LBCC Commuter newsletter article
There has been much hope and excitement generated around the last election. The hope is that a new president will effect a change in our society. Though this hope is shared by all, it is important to remember that one person has never been responsible for all change, and that we the people must exercise our democratic rights in order to make our own change. We cannot rely on elected officials to do it for us. On November fourth an unprecedented number of voters let their voices be heard, and Obama, thankfully, won by a landslide. The question now is whether or not the American people will keep to the streets and demand the changes they want to see in their communities, or, will they return to their couches for another four years.
Community colleges are unique in the fact that they are emplaced with a specific goal of serving the community. With that we must ask what sort of responsibilities do community colleges have to their respective communities; a question that is directed not only at the faculty but, perhaps even more importantly, to the student body.
For some time groups like the Albany Peace Seekers and The Institute for Peace and Justice have been operating in Linn-Benton in attempt to fulfill certain responsibilities and bring a nourishing change to the community. Many of their efforts have been focused on Counter-Recruitment and Alternatives to Military Service projects that are meant to provide students with a balanced picture of what is at stake when they sign up for the military.
Beyond this, Counter-Recruitment has far more universal goals. It seeks to end unjust and illegal wars by reducing the manpower of the largest military force in history, making it impossible to occupy foreign countries such as Iraq for the selfish economic interests of the elite corporate powers. With this reduction there is a follow-up movement to redistribute the almost 500 billion dollars of annual military expenditures at a community level. This redistribution would enable the citizens to fund programs such as universal health care and free tuition for college students.
As the death tolls rise daily the importance of leaving Iraq and Afghanistan immediately has become an imminent priority. We must follow in the tradition of Vietnam War veterans and student activists, where the desertion of around half a million GI’s who blatantly refused to follow immoral and illegal orders, along with countless student demonstrations, helped to end the war. Iraq vets and students of our generation are now stepping up to the plate and taking action.
Iraq Veterans Against the War is a nation wide organization that has more than a thousand members, and the only criteria for joining is that a person must have served on or after 9/11 in any military form or function. The members of IVAW Oregon at the moment are small, but they are growing. IVAW calls for the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces, compensation to the Iraqi people and the withdrawal of corporate pillagers, and full support to all veterans including healthcare and benefits.
With the support of the Albany/Corvallis and surrounding communities, veterans, and activist groups, we can all bring beneficial change to the society in which we live in everyday, and fulfill our responsibility to future generations. If there are any veterans interested in peace activism, or simply finding a support group among peers to talk about issues such as PTSD among other vets, e-mail Benji at corvallisivaw@gmail.com.
