On Sharing & Sacrifice

[H2O Man]

“I count no sacrifice too great for seeing God face to face. The whole of my activity, whether it be called social, political, humanitarian, or ethical, is directed to that end. And as I know that God is found more often in the lowliest of his creatures than in the high and mighty, I am struggling to reach the status of these. I cannot do so without their service. Hence my passion for the service of the suppressed classes. And as I cannot render this service without entering politics, I find myself in them.”
Mohandas K. Gandhi



I have read a couple of threads that have led me to writing this essay. They are RT Atlanta's “A new, Poor People's Campaign,” and Amerigo Vespucci's “Joan Walsh tweets Rick Warren: 'Class warfare against the poor. Is that what Jesus would do?' “ Although I recommended and commented on both threads, there is more that I'd like to say, without “hijacking” either of these valuable contributions to the discussions on this forum.

I am intentionally posting this on General Discussion, and not the religion and theology forum, because although parts of my message may overlap with religious and spiritual concepts, it fully fits into the generalized discussions of grass roots political activism and community organizing.

Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., were both religious men, who ventured into the politics of their day as strong advocates for the oppressed peoples in their societies. Both men provided us with social road maps on how to move in the direction of social justice. They both had the ability to have taken full advantage of their talents in a way that could have made their lives comfortable, including amassing great financial wealth. But both men sought a higher spiritual position.

Although the two men were from different cultures, and can be identified as belonging to different religions, they had many characteristics in common. Both were members of a racial/ethnic group that was oppressed by a colonial empire. And both were inspired by the teachings of a community organizer/ social activist who also belonged to a people being oppressed by an empire.

There is always some risk in talking about Jesus on the Democratic Underground. I am not referring today to the stained-glass Jesus that Rick Warren uses for financial gain; to the Santa-God of the ignorant; nor to the figure that many rebellious first-year college students question the very existence of. Rather, I am speaking of the Jewish rabbi-prophet who challenged both an empire and the Rick Warrens of his day.

Another risk is the frequent confusion that results in the stories of Jesus which, like all esoteric writings, are presented on three levels – stone, water, and wine. Luckily, the section for consideration is one of the most literally intended section of the collection of writings that are known as “the Bible” today. However, before examining this today, it is important to clarify the meaning of one word – “blessed” – which translates accurately in today's language as “bliss,” an inner-state that is available and obtainable today, not in some future time after death.

This section of Jesus's teachings are known as the “Beatitudes” – a word that by no coincidence translates to “bliss.” It appears in slightly different forms in different gospels, including as two parts in one. Known generally as the Sermon on the Mount, one part is called the Sermon on the Plain in the book of Luke. This is because that “mount” is the Mountain of Humanity, something that King spoke so eloquently of in his moving speech the night before his death. The “plain” refers to the lowest level of human potential, as referenced in the ancient allegory of the Tower of Babel; it refers to human beings trying to achieve earthly wealth and power (think of Congress today).

In this road map for reaching social justice, Jesus outlined several paths: achieving the state of mind of the poor, who freely share what little they have; the meek, who do not seek power over their fellow men and women; those who work for righteousness and peace, here on earth; and others.

In the warnings to those who seek wealthy and worldly powers, the word “blessed” (bliss) is replaced by “woe.” Those woes are aimed directly at the rich and powerful, who refuse to share with the poor and needy. This is, of course, exactly what Joan Walsh was warning Rick Warren of.

Both Gandhi and King lived their lives in a manner that delivered this same message. One may not be “religious,” and still have a far greater understanding of that message. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Care for the sick. Help prisoners unlock their potential. Instruct the uninformed.Challenge those who are rich, powerful, selfish, and cruel. Work for social justice. This is the only way to truly transform a sick society, such as our own.

King provides us with a powerful example of transformation. His early ministry was focused largely upon “civil rights.” But he came to understand that in order to change society, he needed to expand his works. And while there were definitely racists who wanted to murder King for fighting for black Americans to have the right to drink coffee at any public counter top, and to then relieve themselves in any public restroom, it was his challenging of the machine – the war in Vietnam, and the immoral economic system that allowed for children to go malnourished, without medical care, and without a proper education – that overturned tables in the temples of power.

