Category: Uncategorized

Picking myself up

I feel like I was sucker punched and knocked out. I need to get my wits about me again.

Since falling asleep late last night I’ve been asking what is the appropriate faith-filled, nonviolent response to an election that now empowers a man who threatens and demonizes so many people and things we cherish. Chief among them is our planet itself.

As today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, it is appropriate for me to find guidance in a church led by Pope Francis who speaks so clearly the good news of Jesus; a gospel of inclusive love. I am personally encouraged by the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative which aims to make nonviolence a more evident part of church teaching, prayer and life. Nonviolence proceeds from an ethic of love seeking not to beat an opponent but to win him or her over. We can be challenged by that in how we respond. Our CSJP congregation’s Chapter Act Growing in Nonviolence of 2008 also offers guidance.

We must continue to stand with the voiceless, most especially Earth whose very existence is threatened by the policies promoted in the campaign by the president–elect. As members of a global community we have responsibilities beyond just making America great. We should oppose withdrawal from the Paris Climate agreements which became legally binding just this week. Perhaps a stronger and more personal response to those standing with Standing Rock is another way to respond.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Chapter Call from 2014 remains my personal “marching orders.” We were called to “offer Jesus’ way of radical hospitality… a deeper and wider living of community for mission in company with poor and marginalized people…

taking risks for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.” I believe it will be imperative for us to organize with like-minded souls in opposition to certain policies such as building walls, banning Muslims, burning more coal, increasing military spending and expansion of war.

I know there are calls for us to join together as one people after the election to give the new President-elect a chance. I do not oppose that, it is necessary to deeply listen to the fear and anger of those who voted for this change. Without that listening neither side can be healed. As Gandhi believed each side had a piece of the truth.

What I hope will be recognized by this new administration is that we are all one regardless of our nation, skin color, language, place of birth, economic status or political party, we are all children of one Creator living in a global village. We should be respected and treated as brothers and sisters.

As I pick myself up, those are the orienting principles I have to hold onto.

Many Hands

Love one another as I have loved you. Jn 15:12

Dorothy Day’s Birthday

dorothyday5“What we would like to do is change the world–make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And, by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, the poor, of the destitute–the rights of the worthy and the unworthy poor, in other words–we can, to a certain extent, change the world; we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. We repeat, there is nothing we can do but love, and, dear God, please enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, to love our enemy as our friend.”
― Dorothy Day

How do you do everybody, how do you do…?

Himself LaborDayLongBranch This is the reincarnation of an earlier blog started in 2011. When the time comes, the older posts will be found under archives. The need to live nonviolently was brought home to me powerfully during the Chapter meeting of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP) in 2008. Since then I have read a lot, joined a few groups, taken a few actions and generally tried to examine my life and daily actions in the light of the Gospel call to love one another as we want and deserve to be loved . We CSJPs even have a card to help us in that daily reflection.

There have been ups and downs, but a trip to Calais, France to live and work with refugees has been a reason to write again. If these ramblings are of benefit you can let me know. If not, I am sorry, but I needed to write them anyway.

Egypt is Free!

“There’s something in the soul that cries out for freedom. Those were the cries that came from Tahrir Square, and the entire world has taken it up.”   President Obama quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
I just completed my Friday visits at the Bergen County Jail and heard the chants from Tafrir Square, “Egypt is Free!”
The road to true freedom may yet be long, but for today we celebrate with the protestors in Egypt.
Most encouraging to me is their absolute commitment to nonviolence. Thursday  evening’s  speech by Mubarek exponentially raised the level of rage and frustration, demonstrators were seen leaving the square for the state TV station. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer seemed to entertain the hope of a violent outbreak that would keep people glued to the network’s reporting. Rather than break windows, burn the building or worse, the frustrated protestors arrived at the TV building and linked arms circling the building.  No damage, no violence no CNN ratings boost.
The revolutionaries have been consistent.  From January 25th the protest has been strictly enforcing the commitment of nonviolence. They set up check points at all entrances to the square to search all those entering to relieve them of any weapons. The only breeches of their security measures were by the bussed in thugs on February 2nd -3rd who attacked the protestors. Reporters able to communicate offered evidence that those violent thugs were state sponsored.  Other violence by  the secret police who threatened, seized and detained journalists took place primarily outside the square.
The commitment to nonviolence went beyond eliminating weapons. Note that we never heard chants of “Death to Mubarek!” In fact, most of the protest leaders never demanded that he even leave Egypt, they just wanted him to step down. They gave flowers to the soldiers and chanted, “The Army and the people are one!”
The protestors were inclusive. Perhaps my favorite picture from the last 18 days  was the NY Times picture of Coptic Christians linking arms to protect Muslims praying in Tafrir Square. News outlets similarly reported that those same Coptic Christians were able to celebrate Mass in the square. How different from the scenes of the New Year’s  day bombing of the Egyptian Coptic Church that left 21 dead!
I’ve read that for this type of revolution to succeed three things are necessary: a unifying agenda, and Mubarek’s departure provided that. Second is a just cause, thirty years of  Mubarek’s oppression and the current economic hard times. The 300 “martyrs” of this revolution demonstrated the protestor’s willingness to die for the cause. Again, even the shedding of their innocent blood did not lead the disciplined protestors to violence.
Ultimately, the army may not be willing to give up their lofty status for civilian control. The unity of the protestors may be tested, now that Mubarek no longer unites them. The work of forming a government will be hard and divisive.  Can the religious tolerance exhibited in Tahrir Square be codified in a new constitution? All this remains to be seen.
But today my heart is filled with hope, not just for the Egyptians but for all of us who witness this peaceful revolution that shows we can accomplish change by another way, other than violent destruction.
Mubarek’s regime was doomed when protestors could say with Wael Ghonim, the young Google executive: “We are no longer afraid.”  When will we learn to say the same, that the fear that has been nurtured in our society since 9-11 can also be put aside. We’ve witnessed a powerful, peaceful and inclusive revolution that should open our eyes to the possibilities for our future.
Perhaps we could use alternatives to the incarceration and dehumanizing  treatment of the immigrant detainees I visit on Friday mornings.  On behalf of those detainees I can’t help but ask; “Are you listening, Mr. President, to your own words?”
“There’s something in the soul that cries out for freedom. Those were the cries that came from Tahrir Square, and the entire world has taken it up.”   President Obama quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
Salaam

