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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
this protester stands on a wall in front of a Canadian Parliament building with riot police in the background around noon on Saturday
Sunday:
I had seen a long weekend. I had seen riot police. I had seen dogs, and intimidation tactics. I had seen Kofi Anan duck a question in a press conference withthe Canadian Prime Minister. I have seen Kofi speak before at Hampshire College a few years back. Those student at Hampshire are pretty bright and well educated and they were there to stick it to the world leader. Kofi does not duck questions. He answered them all, sometimes a little heatedly. The question I saw him dodge was whether the IMF and World Bank were addressing the issues of poverty and the environment, from the point of view of poorer nations. He ducked, and said that there were countries represented at the table that would speak to that issue. He said only that there was representation. I had been hoping the UN would join this fight against oppressive corporate rule, but now I see the truth. Kofi can not afford to speak out against the WTO. The people who run the WTO are all the rich countries, who also run and support the U.N. I don't blame Kofi. He needs to keep what money he can coming in so he can help where he can. But still I was sad.
I spent the weekend in a world that both saddens me more deeply than I have ever been sad before, but doing something about it. I spent the weekend working to not be sad.
I was given some more focus on it all, and some words. It is the words of Starhawk than rang truest for me, and that I come back to. I can not appreciate the people of the Ottawa Unitarian Church enough. I arrived late at their service, after my long weekend. Immediately I felt welcome. When I came into the sanctuary, the whole congregation was laughing and joking. I sensed real camaraderie. I had come to say what I felt I needed to say. I expected achurch that had not heard my message, a church that did not know what hadbeen going on in Ottawa. I found my chance to speak during joys and concerns.Two people before me spoke of their experiences at protests over the weekend.In a past year I would have been happy with that, but I was called to sharemyself.
I feel concern in what Starhawk had said about the loss of a safe world to go back to. I am happy to have these words to put to a despair that has been building inside me since last year's presidential election. I don't knowthat I can enjoy any kind of comfortable life, until substantial change hashappened in the world. I don't know that I can rest one day from workingfor change. As Starhawk said, "there is nothing like having your back againstthe wall to make you act"
My joy is in what Starhawk said about an emerging positive focus of the 'anti-globalist movement'. It is something I have begun to see, and something that I believe must happen. There is hope as we begin to see that it is all one fight. World peace, indigenous rights, economic justice, conservation. If every groupworking to change things in one of these areas, also works for all of thecauses, the world will change fast. It is about respecting each other andthe earth. If we all just do that, the bad stuff stops.
My joy and concern were coming out slowly. I was shaking from the intensity of my feeling and having to speak publicly. Just as I was wrapping up I was interrupted by the minister, who sought to limit my time. I was not deterred, and finished, but it meant so much that the woman next to me rested her hand lightly on my back, encouraging me to finish. Little did I know that theentire sermon would be about the injustices in the world and the importantwork of the protesters. Then we sang songs that I truly felt. Simple Gifts,We shall overcome, We are gently angry people. I felt welcome and at homeat that church in every way. It is something that I have not found in a UUchurch in years. I don't remember the last time in fact. So thank you againfor all the love there in Ottawa.
I sometimes consider what I would say if I were running for president. This is a fun exercise. Imagine how an honest person would parade his strengths and confess his weakness. The past day I have been working on a current stump speech that tells who I am.
I am not a good public speaker. Crowds make me nervous. Yet, I have important things to say sometimes, and when I do I will not be deterred. I am a lifetime atheist, just now feeling the spirituality in the world. I have known itwas there, but I couldn't feel it. I am a hippie. I am straight edge. I havenever written a resume. I'm a little lonely. I am an introvert. I ama socialist-anarchist-humanist, looking for a practical way to live thesevalues. Practically I am a social democrat, or maybe a green. I am a lifetimeUnitarian Universalist, and while I have little use for church on sundaymorning, I have found no other set of principles as strong as the 7 principlesof UUs. When every person on earth can come to terms with the simple principlesof respect, love, empathy, tolerance, and begin to live those values,the world will be a good place. Until then I have no idea if we have anything.
In my ineloquent tirade, this is what I forgot to say. None of this works if we don't all work at it. It will take everyone to make a better world. I don't say you should be out there protesting. I say you should become informed and then decide if and how you should act. When you act, remember to continue this dialogue. Talk to everyone you know about it. Talk to the people who you don't think will be respective. Get to know other opinions and views. Even people with opposing views will learn simply from having a respectful conversation.