Letter From Limerick Prison

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday March 04, 2003 19:34 by Nuin Dunlop - Catholic Worker pitstop_ploughshares at hotmail dot com Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street, Limerick

Open Letter from Limerick Prison by Nuin Dunlop - U.S. citizen/Catholic Worker/ploughshares activist

I am one of the five Catholic Workers on remand at Limerick Prison after an alleged citizen disarmament of a U.S. military plane at Shannon Airport (3/2/03). According to Tanaiste Mary Harney, I am one of those extreme left types "infecting" the "centre ground" with anti-American ideas.

In Mary Harney's view, many of the millions who demonstrated throughout the U.S. on Feb. are similarly anti-American. In her definition of "American" does Mary include two continents with a variety of nations, some of whose governments are opposed to a U.S.-led war? Is the Tanaiste aware of growing U.S. resistance toward the Bush administration’s determination to wage a resource war on the Iraqi people, causing the deaths of thousands with long lasting ecological damage?

As is currently demonstrated by many Native Americans calling for an end to U.S. led resource wars on their indigenous communities, as was once demonstrated by abolitionists calling for an end to slavery, as was witnessed during the Vietnam War when U.S. citizens held "anti-American" demonstrations opposing U.S. involvement - U.S. government policies often contradict the views of U.S. citizens.

As a U.S. citizen of Irish descent, I call on the Irish government to refuse the use of Shannon airport for U.S. military purposes. This refusal is in no way anti-American. On the contrary, it is in solidarity with a great many people globally who are actively opposing a U.S. led resource attack on Iraq.

I also refute Mary Harney's belief that "neither the United States nor Europe are imperialist powers in the world today". Imperialism is the extension of an empire's power and control over a less dominant nation through demonising the less dominant nations/people/culture, sanitising military forces to control that nation, colonising its communities to maintain control, then extracting natural resources to fuel the empire. Today, more than ever, imperialism applies to the U.S. empire with its European allies. (New word order, same old policies.)

The imperialism that for centuries has stolen land, lives and resources from Native Americans is now extending its policies to Iraq. Again, I am a U.S. citizen. I am not alone in opposing the imperial policies of my birthplace, both within and outside U.S. borders.

The Tanaiste expressed fears of being "isolated" by opposing U.S. government’s relentless stampede to war. Ireland with a proud tradition of neutrality, with a long history of resisting imperialism need not become another colony or reservation for U.S. military interests. Ireland need not fear standing up for its principles of neutrality in the face of U.S. aggression.

Many in the U.S. will be grateful.

In peace
Nuin Dunlop
Limerick Prison