Both Sides By Rev. Nina D. Grey October, 2003

Theologian Carter Heyward wrote that the weakening of bonds of community gives evil more room to grow. This is characteristic in the growth of fascism. Philip Halle, writing about the French community of Le Chambon during the early 1940s, observed that it was a community applying together the values of their faith that allowed Le Chambon to hide and save many Jews. We can seek justice better together than separately.

Unitarian Universalist congregations are bound together by agreements, sometimes embodied in statements of principles and purposes or covenants or objects of association. Our values of acceptance and respect for the individual, justice, interdependence, the seeking of truth and growing in spirit, human freedom and world harmony bind us together and guide our living.

Among these values, our principles are explicit about the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. This is part of our glue and supports all our other purposes. We know, for example, that without democracy, we could not freely and responsibly seek truth. Without freedom of association, we would not be able to gather together to promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations.

Some of the rights we often take for granted are currently at increased risk. In these days when the renewal of or changes in the Patriot Act are under discussion and a new version possibly under consideration, the Director of Communications of the Illinois ACLU spoke at a local League of Women Voters. He discussed the original passage of the Patriot Act, presented to Congress four days after September 11th, and pushed through the legislature in only 45 days when Congress could not access offices because of the anthrax scare. He outlined how the act diminishes the checks and balances of our democracy, putting too much power in the executive branch, expanding the ability of law enforcement to carry on intrusive surveillance without oversight of judges and courts. He talked of requirements the Patriot Act sets for libraries, and its impact on our ability freely to seek truth and knowledge: essentials for an informed citizenry. He noted that the act codifies a two-tier system of justice for citizens, differentiating between natural born and immigrant citizens

While it is true that a government has to be concerned about the security of its citizens and take appropriate measures for their protection, these should be in the context of maintaining basic civil rights for all peoples. Of special concern is the climate of suspicion that discriminatory attacks on civil rights can create. Such a climate threatens to destroy bonds of union that tie communities together and creates conditions for fascism, rather than democracy, to thrive. Aware of these concerns, the UUA is asking all UU congregations to focus on concerns about civil liberties on October 26. We will include a reflection on these things in our October 26 worship service. That reflection will point us to the need, separately and together, to be vigilant, keep our eyes open, learn what we can and advocate together for the health of democracy in our land and world.

With love, in faith.

Nina