Witness Against Torture

I was with them for the first two days, and continued the liquids-only fast thru day five. Witness Against Torture organized a 12 day fast and vigil in Washington DC calling attention to our nation’s lawless policies in continuing to detain prisoners at Guantanamo in violation of U.S. and International law. The demonstrations began January 11,th the anniversary of the opening of Gitmo, and ended January 22nd, the second anniversary of President Obama’s pledge to close Guantanamo within his first year in office. He has failed to deliver on his promise.

Day one, we donned orange jumpsuits. Our march leader, Carmen was dressed in army fatigues and barked out orders to us detainees. “Detainees form up two by two.” “Put on your hoods.” One hundred of us lined up to march to the White house for the opening Press Conference. From the first steps we took together, heads bowed, covered in back hoods and hands behind our backs, we walked in eerie silence.

A nation of laws, I was taught, followed its laws no matter what. Until now. Post 9-11 we have abandoned our rule of law to incarcerate men, 89 of whom our investigators have deemed “ready to release.” But they remain held illegally. We heard the names of the “men under the hoods,” and we shared their stories. I, like many, were moved by peace poet, Luke Nephew’s poem “There is a man under that hood.” Not a number, not “a detainee” but a man with a name and a family, and once upon a time, a country.

We stood at attention for the news conference and then began our march to the Department of Justice, a silent, solemn, anonymous witness through the streets of the nation’s capital in a lightly falling snow. Outside the DOJ, sixty of our hooded number blocked the entrance to the building, risking arrest. After calling for busses to carry off the protesters, there appeared to be a sudden change in plan and no one was arrested. A voice from inside building reported to us the White House did not want any arrests. They wanted no more attention to their sins against humanity than our silent presence brought.

I’ve been to many protests in the last 35 years, but I was profoundly moved by wearing the hood and jumpsuit. As light as the hood was, I struggled to breathe. I was ashamed of how long it took me to stand against this injustice. I was, and am ashamed of us as a nation; both for our rejection of law in the name of ‘homeland security’ and for our apathy in the face of such blatant human rights abuses “in our name.”

I knew I was only there for two days, fasting, marching in the cold, sleeping on the floor in a church. The men in Guantanamo don’t even have the “luxury” of sentences so that they could count down the days remaining. They are being held indefinitely, illegally and immorally.

The young folks who organized the protest give me hope. Frida’s father and uncle wrote the books that I read in 1970 as a college freshman that began the change in my outlook from the Goldwater republican I was raised to be. Matt grew up in the same exclusive suburban town where we raised our kids and where I still live. And the White Rose folks in DC from Chicago: Jon, Amy, Jerica and Jake (who urged me to come to DC), continue to challenge me and inspire hope that we can indeed live by another way…a way of love and nonviolence that offers hope of true peace.

The hope they inspire is not for the future of this country. The intransigence we witnessed demonstrates no willingness to change. But there are people, young and old who know what it takes to live in peace and to create communities of welcome. They will be light in the dark years to come.

” The people who live in darkness have seen a great light,
On those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has risen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kindom of God is at hand.” Mt. 4:16-17

If you would, find here the open letter by Witness against Torture to the Attorney General. I invite you to use it to join me in crafting your own letter to Mr. Obama and to Mr. Holder. Tell them to put politics aside, embrace human rights and the law of our land and put an end to this injustice. Close Guantanamo now. Give them trials or set them free.

For more details about the organization and the Fast and Vigil, visit the WAT website.