I met many interesting people at our exhibit area, including today. One of the people I met today was a Korean-American man in his late 60s, Won-Jong, an elder in a New Jersey church who told me how he had spoken out in the Peacemaking and International affairs committee against a resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. This resolution was popular with my friend Chris when I told Chris and Rachel about it over dinner in Santa Cruz last night (Wednesday). This Korean-American elder actually talked up the Hiroshima bombing as critical for the U.S. liberation of Korean from the Empire of Japan (a statement that can’t have gone over well with peace activists). The man also talked about a legacy of Japanese imperialism being the impressments of thousands and thousands of Korean women into sexual slavery during World War II (before the liberation) (peace activists couldn’t have completely rejected this) – and the Japanese government still won’t admit to this. (I was not surprised that this somewhat older, somewhat conservative Korean-American man supports the new South Korean president (as I believe my father does. What surprised was both how tough this man was on Japan, and how much this man [originally from South Korea] yearned for reunification [even as he denounced the North Korean government], which tends to be a more left position in South Korean politics.) The committee went on to pass a version of the immediate withdrawal resolution, but the man was working with others to oppose the resolution on the Assembly plenary floor.
I watched another interesting war and peace exchange a few feet away and an hour later. For years the U.S. military has operated in Fort Benning, Georgia (which my family and I somewhat inadvertently drove by in the middle of the night a year ago) what was long called the School of Americas, which trained Latin American military leaders in counterinsurgency warfare. Many of these leaders turn out be among the military dictators and death squad-affiliated officials with the worst human rights records in the hemisphere. Peace activists have been trying to get this school – now renamed – shut down for years, and hundreds of peace activists have gotten arrested at its entrance (The Catholic convent we stayed at for our session retreat in fact offered free lodging for those who had just gotten out of federal prison for School of the Americas civil disobedience.) Across from our Research exhibit area was the military chaplains’ booth, where military chaplains were partly trying to recruit seminary students for military chaplaincy. On my first day at the exhibit area I met a man I’d read about in"Presbyterians Today" magazine, a Presbyterian minister and Army major (John Kaiser) who taught ethics to students [at the school formerly known as the School of the Americas]. Apparently he made a presentation or appeared in a video that was broadcast to the General Assembly and referred to the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, a Presbyterian interest group, as having OKed the new School of the Americas. The man who was the first 30-something General Assembly moderator recently elected – Rick Ufford-Chase (pictured above), whom I heard speak at a presbytery event – is now director of the Peace Fellowship. He stopped by to talk with this military officer/minister/chaplain/ethics instructor and was very tough about telling this officer that he had misrepresented the Peace Fellowship’s views. I didn’t watch the end of the discussion – although I don’t believe any blows were exchanged – but it was pretty clear that peace activists won’t all just roll over. (Ironically, this is the same GA moderator who allegedly got into a scuffle up near the altar at my father’s church, when he accompanied denominational loyalists in an effort to take over a worships service from the control of those who wanted to leave the denomination). (It turns out Major Kaiser had also testified against an immediate Iraq withdrawal proposal.)
I watched another interesting war and peace exchange a few feet away and an hour later. For years the U.S. military has operated in Fort Benning, Georgia (which my family and I somewhat inadvertently drove by in the middle of the night a year ago) what was long called the School of Americas, which trained Latin American military leaders in counterinsurgency warfare. Many of these leaders turn out be among the military dictators and death squad-affiliated officials with the worst human rights records in the hemisphere. Peace activists have been trying to get this school – now renamed – shut down for years, and hundreds of peace activists have gotten arrested at its entrance (The Catholic convent we stayed at for our session retreat in fact offered free lodging for those who had just gotten out of federal prison for School of the Americas civil disobedience.) Across from our Research exhibit area was the military chaplains’ booth, where military chaplains were partly trying to recruit seminary students for military chaplaincy. On my first day at the exhibit area I met a man I’d read about in"Presbyterians Today" magazine, a Presbyterian minister and Army major (John Kaiser) who taught ethics to students [at the school formerly known as the School of the Americas]. Apparently he made a presentation or appeared in a video that was broadcast to the General Assembly and referred to the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, a Presbyterian interest group, as having OKed the new School of the Americas. The man who was the first 30-something General Assembly moderator recently elected – Rick Ufford-Chase (pictured above), whom I heard speak at a presbytery event – is now director of the Peace Fellowship. He stopped by to talk with this military officer/minister/chaplain/ethics instructor and was very tough about telling this officer that he had misrepresented the Peace Fellowship’s views. I didn’t watch the end of the discussion – although I don’t believe any blows were exchanged – but it was pretty clear that peace activists won’t all just roll over. (Ironically, this is the same GA moderator who allegedly got into a scuffle up near the altar at my father’s church, when he accompanied denominational loyalists in an effort to take over a worships service from the control of those who wanted to leave the denomination). (It turns out Major Kaiser had also testified against an immediate Iraq withdrawal proposal.)
