Guest Post: How Do We Offer Hope Amid Fear?

These numbers were published in an era of misinformation in which we were told that the U.S. was being invaded by thousands of criminals and gang members crossing our borders. 

Focusing on our local immigrants, the following is the third of a monthly Justice Matters column published by the Valley Justice Coalition, this one by guest writer Chris Hoover, interim executive director at NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center in Harrisonburg.

On March 6, I was simultaneously noting the news of the SpaceX Starship rocket launch alongside the reality that our organization’s immigrant resource navigation program could not get bucket garden kits to families in our community due to fear of drawing unwanted attention to individuals and families. 

“We can send a rocket into space, but we can’t get buckets on people’s doorsteps in the United States right now,” I thought while doing the dishes that evening.

The level of fear within immigrant communities is devastating, and it’s putting the health, safety and basic needs of our immigrant neighbors at risk. People are basically in survival mode, just trying to stay safe and with their families, making sure their children will be taken care of in the event of sudden arrest, detention, and/or deportation.

As Interim Executive Director of NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center, I am learning a great deal as I work to strengthen the work of this Shenandoah Valley nonprofit. I am witnessing our program leaders diving in to navigate extremely complex situations amid rapidly changing laws, systems, and reactions.

One essential awareness I’m conveying to other concerned community members is that an incredible amount of nuance is needed as those of us who are not at risk seek to be supportive neighbors in our communities right now.

One important resource being offered is the Know Your Right (“KYR”) workshops and webinars. We also see certain rights listed on the bilingual “Red Cards.” One such right is to remain silent if questioned by an ICE agent. The information is essential, and the intention is good. However, we must also understand that one’s legal status, and even where one is physically present if an encounter with ICE occurs, may determine whether or not to exercise the right to remain silent. At a minimum, this right must be verbally articulated, if articulated at all.

NewBridges Immigration Attorney Steve Smith knows these nuances well and said, for example, “A 60-year-old El Salvadoran, with little or no education, who experienced that country’s civil war, and forces of an oppressive government, may not readily be able to remain silent. They would understand that when someone pounds on the door, you must answer.”

Practicing immigration law means that each client consultation must include its own individually tailored Know Your Rights review and that caution and nuance must be exercised when presenting a KYR workshop, which may include individuals whose immigration history and legal status may differ.

Currently, for many, pursuing any process involves putting sensitive information into a system that feels dangerous. Silence has long been considered golden when it comes to not putting yourself in legal jeopardy, but it can also be problematic. If anything, people should be encouraged to say that they would like to speak with an attorney first, especially upon being asked to sign anything. Finding trustworthy attorneys is also a challenge, as many predatory actors exist.

These systems also have global implications. Church World Service (CWS) Director Susannah Lepley has stated her concerns that we are seeing the end of refugee resettlement in the U.S. She has shared that, given that federal aid was frozen and the resettlement system was dismantled in about a month’s time, it’s unreasonable to think that it could be reconstructed quickly or easily. And the years of process that would be required would mean that the people who are most familiar with the work will likely have been lost to other jobs.

One thing we need to hold alongside the intense fear within the immigrant community is our ability to respond in ways that are most helpful and are practiced with great care. I am encouraged by the response of our local community, organizing to show up in prudent ways that address the needs of this moment, which are rapidly changing

SpaceX Starship exploded during its eighth and most recent launch. Interestingly, Elon Musk had this to say in response to the failure: “As always, success comes from what we learn…”

I ask us to seriously reflect on what we have learned from our history, both the successes and the failures. What are we learning at this moment in time? How are we using that knowledge to empower citizens to help make our community a place that offers hope amid so much fear?

An Alternative To Two Heresies, Christian Individualism And Christian Nationalism

Christians have largely embraced the
 individualism of American culture.

In keeping with the ego-centered mindset and world view of the times, many Christians see the Bible as primarily an inspired book of wisdom and inspiration addressing our personal stresses and problems. 

Many of our favorite hymns reflect this kind of "God and I" theology, such as in the chorus of the well known "I Come to the Garden Alone":

... he walks with me and he talks with me

and he tells me I am his own,

and the joy we share as we tarry there

none other has ever known.

Or this one, "My God and I":

My God and I go through the fields together,

We walk and talk as good friends should and do,

We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter

My God and I go though the meadow's hue.

Then there is this men's quartet favorite, "On the Jericho Road":

On the Jericho Road, there is room for just two,

No more and no less, just Jesus and you.

Each burden he'll bear, each sorrow he'll share,

There's never a care when Jesus is there.

And we likewise tend to do our Bible reading that way, in spite of it being primarily addressed to whole nations and groups of people rather than to individuals. The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) represents the mission, vision and values of the nation of Israel, a people through whom God aims to bless all nations of the earth. The New Testament represents instructions to whole congregations of believers, who in turn are a part of a worldwide community of Jesus followers. 

But we are inclined to read a text like "Be still and know that I am God" as an invitation to experience our own inner peace, when in its Psalm 46 context it is clearly a call for God's people to end their reliance on war making and to trust God for their defense and security.  

