Arrested standing up for the poor

(John Perkins being arrested in D.C. yesterday)

“U.S. Capitol Police arrested 115 religious activists who were protesting a House Republican budget plan's cuts in social programs when they refused to clear the entrance to a congressional office building Wednesday. "These are political choices being made that are hurting low-income people," said Jim Wallis, the event's organizer and founder of the Christian ministry group Sojourners. "Don't make them the brunt of your deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility."
-From the Washington Post

Yesterday Emily and I were here in Jackson but our hearts and minds were in D.C. where a peaceful prayer protest was taking place. The house was preparing to vote on a bill that would cut spending on the poor to create tax cuts for the rich and Christians who don’t look over the 2000 verses in the bible addressing Gods concern for the poor had to speak out. Hundreds of religious leaders and Christ followers gathered at the Cannon House office Building to kneel and pray. Our country has come to the place where we believe abortion and gay marriage are the only moral issues we face, but is ignoring the needs of our brothers and sisters not a moral issue? 115 of the protesters were arrested including my friend Matt and John Perkins. I had a good talk with Matt last night and I’m so glad he was able to go and be a voice for justice. Our good friends Sarah and Elizabeth from here at JMPF were also arrested.

The Most Segregated Hour

Last night we attended a screening for a film called “ The Most Segregated Hour”. The film followed two churches in Oxford Mississippi, one white Episcopal and the other black Baptist, over a 13 year period as they attempted to come together and practice racial reconciliation. The showing of the film was followed by a discussion with the director as well as a star studded civil rights panel. It was an amazing evening and we were so thrilled to be involved. The film blatantly addresses the fact that 11:00 am on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. Why aren’t Christians, who of all people should know something about reconciliation, paving the way for the racial reconciliation movement?
After last night I have a lot on my mind, but the thing that always gets to me after discussing this issue in depth is the fact that reconciliation is hard. It takes people who are willing to be uncomfortable. It takes people who are willing to understand that even though they may not be a racist they benefit from the fact that others have been oppressed. It was encouraging to see others last night who have committed their lives to reconciliation with the belief that we are called to love our brothers and sisters. Their hope encourages me to believe that another world is possible. I’m starting to believe that we need others to survive. We need other cultures to influence our thoughts and actions.
There is shadow over our land and where I come from it goes unnoticed. We have a broken history in which people were treated not as humans but as animals. Whether we like to admit it or not this stuff takes healing and doesn’t get fixed over night.

We have a group here this week from Seattle Pacific University and they were able to attend the film with us. Some had their eyes opened to a problem they didn’t even know existed.

Another highlight of the night was meeting James Meredith who was in attendance. Meredith was the first black student at Ole Miss University and risked his life to stand up for civil rights. His attendance of Ole Miss sparked mass riots in Mississippi by southern whites trying preserve the white race. He is very old and doesn’t hear to well but it was an honor to meet one of the most influential people is U.S. history. Ed King was also in attendance and on the panel. Ed King was an outspoken white civil rights activist in the movement and worked along side Medger Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

This week the Perkins center is hosting another intimate leadership retreat with John Perkins. The week is full of great teaching on topics of racial reconciliation, community development, oppression, justice, and leadership. A number of people teach through out the week but most is done by J.P. This week we have 5 people attending and they are enjoying some up close and personal time with John. Later today they will go visit the prison with him as he leads his weekly bible study.

Emily has been very busy and working very long days. She now works at the after school program at the school where she tutors and our program is feeling her loss. She is required by Americorps to be involved in the program. I am still enjoying our after school program and the kids who attend. After almost four months I have learned a lot and continue to learn. After Christmas I am planning on making some changes in the format of our time. It is still a struggle to get students to think and I want to find creative, fun ways for them to learn. Right now we basically help them do their homework for the entire time. I want to do some homework with them but then get them involved in reading, art, and learning activities. If anyone has any input drop me line: Johnny.Bertram@gmail.com

Netflix

Hey we got netflix and Im loving the selection. Some movies i recommend if you haven't seen them yet:



"Spellbound"- a documentary about 7 or 8 students who set out to win the National Spelling Bee. Upon watching it for the 3rd time I find it very entertaining and humbling.


"Rivers and Tides' - Another documentary about a natural artist named Andy Goldsworthy who does amazing art with leaves, clay, ice, rocks, and time. Ive rented this movie twice and it is now on my Netflix queue.


"13 conversations about one thing"- a drama about people living in N.Y.C. (If i remember correctly) and how their lives connect. One of the few movies we own.



"Metallica : Some kind of Monster"- Saw most of this in hotel but Im looking forward to seeing the whole thing. An interesting look at how greed and money can make babies out hard core rockers.



"I am trying to break your heart: a film about Wilco" - A documentary that follows Wilco as they record and release their album "Yankee hotel foxtrot". This movie is a good intro to one of my favorite rock groups with alot of their music and a battle with the corporate music industry.



"Bob Dylan: Don't look back" - Old footage of Dylan on tour in Europe. Some very funny moments.




"Is wall-mart good for America?"- PBS Frontline documentary explores Wal- mart and its effects on American culture. There is another movie out in Theatres about wal- mart right now but I've not seen it yet. Its called "Wal-Mart the high cost of low prices". Always low wages, always.