Viennese Journal 11.0 The Trip Home and Next Steps

We awoke in London and made our way to Earl’s Court Underground exchange and took the subway to Heathrow airport. We flew across the Atlantic.

I took the opportunity to try to reflect on the various experiences, ideas, and inspirations. I started the process of distilling the information into something useful.  I have begun learning the importance of shaking the tree of ideas, and then getting to work making jam.  Here are some of the fruit I have shaken from the trees:

I want to share some of the international human rights standards I have encountered with federal, state, and local officials. In particular, I want to spread the word on international standards for the treatment of: 

• Children, Juveniles
• Incarcerated Persons in prison or recently released
• Immigrants
• Persons with mental illness
• Victims of crime,
• Women (In prison, and victimized because they are women)
• Persons in Poverty and their human rights
• Police training in mediation and support in difficult work

I also want to share information I have learned about Restorative Justice approaches to the treatment of these vulnerable groups in our criminal justice system and community.  I learned some best practices about crime prevention, the training of police in mediation and community resolution skills, and the convergence of illicit political economies.   
 I have some ideas about how to organize Quakers and others interested around particular issues, share international standards and best practices, establish goals about consciousness raising and lobbying efforts, and working toward international human rights standards here in North Carolina.
I have more to learn about International Human rights law, and have some great resources to study. I will be following more closely the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, United Nation Committee against Torture, and United Nations Committee on Narcotic Drugs.
In general, my local state and community falls way short of the International Consensus on the human rights of vulnerable groups.
It also appears that I am likely to be asked to return next year to focus on the issues of the death penalty and life sentences without review, environmental crimes, and crime prevention.  I look forward to getting help from our Meeting earth care witness committee for suggestions on Quaker perspectives on environmental crime.
Some of the issues and ideas I will continue to learn about include:

• Restorative Justice
• The treatment of drugs as a health problem, not a crime
• The Provision of qualified Legal Aid to persons incarcerated around the world
• The provision of training and support to Police officers in identifying mental health problems, getting assistance to vulnerable people, mediation, ADR, and Restorative Justice,
• Death Penalty and life in prison without review
• Environmental Crimes
• Crime Prevention through social reintegration of offenders, political and economic development

I also have more thinking and writing to do on these issues:

·         The broader meaning of what it means to participate in the United Nations, opportunities to build a Global Civic Society and Identity

·         The relation between Countries and “Civil Society” as it parallels the tension between federal government and non-profit service and advocacy

·         Some Lessons on travelling in the Ministry, as a practical experience, as a metaphor for my broader life spiritual journey

·         Developing a strategic plan around issues of death penalty and environmental crime for the UN Crime Commission next year

·         A Brief statement of my view of Quakerism to better explain our faith practices when I am out and about

When I got home, we shared some presents with the children. Caleb got a fancy Austrian chess set. The other kids received some authentic Austrian clothing. It is good to be home again.

This concludes my Viennese journal. I want to thank you for your encouragement, thoughts, support, and loving kindness. I have been blessed by you and this amazing opportunity.

Viennese Journal 10.0 - A Day in London

We woke up in London at Gatwick Airport. I was excited to get a London Times. I really like to have time read a newspaper. We jumped on a train to London, which took about a half an hour. We were entertained by a toddler who “re-organized” my newspaper several times.  We found a funny article about a bear asleep in a tree. Officials shot him with a tranquilizer dart and he fell on a cushion and was well cared for.  The toddler and I really enjoyed this story and picture very much.

We lugged our suit cases all over the London subway, and this was no small task. Some of the subways are not made for people with disabilities, and so we managed several long stair cases with some really hefty luggage.

Once we checked into our place, we went to see some London sights. We saw Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palance (or the “Queen’s House” as Genevieve says), Big Ben, and Parliament. We took a ride on the London eye and saw several other striking buildings from above. 

In the evening we went to the Church at St. Martin in the Fields and heard the Cambridge Chorale perform Vespro della Beata Vergine 'Vespers' (1610) by Claudio Monteverdi at a candle light service. The Cambridge singers were accompanied by the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists playing on period instruments.  We had tea and ice crème in the crypt of the Church during intermission.

This chorale music contained a wide variety of musical configurations, full ensemble, solos, duets, with full symphony, or just a lute player. I enjoyed most the duets where the voices supported each other as they flew and floated together in holy church space. As a guitarist, I particularly enjoyed the lute which was a center piece of the performance.

Afterwards we dropped by the Westminster Friends Meeting, and ate dinner at an incredible French café called Cote. We were served by a kind waiter from Mexico who enjoyed speaking Spanish with me. (I think). He took very good care of us.  We got back to our hotel, our feet were tired but our souls were rested.

Viennese Journal 9.0 - Youth Mental Health and Social Reintegration

Youth Mental Health

The morning session focused on mental health of children in the juvenile justice system. I learned about a training called “Mental Health First Aid” that has been proven to reduce suicide rates and rates of self-mutilation among detained youth and prisoners.  We also heard from experts from around the world who were in agreement that what children need is the consistent love and care of a committed adult.  This helps them with the safety, protection they need. It helps them imagine a life beyond their terrible circumstances, and the path out of their difficult life. It helps them process the difficulties of poverty, addiction, family disintegration, discrimination, and other factors which lead to widespread depression among children vulnerable to victimization and becoming offenders.

“We must not let our jails and detention centers become substitutes for weak or non-existence social care networks,” said one delegate.

These children have “little wishes,” said another delegate, “ non-judgmental listening, 2 showers a week, a phone call to Mom every day, more than one hour visitation. These things don’t cost much, and can go a long way for kids in detention.”

“They need to see the face of a parent or someone acting as a parent at the table every night; this can change the trajectory of children at risk.”

Another expert from the World Health Organization said “what kids need is one person to look out after them, the personal relationship of one person to help them get back on track.”

Panelists hit upon several themes that I have experienced when speaking with kids in Durham about what they need.

Guidance and Support: First at risk youth have trouble at home; their family cannot provide guidance and support. Being raised by a grandmother, or aunt who is over worked – without the steady love and support of mothers or fathers, it is hard to find love and support at home. Kids often face a variety of mental health problems including moderate depression, and need professional health care.

Economic Opportunity: Second, at risk youth want to make money. It is really easy to make a lot of money very quickly in gangs. There are no other economic opportunities on the Street for legitimate work that can compete with the lure of cash in a gang.

