Blase Bonpane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blase Bonpane is an activist and author working against human rights abuses, and against U.S. intervention in Central America. He is the Director of the Office of the Americas and Senior Research Fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
Working in the field for peace in many countries where suffering under the United States' intervention in local government such as Latin America, Cuba and Iraq, he has received awards recognizing his commitment to peace and social justice, including several from the American Civil Liberties Union and a Certificate of Commendation for his pursuit of peace in Central America by the City of Los Angeles. He has participated in investigative delegations to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Chiapas and Colombia.
Bonpane is the author of two books, based on his experience as a Maryknoll priest in Guatemala during the 1960s including Guerrillas of Peace on the Air.
He was deported from Guatemala for reasons related to his work with, and on behalf of, the poor and disenfranchised people of that country.
Bonpane was fundamental in helping start the historic dialogue in Latin America between Christianity and Marxism. His most recent book, Common Sense for the 21st Century is a compilation of some of his radio commentaries. He currently hosts the radio program "World Focus" in Los Angeles on Pacifica network station KPFK.
In 1983, Bonpane appeared on Hot Seat, a television program hosted by conservative commentator Wally George. An argument about the US invasion of Grenada turned into a physical confrontation with Bonpane flipping over George's desk and storming out of the studio.
[edit] Quotes
"Blase Bonpane is 'the most underrated humanist of the past decade.'" — Los Angeles Weekly.
"I opened the manuscript of Blase Bonpane's record of radio commentary and peace reports, intending to put it aside for later reading, but was immediately captivated and couldn't put it down. It is gripping and instructive, shining a bright light on painful and critical problems of the day and introducing us to wonderful people whose struggles, and sometimes grim fate should be seared in our memory: Sister Dianna Ortiz and Lori Berenson, Rev. Lucius Walker and Father Roy Bourgeois, and many others, not least the author, whose quiet modesty cannot conceal his remarkable and inspiring life and work, here particularly revealed." — Noam Chomsky on Guerrillas of Peace on the Air.
"Blase Bonpane has for many years been a tireless fighter for human rights, in this country and all over the world. This volume is a treasure chest of his powerful radio commentaries on poverty, war, the CIA, the imprisonment of Lori Berenson, and many other topics. These are short, blunt and eloquent essays which should give heart to us all that, in the midst of state terrorism and economic injustice, there are honest voices among us, speaking out." — Howard Zinn on Guerrillas of Peace on the Air.
