Transcript of Most of Lt. Ehren Watada's Speech
at the Eugene March 17th Peace March and Rally

(The very beginning of Ehren's speech was not recorded. Does anyone have a copy?)

March 17, 2007 - Eugene, Oregon

I know there are times when we lose hope, out of frustration, and cynacism. I know that at times it seems so terrible it is easy to give in to despair. I have been there. I know at times, we feel trapped and powerless. I have been there. I know that you have felt anger and betrayal. I have been there. But we can never lose hope. We can never give in. We can never surrender to the forces of violence, extremism, and greed. We must commit to peace as a first resort, because violence only begets violence. Am I a pacifist? Apologetically, no. But, I can unequivitably say that the majority of the human beings in this world desire peace, justice, and happiness. Not war, not suffering, and not death. We must not quit. America stands for much, much more. An injustice to one is an injustice to all. If we ignore, if we leave the problems of our country to others, inevitably those problems will end up on our doorstep, no matter where we are, no matter how far we run.

We talk a lot about unalienable, god-given rights but I believe the only the inherent human right that we are given that no one can ever take away is the right to choose. Only each individual person can take away that right from themself. When we do, we have created an invisible, an inescapable prison of our own creation. I sat in this prison and it tore me apart. I sat in there until I came to the realization that I am free. I am free because I can choose. Be there no mistake, the right to choose may come with harsh consequences, often the hard choices do. But we must never forget, though they may imprison, torture, or take our lives, they can never take away our freedom to choose what is right and what is just.

We stand on the precipice of perilous times for our country and the world. It may very well be the likes of which we have never seen before. I saw what was possible if I remained silent, if I remained immobile. To be silent is to consent, enable, and condone. None of which I could morally do. I was afraid of what they would do to me, but I was even more afraid of what would happen if I did nothing. “Where were the good Americans?” they will say, and I will answer "They were here fighting for their country. They were here fighting for us all."

Every act, no matter how small or insignificant, has a purpose and a role despite our inability to see it. This works in war as it does in peace. But in peace it is the decision to act that counts. Everyone has an opinion. It is the willingness to act on that belief that makes it a principle and worthwhile. It is what makes life worth living. It is where change, no matter how long it takes, is possible. It can be terrifying to imagine what some people would do if they acted on their beliefs. It is just as terrifying to imagine what people won't do for their beliefs. It is always easier to expect and depend on others to act first or to act for you.

In my case, I was no different. In my situation, not only did I expect, but I depended on others to act and speak on my behalf. When it never came to pass, I realized that I was someone fully capable of acting, fully capable of speaking, and fully responsible for what I did and did not do. I knew that before I could expect others to act, I had to take that first step. Some of us believe that at the end of our lives, we will be judged.  Whether we are judged by a higher presence or even by ourselves, I could not look back upon my life knowing that when I fully and finally realized the truth, I ignored what was unconscionable and what was right. I could not look upon the judging innocence of my future childrens’ eyes and tell them to always do what is right, except when it is difficult; except when there are consequences.

We have come a long way as a species, as human beings. We have attempted to shed the injustice of class and discrimination for a more humane world that shows equality for all. But we have often fallen short. We are a people that still struggle with racism and bigotry. We are a world where many of our brothers and sisters live in poverty and despair while few profit immensely and the rest ignore this plight. How can we look upon a world as such and feel moral? That the life of one is more important than another? We must not stop, we must not rest, until we assure that every American and that every person has the right to civil liberties, health care, education, and a meaningful say in how their lives are governed. We must not stop until every life is valued equally.

And we must never forget that we are a people who live under the rule of truth and law. If a law is unjust then it must be changed. If the truth is unclear it must be brought to light. Those who govern must always be held to account. No person, just as no country, can hold itself above the law.

Finally, it is easy to give in, to relent, to believe this is the way things will always be. Man oppressing man, suffering, hatred, an endless cycle of destruction. But it doesn’t have to be. This is no more sure than fate dictating our lives. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once taught us, and I quote, “Human progress is not automatic nor inevitable. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle, and tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” End quote.

People have fought and died through the millenia so that many of us can enjoy the fruits of life today. There will always be evil, but we must never give up hope. We will fight with every last dying breath. We will defy what they say cannot be beaten and we WILL overcome!