Peace Activist Nun ImprisonedStephen Lendman Shes been involved in numerous anti-war protests. She was arrested more than three dozen times. She was imprisoned twice before. Each time for six months. On February 18, she was sentenced to 35 months more for anti-nuclear activism. On May 9, 2013, she, Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed were convicted. Sentencing was scheduled for January 28. Inclement weather forced postponement. In trial testimony, Sister Megan said I regret I didnt do this 70 years ago. More on her case below. Howard Zinn called dissent the highest form of patriotism. So is civil disobedience against government wrongdoing. Sister Megan reflects exemplary patriotism. America honors its worst. It persecutes its best. Its longstanding policy. Its worse than ever now. Washingtons agenda threatens humanity. At stake is human survival. Hans Morgenthau (1904 1980) was a prominent geopolitical observer. He was strongly anti-nuclear. Ignore reality and perish, he believed. Late in life he reflected on the future of international relations, saying: Civil resisters represent hope, Boyle believes. Theyre archetypical American heroes. Theyre committed for equity, justice and peace. They risk their own welfare doing it. Ramsey Clark saluted them saying: Our jails are filling up with saints. Supporting them is a universal obligation. When governments threaten humanity, resistance is the last line of defense. America is lawlessly out-of-control. Nuclear weapons risk mushroom cloud denouement. Boyle called the Trident II strategic nuclear missile submarine the most hideous and nefarious weapon of mass destruction ever devised. Each vessel has 270 or more times the destructive power of the bombs that incinerated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They can extinguish much or perhaps all life on earth. America has a first-strike nuclear policy. Its illegal under Hague Regulations, Nuremberg Principles and the UN Charter. No nation may unilaterally wage war. Nuclear weapons were used twice. It takes a giant leap of faith to believe never again. When nations go to war, they use every weapon in their arsenal considered necessary. They stop at nothing to win. Laws of war dont matter. Anything goes is prioritized. Shock and awe is US policy. Wanton mass slaughter and destruction follow. How much more war is too much? When is enough enough? What weapons are too destructive to use? Events preceding two world wars hover like a sword of Damocles over the heads of all humanity, said Boyle. Civil resistance is crucial. Its the only way to prevent WW III and an (inevitable) nuclear holocaust, he believes. Apathy isnt an option. Activism is essential. At stake is human survival. Boyle calls civil resistance, international law, human rights, and the US Constitution four quintessential principles to counter militarism run amok. Our choice is stark and compelling. Resist or perish. Theres no in between. At stake is potential nuclear omnicide. Sister Megan is a Transform Now Plowshares (TNP) activist. Shes part of an effort by people of faith to transform weapons into real, life-giving alternatives, to build true peace. TNP follows Isaiah 2:4s message: They shall beat their swords into plowshares; their spears into pruning hooks. One nation will not lift the sword against another, nor shall they train for war anymore. On July 28, 2012, three TNP activists began a symbolic conversion of the Y-12 Highly-Enriched Uranium Manufacturing Facility. They broke into the Oak Ridge, TN facility. They were convicted of harming national defense and damaging government property. Potentially they faced up to 30 years in prison. International law supports them, they claimed. They gained access to Oak Ridges stockpile of weapons-grade uranium. They chipped the facilitys structure with hammers. They spray-painted biblical graffiti. They lit candles. They remained in place. They awaited arrest. A guard confronted them. They offered him food. They began singing. They acted according to law and conscience, they believe. Federal Judge Amul Thapar disagreed. He ordered $52,557 paid for damage to government property. The critical point is contrition, and I dont think any of the defendants are contrite about what they did, he said. The defendants will not be given acceptance of responsibility. He denied their claim for leniency. They acted to prevent a perceived greater harm, they said. I understand that the defendants perceived a greater harm, but I think the United States has a different point of view, Thapar added. Sister Megan urged Thapar to have no leniency on me. To remain in prison for the rest of my life would be the greatest honor you could give me, she said. Defense counsel called four character witnesses. Each expressed strong support. Yale Professor Mary Evelyn Tucker said: Catholic Worker Kathy Boylan lives with Michael Walli at Washington, DC-based Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House. She said hes trying to save our lives; your life Judge Thapar; your life Mr. (prosecutor). Listen to him. Wilfred Andy Anderson urged Thapar to release all three defendants. He called them terrific, decent, warm-hearted human beings. (They) present (no) danger to society. Sister Megan belongs to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. SHCJs Sister Sandra Lincoln testified at trial. Weve been hoping and praying for either a suspended sentence or a lenient (one), especially because of (Sister Megans) age, she said. Shes 84. She has a heart condition and over 50 years of service in our community. Boertje-Obeds wife Michelle testified. I know its the Holy Spirit whos in charge here, she said. Law Professor William Quigley said this case isnt about sabotage involving terrorists. Michael, Greg and Sister Megan are not saboteurs, spies, bomb making terrorists, or the kind of offenders Congress anticipated when it created the Federal Sabotage Act in 1918. It was strengthened in 1940 and 2001. During proceedings, Thapar struggled with how to handle federal sentencing guidelines. At some point, the law has to command respect, and there is a lawful way to change it, he said. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Theodore argued for stiff sentencing. Thapar called imposing it overkill. He paid special attention to Sister Megan. Her past good works deserve consideration in sentencing, he said. On February 28, Transform Now Plowshares (TNP) headlined Judge Sends Transform Now Plowshares Resisters to Prison. Walli and Boertje-Obed received 62 months on each count to be served concurrently. Three years of supervised release will follow. Sister Megan got 35 months on each count to be served concurrently plus three years of supervised probation. Ralph Hutchison is Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance coordinator. Sister Megans sentence doesnt matter, he explained. Its of absolutely no consequence to her. (S)he strongly believes (shes) a servant of God wherever she is. She and others like her feel that nuclear weapons are the single greatest threat to Gods creation that exists in the world today. In pre-trial hearing testimony, Ramsey Clark called production of nuclear weapons components at Y12 unlawful. Its the work of a criminal enterprise, he stressed. On July 28, 2012 pre-dawn, Megan, Michael and Greg cut through four fences to enter Y12. They poured blood on the facilitys walls. They spray-painted Plowshares Please Isaiah and The Fruit of Justice is Peace. They chipped off a concrete wall corner. They symbolically acted according to Isaiahs prophecy, saying: They shall beat their swords into plowshares. Y12 plans a new multi-billion dollar uranium processing facility. An estimated $19 billion will be spent to produce thermonuclear cores for warheads and bombs. TNP activists chose it for that reason. Supporters said: Whats more important than that! Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 