As a young boy in Chicago of the 1940s, Ira Hamburg learned that being active in the community is a moral obligation. He practiced community activism throughout his life, and hopes it could be the answer to bringing the nation together in the near future.
"We've got to start talking to each other," said Hamburg. "We need to approach Democrats and Republicans because our nation is painfully divided."
Political activism did not always come easy to Hamburg. Because of his activism against U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Hamburg said he lost his position as a professor at Howard University. He was the president of Washington Professors for World Peace, but is quick to point out that although he opposed U.S. involvement in Vietnam, he always supported the U.S. troops. Later in life he was one of the founding members and the president of the Friends of Vietnam Veterans Memorial. These days Hamburg is again opposed to U.S. military involvement in Iraq, and sees the issue as something that divides the nation.
Many issues, such as tax breaks, abortion and stem cell research help divide people in the U.S. However, he said, there are few people left who believe that the planet is not in danger of being polluted to extinction.
"We need to find something both conservatives and liberals can believe and work on together. Saving the Earth: there are very few people who believe there is no global warming," said Hamburg. He added that although he is pessimistic about man's ability to not destroy mankind, he is working towards reversing the trend. "That doesn't mean I can't do something [about it]," said Hamburg.
It is that kind of attitude that led Hamburg to take a stance on a lot of political and other issues in his past. In the 1940s he collected clothes for children of Israel. In the 1960s he voiced opposition to the U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. While Vietnam divided the nation, much like a lot of current issues do, the 70-year-old Vienna resident hopes saving the environment could bring it together.
FOR HIS PART Hamburg is working on an environmental project in Vienna, hoping to raise awareness on energy issues. The Green Sanctuary Movement is a project Hamburg is conducting through his church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax, located in Oakton.
Hamburg is participating in the local efforts of a progressive political action committee (PAC), MoveOn.org. Co-leader of the Vienna branch of the PAC, Todd Berner, said Hamburg's involvement helps the group understand that it needs to be committed to the goal it is propagating. "[Hamburg] has a very deep commitment to his world view, and is committed to solving the problem," said Berner.
Hamburg is also a member of the Board of Directors of a national organization, 20/20 Vision. The organization is dedicated to solving global security, energy and environment issues. "He has a rare combination of skills," said the executive director of 20/20 Vision, Tom Collina. He added that Hamburg contributes through his political activism background as well as his business background — he is a founder of a computer services company. "He is an experienced political organizer," said Collina.
Much like his experiences in political activism, Hamburg faced difficulties growing up. He was a dyslexic, white Jewish boy who used to sneak out of his window at night to attend black bars and listen to jazz and blues music in 1940s Chicago. He failed grades throughout grade school, and readily skipped classes only to sneak into lectures at the University of Chicago. He attended three different high schools. "I hated my youth," said Hamburg.
Despite growing pains, Hamburg survived his youth and has dedicated his life to social activism. Despite his troubles in school, he has been a college professor, and in 1984 started his own computer business, HLP Associates. Hamburg also takes interest in many different hobbies, one of which is flying planes. "[Being a pilot] is my passion. It is why I have to keep working," said Hamburg.