Galvanized by Gun Violence, Episcopalians Respond

[cbayer]

http://pressreleases.religionnews.com/2013/03/20/galvanized-by-gun-violence-episcopalians-respond/

March 20, 2013

Washington DC, March 20, 2013—This Lent, many Episcopalians are venturing far outside church walls to observe the Christian penitential season by participating in activities and advocating policies to reduce gun violence.

On Friday in Chicago, organizers of CROSSwalk, a prayerful four-mile procession led by Episcopal Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee, expect more than 2000 people to walk in memory of the city’s murdered children. The event, now in its second year, begins at the city’s Episcopal cathedral on the Gold Coast and ends at Stroger Hospital, where many victims of Chicago’s gun violence epidemic are treated or pronounced dead.

“We simply cannot continue to ignore the heartwrenching loss of young life that occurs with such horrifying frequency in Chicago and other cities in northern Illinois,” said Lee. “CROSSwalk calls us to pray, to build relationships and to act as though lives depend on us. And they do.”

On Monday in Washington DC, more than 20 Episcopal bishops from around the country will lead clergy and laypeople in praying the ancient Lenten service of the Stations of the Cross along Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the U.S. Capitol. Organized by the bishops and Diocese of Connecticut, bishops from Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC and Wisconsin are expected to participate in the ritual, which will stop in front of memorials, government buildings and works of art to offer prayers for an end to violence, the culture of violence, and the economic conditions that spawn violence.

more at link

[AnotherMcIntosh]

1. Focusing upon "the economic conditions that spawn violence" is absolutely essential.

But will any of the politicial leaders listen?

Why would any of them listen to us instead of their rich and super-rich patrons?

Why would they treat the conditions causing the economic collapse of this country as important to them?

Isn't it more important to them to seek more favor with the rich and super-rich, and even audition for future jobs with the rich and the super-rich?

[cbayer]

2. As rich as the rich may be, they still only get one vote a piece.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. I'm not sure how that works. In the Senate, if you subtract Sanders and Warren, they still have 98

votes. Maybe they have fewer, but we haven't seen any evidence of that.

In the House, they have even more votes. In major cities, ...

The level of the DOW does not reflect the economy for ordinary Americans. The endless wars and occupations, the transferring of money to the banksters, and the shifting of jobs to foreign countries, is breaking this country.

With few exceptions, there are no nationally known politicians who seem to care at all about what is happening to the economic conditions of ordinary Americans. Can you think of many besides Sanders and Warren?

[cbayer]

5. I have been rather taken aback by the lack of vocal support for the poor in this

country, but I think more attention is being paid to the "middle class". Politicians will turn towards where the most noise is being made, imo. So I say kudos to the Episcopalians who are doing this.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. "I think more attention is being paid to the 'middle class'."? In what way?

Lip service is paid by some nationally known politicians to support policies to benefit the American middle class (or what's left of it). They give such lip service during the now-extended elections seasons and when they are put in a public spotlight.

But if you disregard the lip service and look at their actions, their actions don't support their words.

When there is a choice between representing the policies to benefit the rich and super-rich and representing the policies to benefit the rest of America, the nationally known politiicans (with few exceptions) choose the rich and the super-rich over and over again.

The trickle-down theory doesn't work. We are not going to get any benefit from the trickle-down theory. Many of the nationally-known politicians are and will, but we're not.

[cbayer]

8. While I don't disagree with much of what you say, I am optimistic about some

things that are happening. For example, I think the major beneficiaries of the ACC are regular working people.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. If you are referring to the Affordable Care Act, and even if the beneficiaries of that Act are the

major beneficiaries, it seems that the politicans' support for the endless wars and occupations, the rich and super-rich with our money and our grandchildrens' futures, and the continuation of having manufacturing jobs in foreign countries, is going to create more "regular working people."

The halo effect of the Affordable Care Act doesn't change that. We cannot reduce the conditions leading to violence in this country by pointing to the Affordable Care Act, the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Act, etc.

Those who want to reduce violence in this country should take steps to change the "economic conditions that spawn violence".

It's good to see that the Episcopalians are taking a step to do so. However, as indicated, I don't think that is any factual basis to believe that the politiicans who represent the rich and the super-rich are going to listen. For those politicans who want to share in the wealth of the rich and the super-rich, it is not in their best interest to do so.

[cbayer]

10. I guess I am just somewhat more optimistic than you.

Although I loathe the tea party, they were able to make some significant political waves outside of the regular paths to power. If the left put their mind to it, I think they could accomplish some of the same leverage.

And knowing that they have significant groups, like the Episcopalians, behind them makes that more likely.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. Because the "tea party" is not in charge, if you want to see a reduction in violence by doing what

you mentioned in the OP that the many Episcopalians are doing to do so by seeking to change the "economic conditions that spawn violence," I think that we sould focus upon the national politicians who can (theoritically) change policies.

The "tea party" did not participate in approving of the transfer of money for endless wars and occupations, the transferring of money to the banksters, and the shifting of jobs to foreign countries. When there is a bad performance at a circus, I don't blame the clowns.

Let's push for a change in the "economic conditions that spawn violence."

[cbayer]

12. We agree.

My bringing up the tea party was an attempt to show how outsiders can be elected if the populace gets behind them.

[PETRUS]

4. One vote, but many lobbyists, foundations, think tanks and media outlets. (nt)

[cbayer]

6. All true, but there are also activist groups like this.