In the best definition of the role of the press in America, thorough research would provide citizens with the basis for making sound judgments as the primary engines of our system. Unfortunately, the press more often provides fuzzy details of decisions our servants have already made, and fodder for gossip that distracts us from effective participation. Through media, we learn of decisions made by profiteers without our knowledge and consent.
In a microcosm of this national dysfunction, University students are upset with ever-rising tuition costs while their school is profiting, researchers are annoyed by the vague language accompanying their projects, faculty senate members are alarmed by the campus administration’s consistently unilateral approach to decision-making and graduate teaching fellows and others are angered by ongoing unfair treatment, low wages, poor benefits and the increasing divide between what is and what could or should be.
Our military exists to guard us, not to control us or generate profit from our taxes. The United States has supplied more than 200 wars since weapons became its top industry after World War II. Business in America relies on increased profit margins; for the weapons industry, that means permanent conflict.
The issue of military-funded research in our schools is therefore vastly important to our common future. The stated aims of the people now in control of our military go beyond providing a reasonable defense to include domination of the world’s resources. America cannot be a great nation as long as its top industry is making and selling weapons. We must take the profit out of war or war will take the life out of us.
Albert Einstein said, “Those who have the privilege to know have the obligation to act.” We in our schools are responsible for ensuring an informed public and determining the way in which research is applied.
The right approach in resolving this glaring fault in our system lies in taking back our country. The priority of weapons profit above human prosperity must change.
Strike for Peace recognizes that in a republic, workers work and students study not to fall into permanent debt, but to secure a safe and better future. We recognize that America’s foreign policy is incompatible with the growth and security that education should provide. We recognize that without vigilant participation of the people, assisted by a diligent media, America falls from the grace of a government of, by and for the people.
We call for military funding for research to be frozen at current levels. We call for full disclosure of all aspects of on-campus military-funded agreements in plain language that reveals their true intent. We call for the language involved in such agreements, including the definitions of “weapon” and “unclassified,” to be closely reassessed in an openly democratic fashion. We call for a vigorous and competitive search for alternative funding sources to disconnect institutions of higher learning from the industry of war and reconnect them to pure scientific research. We call for advancements in technology to primarily benefit people and secondarily provide a reasonable defense based on protection rather than profit and the rhetoric of fear. We call for public servants to serve our interests.
Our thanks go out to the many people we spoke with during fall term, and our hopes for a better world extend to all for a safe and refreshing holiday season.
Visit Brian Bogart’s Web site at StrikeForPeace.org.
