been eroded, exploded, or completely taken away. I wonder, do I still live in a democracy??
The other story is part of the peace delegation that Medea organized to the Middle East, an historic event that few Americans will ever hear about (sadly). After spending two weeks in Fallujah, at great risk to his own life and the lives of his Iraqi hosts, Code Pink’s videographer returned to the U.S. with tapes full of footage about what really happened in Fallujah (the city was literally demolished, the U.S. may have tested chemical weapons, and many other atrocities, again, that most Americans will NEVER hear about). They wanted to share these tapes to help get out the truth. Alas, that will never happen.
Why? Because the first night the videographer got back to California, while he was out at dinner, his car and hotel room were broken into. The only things taken: the videotapes. All of them.
I don’t know what to say and will let you think on that for yourselves. Stunning, though, isn’t it?!
So the next story I would call “This is Freedom?” and invite you to read Code Pink’s blog, first-hand accounts by people – brave, peace-loving Americans – who were in the war zone. Carry on…. For peace! --- Keri
…. “This is the freedom?” Many who were persecuted under Saddam initially had hope that America had come as liberators, only to feel betrayed as day-by-day they saw their loved ones being killed, disappeared, or tortured, their homes being raided or destroyed and their livelihoods gone. The lack of water, electricity, and gasoline and having to live with the constant fear of death or kidnapping has turned their lives into a daily hell. … “
For the rest of this entry, go to: http://codepink.utne.com/archives/000060.html
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