Do you ever participate in unpaid political activism? If so, what do you do? When and where? And most importantly, why?

— Cindy

Response

Dan Shahin

Do you ever participate in unpaid political activism? If so, what do you do? When and where? And most importantly, why?

I am  on the board of the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where their aspiration is as follows:

“May love be the spirit of this Fellowship.

May the quest for truth be its sacrament, and service be its prayer.

To dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, and to help one another in fellowship”

The Fellowship has regular activities designed to raise awareness of and take direct action to oppose many instances of social and environmental injustice.  Everything from writing postcards to politicians on important issues to doing meal prep for our local unhoused population.

When I saw the conditions of the playground and the route to school for the Peninsula Union School District in Samoa, we took action.  We began advocating for the school and the town and started a fundraising campaign to provide basic assistance to the families there and a playground equipment  fund to brighten the days of the kids who go to school there.

When Humboldt Soups On still used the HUUF kitchen to feed the hungry, I was the Sunday cook.  I took immense satisfaction in preparing a hearty Sunday meal for 40-50 people who might not have anything else to eat that day.     The unhoused community in Arcata and beyond are our neighbors, and no matter what circumstances led to their housing situation, nothing would be improved by those people going hungry.

When I saw that Arcata City Council meetings were being dominated by shouting matches between opposing groups regarding the siege of Gaza, I took action to help.   I worked with multiple different groups, including local Rabbis and with pro-Palestine activists to try to come up with a ceasefire initiative that ANYONE could agree with.  One that united people around an anti-war, anti-violence proposal that was difficult to disagree with.   Rather than indicting people and their specific political views, I chose to focus on the things we agree on, and it was unanimously signed by the entire City Council that before that was unwilling to even put a ceasefire on the agenda.

I have spoken at several multi-faith events, meant to share understanding and context between local groups of people seeking peace.  I was the only Palestinian invited to participate in a 3 day event designed to bring understanding between multiple faith communities as they relate to the tragedy that unfolded in Israel and Gaza.

I fundamentally believe that the leadership in Gaza, Israel and here in the US have failed to live up to their primary goal of keeping their people safe.   We have very little sway in events over there, but can provide an example of finding common ground on the road to peace and freedom worldwide. However, we must be willing to talk with each other and open our minds to the concept of change.

 

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