Protection: Third, they said they need protection. If they resist street culture, they get picked on, demeaned, bullied. So “if you can’t beat them, join them,” one young lady said.  If they aspire or dream for something more than the street, they become targets of ridicule. So many people are depressed and angry about not being able to succeed in a legitimate way, that there is an attitude that if I can’t have it, I don’t want it.

Peer group: Fourth, they said the gangs provide a group of peers who know what they are going through and who understand their struggles without judging them. They feel a part of something, they belong.

The broader community needs effective social support system to supplement a struggling structure and change the trajectory of these young people away from committing offenses. These kids need this loving support to thrive and flourish in our communities.

The United Nations Office of Drug and Crimes offers a manual on the measurement of juvenile justice programs and the improvement of the treatment of juveniles. http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06-55616_ebook.pdf

There are also the Minimum Rules for the treatment of Juveniles, called the Beijing Rules, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/beijingrules.htm

Social Reintegration of Former Offenders into society

We attended another session later in the morning on the social reintegration of offenders into communities and the way this prevents recidivism.   An advocate for international victim’s rights said that victim’s benefit from re-socialization programs, and are comforted by strong programs that help offenders return to the community under the care and supervision of reintegration programs.

In Thailand they have a “yellow ribbon” ceremony welcoming the former offender back into the community. These are genuine community celebrations that make the former offenders feel like they genuinely have a second chance in the community and that the former offender has support in the community.

A good re-socialization and reintegration program greatly reduces recidivism the delegates agreed.

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime offers a handbook on social reintegration of offenders into society. http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/cjat_eng/4_Social_Reintegration.pdf

After our sessions we jumped on a train back to London and landed in a hotel at Gatwick airport. We fell over exhausted. 

Viennese Journal 8.0 - Death Penalty and Children of Incarcerated Parents

We have been cramming as much substantive work on human rights with as much fun as has been humanly possible, and I am beginning to feel the effects. There is so much to do, and see, and to learn, that sleeping seems a waste of time. 

I began the day at a side-event on the progress on the international abolition of the death penalty. The emerging world trend and consensus is clearly on the side of the abolition of the death penalty.  The room was filled with delegates from many countries, and representatives of many NGOs, who are part of the majority of world governments who have abolished the death penalty and regard the death penalty as ineffective, unnecessary, error-prone, cruel and barbaric.  A good portion of my cases are murder cases, and I am a part of the legal community in North Carolina dedicated to saving the lives of people charged with capital murder.  I am used to attending meetings about the death penalty where we are the minority. We are the voice crying out of the wilderness that the death penalty is wrong.  It was an emotional realization to find myself among so many people from around the world who share our view that the death penalty should be abolished. Not just any majority, but a global majority.  One advocate even referred to those minority "killer states,” China and the United States" that persist in the killing.

“I am opposed to the death penalty in all cases,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said, “I hold this position for a number of reasons: these include the fundamental nature of the right to life; the unacceptable risk of executing innocent people by mistake; the absence of proof that the death penalty serves as a deterrent; and what is, to my mind, the inappropriately vengeful character of the sentence.”

On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its third resolution on the “Moratorium on the use of the death penalty” (A/RES/65/206), reaffirming its two previous resolutions on the same matter (A/RES/62/149 and 63/168). The General Assembly: calls upon States to respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and to progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and reduce the number of offences for which it may be imposed. It also calls upon States to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, and requests States to make available relevant information with regard to their use of the death penalty, which can contribute to transparent national debates.

These statements reminded me of the Statement of French philosopher and writer Albert Camus on the death penalty:

"Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal's deed, however calculated can be compared. For there to be an equivalency, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him and who, from that moment onward, had confined him at his mercy for months. Such a monster is not encountered in private life. "

I learned a great deal about the efforts of this abolitionist states to help encourage the complete abolition of the death penalty around the world.

In the afternoon, I attended an event sponsored by the Quaker UN office on the treatment of incarcerated children. My new friends Oliver Robertson and Rachel Brett from the Quaker UN office in Geneva gave an amazing presentation. This presentation highlighted the risks to children of incarcerated parents:

1. Risk of deprivation of basic necessities and opportunities

2. Risk of danger of secondary victimization and depersonalization
3. Risk of deterioration of overall situation of a children
4. Risk of distance from incarcerated parent
5. Risk of descent into antisocial behavior

More specifically, children may experience impacts including: physical and mental health impacts related to separation and other aspects of parental incarceration; risk of relationship breakdown; the possibility of having to move house or be taken into care; financial difficulties; problems at school (educational and behavioral); increased vulnerability to neglect, abuse and victimization; and difficulties in visiting. Children of incarcerated parents face serious mental health problems at three times the rate of their peers. Finally it increases the risk of a child’s own prospects, as they fear or distrust authority, fail to receive the help they need, live in impoverished and unstable circumstances, and begin to accept prison as “normal” – or as the only place they can be with their parent.  (See QUNO Publication by Oliver, Collateral Convicts: Children of Incarcerated Parents, http://www.quno.org/geneva/pdf/humanrights/women-in-prison/201203Analytical%20DGD%20Report-internet.pdf). Rachel and Oliver are interested in focusing their work more narrowly on the children of parents incarcerated on death row facing capital punishment.

Later in the day, I heard several good presentations on the violence against children in the criminal justice system. Panelists recognized that the criminal justice system has become a violent and detrimental substitute for a weak or non-existent child protection system in society.  Children become vulnerable as victims of poverty and abuse, and then they are re-victimized by punishment focused criminal justice system.  Children caught up in the juvenile justice system feel perceived as human beings who have no value to society, and have no values. They are stigmatized as citizens and have no opportunity to realize human dignity.  Panelists agreed that the juvenile systems should shift their focus away from punishment and use limited resources for prevent, treatment and reintegration. Children need protection from poverty, and exclusion from basic social services. They need protection from gang violence and family abuse. And the society needs to invest in the health and education of these children to make them less vulnerable to criminal behavior and getting caught in the criminal justice system.  The juvenile justice system is not a substitute to weak or non-extensive child protection. The juvenile justice system should not criminalize children and stigmatize them. The laws should not criminalize survival behavior or status offenses should be abolished. Deprivation of liberty should truly be used as a measure of last resort and should be imposed for the shortest possible terms. Children should have the opportunity to participate in restorative justice processes, and other alternatives to the deprivation of liberty. They are entitled to have a safe living environment where they can acquire life skills and the core of human dignity.  We need to monitor the criminal justice system and detention facilities by independent non-governmental agencies that can help protect children from victimization in the criminal justice system.   Along these lines there exists a

Convention on the Rights of the Child (20 November 1989) (http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/547/84/IMG/NR054784.pdf?OpenElement)  Article 1 of this Convention defines children as anyone under the age of 18.  Because North Carolina treats 16 year olds as adults for the purposes of criminal law, our state is in substantial violation of this convention of the rights of the child.  There are also the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice. (The Beijing Rules), (http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/477/40/IMG/NR047740.pdf?OpenElement). We have a lot to learn from these international best practices in the improvement of our juvenile justice system.

