In 1946, when I was a year old, my father hung up his Navy uniform and joined the U.S. Foreign Service. He could have returned to a well-paid position at Borden Cheese, but he wanted to continue serving his country after World War II.

Americans should follow the British in reconsidering the wisdom of living under a centralized Leviathan in a distant capital, that is, Washington.

Instead of seeking justice for Harambe, or improving zoo policies or exhibit design, we should first ask what, precisely, are we conserving in zoos? In my view, we are perpetuating an outmoded worldview rooted in colonialism.

As someone who witnessed first-hand the brutal U.S.-sponsored Contra War against Nicaragua, I will not sit idly by as my government, with the aid of the OAS, again attempts to quash popular governments in Latin America.

The roots of this deportation regime must be eradicated and replaced. But this will not occur by asking the federal government to be more "humanitarian" in carrying out its regime of immigrant and territorial exclusion.