Some answers to rarely asked questions-1

By Skip Schiel, written on June 29, 2005

Referring to the recent events in Cambridge, the US Army celebrating its 230th anniversary on Cambridge Common on June 14, 2005 (my earlier writing and photographs on this issue at: http://teeksaphoto.org/RecentPhotos/ArmyCambridgeCommon/index.html), I’ll attempt a few answers, always tentative, the asking much easier (at times) than the answering.

We are compelled to face a new way of life different from what we have been accustomed to. Hardship is required to get there. When we seek hardship out of our own volition, a world of ease and comfort opens up before us.

--Nichidatsu Fujii Guruji

What did the event actually celebrate?

The birthday event celebrated two key facts: army as major power, dominant power, in the world, invincible and supreme. Plus, the army as agency powerful enough to overcome local opposition to a military presence in our own neighborhood. Or rather, this second achievement is not yet quite a fact, but a hope on the part of the military. Since the peace and justice movement turned out in such force and on such short notice, a secondary celebration might be appropriate: we raised our voices and to some extent people heard them.

Why was recruitment a major focus?

Most of the military branches have not met their recruitment goals. Thus the military is ratcheting up its drive. And very cleverly. I'd give them credit for some very creative thinking, inspiring others to match and surpass that innovative spirit.

What is the connection between the Army’s presence and the city of Cambridge?

This is yet to be determined. City Councilor Marjorie Decker, so far the sole city council voice in opposition to the Army's appearance in Cambridge, proposed a resolution to investigate the connection. At the City Council meeting on June 20, 2005, a resolution passed, but many feel it is weak. (I’ve requested a copy of the resolution as passed, plus related resolutions about the USPATRIOT Act, the War on Iraq, and Cambridge as a sanctuary city.)

Who decided for the city and for what reasons?

So far, most analysis concurs that city power lies primarily in the hands of the City Manager, Robert Healy. (He features prominently in one of my photos.) And believe that Mayor Michael Sullivan is a figurehead. So I conclude that most likely the deal was struck between Mr. Healy and the Army. One reason is probably the honor and prestige to the city thought to result from the alliance. There may be more, stay tuned.

What is the cost to the city, considering setup, security, cleanup, and other responsibilities?

Also not clear. Perhaps the investigation will paint a clearer picture.

What advance information was given the citizens and when?

Another murky area. Apparently the city's website announced the event in early June, the Cambridge Chronicle ran a brief announcement in the issue prior to the event, the National Guard posted something, but the main information seems to have been circulated by the city's Peace Commission, headed by Cathy Hoffman, and the Boston-area consortium of peace groups known as United for Justice with Peace. The Peace Commission, as I said earlier, is under fire for its alleged "orchestrating" of the opposition.

How much was Cambridge citizenry part of the decision?

As well as I can determine, virtually not at all. Except for the handful of teachers that voluntarily brought their students.

By what channels did the school children attend?

Most evidence suggests that teachers were not required to bring students and that most if not all parents were informed and asked to sign permission slips.

What information was given to the teachers and parents?

Probably not much more than I listed above, on websites and in newspapers.

Was parental permission sought?

As stated above, to this point, evidence indicates that all parents were queried.

Whose interests are most serviced by the event?

A key question. Obviously, the Army benefits from heightened recruitment (altho exact results would be hard to know, since I doubt the Army would release numbers of recruits resulting from this event.). A continuing plus for the Army is the partnership entered into by the city and the Army, called "Partnership for Youth Success."

I'll deal with the remaining questions in the next installment. I welcome contrary or affirming views from those who might know much more than I.

The “Cambridge Seven” (as named by the judge) has a court appearance on July 15th, Friday, 9 AM, Middlesex County Court House, 40 Thorndike St, East Cambridge. We don’t know exactly when in the day our case will be called. If you wish to attend, you probably don’t want to sit there potentially all day waiting so we might arrange a communication system that will alert people when our case will be called. I’ll send out word if we organize this.

The key to better communication is the development of better metaphors.

—George Lakoff

I don’t have any current photos that relate to my story. I’ve dug up some old ones that I feel do relate: from the Strategic Air Command Museum in Omaha Nebraska. I visited in 1982, on a Great Plains journey that ultimately brought me to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Lakota Sioux reservations—and the most profoundly moving Wounded Knee. The best photo from the set is “the one that got away,” one I’ve apparently lost (for now). It shows a family posing in front of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile. I’m afraid you’ll just have to image the picture and draw your own conclusions.

Pentagon building youth database for recruitment:

http://www.nodraftnoway.org/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1119884165&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

US military recruitment crisis deepens:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jun2005/mili-j01.shtml

Partnership for Youth Success:

http://www.armypays.com/

Strategic Air & Space Museum (formerly Strategic Air Command Museum, a telling name change), Omaha, Nebraska

http://www.strategicairandspace.com/general/general.htm

Earlier parts of my story with photos:

http://teeksaphoto.org/RecentPhotos/ArmyCambridgeCommon/index.html