I am going to take today’s news to reflect on this principle, because news today demonstrates why we live with such commitment to this principle. Yes, it is hard to organize our congregations democratically. It can be hard for individual members of our communities to remain educated and informed enough to navigate some of our governance…but there is a reason that we live in commitment to democracy in our faith.
Power belongs in the hands of the people; whenever it is placed in the hands, of authority above the people that is a sacred trust. A SACRED TRUST. Power in the hands of authority is sacred because it is a very trusting, faithful action. Our conscience must call us to respect that.
I think this is the best editorial I’ve seen on this. This was a sad weekend for our democratic principles at the Occupy Wall Street demonstration.
Be sure to watch through the pepper spray incident where a supervisor of Lieutenant rank or above pepper sprays 3 girls who were contained behind a police barrier. I watched many of the extended videos and will post some of the links at the end of this article. I did see protestors verbally abusing the police, which violates the principles of non-violent protesting practice — but nothing that I saw merited the level of force used in response.
What spooks me about this editorial are the thoughts at the end…that abuse is every-day in the hands of our social authorities. Every day. Common.
As I sit here in my living room in Salt Lake City, studying to be a minister, I feel a debt of gratitude to these protestors…our economic system has fallen away from its democratic core. “By the people, for the people…” Not “By a few, for each other” Every one who has ever taken a blow of injustice. Thank you. Just thank you. You should not have had to do that.
When we practice our UU faith, living these 7 principles are part of that practice.
So how, today, in this context, can you help live this principle? Because the world needs people committed to fairness, equality and democratic practice…
Here are more of the videos:
- Protestors penned and maced.
- Knee on a detainee’s throat
- This young man steps into the street after he was told not to do so, he is struck and slammed into the ground
Wander around youtube, you will be surprised by what you see, or maybe not, either way, it is very sad.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
-J.F.K.
Word.