Hiroshima-Nagasaki Speech in NYC
Tuesday, August 5
All Souls Church, New York City
By Mary Beth Sullivan
It is good, and right, and I would add, holy, that you have gathered here tonight to remember that 63 years ago our government dropped nuclear weapons onto the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I am honored and grateful to be here with you.
To frame my comments, you need to know that I am a social worker. Various jobs have introduced me to disabled children, women receiving welfare, and homeless people. I have made eye contact with people who have had to make a choice between eating and taking their medications. Can you imagine that choice? In the richest nation of the world? What’s the right answer when your question is should I use my limited resources for food, or for the medication that helps me manage my diabetes, or my mental illness? What I have to say tonight is very personal for me…
I recently read “Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglalas” by Mari Sandoz.
When he needed to, Crazy Horse would go out alone into the mountains to contemplate what was happening to his people, and to reflect on the unusual behaviors in the people that were invading the west. He reflected on:
• The dwindling population of that life-sustaining gift to his people: the buffalo;
• The white man’s obsession over gold, and his willingness to take over the sacred Black Hills to get at it;
• The white man’s willingness to kill women – and children;
• Their propensity to make promises through treaties, that they did not keep;
• Their continuing efforts to modernize weapons, until they controlled and dominated on the battlefield, in spite of the Indian warrior’s skill and courage.
I admit to the despair I felt while I was reading this book. What has changed over the last 140 or more years? We are still using nature’s resources in an unsustainable way – with no concern for future generations; we will still make war to control natural resources; we are still willing to kill women, and children, and the elderly – innocents all; we still renege on treaties…
and we are still modernizing weapons to control and dominate on any corner of this planet that has resources we might want.
For years now, the Global Network has been making copies available of the U.S. Space Command’s Vision for 2020. Let me read from the introduction: “US Space Command – dominating the space dimension of military operations to protect US interests and investment. Integrating Space Forces into warfighting capabilities across the full spectrum of conflict.”
“Future Trends: … The globalization of the world economy will continue, with a widening between “haves” and “have nots”… Space superiority is emerging as an essential element of battlefield success and future warfare.” Modern weapons. To control and dominate…
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