What About Privilege, Justice, and Social Responsibility?

What About Privilege, Justice, and Social Responsibility?

So much has been written about “white privilege” in recent weeks in relation to discrimination against people of color. In the “take the knee” debate, one side wants to raise awareness of a systemic racism problem in the USA, while the other insists that this is just blatant disrespect for our flag and our country.

Many of the same concepts apply to “male privilege” as used against females. Sexual harassment and assault are in the headlines with the latest scandals, hence the “Me Too” statuses and hashtags on Facebook and Twitter, which is an extension of the “#YesAllWomen” theme from last year.

Some claim there is little or no racial or gender inequity going on, and if there is, “Well, we all just need to buck up and deal with what life throws at us. It'll all work out in the end.” With this reasoning, no one else is required to do much of anything to address injustice based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or socio-economic status, etc. “It’s not our fault. End of story. Shut up and play ball.”

Hearing this is why so many protesters are speaking up and imploring each one of us to “check your privilege.” This means taking time to examine how we personally benefit from a social system which passively enjoys or even aggressively seizes unfair advantages over others. It also means considering how often we conveniently ignore issues like police brutality which disproportionately target people of color. Because, like, it doesn’t affect me personally. Not in my neighborhood. He was just a big bad black dude. Of course he could expect to be shot to death.

Some complain that raising the uncomfortable issue of oppression shames innocent whites -- a sort of reverse racism. Maybe it is, depending on how it is presented. I don’t think it’s fair to imply that “white = bad” or “male = bad” or “cop = bad”. But it is fair to ask us to examine our lives and see how we fit in with the culture at large, and how much we truly care when others suffer. We can deal with that awkwardness, can’t we? It will help us see and do better!

To be honest, I am a rookie at social justice issues related to racism. I’ve done much more research on abuses of gender and religion than I have on racism. I’m learning as I go. I have countless blind spots and unconscious prejudices. But I hope I’m at least making progress.

I am willing to speak up, even if it means I am criticized for it. I believe in calling out injustice when I see it.

I think we should honestly face the areas where we have each fallen short; at the same time, it’s not necessary to wallow in blame and shame. That only leads to bitterness, resistance, and more reactive division. I would rather that people see that they have an amazing opportunity to do better moving forward.

As Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

First, we are responsible for sharing at least part of what we have received for the betterment of society and not just ourselves, especially if our own success is built on privileges received and not just our own raw unaided effort. As we do this, we also need to realize that we are not superior to others just because we have more education, money, friends, or social graces. So it should never be a “pity the poor heathens” deal when we help others. There is such a thing as human dignity and respect. We should actually take the time to get to know people as people, to appreciate the value of their lives and their cultures, and to learn from them, rather than to treat them as a mere charity project to make us feel good about ourselves.

Second, we are responsible as citizens to bring correction to a legal and social system which discriminates. You may say, “Show me an unjust racial law. We don’t have Jim Crow anymore. Black people can vote. Our schools have been desegregated. There are affirmative action laws in place. The law doesn’t tell cops to go after blacks more than whites.” That may be true. But that doesn’t account for the fact that a law can be written justly, yet applied and enforced unfairly.

There is something we can do about systemic racial or gender injustice - which is to make it socially and politically unacceptable. How? We can:

• Put the pressure on our peers in a good way. 
• Teach our kids how to relate to others who are different. 
• Call out racist or sexist remarks, even if someone is “just joking” or is someone you otherwise respect. 
• Speak truth to power by writing to legislators. 
• Share good article links on Facebook and Twitter. 
• Refuse to vote for politicians who are bigoted or misogynistic. 
• Research causes of poverty and homelessness, such as addiction, family violence, mental health issues, lack of educational access, lack of affordable housing, lack of affordable health care. 
• Support community and political initiatives to address those problems. 
• Fund pro-justice charitable organizations which have high-reliability ratings.
• Read the news, and use our educated discernment about who to believe - with a keen eye for actual credibility and not just what already fits our paradigm. 

