A MESSAGE FROM THE OTHER ROBERT F. KENNEDY: "Let no one be discouraged...."

On Election Day in November  we  volunteered as "Poll Chaplains"  in Flint at the Freeman School Polling Place for an Interfaith organization called Faiths United to Save Democracy.  Our task was to ensure that people who wanted to vote could do so without interference... to mediate any disputes and to help ensure a free and fair election. We met fine people we agreed with and disagreed with politically; one Republican volunteer told us he didn't like his candidate's views on immigration, a Democratic youth volunteer was pushing environmental justice, a local Baptist pastor came to support our mediation work. We spent a day "on the ground" outside of the Ann Arbor bubble. It was inspiring and hopeful.

The result of the November Election shocked me.  I had believed  that the "better angels" of the U.S. society (As defined by Lincoln is his first Inaugural Address) would prevail to create unity, hope, service and equality so that our nation could continue on the twisting and turning road along the arc of history bending toward justice as envisioned by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the three plus months since Election Day, my mind and heart and soul grew sad and depressed, scared and overwhelmed, in denial and trying to figure out what's next.

Thanksgiving, my 76th Birthday, Advent, Christmas, and New Years intervened .

The Detroit Lions' phenomenal Season and Playoff appearance created  diversion from the national news.

Immediately after the New Year, a journey to St. Paul to  demonstrated that a new baby, good music and theater, and connection with family can focus one's mind and heart on what's really important.   

Yet, the shock of the Election is still here, turning to anger and sadness... and now fear.

The Inauguration and initial actions of the administration have brought forth awful realities.

Despite reading the Book of Lamentations to "sit" in my grief, I've not yet been able to move  beyond the fact that  the people of the U.S.A. voted for a racist, misogynistic, convicted felon- twice impeached- whose lies foster division, chaos and mistrust among the citizens.

I've seen the administration  abuse its power to restrict our freedoms, erode democracy, and trample the rights of people on the margins of society.  History tells us what can take place when autocracy and oligarchy take over.  

I believe those among us  who disagree with the new regime need to resist its attempts to undermine democratic ideals.

We may be required to engage in civil disobedience.

We may need to hide refugees and immigrants and other marginalized people as resisters hid Jews during the Nazi  rise to power in Europe in the 1930s.

People of Faith need to call upon the ideals of justice to stand  together against the efforts to scapegoat minorities, the LGBTQ community , immigrants, and others deemed “outsiders” by the regime.

The new Bonhoeffer movie chronicles the story of  one who resisted Hitler's rise in the 1930's, motivated by faith .

Personally, I've been doing lots of reading and studying to try to understand from history and faith stories a way forward for me. There are excellent examples of people who have stood up for justice in the face of evil: Frederick Douglass,  Anne Frank, Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King, Jr., Deiterich Bonhoeffer, Caesar Chavez, Greta Sunberg, Bryan Stevenson......

My own  activities are focusing on reflection, prayer, and  preparation in these challenging times. I'm looking for teachers, for a regular practice, for community

Change is upon us, as always....within and without.

We need each other more than ever.

The Reflections of Thomas Merton and Mother Theresa,

The Prayers of St. Francis and Howard Truman,

The Preparations of Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

These meditations, readings, poems strengthen my soul.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy gave a speech in Cape Town , South Africa in 1966,  the month I graduated from St. Michael's High School in Flint which included the following words to remember:

"Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills--against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence... few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total all those acts will be written the history of this generation.

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest  walls of oppression and resistance."

Reflection, Prayers, Preparation.......... 

I believe that appropriate acts going forward will present themselves as we are  reflective, prayerful , and prepared. 

As R.F.K. told the people of apartheid South Africa, "Let no one be discouraged......."