More broadly, the discussions about children have made it clear to me that the most successful reform movements have begun their efforts with the treatment of children.  In my own Quaker Meeting, our commitment to our children have led us to help found a Quaker school and build our facilities around the belief that our children are our most precious assets.  Similarly, the civil rights court strategies began with a focus on children in schools. As Quakers in the UN we find ourselves pointing to the treatment of children in prisons. Drawing people's attention to the plight of children in our society helps us more clearly see the injustice in our community. When we look at injustice through the eyes of children, we are moved to action more quickly and the solutions are clearer. Even as I write this blog, i just received an email from the North Carolina Protect Families organization - the people trying to defeat the marriage amendment to the North Carolina Constitution. Their email states: "Protecting children is one of North Carolina’s core values. Our state has consistently advanced rights and protections for our children. Our state has always put our future first — we have invested in education and health care time and time again. After all of those investments how could we allow Amendment One to place the protections of many children in doubt? Health care could be stripped away from kids. You could even see a child lose the only family they have ever known due to complications from adoption procedures. That is why we simply must work to defeat the amendment every day between now and May 8."

Criminal justice is no different. The United Nations has given a great deal of attention to the treatment of children in society and in the criminal justice system. We have a lot to learn from experiences and best practices from around the world with respect to our children.

At the end of the day, I went out to eat the other NGOs and learned about victimology, the study of the factors which make people vulnerable to victmization, the process and methods of healing victims of crime. While at dinner, a catholic prison worker asked about the dove that I wear around my neck.  I told him the story of my encounter with a homeless vietnam vet when I was a teenager, and that I wear the dove as a reminder of him, and my dedication to victims of poverty and violence. 

For him, the dove reminded him of his belief that the holy spirit enters the body of a person at conception. He repeatedly and emphatically explained that the person began at conception and this was a simple matter of scientific biology. I had no opportunity to respond to his belief, but I felt that he was not open to hearing other thoughts about this matter. Somehow his view that the science of biology settled this contested spiritual belief, seemed to end discussion of the matter.  Later, I discussed with Oliver and Nick their views of his belief.

I have not given much thought to this idea that conception is the beginning of human life. These complicated spiritual, scientific, political questions do not "speak to my condition" as a Quaker, or weigh heavily upon me. These kinds of questions represent an absolute mystery that is beyond expression in words.  People seem to develop narratives to try to contain these kinds of massive miracles, and they hold tight to these narratives - whether they are scientific, theological, philosophical, ideological, or political narratives.  These narratives often say more about the person telling the story, than they help solve the mystery they are trying to contain. I am suspicious of this particular narrative about the beginning of life, because I have seen people use this narrative as a justification to oppress women by attacking their right to control their own health and life decisions.

One of the reasons I love Quakerism is that it embraces the mystical mystery of the Spirit. Our silent worship is the way we present ourselves to the Mystery with openness to its miracles. My friend Oliver commented, "Welcome to the Quakers, where all your answers are questioned."

After dinner,  I returned to our little apartment and found Kerry is still out traveling. She spent the day traveling to Salzburg to visit the birth place of Mozart.

Viennese Journal 7.0 - My Presentation, Utopian Nations, and the Vineyard

Speech Postponed:

On Tuesday, I expected to speak at the plenary session of the United Nations Commission on Crime on the issue of immigration. But, the speaking list was long, and I was not reached in the afternoon.  I would speak the following morning.  We were trying to get Kerry a day pass for Wednesday, and I hoped that Kerry would get to attend the session where I was scheduled to speak. I was nervous about addressing the assembly because I did not know how my message would be received. I was also nervous about my Southern American accent.  Tuesday was a long day of waiting to speak, that ended in more waiting.

 Speech Presented:

On Wednesday morning, Kerry accompanied me to the United Nations with the hope that she could get a day pass. UN security had processed our request and granted a day pass, allowing Kerry to come with me to the meeting.

Once we arrived into the grand assembly room, I took my spot at the front, and Kerry sat with my new good Friend Oliver from the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO).  I have grown to love and admire Oliver in a very short time; he is a sweet spirit, and a highly intelligent and capable international rights advocate - particularly for children.

 I sat up front and waited my turn to speak. As I sat there, I felt a deep peace come and settle my nerves. I sensed a connection with my Meeting in Durham, my broader Quaker family, and the long line of Quakers who have been led and moved to speak truth in public.  A calm and loving Spirit enveloped me, and I could see Kerry and Oliver smiling in the back of the room. I was still unnerved by the sound of my voice in the room and whether it would convey my message or distract somehow.  And then I could hear the slow, melodic voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in my head and his speech when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. I have listed to that speech every year for the last five years, when I listen to recordings of all his speeches around the time of MLK day celebrations.  This was to be my manner of delivering the message, silence, slow, melodic, warm, emphatic, and empathetic.  Then, a short message came to me to add to my prepared statement.  I felt that I must appeal to these people, as people, connecting to people.  And so I felt I must begin the statement with "I have sat and cried with migrants in jail. This statement is for them."  The problem about adding something last minute was that it had not been approved by the Friends World Committee, it had not gone through the screening and approval of the UN Office, and it had not been provided to interpreters in advance.  I nevertheless felt clearly led to add this short statement, to bring the point of view very clearly to the migrants themselves and our personal relationships with migrants. And so I gave my statement, in the tradition of the southern Baptist preacher.  It went very well.

 Later, John Bingham, director of the International Catholic Migrant Committee, said that he was very inspired by our statement, and that it was "like being a part of a prayer." His remarks assured me that I had delivered the statement as I had hoped.

