Where do we go from here?

Much of what has been posted on this blog has been about the personal experiences and observations of our delegation. These things have certainly provided depth and color for our readers. They give insight into the culture of Vietnam, not to mention the many and diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences of the attendees.

But it is important to recognize that we must be about more than building individual relationships, as important as they are. And we must do more than inform others of the value of such relationships. The purpose of the congress, the purpose of our traveling half-way around the world, is greater. As Marx said, it is not enough to understand the world, the point is to change it.

And it is not enough to share with others our experiences in Vietnam. The point is to use those experiences to build a united global movement to defend and expand human rights around the world. It is critical that we develop lasting organizational ties with the IADL and its member organizations and that we become greater than the sum of our parts. While personal friendships developed are meaningful and valuable, we are obligated to transform those friendships into alliances in defense of the oppressed and exploited and in opposition to imperialist war and imperial domination.

We in the United States -- in the belly of the beast -- have many responsibilities:

** We must support the demand for reparations and justice raised by the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange

** We must not only defend Japan's peace constitution, but bring Article 9 home to the United States

** We must ensure the growth of the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel

** We must continue to support the Pakistani lawyers movement

** We must support Filipino lawyers and judges who are faced with assassination, disappearance and prosecution for defending human rights against the Arroyo regime

The list goes on. It demands immediate attention and organizational struggle. If this blog does not inspire us to redouble our efforts, we have not expressed ourselves well enough. And if those of us who came to Hanoi are not still engaged next year and beyond, we will have some nice memories, but we will have betrayed ourselves and the movement for lasting peace, true justice and a better world.

Un otro mundo es posible.

David Gespass