Drone Warfare and Moral Challenges

There are those who have supported and urged even more use of drones by the US in battles against terrorism and in conflicts that take place around the globe. There are many who have opposed their use and who have known that it was just a matter of time until we saw some of the terrible flaws associated with their use. The discussion of 'collateral damage' or more clearly, the killing of civilians, has been known since the onset of their use. Yet others have sold the use of drones by talking about their surgical precision and the identification of targets.

Many have written about how we are in fact creating terrorists through the expierience of civilians and families being injured and killed by drones in addition to identified targets. It has always been quite clear that drones don't have good enough 'eyes' to identify and distinguish perceived enemies from innocent civilians. The targets are broad. They are in many cases good or best guesses based on limited intelligence.

We have now seen what happens or what can happen with the recent reports and admission that hostages were killed in a drone attack on high value targets. With the report and admission comes shock and sorrow by many. Political leaders and journalists start asking about policies and processes. In the meantime hundreds if not thousands of innocent civilians have been killed or wounded by drones and their weaponry. The accounting for these deaths and injuries has been minimal and difficult to get. Perhaps it will become a bit easier in the future but what a cost people have paid.

There are those who predict that drones are a bigger threat to the world then nuclear weapons. We need to think honestly about how we will react when the inevitable use of drones to kill and destroy people in the US occurs. It will be horrific. We will not take it well. But others have already experienced it. Children don't go to school. Families look to the skies in fear. Lives are changed. Drones were never the answer. They are just one more technological weapon that seems more humane than an alternate weapon - until of course we dig a little deeper. Striving for peace and justice is the only real hope. Beware the hawks who always justify collateral damage as a wartime necessity.

Writing Is Hard Work

I've taken a break from posting items here for a bit but it's not because I've stopped writing. I've just changed my focus a bit, attempting to work on some other writing projects including some short stories and fiction. What I've learned, among other things, is that writing can be very hard work - from the beginning of an idea, to research, to the development of characters, to the composition of text. And yes, it's all work. I don't think it matters if it's poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction or news reporting. It all takes effort and research. So it goes and it has taken me away from posting here as well as other things.

Reading on the other hand is a real joy. It's easy and fun. We tend to do it almost without thinking - from billboards to novels with lots of other options in between. Few of us however spend very much time thinking about the effort that goes into the writing.  Putting pen to paper, or in reality in today's world, keystrokes to screens, can be a daunting task. There are interruptions, other things that need to get done and the formation of concepts, ideas and characters. It is so much easier to just read what others have created or said. But of course for the writer, that takes the fun out of it.

Walter Scott Is Dead

My title may sound silly and stupid but the fact in the title is what is critical. Walter Scott, a man in South Carolina, is dead. Shot in the back, hit by five out of eight shots fired by a North Charleston police officer. What Walter Scott was doing or why he was doing it isn't the important issue here. He's dead, gone, no more. There are those who have never believed that people of color need to worry about people in authority, specifically the police. Well, now they should know. You can in fact be executed in the street. There is no arrest, no arraignment, no hearing, no trial, nothing. You run and you are shot in the back. No, there isn't a warning shot. There isn't a call for assistance. There aren't even attempts to shoot the legs out from under you. The shots fired are kill shots and five out of eight hit the mark and you fall dying. What little life may be left in you feels the pull of your arms and hears the click of handcuffs but it's in the distance and in the next seconds you are gone. You are dead Walter Scott.

What's wrong with us? What's wrong with our police? What's wrong with our elected officials? Who gave these life and death decisions and authority to police in our communities? For those who don't believe, watch the videos, not just of Walter Scott but also of sheriff deputies in California beating a suspect. Beating him around the head and kicking him in the groin at full force. What is this? Is it testosterone, adrenaline or just poor, no really bad training? Who in fact is policing the police when they go rogue or just get out of control? This has gone on for years. It has gone on and has become part of a culture, part of the system.

There has to be more accountability by senior officers and elected officials who hire and monitor the police. There has to be citizen involvement. There have to be more officers who yell and scream stop when they see bad actions by other police and who pull other officers off of suspects when they start beating them.

And finally we all have to stop blaming victims - questioning why he ran, what were the outstanding warrants, etc., etc. Why? Because Walter Scott is dead and he shouldn't be.

Commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr At Keuka College

I just wanted to let followers of The Gadfly know that I will be speaking on April 6, 2015 at Keuka College. The College has an annual Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , his words, actions and life at this time every year. My talk will be about my own experiences in Selma, Al., how I got involved, what that journey has meant and where we are today.

I'm very honored to have been asked to share thoughts and experiences with the college community and the public. Dr. King was assassinated 47 years ago today at 39 years old and with much left to do. His leadership and commitment to non-violence are missed in today's world but he continues to have influence throughout the world.

The talk on Monday will be at 4:30pm in Hageman Hall (Rm 109) at Keuka College. Here are more details Speaking Announcement & Article.

Obama's Deal - Better Than The Alternative

There are many details still to be worked out and additional things that people need to see relative to the deal that the Obama administration and the State Department announced yesterday with Iran. Having said that, the outline and framework are certainly better than the alternative which is a war with Iran to knock out what many purport to be nuclear facilities and resources. It is so amazing to me that there are those who talk so easily and confidently about bombing people and countries as if it is simple and would carry no additional consequences.

There are always those who choose war over peace. They usually have other plans that are tied to the choice - economics, power or control tend to top the list but hatred of enemies or an entire culture also make it sometimes. Many times they drown out the voices of peace through sheer volume or persistence. People have to measure all of this against values and judgement of facts. Many of those promoting war or at least the threat of bombs are the same people who took this country to war in Iraq. Falsehoods were presented then and some of those voices still refuse to admit that they were wrong then. Somehow we are led to believe that their wisdom today is just what we need.

No one wants to see the proliferation of nuclear weaponry. It is a very real danger that faces the whole world. It has happened over the years due to bad policy and bad relationships. This President is not responsible for what occurred over so many years and so many administrations. Lets at least give him that. What he has done is worked hard to find a solution to the latest threat in that direction and now he needs support from everyone, including Congress. People should review the details and the parameters but in the end we should all try with all of our might to 'give peace a chance.' The alternative is war and not one without serious consequences for everyone.