Here to Afghanistan and back [conflict U.S., UK]

Ethos of brute force

Editing, re-reporting by Carolyn Bennett

“…What they are doing in Afghanistan is much of what they do to kill people here.”

Today on the Democracy Now program, Trinidadian Briton DARCUS HOWE spoke about resolving recurring conflicts rising from issues of race, class, inequality, inordinate economic disparity, deliberate disrespect, law enforcement brutality and counter rioting.

“There has to be an overture made to young blacks,” Howe said. “Peace.”

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron should make it clear that he disassociates, “the government disassociate themselves from Operation Trident and dissolve it and dissolve Operation Razorback, which are terrorizing communities.

“The genuine black intellectuals and working-class unionists and so on should hold an international conference within the next six months to lay out precisely the state of society.

“We must have broadcasters from all over the world.

“Discuss the future of a civilization within a civilization. Invite delegates from Africa [black Americans must be there, too]. Invite delegates from the Caribbean and say, ‘this is not the country that Cameron boasts.’ 

“Tell how, beneath the surface [are] terror and disrespect — on the question of race, mainly — and that we have to resolve it. We have to resolve it — and resolve it in a civilized way.…

“We have to lift it sky-high and let the entire civilization of this world know — what they’re doing in Afghanistan is much of what they do to kill people here.

“I’m not angry,” Howe said, “but I’m deadly serious. Every time I walk the street, my eyes are scanning the landscape for rogue police officers. I warn my children my grandchildren to do that.” 

Sources and notes

“Over 1,000 Arrested in U.K. as Anger over Inequality, Racism Boils Over into ‘Insurrection,’” August 10, 2011, http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk

DARCUS HOWE, print journalist and broadcaster

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, the son of an Anglican priest, Darcus Howe moved to England at age 18; entered legal profession studies at Middle Temple, then turned to the study of journalism. Howe combines writing with political activism.

Returning to Trinidad, he edited Trinidad trade union paper The Vanguard; and back in the UK, he edited the British magazine Race Today. In 1981, protesting “official neglect and inefficient policing of the investigation of the New Cross Fire in which 13 black teenagers died,” Howe organized a 20,000-people Black People’s March. http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/bbc-racist-interviews-darcus-howe/

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