February 1, 1960, four college
black students began a series
of sit-ins at a white-only
lunch counter in Woolworth’s,
Greensboro, N.C.

Today the national feast day of the Super Bowl was for us, in Milwaukee, a day of super snow. The Super Bowl is the biggest event is sports, so we say, although the other football (soccer) world cup is the biggest sports event in the world.

Part of the reason we believe it is the biggest event in sports is because many in the USA believe in Exceptionalism, the idea that the United States is fundamentally freer, more virtuous, more democratic, and more humane than other countries. As the great American historian Howard Zinn pointed out there was no historical evidence for this statement. The United States is just like any other empire that he been expanded through deceit and theft and conquest.

Trying to get the link to our YouTube video Marquette and Notre Dame University Teach War and Killing in a local Catholic Peace and Justice newsletter, the editor felt compelled to change the title of the video link to Marquette and Notre Dame ROTC, saying that the people in peace and justice network have changed over the last eight years and the name of the video would be associated with my ‘tagline’ and not seen. I think just the opposite. The real title of the video might be disturbing to some Catholics but that is the whole point of the video. Yes, some people of peace and justice have changed over the years and now many do not want to deal with conflict or hear messages that might be disturbing.

Living in a country which is exceptional, where we just learn to live with racism, war and violence might be comfortable for some but it is deeply disturbing for others of us. All the escapism of all the Super Bowls and major sports events might make life more bearable but issues of peace and justice are just the same, if not worst, than they were years ago. Not learning from history, being silent in face of evil, like a Catholic University teaching killing without conscience or not holding a white police officer accountable for shooting an unarmed black man 14 times, is more disturbing than ever.

Talk, conferences, movies cannot arrest this burden on the American soul. As Howard Zinn showed us in A People’s History of the United States only direct nonviolent action disturbing the status quo has made change in this country and will make change. People change. Mark Twain said, asked and answers the question: “Does patriotism mean support your government? No. That’s the definition of patriotism in a totalitarian state.”

The Patriots Football team won the Super Bowl football game today but the real American patriot is one that is willing to challenge his country, to disturb the peace, for love of his country and for change.

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