Understanding Civility in Civil Disobedience

I'm not sure that civil disobedience changes hearts. At least not the way some folks define it. Blocking traffic to protest an unjust law doesn't demonstrate effectively our moral objections.

Maybe for some people it does, but I think our civil discourse has become so cynical and callous nowadays that I doubt that such things have any impact. I'd like to see some evidence that it even changes voting patterns.

But I haven't yet seen empirical evidence that it causes much change in the way people perceive of the issues at stake.

Yet, although I'm unconvinced of civil disobedience's efficacy, I'm behind the actions of a few Alabama ministers last week who blocked the entrance to the Alabama Senate chamber, in protest against the state's anti-immigrant law HB56.

In an effort to "tweak" what Alabamians now see as a major legislative misstep, senators are, as we speak, considering adopting HB658, a bill they say will make the original somewhat less toxic, but more enforceable. In a move to convince state senators of the moral repugnance of HB56 and its "tweak" bill, several pastors prayed, sang and locked arms in the foyer of the state senate. They were handcuffed and led away, but were not charged.

It's got me to thinking about whether I would participate, if asked, in such an action. But there's no question that I am now engaging in activities banned by HB56, and I plan to continue. I give aid and comfort to people I'm pretty sure are undocumented. I don't ask and I don't tell, but statistics being what they are, it's highly likely that the people who need my help are the kind that enter this country by walking across a desert.

I interpret for people in the doctor's office, in emergency rooms, health clinics, pharmacies. I make appointments for people when they need medical attention, or when they need a lawyer. I interpret on the phone frequently when they need to talk to their supervisor. If they're trying to buy a car or a cellphone, they call me to help make their needs known to the salesperson. I interpret for them with landlords, babysitters, teachers, mechanics, law-enforcement officers. I've helped new mothers fill out birth certificate information forms for their newborns. Sadly, I also have to visit them in jail and interpret between them and their lawyers, and more than once at the funeral home when their families come to make last arrangements for them.

Am I aiding and abetting, harboring and transporting? Lord, I hope so. I'm taking Matthew 25: 34-40 seriously. When meeting the physical and social needs of the "least of these" becomes an act of civil disobedience, I must disobey.

Whether it changes hearts and minds will not persuade me -- I have another mandate I have to follow.

 

Comments

[Norski]

12:20 PM on 05/12/2012

In truth, the road to Hades is as much paved with rationalizations as it is with good intentions. Civil disobedience only is a force for positive change if it does not oppress someone else. And therein lays the trap. Life is not divided neatly into good and evil, helpful and hurtful. Sometimes you have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

The "helping Illegal Immigrants" debate is a great example of the choice between the lesser of two evils. If you are soft on Illegal Immigration Americans suffer. And if you are tough on Illegal Immigration people who may just be searching for a better life suffer. So who should be the one to suffer? Our immigration laws are designed to protect the American People from unemployment and the resulting poverty, family disintegration, and destitution. Should it not be the person breaking the law who suffers?

If you are a Citizen who is trying to work in Construction, Farm Labor, Material Movement, or the Food Service industry you understand this intuitively. You are shocked by the way some of our fellow Citizens are willing to defy protective laws reasonably established with civil disobedience. In this case civil disobedience becomes the oppression of your neighbor while rewarding those from other countries who have an extraordinary ability to successfully evade our laws.

[Norski]

11:01 AM on 05/11/2012

This author cites Matthew 25:34-40 as the basis for everything that she does. But wat about Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus said: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Should she not also remember Leviticus 19:17 “Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.” or the preamble to forgiveness in Luke 17:3 "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him..."

Isn’t Illegal Entry, Illegal Presence, Identity Fraud, Identity Theft and lying about one’s legal status a form of bearing false witness? Isn’t the motivation of coming to the USA because one likes our standard of living a form of covetousness? Isn’t such behavior against biblical law? Does being a good Christian mean following one biblical pronouncement and ignoring the rest?

[spytheweb]

02:00 AM on 05/12/2012

Anyone who is in the country illegally should be arrested on the spot and deported. The government is weak and wishy washy on enforcement and illegal aliens exploit this.