Subject: Ending poverty, LSS &
1st Nation peoples!
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:15:30
+0000
Hello Friends, Happy New Year! I
have been thinking about our work together to end poverty and to make our state
a place where all children thrive. I am thinking that at the heart of these
efforts is a deep desire for humanity to become reconciled with one another,
and thusly with our Creator God. I think all "this" we seek to do
should be done in an orderly fashion. I am thinking outloud and sharing my
ideas about doing some more
spiritual groundwork as we create this living blueprint to change the spiritual/social
landscape of Minnesota! Here goes!
If indeed this work is about
RECONCILIATION, then the original seperation/offense must be addressed. I
would start by ammending the Moral Mandate statement to include an APOLOGY
as a people of faith to our neighbors for allowing their suffering under
systemic unfairnesses. I would also look at doing a very public sort of apology
that goes further, with a pledge that from this
day forward we are doing all we can to end these unfairnesses, in our personal
lives as well as in the tearing down/ recreating social structures that
serve all citizens fairly.
If I was the queen of the LSS
re-visioning itself in da Phillips, I would invite Native Holy People to a
public apology, and ask for their Blessing upon the ground before or at the
groundbreaking. I would inscribe a THANK YOU in the cornerstone to the Original
1st Nation People, and as a gesture of integrity, would make an apt. or
two available RENT FREE for a few beloved elders in the community to
acknowledge the issues of "back rent" owed. I would also
designate space at the LSS site for traditional sweats and other ceremonies as
THEY would see fit. It is probably too late to hire a Native Architect....but
that is what I would do.
There are two examples of efforts
which innitiatied the healing of generational social hurts I would like to
speak of. The 1st is one I witnessed was in Duluth. The relatives of the 3
carnival workers who were lynched many decades ago, were invited to the
dedication of a public monument designed by citizens to begin the process of
that town reconciling itself with that historical tragedy. On that day a few
years ago, many good Duluthians participated in a silent prayer march,
retracing the steps of the mob who brok into the jail and carried off their
victims to the lynching place. IT WAS VERY POWERFUL. We then gathered around
and listened to the Mayor, Police Chief and Faith Community apologize to the
decendants of the murder victims. THAT WAS EVEN MORE POWERFUL! When I think
about my son Daniel, who in 1998 wanted to do a school paper on the
Lynchings, I can truly say Duluth made great strides. I will never forget the
look of terror on the face of the only black teacher in the school
district at the African American Cultural Center, when he asked for
reference materials to do that report. Besides the obvious discomfort my sons
request created, there was absolutely NO materials available, historical or
otherwise, for him to access. Hmmmmmm. Breaking the Generational Hurts/Curses
in that town, and fostering the process of Social Healing made much progress in
a few short years!
The other example of Social
Reconciliation is one I read about, but speaks to me with as much Hope
inspiring power. The decendants of tribal members, who sold their neighboring
tribes-people into Slavery on the west coast of Africa have
been conducting apology ceremonies for several years now. POWERFUL STUFF!
The other reference point which I
am accessing in this thought process, is from my own feelings that are being
unearthed as a participant in the Ending Poverty in Mn. work. When I think
about all the good people who are gathering to show Love and Care to people
like me, who have suffered so long under social hurts....well....just the fact
that SOMEONE REALLY GIVES A DAMN....GOES DEEP.....deep into the heart of my
wounded humanity. I was not joking when I said I am working on a piece titled
"So good your finally here.....we been dying to meet you!". Even
allowing myself to comtemplate the Beauty and Power of your coming to the
table of the orchestrated destruction of America's underclass.......and PUTTING
YOUR COLLECTIVE FOOT DOWN....TO SAY NO MORE....and Knowing for the
longest that we poor can't lift this oppression off by ourselves...and waiting
....and waiting....and waiting...for CITIZENS to NOTICE that we are dying on
the vine...and hoping you would COME TO OUR AID before it's your own children
being carted off into suicide, prison, etc., before you all join the ranks of
the homeless....before it might be too late for us to join together and MAKE
CHANGES....well, to be Honest...the HOPE you have caused in me....is
overwhelming and scarey, and wonderful and interestingly enough IS CREATING
SAFETY for to feel pent up OUTRAGE and allows for THINKING about how to go
about taking the next steps toward our collective hearts desire...this 2020
vision....and Creating a Minnesota Where All Children Thrive! Thats all for
now, God Speed, I Love you all, Julia Dinsmore
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