Why implementing change is harder than criticizng the status quo
05/24/2010

The May-June 2010 issue of Tikkun magazine includes an article by Sharon Welch cumbersomely titled, The Machiavellian Dilemma: Paradoxes and Perils of Democratic Governance.  In it she explains why implementing change is signficantly more difficult than criticizing the status quo.  Or, in other words, why we shouldn't give up on the Obama administration--or our own change efforts.  Significant change takes time.

While I'm as disappointed in Obama as the next progressive, Welch says:

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Finding common ground
05/23/2010

I was not at my post on the corner of State and Anapamu streets last Friday noon.  Micheal and I are on our property in Washington—marveling at the beauty all around.

Friday, May 14, was my last peace vigil for a month.  I was a little anxious about getting out on the corner that day, knowing full well that I haven’t been embodying the change I wish to see in the world.  But I had reinforcements: Paul Chappell, the Iraq vet turned peace activist who’s written two books, Will War Ever End and The End of War had promised to join me. 

He showed up just in the nick of time. 

Immigrant courage
05/10/2010

After I wrote last week's post on immigration, I remembered a piece I wrote 10 years ago about my friend Carmen who walked to the U.S. from Honduras.  Add ten years to all of the ages in the following, but not much else has changed...

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Immigrants are us
05/04/2010

Arizona has passed a new “immigration” law, which gives local law enforcement officers the authority to stop and arrest anyone who “looks” as if they might be in the country illegally and is unable to produce an Arizona driver’s license, passport, tribal identification card, or green card.  If you’re here legally that should be no problem, right? 

How about residents of other states traveling through Arizona?  You and all your ancestors might have been born in this country, but if you’re not carrying your passport through Arizona you’re subject to arrest. It’s like “a whole other country.”