As I write this, the non-violent protesters who have camped out in front
of the gates to the U.S. Navy base and on the beaches in the bombing area
of the tiny little island of Vieques have been arrested by U.S. Marshals
at the request of the Navy. After more than a year of the cessation of
bombing in this inhabited island, it seems the forces of power and might
will prevail and once again the people, the fish, the coral reefs and the
plant life of Vieques will be besieged by our bombs.
As I have listened to, watched and read the media accounts of this beautiful
island and its proud people, I have been startled at the misinformation
and just plan old bad reporting which has occurred. It has occurred because
most of the press has not taken the time to really go and talk with the
people of Vieques or to visit in the bombing sites or to understand what
the movement against the bombing is really all about. Too often, the press
has just accepted the Navy's misinformation and half-truths or it has made
wrong assumptions about Vieques and about the bombing.
I went to Vieques. I want to share what I know and saw versus for what
is being portrayed.
Myth #1. The people of Vieques voluntarily gave up their island for
the bombing during World War II.
The land of the people was taken by eminent domain by the U.S. Navy
some 60 years ago. The part of the island now used for target practice
was once verdant pastures, where many cattle farms existed. The beef from
Vieques was considered some of the best in the Caribbean. Many of these
farming families were given two weeks or less to leave their homes and
paid a few thousand dollars for hundreds of acres of land. I met an 83
year old woman whose parents owned such a farm and the first time she had
been back in 60 years was this year, with the cessation of the bombing.
She recalled the suicide of her aunt shortly after her family was moved
and she called that the first death as a result of the Navy takeover of
their land.
Myth #2. The Navy needs Vieques to bomb because it is the only place
on earth that has all the elements that it needs for its practice.
The Navy has not bombed Vieques in more than a year. Are we less prepared
now than we were then? In addition, during the Republican administration
of President Ford, the bombing of Culebra, another island of Puerto Rico,
was stopped by executive order. The official who facilitated the Culebra
agreement has written that 25 years ago he identified other islands which
were uninhibited which might be used instead of Vieques, because they knew
even then that the bombings on Vieques had to stop.
Myth #3. The U.S. has promised a plebiscite of the people of Vieques
and a halt to the bombing in three years. Isn't that enough?
It is true that the U.S. did promised such a vote, but why do they need
a vote? And why bomb before the vote and three years after the vote, as
proposed? The people of Vieques have said in every way they know how, including
putting their bodies on the line in non-violent protests for more than
a year. Some 200,000 Puerto Ricans marched in the streets of San Juan after
the U.S. promise calling for an end to the bombing. Why subject the people
and the island to more destruction if you already know what the people
want? The fish and turtles and plant were once again returning to the island
after a year of no bombing-their return shows their vote for peace as well.
In addition, the Navy has made promises in the past to the people of
Vieques which it has not kept. They have abused their trust and the people
are not willing to trust them anymore.
Myth #4. The protesters were armed and were a radical fringe.
The people who were in the camps were very intentionally practicing
non-violence. Those who were camped on the beach were church leaders from
both the Catholic and Protestant churches in Puerto Rico, women, fishermen
and carpenters and labor and political leaders. Their mission, as they
see it, is to "save the island," meaning to save the fish and the coral
reefs and the luminescent bay and the turtles and coqui, along with the
tiny little frogs of Puerto Rico.
The fact that nearly as many people marched in Puerto Rico in support
of Vieques as marched in 1953 at the March on Washington should tell us
something. Yet, very little press coverage was given to this march outside
of Puerto Rico and so we tend to think this is just a small group of people
with a grievance.
Myth #5. The people of Vieques are being unreasonable and unwilling
to compromise.
Vieques is an inhabited island. Can you imagine us using Martha's Vineyard
or Nantucket or Shidbey Island off of Seattle for target practice using
live bombs and ammunition? The people of Viques suffer a cancer rate at
least twice as high and possible five times as high as their brothers and
sisters in Puerto Rico. The Navy has admitted that it has used uranium
bullets and bombs in the past, which may well be the cause for this high
rate of illness.
Myth #6. This one has yet to be said, but it is probably implied.
Vieques was the news story of the moment and now it will go away.
Justice can be delayed, but it can never be denied. The people of Vieques
are strong in the spirit. So often in the world, the U.S. has misunderstood
and underestimated the power of the people to be free, to make their own
choices about their own lands and their own destines. It would be tragic
if we have entered the new millennium without having learned some lessons
from the old. To continue to bomb in Vieques against the will of the people
and the will of creation would be a tragedy for our nation. Don't believe
what you see in the media. Might is never right. Peace will always prevail.