| Afghanistan, Make Good Trouble, and HR 4
NCC Newsletter August 20, 2021 |
| | | What's Next for Afghanistan and for Us? |
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The collapse of the US-supported government of Afghanistan should not be a great surprise to anyone. I am not an expert on Afghan history, but I do know the people of Afghanistan have been subject to war and turmoil for more than 40 years. Millions have died and/or been made refugees by the 1979 Soviet invasion, by the Taliban takeover, and by the US invasion.
Following the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban government and to apprehend Osama bin Laden. I served as general secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society at that time. While our directors did not choose to oppose the US invasion, they did say that it was important for everyone to realize there were root causes behind what happened on 9/11.
In other words, as horrible and egregious as the attacks were, they did not happen in a historical vacuum. Those are hard words for Americans to hear. It is also difficult to hear that all of the lives lost and all of the treasure spent resulted in the near immediate collapse of the Afghan government we created and funded.
Early in 2002, I was part of a church delegation that sought to visit Afghanistan, but the US invasion of the nation had recently taken place and the situation was too unsettled for our delegation to visit. Thus, we traveled to Pakistan where we had meetings in Karachi and Lahore.
We then made our way to Quetta, a city not far from the border with Afghanistan. The scene was quite tense and we were accompanied by armed guards. Our delegation spent a day distributing food, clothing, and blankets to some of the many thousands of refugees living in Quetta, some since the days of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
At the beginning of President Obama’s first term, I was invited to the White House and asked my opinion on whether or not the president should send more troops to Afghanistan. I told them it was my viewpoint that there was no military victory to be had in Afghanistan and that sending more troops would be a mistake.
I don’t know what will happen next in Afghanistan. Nothing the Taliban has done in the past gives me a cause to hope they will treat women as equals or that they will honor religious freedom. Neither do I have confidence that the United States has learned that invading nations is an effective strategy. It is impossible to maintain an occupation without resistance.
I will continue to work and pray for peace. That is the faithful response. Blind patriotism is not. Reliance on war and terror, whether carried out by the Taliban or the United States or anyone else, is a recipe for misery and suffering.
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| | | Join NCC at the Make Good Trouble Rally |
| | | The NCC has partnered with national civil rights organizations for a historic event, the Make Good Trouble Rally, to be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the Lincoln Memorial starting at 10am. If you can safely make it to Washington, DC, join us as we live out our faith commemorating the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington.
Among many issues, the rally will focus on several NCC priorities: restoring voting rights, granting DC statehood, ending the filibuster, realizing reparations and bringing #HR40ToTheFloor, raising the minimum wage to $15, reimagining public safety and ending mass incarceration, and ending gun violence and funding peace.
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| | Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
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| H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, was introduced in Congress on August 17, 2021. It would restore and strengthen the freedom to vote by making sure that any changes to voting rules that could discriminate against voters based on race or background are federally reviewed.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a requirement to ensure minority voters across the country could participate equally in the electoral process. The Act prohibited discriminatory voting practices and ensured minority voting rights. But after being law for almost half a century, in the case Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated an enforcement mechanism that prevented states with a history of voting discrimination from making changes to voting laws unless the changes went through federal officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula for deciding which states and localities have a history of voting discrimination was unconstitutional and the court recommended Congress create a new formula. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will do this and restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act.
Learn more about the legislation and send a letter to your representatives in Congress through NCC's Action Network. |
| | | NCC Supports the Community First Act |
| The NCC has signed on to a letter in support of the reintroduction of the Community First Pretrial Reform and Jail Decarceration Act, that will "create a Department of Justice grant program to incentivize local governments and community partners to invest in programs and policies that reduce jail populations, and the number of days individuals spend in jail."
The letter explains:
“Jail incarceration rates in rural counties and small and midsized cities are vastly higher than those in urban centers and the suburbs. At present, more than half of the people in jail in our nation are in facilities in these less-populated areas. Minor offenses—often the result of poverty, mental illness, substance use, and lack of access to diversionary and treatment programs in these regions—drive the overuse of jails. Approximately two-thirds of the 633,000 individuals in American jails are presumed innocent and being held as they await trial. Unfortunately, disinvestment over recent decades by both the public and private sectors has left far too many of these smaller communities ill-equipped to fund agencies and programs that would better serve their needs.
