Individuals Working Together
for Others

We are all one family, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. I have learned that there are some cultures, like those from African Countries where this is more than just a nice thought. I am forever “Uncle Bob” to my friends from Sierra Leone that I met when they came to this country during the ugly civil war in their country. As a quote from Thomas Berry I just added to Various Quotes says: “In reality, there is a single integral community of the Earth that includes all its component members whether human or other than human.” Yes, we are unique individuals but we are united with all living creatures.” This is a fact of life oft repeated by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Native Americans, spiritual and political leaders. Yet in the USA “individualism reigns” and self interest is separate from the ‘common good.’

Today we had what we called a “Catholic Worker Habitat” work day. Long time Catholic Workers, at large, not members of the official Catholic Worker house, needed some home repairs to the outside of their house and a group of us gathered to be of help, scarping, painting, and raking. Except for the young daughter living in the house where we were working all who came to help were between the ages of 55 to 75. We had tried to appeal to some younger persons but were unsuccessful. I have observed that young adults in the white community, like students at Marquette, are generous in doing ‘service’ to persons in need. But it is for other reasons than the sense of community which is what drew us together today.

Someone, who did not grow up in Milwaukee, was commenting on the great and diverse county park system that is in Milwaukee. I told him that the park system was part of Milwaukee’s socialist heritage. The socialist who were influential in Milwaukee to the 1960’s believed that “government was for the common good” not for individuals. Now days all politicians seem to talk about is tax cuts for individuals and the word “socialism” or even ‘common good’ are seldom heard.

All great religions, Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism, and Christianity are based on the unity of humanity and the need to be a person for others. Yet in the USA individualism reigns even with religious person. Some preachers even talk about how wealth is the sign of God’s blessings and how we must teach the poor and marginalized how to fend for themselves, work hard and be like us.

Today, working on a friend’s house we were all individuals but individuals working together for others.

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