 After the Speech:

Afterwards, Kerry attended some meetings with me and we had a nice lunch in the United Nations cafeteria. I loved being in a space where people from many people from all over the world, sit and eat together every day.  As a follower of Jesus, who shared himself literally and metaphorically over meals, I believe we share ourselves when we share meals and build healthy community.  As Quakers we build our community around pot lucks, community meals, and eating in general. It was inspiring to see so much international eating going on.

The more I learn about the United Nations, the more I am struck by the high values it embodies with respect to human rights and healthy communities around the world. It is a place where people are seriously practicing at world governance. This world body helps establish the highest norms of human rights and dignity, and sets the bar very high for the countries in the world for the treatment of individuals. The member countries also share their experiences, so that best practices and problem solving are shared in collective wisdom of the countries. World governance holds the best hope for ending war and addressing world suffering.

The United Nations is like a political Facebook of countries where they can share information, check status updates, and comment on each other's behavior.  A key difference is that these Country Friends are coming together to try to imagine solutions to the world's most difficult problems. They are practicing world democracy, and developing rules and respect in sharing perspectives.

One day the world's life support system will be so contaminated and become so hot, that people will suddenly realize around the world the need to hit the emergency shut down button. “An economy in right relationship with the planet has a thermostat, complete with a shutoff valve, that prevents economic growth from shutting down the very life-support systems on which the economy depends.” (Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, by Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver, 15)  On that day, the people at the United Nations will be the only people on earth with practical experience on how to make and implement decisions on a global level.

Kerry and I walked around the United Nations grounds and took pictures, and saw some school children coming to visit the United Nations. It made me miss my own kids. I was deeply moved to see such little people walking at the feet of the world's flags.  The seeds of a world community were being sewn in these little minds. I felt hopeful that these seeds will grow into world peace and sustainable living.

After working at the UN, I met Kerry back at our apartment with her new friend Ulrike Springer, or Ulli. Ulli is related to my college roommate Christoph. She hosted Kerry during the course of the week, went shopping for the kids, and took her to the most beautiful sites in Vienna. This evening she took us outside the downtown circle of old Vienna toward the Vienna forest. We went to a vineyard called "Zimmerman" in the rolling hills of Vienna.

On the way, we picked up Ulli's dear friends from France - Alexander and Maria Therese. I found that the years of studying French were not completely useless, and my French came back remarkably well. In fact, the quality of my French improved in direct proportion to the amount of wine I drank. Alexander and Maria Therese were delightful, and we enjoyed a delightful evening of laughing, telling stories, and learning about each other over tasty food and good wine.  We were joined by another of Ulli's friends, Johanna, who shared a story of survival during the second world war. Kerry and I were old enough to be the children of our hosts, but we laughed and talked as intimate friends. 

During dinner, Ulli asked about Quakerism and what makes us unique.  I said that we believe that the Divine, revealed and experienced in our hearts is the highest religious authority. We find seeds of God planted in ourselves and our spiritual journey is growing these seeds in the direct warmth of the light of God. All other sources of religious guidance including the Bible, other teachers, and people are secondary to the is direct, mystical relationship. She asked if Quakers were Christian, and I said yes we are generally known as a Christian Religion, but we believe that the revelation of the truth that Jesus taught has continued in our hearts. I explained that our believe in the divine in others has led us to share certain basic ideas we call testimonies. For example, because there is the divine in others, we do no violence and will not kill - we are Pacifist. We also believe that a simple life, and simplicity, is a helpful way to clear those things from our life that distract us from hearing the divine calling in our hearts. We believe that our lives must be integrated with our beliefs, and so we must express in our words and actions the divine guidance we recieve. I talked about the importance of our community in testing our leadings from God, and having support and nurturing as we seek together.  We have a special sort of group mysticism where we recieve Divine experience individually and together. Finally, I said that we believe in radical equality between all people, including racial, gender, class, sexual oreintation, and disability. We have worked over many years against the oppression of women and the abolition of Slavery.  If I had to express our highest aspiration in one word, it would be LOVE.

At one point, one of the friends disclosed a very horrific story from the Holocaust. I was very glad to receive the story, hold it and her in the light. It is so important to remember these stories of genocide, and remain vigilant against the prejudice and power that can converge to implement evil in our world.  I greatly appreciated her courage in sharing the story of being a victim of organized violence on a massive, unimaginable scale.

Our conversation quickly returned to the the jovial spirit of the evening.  We shared together the Spirit of Youth, "L'esprit de jeune." We were hosted so gracefully and beautifully, it was sad to say goodbye at the end of the evening to our new friends.

Viennese Journal 6.0 - My Address on Immigration to the United Nations on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Thank you Mr. Chairman:

I have sat and cried with migrants in Jail. This statement is for them.

The Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) believes that a humane immigration policy must protect families from separation, protect migrants from crime and human rights violations, and include a fair path for migrants and their children to gain lawful residence status.

Migrants are not protected from crime when they fear removal and deportation for contacting law enforcement to report crimes. Migrants who fear calling the police risk becoming targets of violence and economic exploitation. Failure to report crime makes communities less safe.  Some countries separate  thelaw enforcement and immigration functions of government. We encourage others countries to follow their example. Immigration policies that make parents fear deportation can result in their children being unable to access necessary health care, education, and the protection of basic human rights.

Migration and deportation proceedings often separate children from their parents when their parents are taken into custody for deportation or removal. Sometimes State migration laws can even result in the permanent forced separation of migrant children from their parents. Children of migrants have a right to the preservation of their families. Immigration laws and policies need to consider the best interest of children in dealing with migrant parents.

We are also concerned for children of migrants who are brought by their parents to a new country at a young age. They grow up in their country of destination, and yet face deportation to the country of origin. As adults, these migrant children may face forced removal to a country they have never known. These migrant children bear no responsibility for immigrating, and should not be punished by removal to a country they do not know. These children of migrants deserve a path to lawful residence.

We believe there is the Light of God in everyone.  This Light should be recognized in these migrant families and encouraged in those who form and implement these immigration policies.

Viennese Journal 5.0 - Organized Crime, Terrorism and Schumann

I had another cram packed exciting day in Vienna. I made it to the Vienna International Center from our apartment without getting lost for the first time, and I'm very proud of that. Seems like I am at home with big ideas, but can't read a map. Pitiful really.

