Working Together

I am thinking about bunkers.  Enclaves.  We activists are all attached to something.  Elizabeth May is “the Green Party”.  Frances Deverell is CUSJ (whatever that is.)  Susan Berry is RODC. ??? We have the NDP and the Liberals.  We have John Howard and Elizabeth Fry.  We have Occupy Movement.  The Council of Canadians.  The Judges and Lawyers in the Smart Justice Network.  Lead Now coming out of Vancouver.  Avaaz Canada.  The Peace Movement.  The Rideau Club.  CCPA.

Who comes to who’s party?  Who leads?  How does this mish-mash of groups work together towards our common objectives?  Who do we follow and who do we ignore?  How do we consult with one another to encourage cooperation?  How do we support and encourage one another?  How do we invite new people in?  How do we multiply our impact? 

What will we do with a young man who feels so strongly that the young people of our country will be harmed by Bill C-10.  He feels so strongly that he has chosen to begin a hunger strike?   I heard Obert Madondo tell his story on the hill at Occupy Ottawa last fall.  He has been fighting to find a place in this country since he endured great difficulties to get here some years ago.  Madondo has a vision of freedom and respect and equality.  Canada presents itself to the world as the place where that exists.  He had expectations when he came here and we, as a country, have fallen short.

Do we have the capacity to embody the vision of justice and equality we all dream of by supporting the movement no matter where the initiative comes from.  What will it take to build that kind of trust and co-ordination?

Shall we support Obert Madondo and promote his hunger strike?  Or is this not the right action at this time and should we encourage him to be engaged in another way?

Rev. Frances Deverell

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

Co- Author of Finding Common Voice