Section A01
Week 5
This week's readings, "Empire of Death and the Plague of Civic Violence" by Darrell Y. Hamamoto and "Imperial University" by Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira explore the ways imperialism has manifested in our society through institutionalized, interpersonal, and overall sociological forms, whether within the establishments of academic institutions or through mass murders (although seemingly unrelated at first glance).
"Empire of Death and the Plague of Civic Violence" reminds the audience, and certainly myself, that the United States of America only exists as it is today because of imperialism and colonization, which was enabled by mass violence on both individuals and lands. The perpetrators of this violence---those in European countries who sought to conquer and expand, were often white and male. Thus, those with these identities then hold the oppressor and conquerer mindset passed down by their predecessors ---a mindset of entitlement and violence---which leads to mass murders, gendered violence, serial killings, and overall trauma reflective of a plagued, violent history.
"Imperial University" depicts the same repression and violence within a different context. In higher education academia settings, military occupation is similar to that of a repressive state's usage of militarism to silence voices, censor political critique/dissent, and the freedom of speech. Police donned in full riot gear, military grade weapons, and full SWAT teams launched on student activists and movements reflect the deeply rooted connection between scientific research, pursuit of knowledge, and militarism. As reflective of the colonial and imperialist history, one can argue that the university is not simply a place for the pursuit of knowledge, but an extended tool of imperialist powers to continuously conquer the arenas of knowledge, innovation, and change.
As a young community organizer who has just entered the academe and higher education setting, the overwhelming police presence on college campuses is truly haunting, and has made me fear for my safety. The militarism on these campuses are even more present than in the streets outside of the academia. Simultaneously, this has made me afraid and unsure----unsure about whether my fighting for marginalized identities and peoples is right, and whether I should continue doing this work. Through readings like these, I remember that within these overcasting powers and supremacy, it's imperative that I look at the history of violence with a holistic lens, and that I keep standing in solidarity with those most impacted.
Question: How do we meaningfully de-militarize and decolonize the university and raise consciousness?
References:
2.Hamamoto, D. Y. (2003). Empire of death and the plague of civil violence. In Boggs, C. (Ed.), Masters of War: Militarism and Blowback in the Era of American Empire (pp. 272-296). New York, New York: Routledge.
3. KGO-TV/ABC 7 NEWS. (2017, April 27). Digital Image. Retrieved from http://abc7news.com/news/cal-coulter-protest-peaceful-demonstrations-at-uc-berkeley/1926245/
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