5 comments:
First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee had Wednesday night suppers when we lived there where special topics and guest speakers were spotlighted. I got to hear a peace protestor who had not only been arrested several times outside the School of the Americas (with slideshow pictures about the school) but also helped lead similar protests. For awhile I was even on their newsletter list since they also helped refugees from other countries learn English and settle into life in the U.S.
-- Stephanie
I just read your blog that mentioned my presence at the GA. I did not consider my discussion with the former Moderator to be public, or even about “war and peace.” No one hates war more than those who have to fight it, but sometimes it is necessary, unfortunately, in a sinful fallen world to restore peace and even to prevent genocide as is my experience in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Just to clarify: I did not teach ethics at the School of the Americas. I teach ethics now at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), the successor to the former School of the Americas. In no way did I refer to the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship “as having OKed the new School of the Americas.” I have dialogued with many who have gone to prison for trespassing, but in reality their issues are bigger than their opposition to WHINSEC, which is merely their tangible focal point.
What I stated, when asked to give the perspective of a Military Chaplain to the Peacemaking Committee, along with Chaplain Boelens, was that I have the full endorsement of my Presbytery, and most Presbyterians I speak with are glad to know that there is a Presbyterian Minister inside of the Institute to insure their concerns are addressed and ethics are a serious part of the mandatory curriculum for our Latin American, Caribbean, and Canadian allies. This did not misrepresent the Peace Fellowship’s views. They have their views, we have ours. Rick Ufford-Chase and I strongly, but cordially “agree to disagree” as to the appropriateness of training the militaries of Latin America in ethics.
I consider the entire SOA Watch protest to be a misdirected movement with no proof to the accusations which dangerously approach slandering the good name of the people who teach here or have graduated from our courses. Anybody who really wants to know the truth is always welcome to investigate what we do here, and I am surprised by people who do not investigate both sides. It is especially a shame if you were actually here last year you did not take the opportunity to examine the evidence. For more information please see the article that discusses this issue: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08066.htm The bottom line is that either I am telling the truth or I am lying, and I stand accountable before our Lord to tell the truth.
In regard to my opposition to an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, again the Committee invited the perspective of the Military Chaplains. I agreed with the Iraqi Archbishop, who was quoted by our News Service as saying, “restoring security is of paramount importance,” and “Coalition forces going after the radical groups that are trying to destabilize the country are helping” and “there must be a sustained effort to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure.” I agree that this mission must be completed and then we leave, but to do so before the work is done would be irresponsible.
Since some pacifists in our denomination never see the military element as a valid part of the entire diplomatic, political, economic, and social part of peacemaking and peacekeeping, of course they will never see the value of small institution like WHINSEC, or even the greater institution of the U.S. Military.
However, most Presbyterians support the fact that Christians (to include even Presbyterians) need to be part of the Military to provide moral leadership and insure an ethical voice is heard. It is also a ripe mission field and the harvesters are few, so why would we NOT want to recruit ministers (and future ministers, seminarians) to answer God’s call. Chaplains are sent by the Church to be a pastoral and prophetic voice within that institution.
I certainly don’t expect anyone to roll over in any healthy, spirited discussion or debate, but it is a shame if both sides are not heard, or even invited to the table which has often been the case in the Presbyterian Church.
Thank You and God Bless,
Rev. Dr. John Kaiser
Chaplain, U.S. Army
The Korean American elder and I talked early on about my father's church in Torrance and its split. The elder was tough on Korean American churches for being so prone to schisms. I never know if this involves a bit of ethnic/national-origin stereotyping, as plenty of non-Korean American congregations split also. But I also do not always hear Korean Americans being this tough on us.
I'm told that when the one of the military chaplains - like Major Kaiser, in uniform - at the Peace committee meeting asked for a business card from a Presbyterian from Iraq there who had apparently testified in favor of an immediate withdrawal proposal - which the chaplain opposed - the Iraqi Presbyterian was fearful (lest the chaplain turn in the information to the U.S. military, so the military could retaliate against this Presbyterian or his/her family?).
Perry:
I have no idea what you are talking about. Who and why would someone tell you such nonsense?
The Iraqi I spoke with was an Armenian Archbishop. It is ridiculous to even think that that information would be used against him in any way.
Is this how conspiracy theories begin?
In his own words, it is the radical Islamic groups that are the threat to people in Iraq. He actually was quoted as saying that the coalition forces need to go after those groups and help rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq.
Also, Chaplains do not use their rank, but go by "Chaplain" not "Major."
Thanks & God Bless,
JK
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