In late 1967, King began plans for a Poor People's Campaign the next summer in Washington, DC. This was not going to be a rally with a march and speeches, where people went happily home that evening. It wasn't a planned demonstration, where black citizens would fill the jails in order to stimulate the conscience of white citizens. No, King planned to get people of all colors and religions to occupy Washington, DC, to demand meaningful changes in the very foundation of this nation's economic, social, and political processes. The Congressional Record documents that there were politicians in both major political parties who wanted King incarcerated for planning this event, because they fully understood the implications of a true Poor People's Campaign.

For several years, I have advocated that Americans engage in an updated version of King's plan. It warmed my heart to read another forum member advocating that same thing here yesterday. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed in an effort to prevent his Poor People's Campaign from happening in 1968 We do not have the luxury of waiting for another Gandhi or King to lead us in such a campaign today. We are the ones that we have been waiting for – you and me.

Thank you,
H2O Man

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. I thought Ghandi was a wife-beater. n/t

[H2O Man]

2. I suspect that

if one is not familiar enough with him to be capable of sperlling his name, that could be a coomon error in thinking.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Oops. My bad. I was typing too fast. Misspelling is not one of my usual mistakes.

I'm much more likely to post something idiotic than misspell, but you probably know that. In fact, none of my more idiotic posts have ever had misspellings.

I still think I read Gandhi was a wife-beater though.

[H2O Man]

4. Thank you

for taking the time to spread your lack of understanding on an OP/thread that is intended for a serious discussion. It is a timely reminder of the dynamics that can keep DU from having meaning.

[H2O Man]

5. I shall kick

my own OP, as I think it discusses an important issue.

[rosesaylavee]

6. I agree that some significant action needs to be taken.

I would hope it's peaceful - my concern is that a national default may trigger the lack of basic needs for millions and that this could turn ugly pretty fast. In the times of MLK and Gandhi*, they were such amazing leaders that millions followed them into their peaceful resistance against the PTB. Does President Obama have that kind of following? If not him, who will step in if people take to the streets?

I am very worried today about all this.

*The misspelling of his name is so common, I've given up correcting people. And he wasn't a wife-beater. He had anger issues earlier on in his family life but like many of us, worked that out as he aged. He was truly a man of peace and saved lives thru his advocacy of peaceful resistance to the British govt. I know you know this - writing this for others who may not know.

[H2O Man]

8. Thank you!

I figured that when the first couple of "recommends" were zapped by "unrecommends" that my message was likely on target. Curious place, sometimes. In a strange way, I prefer when people add nonsense attacking a Gandhi or King -- we've witnessed plenty of people attempting to smear Martin here over the years, too -- as it is almost more honest than the others. But I appreciate both.

Even more, by far, I appreciate DUers who take the time to read my posts and respond rationally. Thank you.

[rosesaylavee]

12. There are plenty of curious people posting here now

I almost used your line - this is not a tickle fight - earlier today. So keep on keeping on. You have more influence than you know. :)

[dog_lovin_dem]

7. Outstanding, H2O Man.

I don't post often, but always enjoy reading your thought-provoking posts. Today is no different! So, here's a kick and a rec for ya!

[H2O Man]

10. Thanks, DLD!!

I do appreciate that, very much.

And I do try to say things of some value on this, my favorite internet forum.

[EFerrari]

9. THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

* Building the Beloved Community

“The Beloved Community” is a term that was first coined in the early days of the 20th century by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who founded the Fellowship of Reconciliation. However, it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., also a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, who popularized the term and invested it with a deeper meaning which has captured the imagination of people of good will all over the world.

For Dr. King, The Beloved Community was not a lofty utopian goal to be confused with the rapturous image of the Peaceable Kingdom, in which lions and lambs coexist in idyllic harmony. Rather, The Beloved Community was for him a realistic, achievable goal that could be attained by a critical mass of people committed to and trained in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence.

Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.

Dr. King’s Beloved Community was not devoid of interpersonal, group or international conflict. Instead he recognized that conflict was an inevitable part of human experience. But he believed that conflicts could be resolved peacefully and adversaries could be reconciled through a mutual, determined commitment to nonviolence. No conflict, he believed, need erupt in violence. And all conflicts in The Beloved Community should end with reconciliation of adversaries cooperating together in a spirit of friendship and goodwill.

http://wilpf.org/mlksbelovedcommunity

[H2O Man]

11. Very good!

Thank you very much for adding this!

[Ignis]

13. K&R, as usual. "We are the ones that we have been waiting for."

:toast:

[H2O Man]

16. Thank you.

Much appreciated.