Yeah, that kind of stuff. Society is not static. Be a positive change agent. Are we already doing that? We can always do even more as we open our eyes and hearts.

Back to examining privilege for a moment:

Do you have a decent education?

Do you have a job which pays a living wage?

Do you have finances beyond your own basic needs?

Do you positive have social connections?

Do you live in a safe neighborhood with a reliable utility infrastructure?

Do you have creative talents?

Do you have physical health?

Do you have access to personal transportation?

Do you have a media platform?

Do you have any voice at all?

Glory be! You’re blessed!

And I’ll bet other people helped you get where you are.

Somebody provided for your needs as you grew up.

Somebody taught you.

Somebody introduced you to others who could help you.

Somebody invested in you.

Somebody took a chance on you.

Somebody nurtured you.

Somebody put in a good word for you.

And here you are now, with all kinds of tangible and non-tangible assets as a direct or indirect result of what you received.

You could legally keep them for yourself or for your own family.

But what kind of life is that?

"A person wrapped up in him/herself makes an awfully small package."

I posted a paragraph this morning on Facebook:

I'm sitting down today to reflect on what I want each facet of my life to look like as I move forward into the future. Much as I believe in the importance of proper self-care, I am convinced of one thing: I don't want to live for myself. If my life has God-given purpose at all, much of this will be connected with compassion and concern for others, starting with my own family, and then beyond. That's what I want to do. That's who I want to be.

I hope that’s who you want to be, too.

Now for some thoughts from the Good Book to help us all do that. (All passages are from the New International Version of the Bible.)

~*~*~*~

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:6-12

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:34-40

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!  What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. ”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:12-18

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5:1-6

"With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:6-8

Grace and peace,

Virginia Knowles

P.S. I wood-burned this verse today as a way of harnessing creativity for justice.

P.P.S. This is the first blog post I've written in months. I just couldn't stay silent any longer. Writing is another way I can advocate for justice. Sometimes it is an essay, other times a poem. Here are some that I have written in the past, keeping in mind that most of my focus so far has been on issues like gender inequity, religious abuse, homelessness, and human trafficking. Most of these are on my Watch the Shepherd blog.

Justice for the Vulnerable

• International Women's Day 2017: What Do You Stand For?
• We Can't Ignore Domestic Violence 
• Identifying Child Trafficking Victims
• Turtle (Fellow) (Wo)Man, a Poem by Abigail Munday
• The Puritans, The Quakers, and Little Old Me (Reflections on A Measure of Light)
• A Story About Elder Abuse 
• 13 Ways to Help People Who Are Homeless, Especially in Wintertime
• A Note Wedged into the Window on My Van (and The Jesus Poem)
• 27 Million Slaves Today
• The Harp in the Willow (Poem)
• Your Kindness Gave Me Courage (Poem)

Examining Our Attitudes with Humility:

• King Jesus vs. Yertle the Turtle
• Dignity, Decisions, and Liberty of Conscience
• True Repentance (It's a Very Good Thing!)
• We Plough the Fields and Scatter (Strength in Hymn)
• Let There Be Peace on Earth (Strength in Hymn)

27 Million Slaves Today

Dear friends,

There are ‎27 million slaves in the world today.  That number is completely mind boggling to me.  Try to imagine that many people in one place.  Try to wrap your mind around the unbelievable suffering they experience, so many of them with no hope in sight.  Try to imagine you are one of them. Just try.  It breaks your heart, doesn't it?  It should.  Mine isn't broken nearly enough.

Yes, there are slaves even here in the USA.  Right here in my hometown Orlando, due to the tourist industry, human trafficking (especially for the sex trade) is a serious problem.  

Human trafficking it also quite a hot button social justice issue among young evangelicals, and even middle aged ones like me.

January 13 was International Human Trafficking Awareness Day, as proclaimed by President Obama.  In honor of that, I posted links on Facebook all evening,  I thought I'd collect all of my links and combine them into one blog post. If you know of more links, please send them along!

