President's Letter: Dignity Under Attack
It seems that everywhere in our society, dignity is under assault. Immigrants, persons of color, LGBTQIA+ folk, persons with disabilities, the list goes on. As the budget bill and all the other policies that are being put in place are coming into greater focus, it is clear that the most challenging days are ahead of us.
It is important that we understand what is at stake. We are seeing the withdrawing of billions of dollars in funding that typically served the most vulnerable populations in our country; enacting laws and policies that target specific groups to be excluded and marginalized; and the transference of even greater wealth to military contractors and other industrial corporations. While these oppressive and harmful practices are not entirely new, the speed and scope of what is being done is unprecedented. It will have catastrophic consequences.
As we come to grips with the magnitude in terms of raw numbers, we also need to recognize the individual lives that are affected. The dignity of God’s children that is being undermined.
- Children whose families rely on SNAP benefits will now experience greater hunger and lack, and they will struggle to make sense of why they no longer have access to critical resources.
- Immigrants whose only offense has been trying to flee violence and catastrophes in their homeland and are only seeking to make a vital contribution and provide for their families are being sent back to places where their lives are at risk.
- Persons who are sick and have looked to Medicaid to provide life-saving drugs and treatments, will now face the devastating consequences of having to choose between paying for costly treatments or keeping a roof over their heads.
- Groups of people who have depended on the government to protect them against racism, bias, and bigotry are now being told they don’t matter, and it is open season for excluding people based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and other aspects of their identity.
The question all of us are asking ourselves is: How will we show up in this moment?
How will we make our voices heard? Will we use our vote? Will we speak in the council chambers and assembly halls? Will we send financial support to organizations that are seeking to take up the slack for the loss of funding to the marginalized and oppressed?
We must do all of this, but we must also ask another question: How will we show up in the lives of those whose dignity is under assault?
In other words, what can we do to protect and help restore the dignity of those who are suffering the most in these days? We need to ask ourselves these questions monthly, weekly, and even daily.
As Disciples Advocates, we are not following any political ambitions, we are focusing on our obligations to those whom Christ calls the least of these. So, however we show up, and wherever we show up, we show up for them. We affirm, defend, and restore the dignity of those who are the most vulnerable in this moment.
We can, we will, we must make a difference.
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