 I started the day in a meeting about the convergence of organized crime and international terrorism. A presentation by the a person from the United States Department of Justice. It sounds more complicated than it is, and you may be surprised to hear it - but the United States thinks terrorist groups sometimes work together with organized crime groups to earn money and move assets. The presenter warned that we should not jump to the conclusion that they always work together just because we have evidence of a few incidents of cooperation.  (It was comforting to see that we have learned something from the false pretext for the second Iraq war.)

What I heard in this presentation got me thinking about the relationship between economics and politics - otherwise known as political economy.  So this is what was percolating in my mind as I left this bizarre presentation. Political groups have specific political aims that require money and the movement of assets around the globe. Economic groups are motivated by making money.  Sometimes these groups benefit from working together even though they have different motivations. They both can make money at different stages of their operations together.  Certain political groups and economic groups may work together more and more over time, and develop a symbiotic relationship - and there is a convergence of the political and economic.  The more global the economic group the less commitment it will have to any geographically bound political movement. The economic group has a motivation to weaken the political group so that it can be manipulated to for its own purposes; and the reverse is true for the political group. So even as they mutually benefit from each other, they are tugging at each other.

What I learned this morning is that the same is true for illegal political economies.  Where things that are in economic demand are prohibited, then an underground or illicit economy may arise. Drugs, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, etc... Organized crime groups are increasingly globalized and becoming more profitable.  Terrorist groups, using violence against civilians to accomplish political goals, need money and to move assets.  Organized crimes groups have that expertise, and sometimes need armed thugs to help them out. And so the convergence of the illicit political group and the illicit economic group happen in our newly globalized illicit political economy.

Now the folks today were focused on how to disrupt the illicit political economy with law enforcement techniques. How do we catch these guys? But I think a broader approach is needed because for every guy you catch, there are three eagerly waiting to take their place. Law enforcement will never catch everyone, or deter anyone from the big bucks of the illicit political economy. 

No, the guy gave examples of situations that offered solutions that no one talked about. It was like the answer was right under his nose and he couldn't see it. He gave the example of the way the political resolution of the Irish conflict disbanded the IRA and then ended much of the illicit organized crime associated with that group. Some of IRA folks shifted full time into organized crime, but for the most part political compromise and negotiations ended the terror threat and the convergence. The same would be true with the Taliban. When we compromise with the Taliban and exit Afghanistan, they will stop selling opium (because it is against their politics), and the illicit convergence will end. The same is true on the demand side of the economic groups.  If we work on treating addiction in the demand countries for illegal guns and drugs, then there will be no market for organized crime.  And if we promote legitimate economic development in drug producing countries, people will have a profitable alternative to illicit drug production. People will stop making it if people stop buying it. Also, the decriminalization of certain drugs would be a political solution that would end the prohibition and bring that economy into the mainstream economy where it could be regulated, monitored and policed properly.  

In short, it occurred to me that the solutions to the illicit global political economy has more to do with politics and economics than law enforcement techniques.

After a dip into political economy, I spent the rest of the day in sessions on the violence against migrants and their families.  It will take me more time than I have tonight to unpack the many thoughtful, interesting, insightful, false, political statements by several different countries today.  One highlight was when the United States delegate suggested that countries should do more to be inclusive of migrants like the United States - she pointed to their multi cultural delegation as an example of the beacon of tolerance toward migrants that exists in the United States.  I thought to myself that she had not visited the North Carolina, Alabama, or Arizona legislatures lately.... She also said the mistakes of the parents should not be visited upon the children.  I thought she had not visited my NC DREAM TEAM friends in jail lately ....

One interesting idea I heard today was from the Philippines. They have made the Government regulatory agencies jointly and severally liable with employers who do not treat migrants fairly. This means that migrants can sue the government when an employer that the government is supposed to regulate causes harm to the migrant.  Sounds great in theory, I wonder how many migrants have collected?

I could go on and on, but I sense that I am losing you... So

Then I met Kerry at the Musikverein for a concert of Shubert, Schumann, and Camille Saint-Saëns. This place is amazingly beautiful, the acoustics incredible, and the music gave me chills.

We had great seats on the floor and could hear everything. The Saint-Saens piece included an organ which rocked.

We ate dinner at the Mozart cafe, and got home at midnight our time. I've got a TASER CLE powerpoint to finish, and some reading to prepare for tomorrow at the UN, but it's all good.
Thanks Friends, I hope that I get to report to you the message that I hope to share with the UN Commission tomorrow.

Viennese Journal 4.0 - Reparative Justice, Legal Aid, and Blessings of St. Stephan

I made my first appearance in the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. It will take a long time to process all that I experienced today, and so it is difficult to know what to report. I felt like I was in a dream most of the day.

I was too excited to sleep much, and stayed/woke up way too early.  I spent the time reviewing the basics of international law, and human rights conventions in general.  I didn't know that the UN had passed a declaration in support of gay rights. (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/UN_declaration_on_sexual_orientation_and_gender_identity )

We began the day with a meeting of the International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs). We all have observer status at this Commission which means that we can watch, we can talk to delegates outside of meetings, and we can host "side events" on issues of interest, and we occasionally have the rare opportunity to address the entire Commission.  The Commission is composed of forty member states from around the world. Other Nations that are not members are allowed to show up and join in if they like.  Walking around these folks was like being at Starfleet Academy, with people from every corner of the earth talking and discussing important issues together.

At the INGO Meeting I met Elias Carranza, the director of the Latin American arm of the Crime Commission for the United Nations. I got to speak some Spanish with him and describe my concerns for immigration policy in the United States. He was a very kind man, and seemed genuinely glad to hear my views. We spoke some Spanish together. 

As we were leaving the INGO Meeting, we spoke with Michael Platzer, the head of the INGO contingent about some of our views on immigration. He suggested that we sign up to speak on the issue and share our views. It looked like a good opportunity to address the entire body.  So the Quaker delegation met over coffee to discuss our plan for the day, and our attempt to get a speaking slot at the Plenary session. The Quaker delegation from Friends World Committee for Consultation is Nicholas McGeorge, Kimmet Edgar, Oliver Robertson, and Rachel Brett. These wonderful people bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to the issues of international human rights, especially the treatment of prisoners.