College kids vow to end slavery CNN reports on the Passion student conference that raised over $3 million to fight human trafficking.  (They reported $2.6 million, but more has come in!)

International Justice Mission International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor.  I have read the book Just Courage (subtitled God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian) by IJM's founder Gary Haugen and highly recommend it.

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is the first of three hard-hitting, feature-length documentaries that expose the disturbing trends of modern sex slavery and offer hope for its abolition.

Rahab's Rope exists to give hope and opportunity to women and girls that have been forced into the commercial sex trade of India. By creating a safe and loving environment, they are enabled to grow and develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our work provides basic education and vocational training for each girl and woman who come through our centers; ultimately, allowing them to integrate into their communities in a positive and constructive manner.

Florida Abolitionist (FA) is a non governmental organization established to campaign against modern day slavery. FA is a sister organization of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT). This organization was created as a result of encouragement by Anna Rodriguez, the founder and president of FCAHT. FA’s approach is a focused strategy to educate, equip, and empower the faith community. Tomas J. Lares, the founder and president of FA is passionate about ending modern day slavery. As a child he was captivated by the life of Harriet Tubman. Lares believes that a 21st century abolitionist revival movement has begun. 

And, one that my cousin Elizabeth sent to me today after I posted on the blog...

Stop Traffick Fashion  provides opportunities and hope for survivors of human trafficking while offering unique clothing and accessories. Survivors who have been rescued from their captors make almost all of our accessories and receive income from STF sales. In addition, a portion of all sales revenue is donated back to our partner organizations that rescue victims and provide rehabilitation and training. 

Please note that I am providing these links for your information.  I am not endorsing everything about these organizations.

Sunday Evening

I am sitting outside a cafe with wi-fi while my kids are at youth group (www.lakebaldwinchurch.com) and reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn. I had heard about the book via Carolyn Custis James, and found out that Ms. WuDunn would be speaking at the Synergy conference in Orlando last night. Julia and I went, and I'm glad we did. She is a gifted speaker and insightful journalist. Maybe that's why she and her co-author husband won a joint Pulitzer for their coverage of China for the New York Times.

I checked the book out from the library this afternoon. It's not a pleasant read since it is filled with stories of human trafficking, child brides, gender discrimination induced poverty and other horrors inflicted on women worldwide. But it is also filled with hope as it tells of women who have risen above it all not only to make a life for themselves but also bring redemption to their communities.

I'll write more later. Now, back to the book!

Virginia

Weekend Gratitude: Cairo, Justice & Mercy, and "A Hymn For All the World"

Dear friends,

This post is a little longer than most, but hang tight with me and I promise you a little musical treat at the end.  I might not be very eloquent with my words, but the topics are important ones.If you know me well, you know that I have always loved global missions, and that I have increasingly become more aware of (and vocal about) global justice and mercy issues.  Like many of you, I've been trying to keep up with the news of what is happening in Cairo, Egypt, as protesters are demanding democracy and the ouster of President Mubarak.


So you can imagine my delight this morning at Lake Baldwin Church when our pastor, Mike Tilley, interviewed a young lady named Kate who is a student at American University in Cairo.  Kate is returning there tomorrow; her apartment is right in the center of the action, just across the street from government buildings, and a mere five minute walk from the main square.  Her friends have told her there is a tank parked right outside her building!  Kate is pursuing a master's degree in International Human Rights Law and is actively involved in the Resettlement Legal Aid Project which serves refugees from other parts of Africa, including the Sudan.  Many of these families have suffered severely from torture and imprisonment.  She attends an Anglican church for ex-pats; her pastor and the congregation are involved in inter-faith dialogue and community service.  She mentioned that the Coptic Christians were holding a mass in the main square in memory of protesters who had been killed, and that the Muslims had vowed to stand guard and protect them.  According to CNN's report today, "The demonstrations Sunday generally seemed peaceful, often taking on a festive atmosphere. Among those taking part were members of Egypt's Christian minority, who held a Mass in Tahrir Square paying tribute to those killed during clashes. Some Muslim protesters vowed to form a ring around the Christians and protect them during the service.  Egypt's population is 10% Christian, a minority mostly made up of Coptic Christians."  


