Righteous Indignation, Ch. 14 (p 102-109)

Righteous Indignation, Ch. 14 (p 102-109)
The Global AIDS Crisis -- Jacob Feinspan and Julia Greenberg

(1) "In 2005, 4.3 million people were newly infected with the HIV virus, bringing the total number of people living with HIV close to 40 million. In the same year, nearly 3 million died from the virus, bringing to 2.5 million the number of people who have died since the AIDS crisis began" (p 103).

These are staggering numbers. It's hard to understand what these numbers mean. As Stalin is credited with saying, "The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic." To put these numbers in perspective, the authors reveal, "there are three time as many HIV-positive people in the world as there are Jews" (p 108-109).

This enormity, couple with the knowledge that "the leading causes of death in most poor countries are still common diseases such as diarrhea and pulmonary failure" (p 103), and we begin to see the great need for improved health care in the world. And the best health care is prevention, arguably in the form of education and jobs.

Do these numbers motivate or paralyze you? For those motivated to act, what can your first steps be? For those overwhelmed, the question remains the same: What small step can you take today? Also, this group should read the rest of the chapter carefully as it shows that collective action does produce measurable results.

(2) "We believe that supporting people who are claiming the tools and resources that are rightfully theirs to care for one another represents the ultimate Jewish response to this pandemic" (p 103).

Why is supporting the work of others seen as the ultimate response? How is empowerment crucial for sustainable solutions? Can you think of an example of this in your own life?

(3) "TAC's leader, Zackie Achmat, an HIV-positive man with access to treatment, refused to begin therapy until the South African government made it available to all those who needed it" (p 105). " After a page of success stories, we read, "Zackie Achmat began taking his drugs and continues to lead TAC today" (p 106).

This reminds me of Gandhi's refusal to eat until conflicting factions stopped fighting. This is powerful, high-stakes leadership. In your situation, how can you increase your effectiveness as a leader in rallying people to the cause? Who can you partner with for increased leverage?

(4) "There is still plenty to do at home" (p 107).

This is quite true. There is great need both in the U.S. and abroad. Who and what is in your circle of influence today? By effectively reaching this circle today, how could you reach other further tomorrow?

(5) "...we are equally guilty of transgression if we fail to act to save a life, no matter the circumstances. And we can act to fight AIDS...." (p 108).

The authors list 4 ways to get involved: (1) advocate that orphanages are not the solution; (2) advocate for aid based on science not ideology; (3) stand with GLBT individuals and groups; and (4) advocate for increased professional care in the 2/3 world rather than poaching their providers.

What other ways can individuals get involved locally and internationally? How are you currently involved? How could you increase this work one notch? What local groups can you join in order to increase your effectiveness receive support for the journey?

Righteous Indignation, Ch. 12 (p 87-93)

Righteous Indignation, Ch. 12 (p 85-93)
Redemption for Radicals: Jewish Congregation-Based Community Organizing -- Rabbi Jonah Pesner

(1) While the two primary examples in this chapter relate to health care (general access/coverage and nursing home care), the two over-lapping themes of community organizing and story-telling can be applied to any social justice issue.

The first example of community and stories was especially powerful for me because my wife and I personally struggle with health care access and cost. If there is a time for organizing on this issue, it is now as Daschle begins tackling this issue anew. What is your health care story?

(2) "Though the story of the recent Massachusetts health reform is powerful, it is not unique. It is but one example of Jewish participation in the emerging movement called Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO)" (p 88).

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation website lists three CBCO characteristics:

1. Congregants engage in one-to-one conversations within their synagogue, and often with other congregations, about their social justice passions.
2. Leaders engage in extensive clergy and lay leadership training and development.
3. Synagogue leaders work side-by-side with dozens of faith institutions and progressive organizations in their community, across lines of race, class, and faith.
   

Would your local congregation be open to telling their stories? What social justice passions would you want to discuss? What would it take to get the spiritual leaders of your faith community to engage in this conversation? How open is your community to working with people of other faiths? How open are you?

[More resources at/by Interfaith Funders, Unitarians, DART and YouTube.]

(3) "For people of faith, the first step toward justice is when we cry out" (p 89). The examples given of people who listened to the cry are Pharaoh's daughter, Moses and God.

I once prayed that God would open my ears to the cry of the oppressed. It wasn't long before I was overwhelmed. Cries from every direction were disorienting. Where to start? What to do? What was the first priority? "Okay, God. There is too much. Your kingdom come; your will be done. And how can I be a part of that right here, right now?"

What was the first cry for justice that you remember hearing? When have you cried out? Did anyone listen and respond?

(4) Since this blog is for "ordinary radicals," let's look at the definition of radical given on page 90.

"The radical is that unique person to whom the common good is the greatest personal value.... The radical is so completely identified with mankind that he personally shares the pain, the injustices, and the sufferings of all his fellow men" (p 90; quoted from Reveille for Radicals by Saul Alinksy).

How radical am I? In what ways do I share in the pain, injustice and suffering of others? How does this lead to their redemption? And to my own? If the common good is not my greatest personal value, what is?

(5) "First and foremost, [the Exodus story] teaches that in every time and place, redemption is possible. It begins with a cry... It continues with rage at the injustice, and a willingness to act. It requires leadership and relationships.... The people must begin to articulate their story..." (p 91).

Crying, rage, willingness to act, leadership, relationships and story-telling. Where am I at on these themes? Am I crying or hearing some else's cries (or both)? Do I have rage? At what? Am I willing to act? Am I acting? Am I offering leadership? Am I follow others who are more experienced than I? What condition and quality are my relationships? Are there key relationships I need to focus on to bolster community change? I am telling my story, listening intently on other's stories, providing an environment what words can be shared and heard?

(6) "In the globalized twenty-first century, justice transcends categories of race, class, and faith. Today, standing together for redemption means discovering our shared suffering and being challenged by each other's divergent traditions" (p 91).

What groups do I still not listen to? Why? What barriers am I allowing to stop their story? What stories am I telling myself about these groups? What suffering might I share in common with them? Am I open to hearing anything from this group's faith tradition?

(7) "The power for systemic change emanates from the Divine, but it comes only from authentic relationships both inside the Jewish family and beyond, with other communities who share a vision of a world redeemed. We can harness the power of our relationships and engage together in bold, public action, across lines of faith, class, and race, and address the structural sources of economic and social injustice" (p 93).

"Redemption isn't just for radicals. Redemption is for everyone" (p 93).

May we build relationships across barriers of faith, socio-economic class, age, ethnicity, political party, and every other characteristic we use to describe "them" and "us." And in these relationships, may we find divine power to build a more just world.