Likewise the oft quoted Jeremiah 29 passage with the words, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you..." is one we take as a personal promise rather than God's assurance that the people who have been exiled in Babylon will be able to return to their homeland.

Even the prophet Isaiah's familiar invitation, "Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow," though certainly applicable to individuals in need of repentance, is addressed to a "sinful nation" that is urged to "seek justice," "defend the oppressed," "take up the cause of the fatherless," and "plead the case of the widow."

Most would agree that we're all created with strong needs to identify with, and belong to, larger communities of people--families, neighborhoods, congregations, and nations. Often Christians, like others, have bought into forms of patriotism and nationalism as a way of meeting that need.

But "Christian nationalism," like "Christian individualism," represents a vision far too small. The alternative to each of these half truths or heresies is for followers of Jesus to identify as "Christian internationalists," becoming a part of what the apostle Peter refers to as a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation," one ruled by God, encompasses the globe and knows no boundaries.

This would mean needing to declare every human of whatever race, color or creed as being our neighbor, and as deserving as many privileges as we claim for ourselves. No one would claim the right to greater share of the world's goods than any other man, woman or child on earth.

This would represent a revolutionary paradigm shift and call for a radical lifestyle change for most of us. 

But what are the alternatives? To consider those who don't look like us, don't believe like us and/or who live at a distance from us as not being a part of God's one worldwide neighborhood? And to continue to see ourselves as a part of privileged class of people who deserve more of everything than our fellow humans around the globe?

I'd love to know what you think, but I'm drawn to seeing congregations as being "Experimental Prototype Communities of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), as local embassies of the worldwide reign of God's shalom, where "nothing is marred and nothing is missing."

False Speech Or Fake News? It's Your Call

Of the past 23 blog pieces I have posted none that has had anything to do with the current administration with the exception of one right after the November election. Today I feel compelled to comment on some of the many false and misleading statements we hear from politicians these days, including those found in our president's recent speech to the joint session of Congress. 

The following is a sample of such statements cited by fact-checker Glen Kessler and published in the March 9 issue of the Washington Post, now owned by a holding company of billionaire Jeff Bezos, the founder and executive chairman of Amazon and someone with increasingly close ties to Trump. 

Whatever opinions one may have about whether Bezo's newspaper is an objective news source, the Post has won the Pulitzer Prize 76 times for its work, the second highest of any newspaper in US history.

Here are a few excerpts from the speech, with my own brief summaries of Kessler's responses:

We won the popular vote by big numbers and won counties in our country 2,700 to 525.

Fact: Harris lost by a mere 1.5%, the fourth smallest margin of loss since 1960. The counties cited are ones with small populations versus densely populated ones.

Illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded.

Fact: There have been many years in the past in which the numbers have been well below half of the 8,300 crossings in February.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings a month, and virtually all of them, including murderers, drug dealers, gang members and people from mental institutions and insane asylums, were released into our country.

Fact: There is no evidence whatsoever of any countries intentionally releasing such people, with the possible exception of Cuba in 1960.

I withdrew from the unfair climate accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars.

Fact: The agreement was non-binding, and studies on costs have not factored in any benefits from reducing climate change.

We ended the last administration's insane electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto workers and companies from economic destruction.

Fact: While there have been incentives offered for purchasing electric vehicles, there have been no mandates, and the United Auto Workers Union has stated, "We reject the fear mongering that says that tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs."

These are but the first five of 26 examples of false or misleading statements cited in the article, suggesting that when in doubt, any speech or article should be checked for accuracy.

It behooves all of us to observe the commandment against bearing false witness against anyone or for any reason. No community or nation can thrive without trust, and there can be no trust without truth.

I welcome any correction or response to any of the above.

P.S. As to the claims of widespread fraud in the Social Security system, the rate is less than 1% in this gigantic agency, and funeral directors risk huge consequences for failing to fax an SSA-721 form certifying every individual death. Yet the majority of lawmakers in the chamber gave repeated standing ovations in response to such outright falsehoods.

Sobering.

Join The 'Christian Internationalism' Movement!

"Blue Marble" photo taken from Apollo 17 in 1972. From this angle, the setting of the Pentecost story would be near the top of the globe.

"We are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; from Pontus and Asia, from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are from Rome, both Jews and Gentiles converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia—yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!” 

Acts 2:9-11 story of Pentecost (Living Bible)

We hear a lot about Christian nationalism these days, the belief that the United States is an exceptional nation that is to be ruled by a certain narrow understanding of the Bible. But Jesus and the prophets announced God's sovereignty as encompassing all of humanity in every part of the globe. Together we are called to be a part of an international order subject to God's shalom of justice, grace and redemption.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 146 provides an example:

Our International Anthem

Praise Yahweh! Praise Yahweh!

All of us with united voice shout praise to Yahweh!

Our Pledge of Allegiance

We pledge allegiance to Yahweh as long as we live.

    We proclaim God’s praises with every breath.

We will never place our confidence in the heads of nations;

    We will never trust in them for help.

