Some Things Remain the Same

The most telling part of an article about formation of a "new" Students for a Democratic Society (http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=72&ItemID=10908) was failure of awareness the group working on structure had concerning lack of female participation and omission of the People of Color Caucus in the first hour and half of the meeting. Add that omission to the locked doors of the room scheduled for the People of Color Caucus meeting and it's pretty clear the new SDS reflects the same attitude as the peace and justice movements currently in place across the country.

The reflection is a continued oversight of marginalized communities by "progressive/liberal" groups predominately white and most often led by males.

Oversight is actually a kind way of speaking about the continued sexist and racist attitudes that prevail even in the progressive/liberal groups of this country.

I persist in the belief peace and justice movements in America need to understand the reasons people of color, many feminist groups and most groups of young men and women want nothing to do with the movements as they're currently structured.

Saying we're invested in bringing these communities into the movement and actually demonstrating it seems pretty far apart. Saying we're invested in having all voices heard but continuing with a hierarchy that stifles participation by quieter brothers and sisters is a contradiction.

I continue to believe the white dominated peace and justice movements are so prevalent because of resources available to them versus limited resources of communities poor and marginalized.

The progressive/liberal groups often lay claim to speaking for these communities but seldom even enter the communities to understand exactly what the residents actually want and need to have the peace and justice so often mentioned.

Groups like SDS are seldom representative of neighborhoods mired in poverty with a failed educational system.The public school system has been decimated by lack of funding, classes far too large for learning and an agenda by politicians intent on teaching children how to take tests instead of how to think critically.

Perhaps the progressive/liberal movement needs to listen more before it proclaims it knows the best path for peace and justice.

Maybe feeding the hungry, improving educational opportunities, improving housing, improving healthcare and improving opportunities for employment with a living wage and benefits should take precedence over some of the current priorities peace and justice movements have.

Maybe a truly diverse movement only comes about when the basic needs of all communities are incorporated in the agenda of peace and justice groups.

Perhaps greater awareness young men and women of this nation absolutely need a true representative voice in any peace and justice movement is needed.

Perhaps true awareness that justice is quite different for people of color needs to be reinforced.

Perhaps the lofty goals of peace and justice begins in the individual communities far too often neglected by liberals, progressives, conservatives and neocons.

I firmly believe the constant cycle of violence and war will never end if we fail to address the injustices so often prevalent in ignored and neglected neighborhoods found in every city and town. Any social change for peace and justice must include neighborhoods like the 9th Ward of New Orleans.

Peace and justice must include all brothers and sisters like those who endured and survived storms like Katrina. Peace and justice movements should never leave brothers and sisters in the water to fend for themselves.

Wm. Terry Leichner, RN
VVAW - Denver