Angels and Torturers

The email from Robert Mihaly was intriguing. His sculpture exhibit at the Bryan Student Center at Duke titled “A Pantheon of Modern Gods” included the “Angel of Depleted Uranium.” Robert offered to share the proceeds of the sale of “Angel…” with Veterans for Peace, and invited a phone call.

After a conversation, I went to see his exhibit, and had my socks blown off.

Robert’s exhibit had already been extended a month, but not without a measure of controversy. The Depleted Uranium “Angel” was cited by the NRC, not as a hazard, in its lead container, but with accompanying information about the documented hazards in use as armaments and armor.

When Mihaly learned of this challenge, he contacted the ACLU. Duke backed off, deciding that the ACLU was more fearsome than the NRC.

I volunteered to help Robert close his exhibit, and we met for lunch at his home in north Durham.

He served a splendid meal of asparagus, baked salmon, bread and locally made butter. And fresh coffee.

After lunch we began a tandem to the Bryan Center at Duke, and changed plans when a borrowed truck refused to restart, and his SUV remained in his driveway with a similar malady. When we finally arrived at Duke, the exhibit hostess, Grace Huang was engrossed in conversation with artist Chuck Pell. Chuck was delighted to meet artist Mihaly, and the two engaged in conversation for an hour.

Robert and I eventually loaded up most of his wood carvings in my truck, leaving the majority of his exquisite paintings and other works for Saturday.

I arrived late to the Raging Grannies performance at the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, but hoisted signs for labor rights, the environment, peace and justice as instructed by those in the know.

I met Robert at the Bryan Center Saturday morning, May 9th. We loaded his paintings into his SUV and the Angel of Depleted Uranium into my truck.

I picked up Estelle on the way to our meeting of NC Triangle Veterans for Peace at the Olive Branch Restaurant south of Chapel Hill. The Angel of Depleted Uranium was on display in my truck. Our local VFP bio-physicist, Charles, opined that radioactivity contamination was much less a direct threat to citizens and combatants in war zones than heavy metal contamination, which in his view, was the likeliest cause in the horrific spike in cancers and birth defects among soldiers, their children, and the unlucky inhabitants of war zones.

Other business conducted during the Veterans for Peace meeting will be posted at ncveteransforpeace.org.

Sunday (Mothers’ Day) afternoon,. my friend Sue and I assembled at the Dean Dome for a reception for former Bush administration Attorney General Michael Mukasey. Mukasey succeeded Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in disgrace after failing to remember any activities during his term in office.

Mukasey is chiefly known for his obstruction of justice (ironic, since he was the chief law enforcement officer) in enforcing Congressional subpoenas for Bush administration officials and refusing to articulate any opinions about Bush administration torture policies during his Senate confirmation hearings.

Mukasey is now one of a dozen targets for disbarment, and eventual prosecution for war crimes, as are every one of the Bush administration lawyers who sanctioned torture of detainees in the so-called war on terrorism.

The protest against Mukasey appearing as the UNC Law School commencement speaker was sparked by UNC Law graduates, and supported by NC Stop Torture Now. NC STN distributed Mothers’ Day cards to graduation attendees. Mothers; Day was, after all, begun as a “No More War” effort following the Civil War.

The UNC Law students protesting the selection of Mukasey as their graduation speaker passed out orange armbands to students, faculty and family members willing to join their protest. They distributed leaflets with names of 170 students, faculty, staff, and alumni who joined their protest.

Robert Mihaly brought his delicate wood carving titled “Secret Torture.” The sculpture depicts a naked man suspended by wrist cuffs carved into a seven foot tall oak timber.

After the Mukasey reception, Sue and I delivered the Angel of Depleted Uranium and Secret Torture statuary to Robert’s house in Durham, and then we went on our way.

John Heuer
5/21/09

Join us as we seek to bring accountability to those who express an assumption of impunity following confessions of war crimes.

The following is the text of the UNC Law School graduate’s exhortation, currently being adapted for nationwide protests scheduled for 5/28 and 6/25.

Dear family and friends,
Who have gathered to celebrate our graduation with us:

Because we oppose torture;

Because individuals and their families continue to suffer from illegal detentions and the long term effects of torture;

Because our leaders must use their power to stop illegal, immoral and inhumane practices;

Because those who authorized, conducted or defended US torture programs must be held accountable;

Because only with accountability can we ensure that such horrors are not repeated;

Because we in the legal profession have a duty to fight for justice for all people;

We wear orange.

To join us in opposing torture, please pick up an orange armband at any of the entrances.

Thank you for your support,

Members of the UNC School of Law Class of 2009 who are taking a stand against torture.