4AM With Dahr & Dahr’s Audience
by Richard Martin Oxman

“What else can you do?” — Dahr Jamail

Up at this ungodly hour, I am thinking of you and the abominations which Dahr addresses in his Beyond the Green Zone. Those unnecessary atrocities, and other horrors (not directly related to military issues*)… which we can do something about.

*The rapid destruction of our oceans and local groundwater, to cite just two examples.

I was with oceanographer Wallace J. Nichols http://www.wallacejnichols.org/wallacejnichols/About_J..html not too long ago… when we went to hear Mike Farrell plug his latest book at the Capitola Book Cafe. The old M*A*S*H* actor — in spite of his supposed progressive credentials — managed to somehow praise Obama’s sociopathic McChrystal and genocidal Holbrooke. Before he was finished, the nationally known anti-death penalty dude was — inexplicably — able to question Noam Chomsky’s veracity regarding Obama’s upping the ante vis-a-vis torture. Oh yes, and recommend Thomas Friedman to boot.

I mention this nightmare of an evening out for two reasons. One, I want you to know that “J” is one of the glorious souls who we’re hoping to have be part of our gubernatorial coalition as per http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/07/taking-over-post-arnold-california/. Two, I want to underscore that there were a lot of well-intentioned, well-educated, activist citizens in that audience who didn’t take kindly to my asking Mike to reconcile his toleration of Obama’s torturous policies/practices with his anti-death penalty stance. Progressives by local reputation.

When, as a very young college professor protesting the Vietnam War, I met Samuel Beckett in New York City, the great playwright reminded me that one of my biggest challenges would be people’s habits. “Habit is the great deadener.” And I submit to you that for us — all of us — to deal with what we want to change for soldiers, sea creatures, etc., we’re going to have to overcome our routines. We’re going to have to question what we’re doing, how we’re relating to other activists… and why. Regardless of how politically correct our current activities and/or public profile.

For we are facing emergencies on several fronts, and we must join hands in solidarity to take control of our lives… in an unprecedented way.

To clarify, it will do no good — I should say “It will not be good enough” — to save a given soldier from the unhealthy clutches of military authorities… to have her/him come home to carcinogenic air or poor health care. To have her/his offspring dragged off to another war ten years or so down the road. To have more roads built ad infinitum.

To all of you who I met (all to briefly) the night of October 14th (Dahr, Ryan, Matt, April, Fritz (again), Charlie (again), Joe (again) Debra, Don, Dora et al.), I ask you all — in all humility, with great respect for your efforts/accomplishments/concerns — to consider what it means that my recent attempt to get feedback on TOSCA (http://oxtogrind.org/archive/364) met with virtually a zero response. From Dahr’s blog, from www.nlgmltf.org, www.couragetoresist.org, www.ivaw.org, madrescontralaguerra.blogspot.com, SWAN, Veterans for Peace, GI Rights, Vets 4 Vets, and the Resource Center for Nonviolence. [Please note that only April asked me for a card following my public offer to help AWOL soldiers and their families in need.]

Don’t quickly jump up with an answer. Think about it, if you will. Slowly.

[Pause.]

There is a dire need for us to move in solidarity. In a new way. Moving expeditiously, but making time to nurture one another. Brainstorming together. Forcing ourselves to be open to one another. Not falling victim to our schedules, our routines, what we take for granted.

For I can tell you, this is not the Sixties*. I go all the way back to Peekskill and Paul Robeson getting stoned (and I don’t mean with marijuana!) in New York (http://oxtogrind.org/archive/378), and it is very clear to me that the challenges we face at present — from the increased threat of nuclear annihilation to the saving of a single soldier’s soul — beg for us to meet tous ensemble on new ground. YESTERDAY!

*The Eastern Garbage Dump was not the size of Africa then! Surveillance was not nearly so daunting. And so on. Today we have deadlines.

Forgive me for not editing the above. My main concern is to get this posted before you rise this A.M.

Blessings in solidarity,
Ricardo
P.S. I have so much I want to share. I look forward to talking with Matt about his plans to film abroad. I look forward to providing feedback to the Resource Center for Nonviolence respecting their relationship with DC’s Institute of Policy Studies. I look forward to offering constructive criticism to GI Rights respecting their Hotline card content. I look forward to having Ryan, Fritz and Charlie (and whoever else is interested) over to our house soon in Aptos’ Vienna Woods. AND… before I forget… I want to ask a favor. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright will be appearing at the Capitola Book Cafe on the 19th. I’d like to go there with others. AND I’d greatly appreciate someone enabling me to have contact with her prior to the 19th. The cafe’s not helping. If you need motivation on that count, please check out http://www.counterpunch.org/mickey02102004.html …which will give you an idea of what my wife Sylvie and I did with no money and less experience a little while ago. [Pause.] Just imagine all of the resistance groups listed above moving in solidarity with all the people who provided testimonials for Dahr’s Beyond the Green Zone book. Without taking heartbeats away from anyone’s current, primary activist work.