We discussed the possibility of making a statement on immigration.  In my law practice I have encountered a wide variety of injustices arising from the treatment of immigrants in the Court system. I have also learned about Quaker approaches to immigration policy from my friend Lori Khamala at the American Friends Service Committee in Greensboro. I am on retainer with the Mexican Consulate to explore civil rights violations of Mexican Nationals. And, I have recently been inspired by the North Carolina Dream Team, a group of young undocumented activists working for a lawful path toward residency, and fair treatment under the law.  (See my Blog on the Red Book).  With these experiences fresh in mind, I drafted a proposed statement. Quaker friends kicked it around, made suggestions, and edits, until we finally had something we liked. We got on the speakers list, got the statement reviewed by some folks with our sponsor organization FWCC, and it looks like I am going to deliver it tomorrow before the Commission. And so, if all continues to fall into place, I will be addressing the entire plenary session sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 pm Vienna time. (9 am to 12:00 noon EST). It will be live streamed from the UN Crime Commission website (http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/session/21.html)

In addition to drafting the proposed statement I attended some plenary sessions, and some "side events" hosted by other INGOs. I attend a side event called "Victims of terrorism and Victimized Migrants: The Role of Research, Traumatic Effects and of Reparative Justice." I was inspired by one presenter in particular, Yael Danieli, a clinical psychologist who works with victims of terrorist attacks.  She reminded me of my friend Marcia Owen who works tirelessly, from her heart, for victims of crime. We got to speak briefly afterward and share stories about miracles truth and reconciliation the healing of victims.  

I also attended a side event on "Improving Legal Aid: Experiences and Best Practices."  In this amazing presentation I heard from Marcos Fuchs of Brazil as he described a public defender system drowning in lack of support. With two million requests for service a year, 500 public defenders try to help people arrested. Defendants average six months in pretrial confinement before they get their first hearing. People charged with murder can wait up to 10 years for a trial.  I shared with him the work of the Institute of Government in training public defenders, and the work of the Indigent Defense Services of North Carolina in quantifying the cost savings of public defenders as a way to persuade policy makers to fund public defense.  This seemed like a genuine moment of realization for him.  It costs lest to pay a public defender to sort through the people in pretrial confinement, than it costs to confine them.  I also heard some moving accounts of public defenders in Slovakia and Sierre Lione.  I met Maha Jweied, Senior Counsel of the Access to Justice Initiative with the United States Department of Justice.  I told her that I was concerned with the cuts of funding to public defense in the state system in North Carolina.  I was concerned that the funding had been cut back so much that some people could no longer be assured of adequate assistance of counsel.  She was open to receiving more information about this potential constitutional violation in the right to counsel.

After the meetings, I was supposed to go back to the apartment (by myself) and find Kerry and meet the delegation at St. Stephan's cathedral.  I got really lost on the subway and walking back to the Apartment. We were late to St. Stephen's cathedral, and waited out front in case our friends were the ones who were late.  (Our cell phones don't work in Vienna).

Kerry went inside to look around as I stood out front. An older gentleman in a beard noticed the dove I was wearing. He was very curious about it and asked a lot of questions. I explained it is made out of coconut, and that I wear it to remember my connection to poor folks and soldiers traumatized by war. (A story for another blog perhaps). As I explained the significance of my Dove, a younger lady joined him to hear. After I finished she asked if she could bless my Dove. I was pretty surprised and taken aback, but rolled with it. So she took out a flask of what I assume was holy water. She sprinkled it on her fingers and made a cross on my dove. Then she said a little prayer and crossed herself. She said, "may the Holy Spirit fill you always." I thanked her for her blessing.

We ended the day with a wonderful Austrian meal of Weinerschnitzel.  I tried a beer called Radler - which is actually Beer and limonade.  It will be my last Radler. Then I had an apple streudle for desert with some good coffee.  I got to hear how Kerry spent a wonderful day with the Aunt of my college roommate (Christoph).  Aunt Ulli showed Kerry the town.

I have received some beautiful and moving emails from friends with their thoughts, perspectives, encouragements, and support. I am so deeply thankful for all of you, and this unique opportunity to grow in service. I aim to be a humble channel of light and serve however I can.

Viennese Journal 3.0 - The Country Roads of Austria, Terrorism, and Quaker Service

We awoke early in the cottage in Lymington, England and headed for the airport in London called Gatewick. It reminds me of the name of Harry Potter's owl, Hedwig, for some reason.  We came into the airport in Vienna (Wien), and were picked up by a taxi driver. He spoke only German, but knew where we were going. In the car was playing some country music, and I mentioned I am country. He said his favorite song was "Country Roads" by John Denver, and we sang it on the way to the apartment. He also said he liked Johnny Cash, so I sang Folsom Prison Blues to him - much to the embarassment of Kerry.  (But she is used to that sort of embarassement from me).  We arrived at our apartment and found a spacious, cool, modern little place with a kitchen, living room, and bedroom.

The view out of our window is a typical Vienna street, but it looks beautiful in a new and exciting sort of way to my American southern eyes.

We walked to a grocery store where we could not understand any of the writing on the food, and the poor lady at the check out couldn't explain to me how to put my credit card in the machine. It was a pretty helpless and sad feeling not to be able to communicate with the people around me. It gave me greater empathy for my hispanic friends and clients who struggle with English in our country.

We ate a lovely dinner in a little Austrian restaurant on the way back from the grocery store.

Then it was back to the apartment to begin the first day of work at the United Nations commission. As I prepare for these first meetings, I have had several thoughts perculating in my mind. I have no clearness on them yet, but there is something forming. I would be interested in other folks thoughts about this random jumble of ideas:

There is a proposed resolution on controlling drug trafficking, especially as it contributes to and supports terrorism. (http://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ_session21/ECN15_2012_L12_e_V12520661.pdf )

This resolution raises the issue of defining "terrorism." I am very cautious about the way the word "Terrorism" is used politically and internationally because, in my experience, the United States has embraced a broad and vague definition for "terrorism" that has justified the elimination of basic civil liberties. "Terrorism" has become a pretext to expand the powers of the State to conduct surveillance on individuals, search them, kidnap them, detain them, torture, and even kill them - with little or no due process. "Terrorism" has also justified the surveillance of non-violent legitemate groups (like Quaker protesters), as potential trouble makers - on the basis of their anti-war positions, or on the basis of religious connections to Islam. The definition of terrorism is troubling.