Kate's pastor requested prayer along the lines of Psalm 71:1-6, "In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.   In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.  Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.  From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you."


I spoke to Kate after the service, and she was quite pleased when I asked if I could share this information with you.  I also met her mother; I can relate just a little bit to how she might be feeling sending her daughter off into this tumultuous situation, since my daughter Julia went to Bolivia for three months around the same time as a government coup there. ("A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.")  At least Italy is a little more stable place to send Rachel and Joanna for three months this time around!  They left here on Wednesday and love being in Chiavari.  (Happy 20th birthday, Rachel!)  

Kate is already aware of International Justice Mission but hadn't heard yet about author and speaker Carolyn Custis James, who is trying to mobilize Christian women to get involved in global justice issues.  I had read her book When Life and Belief Collide, about women and theology, which Thad bought me for Christmas.  When I went to buy a second copy to send with my girls to my friend Jeannette Walti in Italy, I found another of her books, The Gospel of Ruth, which also touches on global women's issues as it relates the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz.  I'm right in the middle of reading that now.  Then, doing a web search, I found that her newest book, Half the Church: Recapturing God's Global Vision for Women, will make its debut at her Synergy2011 conference March 4-6 here in Orlando.  I can't attend the whole conference, but I am planning on at least going to the Saturday evening session presented by Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer prize winning Chinese-American journalist and co-author of the NY Times best-selling book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Ms. WuDunn (who is not a professing Christian) will be speaking about the ongoing violence & oppression against women and the belief that "Women aren't the problem - they're the solution."  I think this will be very eye-opening to anyone who gets stuck thinking of what's going on what around them. Time to take the blinders off!

Also this morning at church, Mike Tilley started a new sermon series on Jonah, reminding us that "All people matter to God" -- no matter where they live -- and that "God gives us unexpected assignments" even when it means preaching the gospel of grace to your enemies.  For ultimately, God's perfect justice (against sin) and mercy (for sinners) meet at the cross of Jesus.


Last Sunday, the final sermon in the "Rhythms of Grace" series was on the Great Commission.  Dave Abney encouraged us to look around for opportunities to serve in our communities, as well as further the cause of global missions.  As part of a responsive reading, we recited an Affirmation of Faith from the Church of South India.  "We believe that God has called us to a partnership for the continuance of his mission in this time and place, and that, though we live in the midst of confusion, turmoil, exploitation, oppression and in the grip of the forces of death, we are called to be instruments of peace and justice." 


The justice theme again!  And that wasn't all!  Josh Bales, the worship leader, led us in singing "A Hymn for All the World."  When I looked it up on-line later, I realized he had written it.  I asked him this morning if I could include the lyrics here. He mentioned that you can download it on iTunes (it's from his CD Underneath the Armor), so now I have it on my iPod. (I also downloaded his renditions of "Psalm 84" and "May the Mind of Christ My Savior.") Just 99 cents each for great music!  He also said you can find it on YouTube, so here it is, followed by the lyrics.





"A Hymn for All the World"
by Josh Bales


There is no place in all the world
   you do not call your own.
Creator of all peoples
   every nation every tongue.

From every corner of the earth,
   boundless is your reign.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
   hear us sing your praise.


We your people call to you,
  asking for your help.
God be merciful to those
  whose pain we've never felt.
Give them rest from worldly sorrow,
   bless them Lord with food to eat.
We ask you, Gentle Shepherd
   call the ones that are your sheep.


All seeing Lord, now look to those
   in city and in field,
Who seek to spread your fame and love,
   this broken world to heal.
See your persecuted children,
   soothe their violent wounds.
In their weakness be their strength,
   that they might hope in you.


Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
   may your kingdom come
In all the earth as it is in heaven,
   may your will be done.
In all the world in all our hearts,
   Jesus you are King.
We wait, we hope, we trust, we know,
   your face we soon shall see.

~*~*~

For justice & mercy in the grace of Jesus,

Virginia Knowles

http://www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.com/

P.S. If you haven't had the chance yet, take a peek at my

"With Literature and Justice for All" Workshop Videos

If you could go back in time, what would you do the week before Roe v. Wade?

Dear friends,

I hate politics. I really do. I'd much rather bury my head in the sand. Unfortunately for me, this is not the time for that.


An e-mail I received this morning posed the provocative question, "If you could go back in time, what would you do the week before Roe v. Wade?"


The obvious next question is, what are we going to do this week, when the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on the health care reform, which, because the House version does not include the Stupak protections against government funded abortions, will mean the largest expansion of the killing of preborn babies since Roe v. Wade?


Stop the Abortion Mandate (STAM) is a coalition of over 70 pro-life and pro-family groups working together to prevent government-funding of abortion in healthcare. You can find a wealth of information on their web site at www.stoptheabortionmandate.com.


If you want to call your representative but don't know who or how, click here.


Spread the word by Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, and however else you can think!


For life,


Virginia Knowles

A Tour Through Liberty

Dear friends,

My sister was just remembering this photo after her family took a trip to NYC to celebrate the 30th birthday of our sweet sister-in-law, Dana Quarrier. My Aunt Camille kindly sent this to us. It was taken on September 6, 2000 at the Statue of Liberty, and yes, those are the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the background.

(From left to right: Virginia, Micah in the stroller, Mary with Lydia in front of her, Joanna, Barb with her baby Amy, my niece Carrie, my nephew Doug, Rachel, Julia, and my brother John with Andrew on his lap. All of the children are mine, except where noted. I was also pregnant with Naomi at the time.)

~*~*~

After we came home from our Liberty Tour, I wrote an article about it for the Hope Chest, the home school e-magazine that I still publish. I was trying to draw some parallels from American history to the modern home education movement. Here is the article:

~*~*~

A TOUR THROUGH LIBERTY

The children and I had a golden opportunity this past month to go “up north” and visit my family. My sister Barb, who is the adventurous type, suggested that we go on a mega American history field trip for three days. This takes quite some doing when you are traveling in three cars with 10 children, two moms and a grandma!

The first day found us in Valley Forge, where George Washington wintered with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and where we misplaced a daughter for about 45 minutes (long story, Mom’s fault). When we toured Washington’s headquarters there, the guide inquired why our children were not in school. My reply? They are! School takes place wherever we happen to be learning at the moment! What freedom! At the Episcopal chapel at Valley Forge, things took on a personal note. The names of two of our ancestors (Captain Samuel Ransom and Captain Alexander Quarrier) are inscribed on the list of patriot heroes on the bell tower wall, and our girls took turns making crayon rubbings.

After spending the night with my brother in New Jersey, we headed out to the Statue of Liberty in New York City. Two other home school families met us there, so our clan swelled to 16 children, four moms, one grandma and an uncle. The ferry from the Jersey side took us first to Ellis Island, where immigrants were processed for entry into the USA in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here we made more rubbings from a wall, this time of the names of great-great uncles and aunts who came from Italy (Thad’s side of the family) and Germany (my side). It was after 2 o’clock when we got to the Statue of Liberty, so none of us got to climb the stairs to the crown. While the rest of our party went up to the pedestal (still quite a view from there), Grandma and I stayed at the bottom with the three little ones and browsed through the museum.

The next morning (my 37th birthday) I woke up with morning sickness and a bad headache, but a few hours later we were able to drive back to Pennsylvania to see historic Philadelphia: the Liberty Bell in its glass pavilion, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and more. Though we’d had lots of fun and learning, you can imagine that my patience level hit rock bottom by the time we got back to Grandma’s house near Washington D.C. that night!

