Letters
to the Editor
To the Editor of The Burning
Spear Newspaper,
Uhuru! In last month's issue
of The Spear, there was an interview entitled "Anti-War Sentiment
Infiltrates Ranks of U.S. Military." The article was an interview
with a young, colonized man enlisted in the U.S. Marines who refused orders
when he was activated for the war against Iraq. At that time he was in
the process of filing his conscientious objector papers and had to remain
anonymous.
"Soldier" as he was
named in The Spear interview, has since publicized his case, and it is
no longer necessary that his identity remain unknown. I would, therefore,
like Spear readers to know that the article was about my brother, Stephen
Funk. I am writing this letter in appreciation of the Uhuru Movement for
its unwavering support and involvement in my brother's case.
When Steve was in boot camp
he wrote many letters to me talking about his trainings and the experiences
he was going through, as he described in The Spear interview. For the
most part, I found it difficult writing back, because I was very subjective
and critical of my brother for joining the Marines. I was lost on how
I should respond.
It was a member of the African
People's Solidarity Committee (APSC), a cadre formation under the leadership
of the African People's Socialist Party (APSP) who stated to me the importance
of providing leadership to my brother. When I did write back to Steve,
I would try to provide him with the political education I had access to
through my relationship with the Uhuru Movement.
I could tell some of this was
reaching him because, as time went on, his letters would express his growing
understanding of what the U.S. military is, and what it represents to
oppressed people, including Filipino people, like our family.
When he finally got out of
training, I tried to spend more time with Steve and continued to politicize
him. He read Overturning the Culture of Violence and I talked to him about
the history I read from "Philippine Society and Revolution."
After only a month of getting out of training, he told me he was going
to try to get out of the military altogether.
Then, on February 9th, he was
activated. He called me up looking for leadership. I then again called
the APSC cadre, looking for the same. Through these discussions, the reality
that my brother was being called on to actively participate in the continued
atrocities of U.S. imperialism really hit home. Both my brother and I
realized that nothing could be worse than being a soldier in the U.S.
military. He then decided he would resist the military by refusing to
appear at Camp Pendleton and filing for Conscientious Objector status.
Needless to say, I was very proud and relieved that my brother took this
stand.
On February 12th, the day before
Steve was scheduled to ship out, we had our weekly Wednesday night rally
of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM),
here in Oakland, California. Steve came with me to the Oakland Uhuru House.
It was a special rally, where
our branch presented a video showing the APSP’s trip to Azania and
had a special guest speaker, Chairman Omali Yeshitela, himself. At one
juncture in the program I got up and introduced Steve, and the stance
he decided to take. The Chairman immediately put forward Steve and deepened
all of our understandings about the significance of this stand. It was
very moving for everyone in the room, and I believe this helped Stephen
become more consolidated in his stand and find strength in the support
of the Uhuru Movement.
From there, Steve has since
found support from many other groups. He has gone to teach-ins to educate
others on the Marines and how to become a conscientious objector. Now
he has been in the spotlight of international media and is getting constant
requests to speak and provide interviews. Throughout this, he looks to
me for leadership, and I in turn, look to the Uhuru Movement.
Throughout this whole process,
the Uhuru Movement has been supportive, either through me, or directly
to Steve. I have to give so much credit and appreciation to the political
understanding and education of the Uhuru Movement. This is the foundation
of the stand my brother has taken.
When we do something wrong,
such as join the U.S. military, the Uhuru Movement teaches us to make
the appropriate self-criticism, and then set right the wrongs we've caused.
This is what we call a rectification process. I am so proud of my brother
for doing this. I am also deeply appreciative of the Uhuru Movement, and
especially Chairman Omali, for providing the political foundation and
support for my brother to do the right thing. A year ago, I did not think
he would be joining with us on the right side of history. But with the
support of the Uhuru Movement, he has.
Uhuru!
Caitlin Funk
Member, African People’s Solidarity Committee
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