Then I try to imagine how I would go about defining terrorism, and find that my definition of terrorist would probably include most Nation-states that have a military.  In its most basic form, terrorism seems to be a group of people trying to advance their political, religious, or social agenda by means of violence against civilians.  Now, most of the casualties of modern wars - especially the wars conducted by the United States - have been civilians. And so, any military might fall within this definition of "terrorist" It is a tough thing to define.

Meanwhile, I am thinking about the other aspect of this resoltuion - drug trafficking. The failed "war on drugs" has really been a war on poor people. For the people in developing countries growing and producing drugs, the controlled substances offer a lucrative way of making a living. If they had a better alternative to making a living - they would probably choose it. Likewise, for people who are addicted to drugs and drive the demand for drugs in developing countries - they too are usually poor. Drug addiction for them is a health problem arising from a confluence of socio-economic failures that drive systemic addiction. On both sides of the supply and demand of the drug trafficking problem are poor folks who are not recieving the support and treatment they need to thrive in a sustainable living wage economy.

Finally I am thinking more broadly about the nature of "Quaker Adovcacy." What does it mean to advocate for Quaker values or to push issues traditionally advanced by Quakers? Quakers have been working on prison reform since their inception - in many ways Quakerism is a movement that began with mass incarceration of its members. Elizabeth Fry became the promenant Quaker prison reformer at the turn of the 19th century that launced decades of Quaker prison activism. Quakers have also long supported basic human rights, most notably the organization of the movement to abolish slavery in the United Kingdom and United States, and the underground railroad. This commitment continued into Jim Crow, desegregation and the civil rights movement. Quaker Bayard Rustin organized the march on Washington that launched the "Dream."

These Quakers were living out our historic testimonies to peace, social equality, and healthy community in their own time and place.  There is a tension between the conscience and leadings of the individual activist and the group history of testing these individual leadings and issuing statements as a group after healthy "Quaker process."

So as a Quaker advocate at an International body what is my role? Do I speak up about anything that strikes my own individual conscience? Do I stay within the areas of historic Quaker witness and press the issues that have been pressed by my forebearers? Is the question what would Quakers say about this or that - or is the question what would Jesus say about this or that? I feel a great responsibility to stay within the measure of my own Spirit and the measure of the spirit of my Quaker faith community.  But this measure can be hard to discern, especially for passionate and impulsive people like me. I pray for the wisdom and guidance to use well this chance to serve in this one small way.

Viennese Journal 2.0 - Roman Forts, Pride and Prejudice

On our second day in Lymington we awoke to a beautiful, cool and sunny day and took a walk through a fort built during the iron age, which dates sometime before the Roman Empire.

We came into Lymington, and ate a proper English breakfast on High Street (Main Street) where the weekly Saturday fair was underway.

Then we headed to Chawton, the home of beloved writer Jane Austen.

Inside we saw the writing desk where Jane Austen crafted some of the most nuanced and loved characters in the English language.

Afterward we had a tea and crumpets at the cafe across the street.

We came back to Lymington to a nice candle light dinner together. In the mean time, I studied more publications by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.

Alternatives to Imprisonment

http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/cjat_eng/3_Alternatives_Incarceration.pdf

Responses to Violence against women

http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/hb_eff_police_responses.pdf

And a collection of United Nations Conventions and Declarations related to criminal justice issues and human rights

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/justice-and-prison-reform/compendium.html

I also started reviewing draft resolutions that we will be considering at Vienna, including a resolution on providing legal aid to persons accused of crimes.
http://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ_session21/ECN15_2012_L14_e_V1252078.pdf 

The proposed resolution does not include the provision of necessary funds for experts or investigators necessary to test and investigate the case against the accused. This may be something I may try to suggest for inclusion in the resolution. Are there other things missing?

Viennese Journals 1.0 - Walking on Holy Ground, Evensong, and the Amnesty Candle

I am attending the United Nations Commission on Crime in Vienna as a delegate with the Friends World Committee for Consultation. It is an amazing opportunity and confluence of my Quaker spirituality, social justice activism, and criminal justice work. My wife, Caroline, and I are going together. We are now in Lymington, England with our host and mentor Nicholas McGeorge and his wife Ellen McGeorge.

Today was our first day in England, preparing for the Commission work and seeing the sights.

I spent the morning trying to get up to speed on the treatment of women in prisoners and the collateral consequences of incarceration on children. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Quaker United Nations Office has some good publications on these issues:

 Children of Prisoners

http://www.quno.org/geneva/pdf/humanrights/women-in-prison/201203Analytical%20DGD%20Report-internet.pdf

Women in Prisons

http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/women-and-imprisonment.pdf

UN Manuel on Restorative Justice:

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06-56290_Ebook.pdf

In the afternoon we visited Salisbury Cathedral.

 In the cathedral there is a stained glass window, installed in 1980, dedicated to Prisoners of Conscience. In the corner of the cathedral there is a candle that always burns as a vigil to these prisoners. 

  We attended the Evensong service and heard the voices of young people singing many of the same words that have been sung continuously in this holy place for more than 750 years. There is beauty in these young live voices rising and soaring into the spires and thinning out into silence. Bringing life into a beautiful tomb. The contrast of life and death, the tradition refreshed in young voices, made me think that the comfort of repetition and the strength of tradition. As a Quaker I am highly suspicious of the way these rituals can become great weights that hold us from discovering the freedom of the Spirit on our own.  My experience of Evensong today was refreshing, rejuvenating, and nothing like a weight.  We need these traditions to be strong enough to hold us over time, and flexible enough to bend with the wind of the Truth.

What to do with my Red Book?

Jail isn’t the most likely place to encounter a kindred spirit, or cross paths with a fellow seeker. But, this morning in the Wake County Jail, I was blessed with a most unexpected friendship.

A few weeks earlier I got a message on my cell phone from a young undocumented immigrant planning a protest at the immigration legislative committee in Raleigh the next day. After speaking with her I agreed to observe the protest and do what I could to represent anyone who was arrested. As a Sheriff from Franklin County was recounting a marijuana seizure, and characterizing immigrants as criminals, the young immigrants stood up during the committee hearing and announced that they are undocumented and unafraid. “We are the face of immigration,” they said. They were brought here as young children. They grew up in the United States. They have both feet firmly in our culture. And yet, if they are stopped for any reason by the police, they could end up deported back to a country they have never known. These kids are tired of living in the shadows, in fear of deportation. They want to be included in the only society they have ever known. And they are willing to risk everything for that dream.

