Library - Reading Room
Supporting Materials for Sir! No Sir!
Return To Fort Dix
may.16 - armed forces day-12pm
EDITORS NOTE: Here are 7 demands that we are making of the Army, everyone of them are necessary, if we are to be free.
STOP ARM FORCES DAY AND THE GLORIFICATION OF WEAPONS.
Arm forces day is the day that the military uses to celebrate its long term existence and to glorify its weaponary. Weapons which have been used to kill and slaughter countless millions. These sane weapons are put on display for the public on arm forces day for the public to marvel over and to applaud amenkas killing stremgh.
END REPRESSION OF THE G.I. MOVEMENT
Since the Oct l2th demonstration G.I.s involoved with the Fort Dix, Coffeehouse and SHAKEDOWN have been charged, convicted and confined on non existant "offenses". Civilian organizers have been arrested, fired from there jobs and physically assaulted by lifers and right-wingers. The Coffeehouse has been robbed, vandalized and bombed. Lastly the lease was revoked, and know one in the area will rent another building. The only way that is left open is to buy a building. This is what has happened at Fort Dix, similier things have happened to other coffeehouses and antiwar G.I. papers both in this country and overseas,
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AND ABOLISH THE STOCKADE SYSTEM.
We demand the release of all people who through intimadation and injustice, are in, this counties Jails and stockades. We also demand the release of all people who have not committed crimes againist the people. Most people are in jail for breaking laws, laws that are used to keep the people under control and to protect the ruling class interests(such as A.W.O.L,) All non-whites should be released because of Amerikas racists courts, and becasue amerikas laws are forced on them, laws which they had a knowing part in making.
END REENFORCENEET OF UNNATURAL AND OPPRESSIVE SEXUAL ROLES.
In the United States today men and women from the time of birth are taught specific roles they mast play throughout their live, roles based upon their sex, little girls learn to be feninine, passive, meek, docile, flirtations. They are encourged to play house "be like mommy" and play with dolls. Boys are taught to behave like men; strong, agressive, assertive. If they cry, they are called sissies. As both sexes mature theses early learned roles are reinforced daily in preparation for adulthood when men shall run the businesses and women shall run the home- if she is fortunate enough to get married, an Amnerikkan institution the military reinforces these, roles in a number of ways
1. The Women's Liberation movement has been educating men and women to the fact men have been taught to think of a women as a sexual object, women in turn have been brainwashed into believing they can only " get a man" if they fall into a certain criteria of attractiveness, their hair, clothes must fall into a specific mode to attract men. The Army, by keeping men on isolated posts prevent them from normal natural socializing with women. Sexual energy is translated into the manly acts of fighting and killing for god and this country in its imperialistic, capitalistic ware (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Dominican Republic., Watts, Harlem, etc, etc.) Still in secret men are on how to take care of themselves if they "happen" to freguent an off limits house of prostitution. In doing so the Army only condones what they consider normal sexual activity and encourges men and women to relate to each other on a sexual basis only.
2. The Army considers only men who engage in heterosexual activity to be masculine If a GI reveals himself to be a homosexual he faces not only the wrath and sarcasm of his fellow GI's but also the possibility of receiving and undesireable discharge. He isnt enough of a man to fight the Man's war.
3. Within the military system, segregation and inequality of the sexes exists. The GI is recruited into the Army under the ruse he is serving his country. The WAC is encouraged to sign up because she will get a chance to meet men. But she can only do so at the service clubs. At the same time, the GI is encouraged to think of the WAC as a 'dog' - the woman who couldn't make it on the outside, who joined because she marriageable material.
While the men fight the war, the WACs do the shit work in the offices, work too menial for men and which is the WAC's supposed promised trained skill.
4. If a woman is lucky enough to get married and her husband is in the Army, she is designated a dependant. In reality, the military, the entire Amerikkkan economy is dependant upon women. They purchase 95% of all consumer products products this country tells her she needs to make her house a home.
SELF - DETERMINATION OF BLACKS, PUERTO RICANS, MEXICAN - AMERICANS, AMERICAN INDIANS, AND ORIENTALS.
We demand that all the above minority groups have the right to determine their own destiny, since all oppressed people are forced into social roles which are handed down and forced upon by this society.
STOP THE USE IF CLASS OPPRESION WHICH MAKES POOR PEOPLE FIGHT THE RICH MANS WAR.
The ruling class and their politicians which created Vietnam, and the drafted also created a class system in this country, with all its eaploitations, poverty and racism. The poor and the working class are the ones that fight the wars in this country that the big busisness created. People are prepared from the day they are born to play the roles that are required of their different classes. In school, poor kids are channeled into courses of study which is to only prepare them for manual labor, service workers, telephone oprators, waiters and waitresses, and skilled laborers. While rich kids recieve training to be professionals of course, the draft provides deferments for professional occupations, and college. While it inducts the poor who can't afford or either are not oriented towards college and professional skills.
IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL U.S. OCCUPATIONS TROOPS FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA.
The wars in South Eastasia is no mistake it is the deliberate enterpraise taken by big busineiss for the profits . Big businesses have made fortunes in defense contracts, and natural wealth taken from south east asia, Now that pressure from the public is increasing and public attention is increasing the government (which is controled by big corporation power) is attempting to take focus off of southeast asia and themselves, and at the same time not cut into big busniess profits. Also Nixson's supposed draft-cut which is in reality up to 50,000 and his supposed troop cut withdrawal, which is only a manipulation of figures and the replacement of troops to other unit in vietnam and the stacking of short term troops in withdrawal unit.
Shakedown, vol. 2, no. 2