Tonight begins the 15th Day of the Omer (April 27-28, 2006) , which is Hesed in Tiferet.
Read about the Kabbalistic imagery for this day that connects to the ideas expressed in the piece below.
Toddler Activist, Shai Gluskin at age 1.
Pacoima, California, 1959
The Save Darfur: Rally to Stop Genocide is happening in Washington this Sunday. I'm going with my family, my synagogue, my synagogue movement, my neighbors; so many people I know are going. And we'll be dwarfed by all the people whom I don't know who are going.
In terms of what is happening in Darfur, what needs to be done, what are the best policies to advocate for... I haven't kept up. I don't know. I'm not going to Washington to advocate for a method or a policy, but something simpler: no to genocide.
My colleague Rabbi Vivie Mayer from Danbury, CT reports that people there refer to the rally as "going to Darfur" and not "going to Washington." Many in her community are going.
In the photo I'm certainly not advocating for anything beyond my own nose. Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development don't start heating up till about age 10. So while my cause in this case is likely something along the lines of "Let me out of this friggin' 'play' pen!," the intention and commitment are strong and pure.
There is nothing complex about the nature of the oppression, no strategizing about the best form of advocacy. There is a clear outcome which would fully dismiss the complaint.
Stop the genocide. Period. We'll know when it is over when people stop dying. Period.
I deeply appreciate all those who are working on the muddled earthly complexities of alleviating the suffering in Darfur. I certainly can't claim to be among those doing that important work. My participation this weekend is nothing other than helping to deliver a simple message. Would that that would be enough.
- Are you going to "Darfur"?, to "Washington"?
- What are your thoughts, intentions, and or feelings?
I invite you to comment by clicking on the link.