Yep, that was quite some field trip all right! Lest I forget, my refrigerator door is now plastered with souvenir magnets, and miracles of miracles, the photos are already in an album. But I digress. I would like to share some historical background as well as a few things related to the home education movement that struck me as we visited these hallowed grounds.

The Liberty Bell, made in England, arrived in Philadelphia in 1753. Hung in the State House (now known as Independence Hall), it was often rung to herald important town meetings, toll the deaths of dignitaries and more. Inscribed with a verse from Leviticus, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”, it was testimony to the desire of the British colonists to lead lives of liberty in a land where justice reigned supreme. Unfortunately, over the next two decades, it became increasingly obvious that the royal and parliamentary rulers across the Atlantic were more interested in their own fortunes than in fair governance. They would not listen to the repeated pleas of the colonists for representation in the decisions that affected them. As unrest grew, freedom-minded folks knew that soon the Liberty Bell would ring for another reason! I think of how long modern parents and other concerned citizens have been laboring like the petitioning colonists, this time fighting to regain religious liberties and promote academic excellence within the public school system. I commend them. But I also commend those who have decided they cannot subject their own children to secular mediocrity when it looks like effective reforms will never happen. Their conviction is that the time for independence is now, thus they choose to educate their children privately or at home.

At Independence Hall in the summer of 1776, a group of courageous patriots pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to declare independence for the American colonies. Toiling in secrecy in tightly sealed rooms (no air conditioning for the sweltering heat) they composed the document which became the birth announcement of a new nation. They knew that the penalty for such political treason was death by hanging, but they willingly made the sacrifice. Since they had not much to gain for themselves, and everything to lose, they were truly doing this for the generations to come. We in the 21st century take for granted the notion of a democratic republic, but back then it was a rather alien concept, virtually untried. Now think about our home school forebears in just the last few decades who risked ridicule, truancy charges, court cases, imprisonment and even the removal of their children in a time when the alien concept of home schooling was not considered a “viable educational option.” What’s this? You think you can teach your OWN children at HOME? (Actually, harking back to colonial days, home schooling was quite the norm!) These brave dads and moms sacrificed their lives (time), their fortune (money) and their sacred honor (reputation in the community) so that not only they, but WE, years later, could have the FREEDOM to educate our children according to our convictions. (Yes, I know there are still legal battles going on, but comparatively few now compared to back then.) I remember when I was in college and had never even really heard about home schooling, weeping in prayer over accounts of seven brave fathers in Nebraska who went to jail over the right to privately educate their children at an unaccredited parent-controlled Christian school. I don’t know how that particular case ever turned out, but I do know that we in our day stand tall on the backs of willing-to-be-martyrs such as these. God bless them!

Let’s turn our attention to Valley Forge as a symbol of the dedication to a noble cause. It’s one thing to declare liberty, but quite another to fight for it, year after year, through deprivation and discouragement, until it is fully attained and peace comes at last. When I think of the sacrifices that these men and their families made to bring independence to fruition for the newborn United States, I am profoundly grateful. If you’ve read your history books, you know that certain leaders in the fledgling government, far removed from the battlefield, were at first unwilling to make practical provision -- food, clothing, supplies -- for their brave soldiers. Is it any wonder that so many men either deserted the army or simply went home when their minimum time commitment was up? But it is a great wonder that so many stayed and gave their all for liberty. Let’s say you have decided to declare your independence from government schooling by keeping (or bringing) your children home for their education. That’s just the start. Now you have to pay dearly for it! Now you have to put in the time for lesson planning and teaching. Now you have to shell out your hard earned cash for books and supplies and activity fees. Now you may have to face unsupportive relatives and neighbors. You might feel like you are gutting it out all alone, but your convictions keep you pressing on. You know that even though no one is pointing a gun at your head, you are in serious spiritual warfare for the hearts and minds of your precious children. Forge on, even in the valley!

