April 2015 – Engaging Peace

By Guest Author Emmanuel Mbaezue

Editorial cartoon criticizing the usage of literacy tests for African Americans as a qualification to vote.
Image is in the public domain.

Statistics have that in the United States, the number of unarmed black men and boys gunned down extra-judicially by white police officers since the killing of Michael Brown appears to be rising. Unfortunately for the future of the country, these human rights abuses do not just take America back to the shameful days of the Jim Crow Law, they also plunge the nation’s image into a downward spiral of distrust on the global scene.

Even some developing countries in the African, Asian and South American continents seem to enjoy better police-civilian relations than much of the US. The murderous disposition of some white police officers towards people of color in America is not only reminiscent of the dark days of apartheid South Africa, it also appears to be the new face of the Ku Klux Klan.

No great country ever escapes its past, although it can try to rectify its wrongs. The US continues to be plagued by racists moving blindly ahead in their murderous persecution of people of color. One of the most valuable truths that all Americans could learn is that the greatness of America cannot be measured in its military might, economic wealth, or scientific innovation.

True greatness can come only from respect and opportunities for the diverse peoples and cultures living here today—a respect that can enrich everyone far more than greed and prejudice. Borrowing the words of Yanni, the Jazz Man: “I am first a human being, then an Italian American, an Israeli American, a Chinese American, Iranian American, an African American…”

By guest author Michael Furtado—a post in our intermittent series on moral disengement

I am an online member of the virtual St Mary’s in Exile community based in South Brisbane, Queensland, though for many years I was an actual member of that community, when it operated out of a Catholic church in the same suburb. The pastor of that community is a Catholic priest, Peter Kennedy, who is now assisted by Terry Fitzpatrick, who is also a priest, ensuring some sort of leadership succession to sustain the community and help grow it in its mission to serve the poor and marginalized in this part of Australia. Our instincts are naturally inclusive and we are open, both theologically and practically, to all comers who wish to be part of our mission.

About five years ago, the Archbishop forced us to vacate the church premises as a means of trying to impose certain limitations, both theological and practical, on our political activities: for the homeless, for our Indigenous sisters and brothers, for refugees, and for the marginalized including our gay, lesbian and transgendered brothers and sisters. One of our most ardent and influential parishioners is Ciaran O’Reilly, who has been arrested and incarcerated many times, both in Australia and the US, for his actions against violent militarism and for an active and sustainable peace.

How did I get involved in all this? I was for some years the Education Officer, Peace, Justice and Development, at Brisbane Catholic Education, which services over two hundred schools in the Brisbane Archdiocese. The ecclesiastical authorities warned me against working for peace and justice in the community (praxis), so it wasn’t long before I came a cropper in the tension between preaching and action, which is a gap that has to be filled if the world, both locally and globally, is to become a place worth saving and celebrating.

I hope everyone will join in this international effort, not letting themselves be stymied by archaic power structures of any name.

Michael Furtado is a former school-teacher in Catholic schools in the UK and
Australia. He was not a success at school in India, where he was born, and
so pursued alternative paths of education that took him to London,
Strathclyde and Oxford universities. From there he migrated to Australia to
explore the possibility of alternative schools for marginalised children.
Catholic schools account for between a quarter and a fifth of all Australian
schools and so are major Australian educational providers. Michael did a
Masters at the University of WA and a PhD at Queensland University, while
gaining experience in post-Vatican II approaches to human development and
religious education. From 1985-92 he was Education Officer (Social Justice)
at Brisbane Catholic Education. Michael currently works in a social
inclusion education project, called Discovering Disability and Diversity,
with a colleague with a disability, Sharon Boyce.

AMERICA’S MOST PERSISTENT ILLNESS: RACISM

Refusing To Bow To The Forces Resisting Peace And Justice