“Until they hear us in Washington, D.C.”

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

– Horton, from Horton Hears a Who

Hundreds of people of all ages, across the political spectrum turned out to protest the U.S. military’s record of decision (ROD) on the military expansion plans for Guahan (Guam).  Is Washington D.C. listening?  The Pacific Daily News wrote:

A few hundred protesters linked arms on the Adelup lawn and yelled together, hoping their unified cry would become a voice in the military buildup.

“Louder than that! Louder than that!” shouted Melvin Won Pat-Borja. “Until they hear us in Washington, D.C., get louder!”

That was the highlight of a “Realize our Destiny” rally held last night, which united groups including We Are Guåhan and much of the Guam Legislature in response to the Record of Decision, which was released Sept. 21.

The voices of opposition have been clear and constant.  Does Washington D.C. not hear?  Or does it not care?   Does it not care that its obsession with “national security” destroys small treasures like Diego Garcia, Jeju, Kwajalein, Okinawa, Hawai’i and Guahan, and generates greater animosity and insecurity around the world?   Not care that the $4 trillion wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have killed hundreds of thousands, if not millions, destroyed entire countries, destabilized regions,  bankrupted the United States, and robbed future generations of Americans?

It reminds me of the climax of the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears a Who.  All of Whoville raising their voices to save their world, trying to get people outside to hear them.  They needed that one last tiny Who to speak.  We are all Whos. Raise your voices to stop the military invasion of Guahan!