Onward through history! The Statue of Liberty was a centennial (100th) birthday present from the people of France, who had been our loyal allies (remember the Marquis de Lafayette?) in the war, and who admired and sought to emulate our form of representative government. It’s nice to have cheerleaders and fans! After you’ve been home schooling for a while, those looking on might start to say things like, “Your children seem to be learning a lot at home!” They clip out newspaper articles for you, bring over interesting books for your students, or volunteer to take them to the symphony. They might even start home schooling their own children! We are a witness to the world. If we are successful in our endeavors, they will want what we have.

I think next of the immigrants who stepped out of dark, musty steerage compartments onto solid ground at Ellis Island after weeks and months at sea. These men, women and children came to our shores with a sense of adventure, ready to embark on a whole new life with opportunities not available to them where they had come from. They didn’t have lots of resources to start with, perhaps just the clothes on their back, but they were willing to work hard, to learn a new language, to adopt new cultural customs. If they were lucky, they had friends or family already in the New World to help them get adjusted. When you started home schooling, did it seem like you had entered a foreign land? You had to learn the educational jargon, you had to adjust your lifestyle (maybe you gave up mom’s income) and rearrange your house. You had to face confusing curriculum choices. And you had to find your place in the home school counterculture, which has its own values and philosophies. If you were lucky, you had a mentor to hold your hand and give you advice as you got started. But you still had to learn to stand on your own two feet, and to make the decisions that only you can make for your family. But now this new land is YOUR land! Are you glad you came?

Well, this has been a rather painless romp through American history for us, sitting in our comfortable homes in front of truly technological wonders, our desktop computers. I only ask that we remember with gratitude all that has been done on our behalf, by both patriots and home schoolers. But freedom gained once is not freedom guaranteed forever. Political maneuvering can drastically change the course of a nation in just one election, or even between elections. I beseech you, that as we look ahead to the future months and years, that we will remain vigilant to preserve and even further reclaim our freedoms, our right to educate our own children in a spirit of liberty and excellence.

~*~*

And that last sentence, my friends, is more true than ever!

P.S. After I wrote this post, my second cousin Margaret, a home school mom in North Carolina, sent me this link to a case in which a judge in a divorce case ordered three home schooled children back to public school despite the fact that they are performing above grade level: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4727161/

For liberty!

Virginia

I Am An American! (A Poem)

Dear friends and family,

I went to vote this morning! Many of my friends had reported waiting 2 or 3 hours, but our county has extended the hours, so there was absolutely no line at our local public library when I went at 8:20 AM. With as much as I have to do in life, I'm thankful for that, but I would have voted even if I'd had to wait. It is worth it to me.

I want to share you a favorite poem that I have given out to my English class the two years we have studied American literature. Written by a Russian Jew who came to the USA at age 7, it is sure to stir your patriotism -- not just for the past, but for the future. The first stanza speaks for folks like me, whose ancestors (Captains Samuel Ransom and Alexander Quarrier) really did fight in the Revolution. The second is the voice of those who have immigrated from oppressive countries, like my friends Olga, Monica, Ovi, Anna Marie, and Zamfira.

I am An American
by Elias Lieberman

I am an American.
My father belongs to the Sons of the Revolution;
My mother, to the Colonial Dames.
One of my ancestors pitched tea overboard in Boston Harbor;
Another stood his ground with Warren;
Another hungered with Washington at Valley Forge.
My forefathers were America in the making:
They spoke in her council halls;
They died on her battlefields;
They commanded her ships;
They cleared her forests.
Dawns reddened and paled.
Staunch hearts of mine beat fast at each new star
In the nation's flag.
Keen eyes of mine foresaw her greater glory:
The sweep of her seas,
The plenty of her plains,
The man-hives in her billion-wired cities.
Every drop of blood in me holds a heritage of patriotism.
I am proud of my past.
I am an American.

