Anti-Drone Workshop Launches

Oneonta UU Anti-Militarism Drive

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – With the success of talks from anti-militarism speakers such Medea Benjamin of Code Pink and journalist David Swanson, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta has developed a plan for peace.

“We had people coming from five counties,” said Lisa Barr, organizer of the event and a member of the church’s Social Action Committee.  “People are hungry for discussions of peace and diplomacy.”

On Saturday, Oct. 1, representatives Ed Kinane and Mary Ann Grady Flores of the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars will lead a workshop, “U.S. Killer Drones and What We Can Do” 1-4 p.m. at the church.

“We wanted to put together something for the anti-war movement,” said Barr.  “We asked ourselves, ‘What would that movement look like here’?”

The workshop will utilize facts from knowdrones.com, then break out into groups to practice using those facts to challenge long-held beliefs about drone warfare.

“We wanted to learn how to speak with people using facts that people might find threatening, but in a peaceful manner,” said Barr.

Following the workshop, Middle Eastern fare will be served and participants will have the option to participate in a rally against drone warfare 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Muller Plaza.

And the movement will continue with a monthly film series, which was scheduled to state with Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” on Wednesday, Sept. 28. A vegetarian dinner is served at 5:45 p.m.; the film starts at 7 p.m.

The second film in the series, “Forgiving Dr. Mengele,” is slated for Oct. 26.

“The idea was to have a pleasant night where people of all ages could come for a simple vegetarian meal, a film and discussion,” said Barr.  “We looked at Wednesday nights and saw that there wasn’t much going on to compete with.”

Each of the documentaries deal with anti-militarism and anti-war issues, including gun violence, the NSA leaks of Edward Snowden and G.I. rebellion during the Vietnam War.

“These are films that discuss issues that don’t get a good discussion,” said Barr. “But there’s also humor involved.”

In February, Oneonta filmmaker Joe Stillman’s film “Citizen Clark: A Life of Principal” will be screened on Feb. 22, 2017, with a discussion with Stillman following the movie.

Though childcare is available for the youngest ones, none of the films contain content that would be inappropriate for young ones. “We’re not aiming to send anyone home in a puddle of tears,” she said.  “These films are appropriate for an intelligent middle-schooler.”

As documentaries, the majority of the films are unrated, although “Bowling For Columbine” received an R rating for language. “Of course, the parents should be the judges,” she said.

The series is free, but RSVPs are requested so the committee knows how many to cook and arrange childcare for.  “We are really trying to make this inter-generational,” she said. “We all want to be able to discuss how we get out of this cycle of militarism we’re stuck in.”