Social Justice Sister Dorothy Pagosa
Arrested for Peace
continued from page 28
“I have written letters. I have visited congresspeople.
December 13. Although WHISC apparently passed,
I have protested. I have committed civil disobedience.
there was serious concern about the lack of informa-
Yet, our policies continue to harm the lives of the
tion regarding the source of the material for its cur-
most impoverished in Central and Latin America. I
riculum. How can one tell the context in which a
have no money of my own to influence. All I have left
class is being taught without access to sources? From
to give is me.
what I understand, the accountability of WHISC is to the Pentagon, which is certainly not an independent
“On the way to the Army barracks where we were
source.
processed on November 17th, one of my co-defendants asked the U.S. Marshall, ‘Is that the School of
“So here we are. As a Franciscan, I must judge poli-
the Americas?’ His response was, ‘Yes, it is.’ It
cies and institutions on how they affect the most
seems, your Honor, that not many people
impoverished in our world. In this respect, our poli-
are fooled by the institution’s name
cies and institutions have failed. I have heard of the
change. Amnesty International has
atrocities. I have not once heard, ‘My life is so much
called for the suspension of all
better, now that WHISC has trained our soldiers
activities at WHISC until a thor-
and police, and the U.S. has been involved.’ As a
ough investigation can be done
Franciscan, I am called to be a penitent. I take respon-
of past atrocities, and until
sibility for the part I have played as a U.S. citizen in the
accountability is established. The
sins of my country. It is your decision, your Honor,
first report to AI’s Board of
on what penance I should pay.”
Visitors was done only this past
”As a Franciscan, I must judge policies and institutions on how they affect the most impoverished in our world.” Sister Dorothy Pagosa
29
Vol. 4 No. 1