From the No Drones Network
In recent days and weeks, there have been a growing number of public events designed to educate the public about the problem of drones and drone killing. The speakers range from Congressmen . . . to high-profile antiwar figures . . . to people engaging in civil disobedience . . . to participants in the recent Code Pink Pakistan delegation . . . to leaders of drone education tours.
The common thread in all these events is — or should be — the message they all give to audience members: Now it’s time for YOU to carry this conversation forward!
The only hope we have is to get a far greater number of people involved in the talking about and resisting the drones menace. All of us belong to groups — whether church groups, book groups, community associations, peace and justice groups — where the issues of drones and drone killings can and should be discussed.
As anyone who has attended any of the drone education events knows, the background information needed to carry this conversation forward is relatively easy to obtain. The big need is for people who have the courage to take the conversation to the next step. There are really just five questions, and everyone is able to participate in discussing them:
(1) Is it wrong? Whether you come at it from a faith perspective, or another ethical grounding, or a political philosophy, or just gut instinct, everyone is capable of looking at the facts surrounding drone killing and addressing this most important question. (For some examples of people tackling this problem, see the Awake to Drones project.
(2) Is it urgent? (A good place to start is by looking at the proliferation of drone bases, drone training, and drone experimentation in the U.S.)
(3) Who’s in control? Many people disagree about who, really, is calling the shots when it comes to U.S. warmaking. Does Congress have anything to say? Is it all just the President? CIA? The generals? Or some other forces? We need to be honest with ourselves about how far out of control the drones have gotten.
(4) What kind of resistance is effective? Every day, there are new efforts to resist the rapid increase in drone warfare, drone killing, and drone surveillance. (Many examples are on the No Drones Network site.) What’s effective? That’s still being determined. That’s why your participation and thinking is needed.
(5) What are YOU prepared to do? The only hope we have is to get a far greater number of people involved in the talking about and resisting the drones menace. All of us belong to groups — whether church groups, book groups, community associations, peace and justice groups — where the issues of drones and drone killings can and should be discussed.
As anyone who has attended any of the drone education events knows, the background information needed to carry this conversation forward is relatively easy to obtain. The big need is for people who have the courage to take the conversation to the next step. There are really just five questions, and everyone is able to participate in discussing them:
(1) Is it wrong? . . . .
This article originally appeared on the No Drones Network site on November 15, 2012.