English: Iglesia del Pueblo Reflection.
Seasons of Days of Liberation: Setting the Oppressed Free
During our lobbying time with CODEPINK representing Iglesia del Pueblo, Charito and I emphasized the urgent need to end militarism, US intervention, and embargos that have caused so much suffering and injustice in our world to her Delaware representatives.
Today I invite you as people of faith and moral conscience to speak up, we cannot remain silent in the face of violence, oppression, and inequality.
We must speak out and act for justice and peace.
First, let us consider the human cost of militarism and war.
The National Priorities Project reports that the US has spent trillions of dollars on wars and military spending, while essential programs like healthcare, education, and housing suffer from neglect. This is not only wasteful, but it is also immoral.
We cannot continue to prioritize weapons over human needs.
Second, let us remember the impact of US intervention on other countries’ sovereignty and people. For example, the US embargo on Cuba has caused immense suffering and limited access to basic necessities such as medicine and food. This embargo has been condemned by the United Nations General Assembly as a violation of human rights. We need to stand in solidarity with the Cuban people and support diplomatic solutions that promote cooperation and mutual respect.
Third, let us embrace liberation theology as a framework for social justice. Liberation theology emphasizes the need to uplift marginalized communities and promote the common good. We need to apply this theology to our current context and oppose policies that perpetuate violence and inequality. We must work towards building a world where every person can live with dignity and hope.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
It was a joy to receive movement family into my home, I hope yall be back for other actions. What I imagined would be a great day of lobbying on the hill and enjoying lectures with my precious sister ended up becoming a deeply spiritual time. I am grateful to have received blessings, healing and energy with Charito and get to know our sweet sister as well as just spend a day in community seeing the resilience, love and hard work that our people share.
On Saturday, I could not make it to the forum but did spend time in community at a returning citizens event, passing out seeds and materials to grow food to people in Anacostia.
I had a conversation with a person there, as we planted sunflower seeds in a red solo cup for her to take to her apartment, we talked of the harsh realities of being formerly incarcerated and living in under-resourced neighborhoods. She mentioned how a nice resource fair would’ve helped her as a teen in the neighborhood thrive and make different, more hopeful choices.
I remembered then that the systems mimic each other deeply– gerrymandering, red lining, food desserts and other tactics of gentrification as well as the reservation system both achieve the point of robbing people of hope and sometimes their very lives, whether due to hunger, illness or depression. We cannot separate our struggles for justice and peace, Instead, we must work towards a world where every person can thrive without fear of violence or oppression.
Compas, let us commit ourselves to the work of ending militarism, US intervention, and embargos. Let us work towards a world where every person can live with dignity and hope, and where justice and peace reign. May we find the courage and strength to act with compassion and justice in our hearts.
Amen.
