A River Between

This weekend I will be traveling to Fort Benning, Georgia to take part in the annual Close the School of the Americas (SOA) mass vigil and protest. This will be my first time at SOA, and my first major national protest. I’m both nervous and excited! I will have more information for you when I get back on my experience at Fort Benning. Stay tuned.

A little bit of background for you..

The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. 

Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins,” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. 

Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

More information is at School of the Americas Watch homepage.

It’s been some time since my last posting here, but hopefully I can summarize. I’ve been traveling and doing quite a lot over the month of October.

I was able to have a voice lesson with my teacher, Wendy Rowe, in Madison, WI over the weekend of October 16. It’s always a healing session as well, as I feel that a lot of my identity is tied up in my voice. My singing has always been an authentic portrayal of “who I am” as a person. I’ve enjoyed how Wendy has brought that out of me, and how I realize that even at 36, I’m still learning and growing as an artist, vocalist, and person.

Some other big things too. Michael and I have been together now for over three months, and are still going strong. He’s helped me to unlock so much of myself, and has been the catalyst of so much “authentic change” in me. Switching my emphasis from Arts Administration to Human Develpment, as well as becoming a non-meat-eater, have been through his modeling of a more authentic life. I’ve also begun cutting back on some other commitments so that I can concentrate on my studies and more creative projects.

Most recently, Michael and I went to a science fiction convention in Iowa, where we met a wonderful artist named Jael. At 68, she is at the top of her creativity, and shows no sign of stopping. She didn’t pick up painting or fantasy art until she was 48 years old, but all of her life has been an authentic voyage into her own creativity.

There are definately people in this world that show us that living authentically is the path to true RICHNESS. I’m not talking about making money or wealth, but the richness of the legacy you leave behind. Those things stick around long after a person parts this world. So, today I’m spending some time giving thanks to those who have modeled for me, the path to finding my True Voice.

Peace.
-Scott