We Are Not Your Soldiers is gearing up for the spring semester to remotely visit high school and college classrooms across the country. We already have several set for a couple of high schools and colleges in the NY metropolitan area. And, we have something new planned. In one high school, with the same group of classes, we’re doing a series of visits over a four-month period, with a different veteran presenting his story each time. The students will hear a different perspective from each and will come to each dialogue with increased background knowledge, which will help develop a spiraling growth in deepened understanding. And, a college professor is planning an action project following on our visit.

We’re all set to go to any school, any place, where we are invited. We ask you, if you’re an educator or student, to send us an invitation. If you’re a parent or community member, contact whatever high school or college you have some connection to (or none), explain what we do and ask a teacher, counselor or administrator to invite us. We are glad to gear our presentation to particular curricular needs.

We just received a group of papers written by philosophy students in a college class we had visited in December. Reading them will give you an idea of what happens during a visit. Here’s some bits from two of them:

“When I was younger I wanted to go and join the Marines. No feelings of patriotic obligation like 9-11 or family that was previously in the service. I just wanted to because I thought it would be a good cause to pursue not knowing what I wanted to do in life. The one who talked me out of it was my old high school teacher who often told us his experience in the military. Eventually he told me enough that I became disillusioned with the idea. Nevertheless, my curiosity was piqued to hear what Lyle Rubin had to say and, if I was disillusioned before, this took the cake. Lyle’s presentation was both enlightening and disconcerting at the same time….”

“Lyle also shared one of his experiences in Afghanistan…. He discovered that the enemy was not so different from him, but that men and women were often in more desperate situations than anyone could imagine. Most of the places where he was fighting were full of people who were poor farmers coerced into combatant roles, forced to take sides between the local tyrant and the imperialist invader and many more were young protectors, pushed to arms after losing loved ones to US or US-sponsored bombs and bullets….”

You can also listen in on a peace studies class at Nassau Community College where Miles Megaciph was our presenter, also in December. This was on the “Give Peace a Chance” radio show on NYC’s WBAI.

In addition to Lyle and Miles, John Burns, Will Griffin and Joe Urgo will be visiting schools this semester.

Contact us at 646-807-3259 or wearenotyoursoldiers@worldcantwait.net.

Your support keeps us going, able to pay small stipends to the veterans who take time off from work to visit the classes and publicize the project. When actual visits are possible again, funds are needed as well for transportation and materials. Please give what you can!