Trial Update

Greetings everyone,

I just wanted to pass along the latest press release from our trial down here in Columbus, GA. I feel pretty good about the outcome and am looking forward to returning to Chicago in a few days, and also doing additional public speaking and outreach on this issue. As soon as I'm able, I'll send along some of my other thoughts from this weekend.

peace,

Le Anne

Trial Update - SOAW 11 Sentenced to Federal Prison

"I crossed the line at WHINSEC and prayed on the grounds to bring attention to the teaching of torture and assassination. When enough people learn the truth about this school and act to end these practices, the healing can begin."
- Diane Lopez-Hughes, one of the SOAW 11

The Eleven courageous souls that willingly put their freedom and bodies at risk to stand in witness against the SOA/WHINSEC during the November 2007 Vigil have been sentenced to federal prison on charges of "trespassing on a military base".

The trial, which began at 9:00 AM this morning in Columbus, Georgia, took place in a courthouse located just a few miles from Fort Benning, the current site of the SOA/WHINSEC. An institute known around the world for its ties to brutal dictatorships and human rights abuses, which continues to operate, unchallenged by our government but not by the people.

The SOAW 11, ranging in ages from 25 to 78 and from very diverse walks of life, testified today before magistrate G. Malon Faircloth. Ed Lewinson, a 78-year old History professor who in November crossed the line for the fourth time, was sentenced to 90 days in federal prison and a $500 fine. This is his first conviction since in previous years the government refused to prosecute due to his blindness. Tiel Rainelli, a 25 year old activist from Canton, OH who was arrested this past November after climbing over the barbed wire fence blocking the main gate of Fort Benning, announced that in spite of the courts decision to sentence her to 90 days in prison, she would return to protest at the gates of Fort Benning in November.

The SOAW 11 are:

- Joan Anderson, 65, Casper, WY - 30 days and a $500 fine
- Ozone Bhaguan, 33, Duluth, MN - 90 days and no fine
- Le Anne Clausen, 29, Chicago, IL. - 30 days and no fine
- Art Landis, 74, Perkasie, PA - 30 days and no fine
- Ed Lewinson, 78, Newark NJ - 90 days and a $500 fine
- Chris Lieberman, 54, Albuquerque, NM - 60 days and no fine
- Diane Lopez Hughes, 58, Springfield, IL - 45 days and a $500 fine
- Tiel Rainelli, 25, Canton, OH. - 90 days and a $500 fine
- Gus Roddy, 45, Chicago, IL - 30 days and a $500 fine
- Stephen Schweitzer, 45, Binghamtom, NY - 60 days and a $500 fine
- Michelle Yipé, 45, of Argonia, KS - 30 days and a $500 fine

Read more about the SOAW 11...

Take Action!

The SOAW-11 have courageously taken their protest to close the SOA/ WHINSEC onto the grounds of Fort Benning, GA and YOU can help take the message to Washington DC! One way to support the SOAW-11 is to be a part of our legislative campaign.

Is your Representative in Congress one of our supporters?! At the bottom of the Legislative Action Index we have a complete list of all of the HR 1707 cosponsors. If your Representative is not on this list, get involved in our action campaign!

We've made it easy for you to contact your member of Congress and ask them to cosponsor HR 1707, legislation that would suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC and investigate the use of torture manuals and the association of human rights abusers with the school.

- Click here to send an email to your Representative now!

The SOA Watch legislative team has also created a new resource for you to bring this important issue to the national level by making the closure of the SOA/ WHINSEC a part of the 2008 Presidential, House, and Senate elections.

- Check out our Elections Packet with bird-dogging tips, resources, and strategy on how to make the SOA/ WHINSEC a part of this year's elections.

For more information about the Legislative Campaign, contact Pam Bowman, the SOA Watch Legislative Coordinator at pbowman(at)soaw(dot)org or (202) 234-3440.

Facebook, the Beloved Community?

Recently, a friend of mine, who I'd only just found again since college, left Facebook--in order, he said, to get his life back. Hmm... that doesn't sound good.

I remember that I used to throw parties where I'd invite all my friends--absolutely everyone--to my house and hope they'd all get along, or at least talk to each other. After all, if I liked all of them, and they liked me, why wouldn't they like each other? In reality, this rarely worked, despite my best efforts. I usually just ended up as the exhausted hostess.

Unfortunately, this also rarely works in the seminary classroom. Every day, I feel forced to make social decisions. I have groups of international student friends and groups of American friends. I have groups of older friends, and groups of younger friends. I have groups of black friends, and groups of white friends, and groups of friends from other races. I have groups of queer friends, and groups of straight friends. I have groups of evangelical friends, and groups of mainline friends, and groups of friends that are other religions entirely. I can move among each of these groups; but, rarely can I get friends of one group to come over and hang out with another group. I end up feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, torn. That's where I feel like I need to get my life back...

And, of course I know that's not just limited to seminary life, but other places as well. It's still frustrating. Before I start whining, "Can't we all just get along?" perhaps I have to admit, Facebook is the closest thing I've found yet in my own life to building the Beloved Community. At least the people in my 'Friends' box can see each other, and know that I value each of them. And maybe by association, they'll figure out that each of the others ain't so bad.

So, I dunno. I'm not usually one to offer such praise to a piece of technology. But for the time being, it does help. And for my poor friend from the first paragraph: I changed my 'privacy settings' so the site doesn't bother me twenty times a day; technology is supposed to serve us and not us serve technology, right? Or something like that.

peace,

Le Anne

Inundated

My head still hurts. Could be the concussion still (and I think in part it is, I know when I really should quit reading and writing for the day--about four hours sooner than I really can), or it could just be spinning with all there is that needs doing.

I arrived back at my parish this last weekend for the first time since November 30th. In the meantime, my supervising pastor had received a new call to a 'snowbird' church in Florida; the secretary had taken the opportunity to retire; poor Mr. Hart, who always helped out in our kitchen Sundays and during the soup kitchen, passed away; preceded only slightly by Charles, who until very recently kept our choir organized and organ tuned. The last thing we did before I left to Iran was say farewell to our HeadStart teaching staff, since shifting neighborhood demographics meant we didn't have enough children in our classrooms. It almost feels like an entirely different church, or somehow all unreal.

Such changes so quickly, after many decades of running in one pattern, could spell the death of any church. On the other hand, it could also bring about some surprising and incredible new growth for us. Only time, and our openness to God's calling and the Holy Spirit, will tell.

So, we're wrapping up loose ends this week, and will probably discover more of those to deal with in the future (inevitable, always). I don't have to worry, the Session (church council)says, they're finding an interim pastor who will have experience supervising students. That's a relief to Gordon and myself. I imagine there will be additional responsibilities to face for both of us soon, just as with the rest of the congregation. "Well, it'll be a good education," Gordon says. I'm inclined to agree.