What is the SOA?
The School of the Americas (SOA), renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation” in 2001, is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Why the SOA?
There is no doubt that Communists are active in Latin America. The question is whether the violence of Communism can be overcome with more violence. Will terrorism be vanquished with more acts of terrorism? The School of the Americas answers "Yes," and over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. The School of the Americas has earned the name "The School of Assassins."
These graduates have returned to their home countries to use their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Some of these are undoubtedly anti-capitalist Communists and Marxists. Others are not. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee status by those trained at the U.S. "School of Assassins." Some of the dead were Communists. Others were not. Does it really matter? Will the "Supreme Judge of the World" say, "Oh, well, in that case...."?
Change U.S. Foreign Policy
America is supposed to be a Christian nation. Would Jesus Christ use torture and automatic weapons to defeat communism? Did Christians use the military technology of their day to bring down the Roman Empire?
As in the war in Iraq, Latin American soldiers trained by SOA to kill and maim may also engage in acts of heroism and rescue an innocent capitalist who has been attacked by a Communist. In their spare time they may help build hospitals and schools. Armed combatants on both sides are created in the Image of God. Soldiers on both sides are human beings who hug their own sons and daughters. Both sides want to tell your their individual stories.
The question is, How should your representative in Congress shape U.S. Foreign Policy? Should the government follow Jesus, or should there be a "separation" of God and Government -- should the government ignore Jesus and be more "realistic," more "practical," less "idealistic?" If we follow Jesus, can we have "a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence," or is the Bible just "the opiate of the masses," and long-term national success comes only from the barrel of a gun and an expansive "military-industrial complex?"
That's the real question facing voters in this election: Jesus or the Generals.
Your current Congressman votes with the Generals.