The Community First Pretrial Reform and Jail Decarceration Act would help recreate public safety, reduce jail populations in smaller communities, and give community members, leaders, and organizations greater leadership in decisions about these issues. By providing resources to rural counties and smaller cities for reforms like ending cash bail, growing pretrial services and diversion programs, and assuring timely access to counsel, local governments and community organizations can address the uneven access to justice that fuels severe racial disparities and a continued growth in pretrial detention.”
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| | | COVID-19 Pandemic Response: |
| | Tactics for Direct Outreach |
| | The Made to Save blog has released "Field Report: Challenges & Lessons Learned in Direct Outreach about the COVID-19 Vaccines".
The report shares specific tactics that have improved the quality of canvasses that may be of use to our faith communities as they work on vaccination campaigns: - "When some are hesitant to talk about the vaccine, one group is training canvassers to pivot away from COVID-19 until the individual feels comfortable with the conversation."
- "Canvassing in high-traffic areas, rather than going door-to-door, often yields more successful conversations in a shorter amount of time. This is particularly effective if the locations are central meeting points for the community, such as a church, community center, or market."
If your church does direct outreach, be aware of the access challenges that have been reported by community organizations who are finding a deep mistrust among the unvaccinated and the impacts of historical, structural racism and prejudice in their local healthcare systems as well as a large population of people that lack a “medical home” to answer personal questions about their health and the COVID-19 vaccines.
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| | | | Eternal God, send forth your Sprit to encourage and strengthen the people of Haiti in these difficult times. We pray especially for those impacted by the recent earthquake. Encourage and strengthen those who help and support others. In your mercy, receive the souls of those who have died; comfort their families and loved ones. Surround with your presence the sick and suffering. Aid the work of those who still search and rescue. Empower the medical and aid workers and all who labor to heal.
Likewise, inspire and empower the resolve of the nations and peoples of the world to be your instruments of help and healing. Stir up the might of your love and compassion among the nations to rally resources and stay the course until the humanitarian job is accomplished.
Lastly, enfold and uphold the people of Haiti—from the youngest newly born to the oldest among us—in the arms of your love and the strength of your might. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Published with permission from The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
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| | Prayer for the people of Afghanistan
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| O merciful God,
Our hearts are aching
As we see so much fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the people of Afghanistan.
O God, we beseech you to protect the people in the land of Afghans.
Let there be no one, especially women and children, in harm's way.
Let us remember the sick, the hungry, and the vulnerable in this turmoil.
Give those who are fearful now your peace.
Let those who take over the land have your compassion.
Grant that those who stay or who want to leave may depart their ways without conflicts but peaceful resolutions.
Let us pray for goodwill among nations
As we outcry for justice and peace in this world.
Amen.
Published with permission from the Rev. Paul S. Tché, who serves the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada as President of the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry (CUIM).
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| | | Take Action on Afghanistan |
| Church World Service (CWS) reporting that “tens of thousands of our Afghan allies are in imminent danger, as attacks from the Taliban on Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission have increased, and violence against Afghan women and children is at an all-time high.”
We join with CWS to call for action by the United States to provide refuge for Afghan allies, their loved ones, and Afghans fleeing violence and persecution. Actions include writing a letter, amplifying on social media, and supporting refugees.
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| | | | Development Consultant (Part-time) for Poligon Education Fund (“Poligon”) which launched in January 2017 with a mission to amplify Muslim American voices in Congress. The successful candidate should have experience with non-profit grant writing, donor management, and project planning. The initial contract will be for three months (approximately 5 hours/week, dependent on deliverables and grant deadlines) with the possibility of an extension. Full position description.
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| | | Registration Will Open Soon! |
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NCC's annual Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) will be held virtually on October 11 - 12, 2021 with the theme, "In New Wineskins: From Pandemics to Possibilities to Promises," based on the scripture in Luke 5:37-39.
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, "The old is good."
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