Freedom

In days long gone, I had a weekly astrology column, syndicated on college campuses, as well as a column in the local newspaper whose editor used to howl that by the time the paper went to press it was “last week’s news today.” I am not quite taking this risk now, but I am assuming that all went according to plan and that Julian Assange is home with his wife and children, and with ample time ahead to regroup his energies, recover his vitality, and design his future.

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As a pacifist, I am not in alignment with spurious arguments about national security. This, alas, began long before the infamous Iraqi footage released by Wiki Leaks. It is possible that my pacifism was birthed in previous incarnations because I think it was inborn in this lifetime. My father was a civilian, never in uniform, but he worked in aeronautics, missiles, and eventually the space program. I vividly remember his telling my mother that the scientists had discussed how their knowledge was used and concluded that this fell in the realm of governmental responsibility and was hence not an issue for engineers and those who designed the weapons and vehicles used in war. I was very young and absolutely sickened . . . so it is no surprise that what I said when learning of the alleged Gulf of Tonkin incident is not printable.

Whether the U.S. is a democracy or republic or some other type of entity, the assumption most of us make is that the system is supposed to give a voice to the people. Since this is obviously not the case, the system is broken. Who makes the decisions and why operates in the shadow, and the agenda is foisted on people who are then conscripted and forced to risk their lives serving a master they have never met and who certainly does not have their interests at heart.

So, does anyone have a right to expose what lurks in the shadows?

While in Vietnam, I was privy to a great deal of classified information. I was not at liberty to divulge this though I felt the material was recklessly handled and often found in Vietnamese governmental offices when it was supposed to be locked in a safe. Once the material falls into other hands, there is no longer protection for what is supposed to be a secret among a few. Therefore, if an official or journalist shoved a piece of paper in front of me and asked if I had read it or perhaps even written it, that individual had the information and could basically do whatever he or she wanted to do with it. Whatever I might say or not say would not have any effect on what follows.

If I desperately wanted the New York Times or Wall Street Journal to find out something, the most I could do would have been to suggest being in a certain place at a certain time, like perhaps the airport. I would assume any proper journalist would know to bring a camera.

Governments speak of “interests” not of relationships. In today’s world, these interests are usually commercial and have little or nothing to do with threats to national security. In a world where we trade with countries that do not espouse our values, we are tacitly saying that their form of government is not the issue but their goods and services are.

If in doubt, take the example from yesterday’s post in which Idaho water was diverted from farming to cobalt mining because of vested interests and who is in which pocket. I don’t see any reason to conscript young men — and now potentially also women — to put on a uniform to protect a commercial interest.

In Vietnam, there were no military or commercial interests. The war was a distraction from domestic strife over integration. Is there a reason to support such a war, or is it the job of journalists to make sure that the insanity is made public so that dissidence brings the transgressions to a halt?

Skillful Means

Returning to Julian Assange, I feel that the world had every right to know that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction or revenge for terrorism. They had a right to know that not everything that happens during a war has anything to do with military objectives. Mowing down civilians in broad daylight is not a video game, but an event that leaves widows, orphans, and terror in the hearts of survivors. It leaves regret in soldiers who will never forget the day they crossed the line and brought shame on their nation. There is nothing valiant about abuse of power and the only national interest at risk is credibility.

So, I am elated that Julian Assange has finally been released and that he safely left U.S. territory in the South Pacific. The crowds around the court cheered him on, but he was silent, made no speeches, and headed straight to the airport and Canberra where his family is awaiting him. I pray all goes according to plan.

After so much limitation on his movements and incredible psychological and physical stress, I hope arrangements for his safety and comfort allow him to regroup his energy and focus . . . and that his family bonds become stronger than ever. The public has been incredibly supportive, and it being an election year, the positions on the charges against Assange were a subject of debate. Now, the lightning and thunder is gone, but we should remember what those running for office said before Assange’s freedom was finally achieved.

There is much more conflict to resolve, and the issues remain the same. What is reported is what those powers that be want people to see and believe. Independent journalism is hence hugely important. The reality of why so many lives have been sacrificed is hidden from view. Bless those who take risks to reveal the truth and pray for their safety.

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Copyright by Dr. Ingrid Naiman 2024 || All Rights Reserved

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