Positive Anti-Crime Thrust, Inc.

I've just finished launching a new web site for the Positive Anti-Crime Thrust (PACT) a project that is long over due (I'm not going to say how long, but my good freind and mentor in criminal justice issues HS knows). This is just the incentive I need to stay current with my blog (at least weekly is my goal).

I know that for now I am just talking to myself, but hopefully with the lauch of the new PACT site a few folks will be tempted to see what I've got to say here.

Two additional things for today:

• My Prison Ministry at Trinity UCC held our 15th annual clothing giveaway on Saturday September 5th. It was a lot of work but we must have received 150 bags of useful clothes, and many more that were on hangers. It was a wonderful example of community effort and the donors provided an abundance that was a blessing to those in need. Pictured below is the morning organizing (pre shoppers).


• On September 15th the Trinity UCC Prison Ministry will be hosting an Expo for Returning Citizens. This event will provide a "one stop shop" of sorts where resources from housing and employment, to health and counseling will be available for those who need to make contact with sevices vital to keeping them on a path to good citizenship. It is our first time trying something like this, so if you pray, please includes this program in your prayers.

Until next time . . .

Daryle

America can be better

To see America with eyes wide open is to see her faults as well as her promise. How can we ever get better as a country if we as a people delude ourselves into thinking we are already a perfect union.

Why would we think we have such moral superiority when our own history identifies such dramatic moral failures as the slaughter of the native Americans, the horror of chattel slavery (where men and women were thought to be no more than cattle or hogs, with no more rights), the only country to use nuclear weapons in war (even though our President at the time knew the Japanese were ready to surrender anyway), and recently the killing of over 100,000 civilians in Iraq . . . in a war that we all know was unnecessary.

Many of us are caught up in the "Leave it to Beaver" fantasy past. One that completely white washes the struggles of the poor and blacks in the recent past.

Well, I for one am not satisfied that America is all she can be. I believe we can, indeed must do better. We "can" be a moral compass for the world, but only once we have found our own way at home. Only when we have the guts to recognize that all is not well in America. Only when we begin to view the value of all human life, and not just American lives, and come to the defense of people based on humanitarian objectives (Darfur anyone) and not just based on strategic and economic interest. Only when we have recognized the value of every American child and committed ourselves to education based on intellectual capability and not financial wherewithal.

Rev. Wright recognizes many of our faults as a country, having lived in the segregated south, fought for a free South Africa and simply been born black in America. We may not like what he says, but prophets rarely tell us what we want to hear. But what we need to hear.

So you can keep your blinders on if you want. But if there are any false prophets in the room, they are those that are deceiving you with ideas that everything is just fine in America. That we "have" the perfect union. That the "status quo" need not change.

Think about it. Since when did any biblical prophet talk about how good things are, to, as President Bush or Mr. Rumsfeld, would say "just stay the course".

America can and must do better. It is up to "we the people" to make it so. And we can . . . Yes We Can.

My Experience with Trinity UCC

As a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, I am amazed at the negative coverage of our now retired pastor, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Over 10 years my family has attended Trinity, and the overriding mission of his ministry is service and justice for the downtrodden in our society. And can any American say with a straight face that African Americans have not been largely stuck in that position in American society?

All this concern with the "Black Value System" is crazy. First of all it didn't come from Pastor Wright, but from the congregation itself, many years ago. Secondly, why should the larger society be surprised, or upset, by a group of black folk deciding they better figure out how to work harmoniously together to achieve their mutual goals? I would have thought self reliance would be encouraged! If anything we are realists, recognizing that our help is not coming from the latest research study, or federal, or state program, or foundation program, but from our Lord, from within ourselves, and from our community. And importantly, just because we recognize the need for self love, and a requirement for self determination, this doesn't inhibit our ability to "love our neighbor as ourselves", or to recognize the potential example a "United" States of America could be in the world.

On a more personal note: With all the studies that link future success with a positive self-image and self esteem, I have seen the wonderful effect of my own children understanding that black is indeed beautiful, and that their history didn't start with slavery. Their confidence in their own abilities, even if they don't look like the majority of Americans. That they have a rich heritage as Africans in diaspora, just like Italian, German, Japanese, Mexican, or any other immigrants.

People often want to put others into a box of their own definition. My children have learned to define themselves, for themselves, and a large part of that is from the teachings of Pastor Wright.

So, while Rev. Wright is not always right, he usually is. He was certainly right about the current Iraq war being a mistake, just like when he was a young man, he was totally right about the unjust affront to humanity of apartheid in South Africa.

It's too bad the media is on this outrageous witch hunt. A simple "investigation" that entailed learning a bit about the actions of our church, versus these outlandish accusations, would yield an understanding of the depth of our commitment to justice, fairness, to the poor and as Jesus says to "the least of these".

Perhaps during some of the media coverage they will take the time to provide some depth so that reasonable people, can indeed make reasoned judgments. All they need to do is talk with some of his peers in the Black church and the UCC denomination, some his students, people in our congregation. In other words, get the "real story" instead of not even skimming the surface of a man that has devoted 36 years to his church and humanity.

The "Real" Role of Education

Does anybody really believe that our country (U.S.A.) is committed to a concept of education beyond what supports basic industrial/business needs? The fact that there is such a HUGE disparity in spending on pre-school and k-12, based on either the school district you live in or what you can personally afford leads to my conclusion that our education system is designed as a way to maintain economic hegemony. The competitive nature of our higher education system virtually assures a far greater participation by those fortunate enough to be born into positive circumstance.

WHAT IF:

• A real commitment existed to education, so that every child had the opportunity to explore their individual intelectual gifts to the fullest - perhaps funding schools at 85% or so of the best funded school districts
• And we began to invest in teachers, understanding that there are few professions more valuable to our society - providing both free education through their M.A. and pay structures indicative of their importance

There is undoubtedly a vast source of talent that we as Americans are allowing to shrink and rot on the vine as we let the fear of "real" competition convince us that there exists some mytical level playing field.

Let go of that fear, in favor of hope. The next Einstein, Pasteur, Washington, etc. may be out there right now, and their life saving, economy stimulating, science advancing potential will neve be reached because of our lack of vision and fortitude.