By San Diego Veterans for Peace
Fifty years ago, American boys, most under 20 years of age, committed unspeakable acts against a civilian hamlet in Vietnam. Over 500 women, children (yes! there were babies!) and old men were slaughtered by American soldiers. Civilian “collateral damage” is a tragic cost of any war; the My Lai massacre only exemplified it at a highly public level.
The San Diego Chapter of Veterans For Peace is named after Hugh C. Thompson, the courageous US Army helicopter pilot who landed his chopper and, along with fellow crewmen, intervened against fellow American troops to end the carnage at My Lai. Thompson reported the “incident” up the chain of command but was met with indifference and ridicule by authorities.
Fifty years removed from My Lai, today we see American troops in more than 120 countries, with US bases in more than 80. We are embroiled in multiple wars and conflicts, and the “Doomsday Clock” has just been advanced 30 seconds closer to midnight, due to escalating tensions over possible nuclear war. Drone warfare is commonplace with mounting civilian casualties, as American warriors in Nevada routinely target and kill in places around the globe.
As citizens, we must draw connections between our foreign war policies of the past and those of today. Absent the military draft most people do not see the true, total costs of war. Politicians continue to overfund the Pentagon without any dissent and then reduce spending on programs that benefit our population. If we fail to speak out, we are complicit in the wars our government conducts in our names.
The My Lai Memorial Exhibit, by allowing you to take part in the artistic process, honors the over two million Vietnamese civilians who died in what we call the “Vietnam War” but what will forever be known in Vietnam as the “American War”. This Memorial Exhibit offers three interactive opportunities to dialogue, build a sculptural collage and to share your artwork and comments. You will be able to participate in a strong, anti-war response to the Pentagon’s $63 million campaign to sanitize and to glorify this unnecessary, unjust and immoral military action.
The 50th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre will be March 16, 2018, and the San Diego and Chicago Chapters of the Veterans For Peace and the San Diego Peace Resource Center invite you to observe, participate and reflect on these events during its week in San Diego.
Wednesday, March 14: World Beat Center, 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, 92101
Display open 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Speakers Program: 7:30 p.m., Dennis Stout, Mike Hanes, Barry Ladendorf
Thursday, March 15: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4190 Front St., San Diego, 92103
Display open Noon – 6 p.m.
Friday, March 16: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4190 Front St., San Diego, 92103
Display open 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Speakers: 7:30 PM, Dennis Stout, Marjorie Cohn, Barry Ladendorf
Saturday, March 17: SD Peace Resource Center, 3850 Westgate Pl., San Diego, 92105
Display open Noon – 5 p.m.
All admissions are free.
For more information please contact: Gary Butterfield at garyvfp@gmail.com To view the MyLai Memorial webpage, click here.
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I would like to add that a Saturday evening Speakers Program has been added at the Church of the Brethren at 6:30 PM, 3850 Westgate Pl, SD 92105.
Fernando Suarez del Solar, Anti-War Advocate, lost son in Iraq War, Founder of Guerrero Azteca; Lori Saldaña, Peace Advocate, past President Pro-Temp of CA Assembly and on Veterans Committee; and David Valladollid, Purple Heart Vietnam Veteran, CEO of Parent Institute for Quality Education, Member CA Student Aid Committee.
Hi Gary-I want to acknowledge Veterans for Peace for bringing this marvelous 50th Anniversary of the My Lai Massacre Art Exhibit to San Diego. It was a horrific event that taught the American public a lot about the collateral damage that we cause in our wars around the world and which we are still heavily engaged in today. Only we cause, proportionally, much more death than our troops receive because of our use of drones to do our dirty work. I also want to congratulate the SDVFP for building outstanding speaking programs around this My Lai Massacre Art Exhibit in three different parts of town where you are reaching out to more than just one community-I see that Whites, Blacks and Latinos are each represented in your programming. That is no small feat. On top of the tremendous work you have been doing to help the Homeless in our town, you will be helping to revivify the Peace and Justice Movement in San Diego which has been less than active for too long. The Hugh Thompson Chapter of Veterans for Peace continues to shine as one of the most active chapters in the country–well deserving of last years award of VFP chapter of the year!