Behind the Scenes

In this age of mass rallies and social media shouts, most peacemaking and bridge building still happens behind the scenes.  Dianne Feinstein understands this nearly lost art.  She has represented California in the U.S. Senate since 1992.  She speaks passionately about what she has built, and what she believes in.  Recently she has gone so far as to join rallies.  But she does not shout.

Betty Guthrie and I met with a Feinstein staffer in her D.C. office who specializes in immigration.   Betty supports asylum seekers who are detained in Orange County jails (the moment they step off the airplane.)  "What can we do to help immigrants who are treated so unjustly?" we asked.  Legislative remedies are, currently, nonstarters.

The staffer invited us to bring cases of immigrant detention in California to the attention of Feinstein's office. She reminded us that lack of documentation itself is not a crime, but a civil offense.  (For this reason, asylum seekers have no right to legal representation. Without representation, they nearly always fail to argue their cases successfully.)  What would the office do?  Does the Senator have some special relationship with ICE in California?  "Just let us take care of it."  The staffer spoke tersely, cagily.  Only much later did I realize that she was trying to give us information and encouragement without delivering any quotable quotes.

"What can we do to support the Senator's efforts for just and humane immigration policies?" we asked.  "Can we help the senator at any rallies?  Press conferences? By calling or letter writing?" No, no, and no.  "So the Senator just wants to work behind the scenes?"  Yes.

When the Senate voted to save the Affordable Care Act on July 28, 2017, John McCain broke rank to make the deciding vote. Before doing so, he walked across the Senate floor and gave Dianne Feinstein a big hug. Clearly she had been working to save healthcare, behind the scenes.

Are you inspired to take action but need encouragement and support to do it regularly?  Start an "Inspiring for Action" group  with a few friends or like-minded people.    Consult the "How To" page for more info.