I am an American.
My father was an atom of dust,
My mother a straw in the wind,
To his serene majesty.
One of my ancestors died in the mines of Siberia;
Another was crippled for life by twenty blows of the knout;
Another was killed defending his home during the massacres.
The history of my ancestors is a trail of blood
To the palace gate of the Great White Czar.
But then the dream came
The dream of America.
In the light of the Liberty torch
The atom of dust became a man
And the straw in the wind became a woman
For the first time.
"See," said my father, pointing to the flag that fluttered near,
"That flag of stars and stripes is yours;
It is the emblem of the promised land,
It means, my son, the hope of humanity.
Live for it die for it!"
Under the open sky of my new country I swore to do so;
And every drop of blood in me will keep that vow.
I am proud of my future.
I am an American.

Justice by Heart

Dear friends,

The LORD spoke through his prophet Isaiah: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:6-12 New International Version (NIV)

I found this passage during my quiet time this morning and it is so relevant to me. I've been thinking a lot about justice lately -- how to live it, how to help make it happen for others ("the oppressed"), and how to teach it to my children. (Of course, that means learning how to treat each other better right here at home.) I try, but I come up short time and time again in applying these truths. So I seek insight and encouragement. A trusted friend at church commented recently about how a Christian book, Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen, is totally rocking her world. I think a lot of us need to be challenged in this area. I know I do.

I read Isaiah 58:6-12 again to some of my children at the start of our home school day, stopping to define words like "oppression" and "yoke" along the way. Later, Ben found an old Bible alphabet puzzle in the closet and saw the Y piece with the yoke picture. Then he understand what I had meant, at least a little bit more. A yoke steals freedom. It is hard and unbending. It makes you do things that you would not otherwise do.

A simple picture like this is worth a thousand words. And pictures are sometimes what we need -- visual ones, verbal ones, relational ones -- to shake us out of our lethargy. The promises are profound: we shall live as well-watered gardens in the midst of a sun-scorched land, with light and healing, with guidance and protection. Isn't this such a comfort even in such a time of financial turmoil and global conflict? Our blessings are not always tangible ones like money and the tantalizing things it can buy. They are the essential ones of inner peace and joy, of the paradoxical wholeness that comes from being broken for others, of the knowledge that we have made an impact in the lives of precious human beings.

I searched the web for something about Bolivia this morning, and by chance came across a site mentioning a movie about the crime of human trafficking -- modern day slavery. I wept. What can I do? I don't know yet. Thad and I are going to Sara Groves' Art*Music*Justice concert two weeks from tonight in Tampa; it is a benefit for the International Justice Mission, which deals with this issues. I also rejoice to see folks from our church doing things like organizing a rummage sale to benefit a Haitian orphanage damaged by the hurricanes. This is Christian compassion in action. I want to be part of all of this, as busy as I am with my own large family. I hope I will breathe it until the day I die. I hope I will pass it to my children, not just in words but in my own example. That's how my daughters got involved in the pro-life movement at first. Then they stayed in it because they believed in it for themselves, even though I haven't been as directly involved for several years. Now it's my girls who decide to order the "Love Lets Live" T-shirts from the pro-life web site http://www.abort73.com/. (Yeah, I ordered one, too -- I didn't want to be left out!)

I'll write more on the topic of justice later, I am sure. More and more and more, even as I have written in months past. You can see some of it in the category Do Justice ~ Love Mercy.

What about my blog title today, "Justice by Heart"? It was partly inspired by the novel, Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen, in which a young black girl (a Bible memory whiz) must painfully learn to apply the Scriptures about forgiveness when violence erupts against her own family. Then this morning, Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience blog mentioned Ann Kroeker's Mega Memory Month project where a challenge has gone out to memorize something substantial, something MEGA. I am personally choosing Isaiah 58:6-12, along with my own related poem, "Corpus Christi." It's not really really MEGA but it's enough for me right now. I have already written three of the Isaiah verses up on our white board in hopes that my family will join me in this challenge.

What will you memorize? And how will you then live?

"Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." (See Micah 6:6-8)