They advocate for immigration reform that would create a pathway to lawful residence for people who have grown up in the United States and do not know their country of birth. DREAM stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. The DREAM Act is a bill that would create a pathway to legal residence that currently does not exist for undocumented youth in the United States. When a minor is brought into the United States by their parents, their visa is attached to their parents’ visas until the age of eighteen. When undocumented youth who have grown up in the United States turn eighteen they are suddenly placed in a legal situation impossible to remedy on their own. Even joining the military requires legal residence.

The DREAM Act would create a legal pathway by registering undocumented youth with the federal government and allow them to legalize their status by going to college, performing community service, or joining the military. In order to be eligible, the youth would have to have clean criminal records. After completing two years of college, significant community service, or two years in the military, the young person would be eligible to apply for Legal Permanent Residence. Without this kind of reform there is no way to legalize their status. I cannot imagine driving in my town, the only town I know, in fear of a traffic stop that could take me from my family to a country I’ve never known.

These young people are raising attention to this reform effort by courageously coming out of the shadows. It is time for us to bring these young people out of the shadow of fear and embrace them as our own, as important voices in our community.

Three young people were arrested at the legislative building, and two were released fairly quickly. One was detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

I began working with a team of two other lawyers to provide representation to these three protesters. Our efforts focused on the young man who was detained, and due to some tremendous organizing by the NC Dream Team, and lawyering by team members he has recently received an immigration bond.

 

So I woke up this morning with a case to continue in Wake County.  For some reason I took along my “Red Book.”  This red book is the Quaker Faith and Practice by the British Yearly Meeting. It was given to me by a British Friend who I met at the 312^th annual meeting of Conservative Quakers in North Carolina. He gave it to me as a token of his friendship, and for schlepping him around everywhere. It became an important source of spiritual practice in my own growth as a Quaker. It is a “best hits” of Quaker writing over four centuries. I don’t know why I picked it up and took it to court to continue a traffic case.

It did not take as long as I expected to continue the case, and I had some extra time. It occurred to me that I should drop by the Wake County Jail and meet my new immigrant protester client. I found my new friend in a solitary cell with a well worn copy of “The Red Badge of Courage.” After some discussion about the legal aspects of his case, our conversation turned in an unexpected direction.   I felt the need to explain why I would represent him for free, and so I told him that I am a Quaker. As a Quaker, I am part of a long line of spiritual seekers who have worked for social justice, equality and community. I said that the immigration issue is the “slavery” of our time.  The Quakers who came before me worked on the underground rail road, and helped slaves to freedom. When people showed up on their door step, my Quaker forbearers risked their own freedom to help the fugitive slaves on the road to freedom. I told him it was an honor to represent him on his road to freedom, and that he inspired me. I could see tears swelling in his eyes, and feel them swelling in my own. I realized all of a sudden how utterly alone he must have been feeling when I showed up, despite the overwhelming loving support outside the jail walls. 

He began to ask some questions about Quakerism, and seemed genuinely interested. He said it came from England, right? And I said yes, there was a seeker in England in the 1600s who was looking for truth from priests, professors, churches and universities. No answers satisfied him, until he came upon the truth that God is within him. There was an “Inward Teacher” and “Inner Christ,” that could show him to truth.  And from this realization, a whole movement arose. Because there is the divine within all people, Quakers refused to engage in violence. We are pacifists. Early Quakers also believed in radical equality between all people, rich and poor, weak and powerful, men and women, black and white. They believed that the individual’s path to truth should be cultivated and tested within a community of seekers. They believed that many human habits, traditions, luxuries, creeds, rituals distracted people from the inner teacher – and so they embraced simplicity in the manner of living and in their worship. They worshiped in shared silence with periodic short messages from the holy silence called “vocal ministry.”  As they experienced the love of God in their hearts, it flowed through their lives into the community in the form of social justice work. Like my new friend, they went to jail for protests for equality and religious freedom. They refused to participate in habits which perpetuated inequality, and were jailed for their refusal.

He seemed intrigued and asked about my “Red Book.” I explained that it was a compilation of Quaker quotes, testimonies, queries. He asked me to read a few, and so I read the following:

Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak. When decisions have to be made, are you ready to join with others in seeking clearness, asking for God's guidance and offering counsel to one another?

We are called to live 'in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars'. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when others commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.

Are you alert to practices here and throughout the world which discriminate against people on the basis of who or what they are or because of their beliefs? Bear witness to the humanity of all people, including those who break society's conventions or its laws. Try to discern new growing points in social and economic life. Seek to understand the causes of injustice, social unrest and fear. Are you working to bring about a just and compassionate society which allows everyone to develop their capacities and fosters the desire to serve?

He said he liked the high ideals expressed by these statements. I agreed that they are beautiful ideas, but it is another matter whether we actually live up to them. Up until then I had been squatting in the floor of the cell, and he invited me to sit on his bunk and talk some more.

I told him that we have no priest or preacher in charge of our Meeting. I explained our Quaker marriage service, where couples take each other in the presence and under the care of Meeting. I explained our practice have having committees to help us find clearness in difficult decisions. And how we are sometimes led by the Spirit to act in the world, and we test these leadings in our community. I told him the story of how I was led to stop wearing a tie in Court as a testimony to simplicity and equality, against the hierarchy of Court.  During one difficult encounter with a judge, the judge threatened to hold me in contempt, but ultimately relented and said, “You may appear as you are.”

And as I said these words, I realized that is all these dreamers wanted. They want to “appear as they are,” undocumented and unafraid, and be accepted into their own community. We suddenly shared an experience of standing up to authority in a risky way – just to be who we are. I told him that when the judge was being critical, I felt protected, held, and guided by the Spirit to respond with words that came from somewhere else. Following a leading for social justice is like riding a wave on the waters of righteousness, and our only task is to be humbly faithful to our small part. All else will be taken care of.  I recognized myself in this young man, a fundamental connection of seekers.

He shared some of the details of his own spiritual path, and expressed a curiosity about learning more about Quakers. He thought it might be a good fit for him.

As our conversation wound down, I offered him my Red Book. He said, “Oh No, I couldn’t.”  But I told him it would give me a great deal of pleasure if he took the book. In fact, I think that is why the Red Book came with me today.