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PDF versionRallying the faithful on matters of the budget
by Maureen Fiedler on Nov. 22, 2011
On Sunday, I journeyed to Lafayette Park, across from the White House, for a rally called by faith leaders (Christian, Jewish and Muslim) to tell Congress and the president not to solve the deficit problem on the backs of those who are poor and most vulnerable. It is called the Faithful Budget Campaign.
The topic is relevant, in the news and important. The weather was surprisingly good. The program was inspiring: readings from the Qu'ran, the Torah and the New Testament, brief and stirring speeches by leaders of all three Abrahamic traditions, and a wonderful song about greed from Bernice Johnson Reagon, one of the founders of "Sweet Honey and the Rock."
The problem was this: There were only about 100 people assembled to hear it and participate. I saw one of my friends from NETWORK there, and I wondered, "Why so few with a topic so important?" She didn't know.
I felt disheartened. I doubt that our friends who champion more conservative or traditional causes would have staged an event without strong organizing to produce a much larger turnout.
I learned of it from an email without any pizzazz or color ... nothing to draw my special attention except for the topic itself. That may get me and a few others there, but not the general public. I wondered if anyone had spread the word with colorful, compelling emails. I thought about all the religious denominations represented on the platform, and I wondered if anyone had thought to spread the word via the hundreds of local congregations represented by those speakers. Preaching? Bulletins? I rather doubt it.
It's doubtful that anyone informed "Occupy DC," with an encampment only a couple blocks away.
It's not that such events have a decisive impact, but they do give heart to those who champion a cause. And they certainly give heart to those who are poor and vulnerable because they know they have allies. The progressive religious community is trying, but there's a long way to go.
May you not be TOO
May you not be TOO disheartened. Yes, organization does take some doing. May there be a 'next time'. (And, many of us tend to trust that, when some folks are doing a really good job on one thing, we can give our attention to another dreadfully pressing matter.)
Blessings on your head for all that you have done and are continuing to do.
I hope you will venture into
I hope you will venture into Washington once again in January and join the thousands of us as we march to defend the most vulnerable of society, the unborn.
I currently pay more than
I currently pay more than half of every dollar I earn in taxes of various kinds. I remember a four-year period in which I worked two full-time jobs (80+ hours per week) so that I could feed and educate my children whom nobody seems to care about except myself. Maureen, how much of what is left do you say I may keep so that those who do not produce can still eat-they being on my back?
With all due respect, sister
With all due respect, sister Maureen,
I would like just to point something with I deal with in my everyday professional life: Catholics tend to understimate comunication, at every level. In today media environment, so full of noise, the most part didn't anowledge yet the need of a professional approach, or the need to learn to deal with the new comunication channels that the young people of the Arab Sprin used, and after them the Indignados in Madrid or the Occupyers in the US or Britain. To be effective, people need formation and support. Catholics loose many battles because of this lack of skills. As a member of NCR, one of the two only sites I rely on for Catholic information - the other is The Tablet, the highly professional British counterpart - I think you'll find among your fellow articulists some journalists who are able and willing to help to fight the good batles. Don't loose heart: I learned a lot with my own past mistakes, and I steel keep the perharps naif hope that, if I work enough and keep learning, I would be able to add,until I die, a few grains of sand to the Paradise-like beach of Justice. Sounds pompous, but it is just how I feel...
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