Political Quotes

“let's decide here and now what we are going to teach the world. We have so much to say. For little more than two centuries, we have shown the world the way to true democracy and most of the world has followed. In Denver, last month, our President had the opportunity to show the world's economic leaders the way to the economic boom we are enjoying. That's the central message that our School of the Americas should be teaching. I am one who believes that instead of the enduring message of the School of the Americas, we should be helping our Latin American neighbors follow the course of Oscar Arias and Costa Rica, where the people there live safely, securely, and economically prosperous with no military, with no military. I am concerned that this school, as it is constituted, encourages a culture of growing militarism instead of growing economies. Some of the students of nations of this school simply cannot afford its persistent lesson. I am one who believes that, when resources are scarce, we should be making more butter, rather than buying more guns. But I respect our disagreement on this issue. But of course, our neighbors in Latin America are sovereign nations and it is within their province and power to decide on their own security needs and military training needs. It is good policy, then, to have a modest program to help their militaries professionalize and be respectful of human rights. The School for the Americas is not achieving that policy.”