[hootinholler]

14. So what are steps I can take

To become a leader now? We don't have 10 years to find our voice or a following.

The media won't help anyone once they realize that leader actually opposes the PTB, as compared to a leader who talks a good game and then undermines his own movement.

Yes, before you ask, I would step up if I saw a path. Even if the path I saw was overgrown.

-Hoot

[H2O Man]

17. One of the reasons

that people tend to look for leaders, in my opinion, is because the goodness of the truth has not taken firm root within themselves. Hence we have witnessed, over decades and centuries, the repeated act of destroying a leader to end a movement. This was true in the case of King, not because he did not have numerous intelligent and capable people around him, but for two other reasons: because he was unique within his group as the only male who did not have a large sense of ego, and because even at that time, capable women were still viewed as having less authority than men. Most Americans today tend to only know of Rosa Parks, even though the Civil Rights movement had many outstanding women who contributed wisdom and true leadership.

Leadership within a social justice movement should be primarily based upon the amount of work an individual is willing and able to do. Thus, a valid Poor People's Campaign should be based upon people's understanding the it is both the correct and necessary thing to do .... rather than a leader or one group advocating for it. It must be a campaign that wakes people up to their humanity, their dignity, and value as human beings .... because that is excactly what the machine, centered in DC, is seeking to deny then destroy -- our humanity, dignity, and human worth.

[Bluerthanblue]

15. no,

thank you H20 Man, for this beautifully spoken post.

it was just what I needed to hear today.


""We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[H2O Man]

18. Thank you

for your kind words.

And I love the King quote!

[BeHereNow]

19. The difference between the Poor then and today.

Although I would like to believe that we could organize a modern day
version of Mr. King's vision of his Poor People's Campaign today, I hesitate to
think it possible-

The poor today are far less educated, far more prone to violent criminal activities
and listening to hate talk radio hosts. I have worked with at risk youth for many years.
They would laugh at such a movement, and suggest "cappin' some ass" as a more viable solution.
Or just taking what they want, for themselves, from others. No sense of common good-
just gang mentality and the such.

Unfortunately, many of the young people have no clue as to who MLK was, much less
Gandhi. Our curriculum touches on them briefly, a week or so, and then it's on to something else.
Many youth also know very little about the Civil Rights Movement, or the Vietnam War.

And they don't want to know.

They want to figure out how to get the next iPad, or gadget and if they have to steal
it from you, they will with little remorse.

The fortunate few, who come from money and are thus afforded the highest
educational opportunities, are from the global elite families, and they could
care a less about the poor- they are being prepped to participate in the circles of power
and are groomed to understand what that means for their future living standards.
Are they suddenly going to care about others? Not likely. They all want to live
like Paris Hilton or Justin whats-his-name, the pop singer with the annoying hair-do.

We have raised a generation of immediate gratification seekers, among
both the poor and wealthy youth. A dangerous combination, that.

I know that you, and many others on DU lived in the time I did.
We remember, we know what is possible because we saw it happen.

So did the PTB, who quickly silence any one with the power to move people
for the common good.

They quickly filled the vacuum with dumbing down, aggressive marketing
and media designed to create individuals consumed with self centeredness, a sense of "I deserve this or that"
and isolation.

I know there are people, like yourself, who understand that if only enough
of us, those who remember and know the power is with the people,
could reach and touch the lives of those who can't imagine it, we would have a chance.

I just don't know how it can be done at this point.
The poor today are not like the poor of yesterday.
It is a much sicker world, IMHO.

As always, Love to You and yours H2O Man-
And I guess we just keep trying to be the change we want to see happen.
I just feel there are so few of us left who remember the power in that.
And it is discouraging.

BHN

[H2O Man]

21. Thanks.

I was recently planning a hunger strike at the office of one of NYS Governor Cuomo's top supporters of hydro-fracking for gas. This person had accepted a spot on the DEC's advisory panel for fracking.

This might sound odd -- maybe not to you, but in general -- but the only people who I asked to participate with me were a few people, all over the age of 70.

At the same time, there are great many outstanding young men and women that I work with on numerous social/political issues.

[BeHereNow]

20. Rec.

Sad to see so few recs on this important thread.
But sadly, I think it is indicative of what I said in my post above.
BHN
:kick:

[H2O Man]

22. Thanks again!

There had been more recommends, but like my other OP today, there are a group of folks who will always "unrecmmend" anything and everything I post.

I am honored by both the recommends and unrecommends!