Actions speak louder than words Today I received another essay from my friend for his blog, Father At War. This one Which is the Better Path reminded me of feelings I had about peace rallies and protest I had in 70’s through 90’s and now have again.
Actually, after I got out of maximum security state prison in 1970′s I had similar feelings about anti-war rallies but I did not understand it at the time. I just could not get myself to go to an anti-war protest. I strongly felt I had to do something concrete to help young person’s avoid a life of prison. So with a few other persons I co-founded the Independent Learning Center, the first accredited alternative high school in Milwaukee.
Many years later, in 1995, returning to Milwaukee to work with people in need at St. Vincent De Paul stores I gradually forgot my reluctance to peace protest and rallies. I started to attend protest and events like the one last Saturday. However, after awhile I noticed all the bad guys were Republicans and the good guys were Democrats even when the Democrats were voting for war and killer drones. Also at the rallies I noticed the same speakers and words but no follow up action. Some years ago I remembered Father Harak, the director of MU Center for Peacemaking giving an impassioned speech at a rally on the lakefront. One person nearby took his strong words as a rally for taking nonviolent action, perhaps even one involving civil disobedience. He was all worked up and yelled that he was ready to follow Father on the action. Slowly he realized it was all words and no action and was disappointed.
After attending so many Peace Action and MU Center talks and discussion I was ready for ‘action’. But there was no action, unless you call a march or rally an action. Last Saturday, during the annual rally against the war in Afghanistan, I went to a hospital pharmacy to pick up for a friend, without a car, monthly supply of medication. Then I drove the same friend to the Harvest festival sponsored by Walnut Way that also started at noon. The day before I twice drove friends who do not have transportation and are low income to doctor appointments. During the visits I read my book about Drone Warfare by Medea Benjamin. This book is more words about drones but I know Medea and others were doing something about drone warfare by going to Pakistan and taking actions with local peace activist again drones, risking injury and life.
For awhile I was ‘mad’ at groups like Peace Action and MU Center for Peacemaking for lots of words but no action or peacemaking. But now I have come to a similar position that to choose personal contact with persons or direct actions over going to talks and rallies is a choice we make. I still am going to SOA Watch at Fort Benning for I know many of the people there, Roy, Janice, Joyce are doing more than words and I know how they care for the blessed ones in our society, those dependent on others and God.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of Society of Jesus, Jesuits, had a saying: “Love ought to show itself in deed over and above words.” I guess that is where I am at.
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