A Litany for Justice and Equality

Litany for Justice and Equality (in honor of Martin Luther King)            by Fran Pratt

Oh God, we are reminded today of Your infinite Love for all people:
         All races
All colors
         All political affiliations
All religious persuasions
         All social classes
All economic statuses
         All nations.
We confess our tendency to think that we are the best,
our perspective the most righteous.
         Forgive us our arrogance, Oh God.
We confess our tendency to judge others, and to condemn those we find unworthy.
         Forgive us our impertinence, Oh God.

We see others with criticism.
         You see us all with love-filled eyes.
We see only in part.
         You see the world with infinite wisdom.
We see the external.
         You see the heart.

Mold us to Your way.
         Form us to Your heart.
Shape us with love.
         Make us new with grace.

Our way is not of violence and empire, but in the power and beauty of the cross.
            Our faith is not in politics, but in the transforming love of Christ.
May we work diligently to help meet the needs of those You love,
 both physical and spiritual.
            May our eyes be opened to the value and worth of each person we meet. 
May Your kingdom come, Your will be done
            On earth as it is in heaven. Amen

Other MLK sermons, litanies and essays can be found at textweek.com.

Dorothy is Door-knocking!

I was catching up with friend and neighbor Dorothy over the holidays.  After we shook our heads over the political situation, I asked if she was taking any action.  Indeed she is!  She has been door-knocking on Saturday mornings for the Orange County Democratic Party.  She is using the "Neighbors in Action" approach of listening to people about what matters to them and building relationships, to prepare for political action closer to the 2018 elections.

I have heard all about this, but haven't quite stepped up to doing it myself.  Dorothy noted that door-knocking is out of her comfort zone, but that she has been pleasantly surprised that people are almost all friendly and want to be listened to!

We in Orange County are fortunate to be in a place where our action for the 2018 elections can make a difference.  Door-knocking is out of the comfort zone of most people.  But if Dorothy can do it, so can we!  (I'll let you know how it goes...)

Old Story, New Setting

Your inspiration for the week... or maybe just mine.

Joseph y Maria, Art by Everett Patterson.

Look closely for details of the bible story.  The need we have for hope that oppression, greed and violence can be overcome has been shared by most of humanity through most of history.  We are not alone.  

The Power of Story

Your inspiration for the week...

I spent all of Saturday December 9 in a tent with nearly 200 progressive organizers. In Newport Beach, California: who knew?  I was attending the largest session yet of the Western Organizing Workshop.

We walked through a process of crafting personal stories.  We were to describe a moment of challenge, and a choice we made that changed an outcome, that shows our values and our commitment for our democracy.  The purpose of the story is to inspire the listener to take action– that's what organizers do.

The leaders told us their stories: so inspirational!  As a table facilitator, my challenge was that nobody at my table thought they had a story worth sharing.   I refused to believe them.  "Start with a lousy story.  We'll help you make it better," I urged.  I had been given the tools in advance.  With some coaching and practice, they made it through round one.  They each had some kind of story.  We continued to refine: take a snapshot of a moment in time.  Express what you were feeling.  Then what happened?

By the end of the day we had a "cocktail party," with people mingling around the tent exchanging some pretty compelling stories.  Many of the them started, "On election night..." and moved through despair to "and here I am!"  The next challenge my table crew faces is to overcome their shyness about phone banking and door knocking.  Because talking to people is what gets them to take action.  The story continues...  

We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power no government can suppress, a power that can transform the world. 

— Howard Zinn, Historian

Making Lemonade

Apologies for going AWOL for a few weeks!  Here is your weekly inspiration for action...

On September 1, 2015, five UC Irvine police officers drew guns on a 20-year old Black man on the steps of his own home in university faculty housing. They did not allow him to produce ID.  They stood down when a neighbor from across the street vouched for the young man.  They had been called by another neighbor who thought the man was breaking into his own home.  The UCI newspaper describes the incident and what followed in depth here.

In response, concerned community members formed a "Community, Safety and Diversity working Group."  Among many activities, this group came up with the above flowchart (on a kitchen magnet) to invite neighbors to act responsibly.  I continue to benefit from their activities, and hopefully my young neighbors of color are a little safer in their own neighborhood.

Act Crazy

Your inspiration for the week...

Leymah Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for mobilizing women to end the Liberian civil war. Gbowee (pronounced Bowie) is a staunch supporter of democracy, women’s rights, and education. I heard her speak in 2014.  Her advice to people who want to make a difference is: 

1. Find the thing that keeps you up at night.

2. Think of something you can do. Now. If people think you're crazy, you're probably on the right track. 

3. Find your supporters. They'll be a crazy as you, or at least support your craziness.

Her 2014 crazy idea was a commitment to make sure every Ebola orphan is fed and housed. 

https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2011/gbowee-bio.html

You can also follow her continuing crazy adventures on Facebook.

People Power

…is a new grassroots advocacy project of the ACLU.  Their first campaign, back in March, was “Freedom Cities.”  People answering a social media invitation were asked to organize and approach their local law enforcement agencies to advocate for nine policies that protect law-abiding immigrants from deportation.  Teams approached my local Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach police departments and discussed policing policies that affect immigrants.  What they found was mostly good news: these policies were in place.  And those police departments noticed that someone cares.  Meanwhile, the same questions were being asked all over the country, and groups organized to take action against unjust policies.  

People Power’s current campaign, “Let People Vote”, aims to increase voter access.  Anti-democratic deep-pocket donors are demanding laws that suppress voter participation across the country. Voting laws are different in every state. California groups are concentrating on implementation of same day voting (and other accessibility improvements) through implementation of SB450, the “Voter’s Choice Act.”   SB450 allows, but does not mandate, counties to use a new statewide database to allow early voting, late and even same-day (conditional) registration, and voting at any vote center in the county.  And it saves counties money!  Now we must convince counties to implement SB450.

Hosting a “Let People Vote” kickoff event, I met a group of passionate people who needed information and direction.  Seeking to provide it, I learned about the new law, our county’s plans to implement it (or not), and about voter registration and participation in my area.  I am a new member of the League of Women Voters too!  They care deeply about voter access, and produce the best information on local elections, at votersedge.org. We are building the road as we walk it, but we are learning, and we will make a difference.