On October 17 Friends Meeting at Cambridge held an All-Meeting Meeting for Worship at Raytheon (10 Moulton St, Cambridge) to commemorate the 12th anniversary of our witness. About 54 people came to this worship for a concern to stop Raytheon’s participation in war.

Taming the Tiger

Who will grab the tiger Raytheon and its military production by the tail? It’s unbelievable that in progressive Cambridge we have the second largest weapon manufacturer in the USA, and the largest generator of guided missiles. My stomach curdles knowing I live close to these munitions.

Just imagine Raytheon military industry as a tiger crushing life (all beings) under its paws. The tiger’s missiles flatten Yemenis. Its huge mandibles destroy orchards and pollute water. Likewise, you can see Raytheon’s $27 billion war contracts (2020) as a runaway tiger escaped from a maniacal zoo. Raytheon’s technologies cause death for children in Yemen, Afghanistan, etc. But what goes around comes around. The tiger is loose. All children will suffer from these weapons. Victims die due to the tiger or starve because of the huge cost of feeding the tiger. The more weapons manufactured, the more likely they will be used. I cannot stay silent anymore.

Shall we allow Raytheon to where weapons end up in the hands of child soldiers or maybe the Taliban? Raytheon builds parts for the F-15, F-16 and F-35 bombers that have recently attacked Gaza. Raytheon weapons include bombs, missiles, and electronic systems/radars for aircraft.

The USA proudly boasts 750 military bases around the world. What do you think is the number one contributing factor to global warming? The US military. Of course, with armed forces creating 750,000 tons of toxic waste. Raytheon sells weapons to Saudi Arabia and Israel, with surveillance to enforce the US-Mexican border wall. Most of the military appliances seemed to be used against brown and black people. My heart breaks knowing that air strikes have killed 56,000 Yemenis in five years. Stopping Raytheon’s sweetheart deals will stop the surge of weapons world-wide and lower carbon emissions. It’s a win-win.

By building bombs, military equipment and sanctifying the act of murder, Raytheon deadens our humanity. For sanity and humanity, the tiger must be stopped.

Friends Meeting at Cambridge holds a Meeting for Worship outside Raytheon on the third Sunday of every month at 10:45am. All are welcome to this worship for a concern to stop Raytheon’s participation in war.

Minga Claggett-Borne
PS A huge thanks to Skip Schiel for editing this letter.

Living on the traditional land of the Massachusett people.
Know on whose land you are on at https://native-land.ca

Grief is a seed. Grief is an action.
As you walk with whatever is dying, have no fear.
Gospel from the Anthropocene