We know that when their brief time is over,

    that all their vain promises will evaporate with them.

But our unwavering confidence is in Yahweh 

our supreme commander-in-chief,

    our hope is in the Creator and Lord of all,

Lord of heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them,

    who keeps every promise forever.

Our God Movement Manifesto

Yahweh brings about justice for the oppressed,

    offers food for the hungry.

Yahweh frees prisoners

     opens the eyes of the blind.

Yahweh lifts up those who are downtrodden

    loves the godly and upright.

The Lord protects refugees and immigrants,

    cares for orphans and the homeless,

    but frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The Lord will reign forever

    and will remain faithful throughout all generations.

Praise Yahweh!

Justice Matters Column in today's News-Record

The following piece by Kathleen Temple is the second of what will be a series of monthly columns by the Valley Justice Coalition that will appear in the Daily News-Record on the fourth Friday of each month:

State Exceeds Nation's Incarceration Rate

Our General Assembly is about to approve another $1.5 billion of our tax dollars to fund the Virginia Department of Corrections. This is the single most costly institution in the Commonwealth’s budget, and doesn’t include the staggering costs of all of the city and county jails in our communities.

There may be some accused persons who need to be locked away for the sake of public safety, but the numbers of people we incarcerate in the US and in the Commonwealth far exceed our population growth and the incarceration rates of other developed countries. And the rate of violent crimes in our country has actually been in decline.

And that $1,500,000,000 doesn’t even come close to matching the cost of lost wages, increased social services and other consequences that negatively affect all of us taxpayers. Nor does it take into account the emotional cost to children who through no fault of their own grow up without one or more of their parents. Nor does it account for the many other costs to our community when non-violent offenders are warehoused in our jails and prisons, including large numbers of our jail inmates are being confined while awaiting their court hearings, presumably innocent until tried and proven guilty.  

So given the extremely high criminal-legal costs here in Virginia—in dollars and in the lives of children and others—we should consider every possible alternative to incarceration, keeping non-dangerous persons out of this expensive system whenever possible. We should also recognize that a large portion of those in our carceral facilities have demonstrated changed behaviors, have taken classes while in prison to gain valuable work skills, and could thus be safely returned to their families and communities. In addition, many have aged out of crime and also require increasingly costly healthcare that adds to the strain on our state budget.

The primary purpose of our criminal justice system, according to the DOC’s mission statement, is public safety. For those we do retain, may we ask, Whose safety? The child who has no parent to sing her to sleep, and no parent to provide for her is certainly not safer in this system.

And if, according to the DOC’s name, one of its primary purposes is correction, we should ask whether an understaffed Department of Corrections is effectively “correcting” (rehabilitating) the 40,000  people in its charge? Of the many who do actually experience transformations during incarceration, is it more often due to their individual heroism or to the carceral system itself?. We would like to be able to say both.

Meanwhile, the current Parole Board released only 16 incarcerated persons in 2024, a pathetically small percentage of the over 3000 men and women who are still eligible for parole, that is, those who were incarcerated before Virginia abolished parole in 1995, and more recently including “Fishback” cases and those incarcerated as minors. So with only a few more than one individual released per month, it appears that either the DOC is not “correcting” or the Parole Board is not carrying out its mission to “grant parole or conditional release to inmates whose release is compatible with public safety.”

We can do better than that.

Kathleen Temple

Overcoming Our Addiction To Autophilia

Carpooling was widely promoted during
the oil crisis of 1973.

I attended an inspirational meeting yesterday led by counselors Troy and Melissa Haas of HopeQuest. Attendance was around 200, mostly members of more conservative Mennonite groups in the Dayton area. 

Judging by the number of buggies and bicycles at the rural school where the meeting was held, a large number of those attending belonged to groups who avoid owning cars and use alternative means of transportation. While they hire drivers as needed, they see their way of life as supporting family and community solidarity and a slower-paced and simpler lifestyle.

As I drove our 2012 Corolla out of the parking lot (with me as the the sole occupant) I reflected on some on the positive value of their choice. Seeing grown men and women driving their buggies and riding their bikes together on a brisk February evening, I had to ask, Do they have a point? Is everything that is more modern and more convenient really better for our physical, emotional and relational health? And are our communities better off having become ever more dependent on our vehicle dominated culture? Are all of the changes that have resulted been for the good, and for the good of the planet?

When we moved just outside of Harrisonburg in 1988, nearby Highway 42 entering the city from Broadway was a two lane road with a growing amount of traffic. Now that portion of the road is an even busier five-lane stretch of Virginia Avenue next to where we now live at VMRC's Park Village.

By far the majority of vehicles speeding up and down Virginia Avenue have only one occupant. In our neighborhood, as is the case across the nation, in the last 50 years we have more licensed vehicles than there are licensed drivers. And the average passenger vehicle on our roads and highways weighs over a ton, has all kinds of high tech features, comfortably seats five or more passengers, and offers convenience, comfort and speed even the wealthiest monarchs could never have imagined a century ago.

One of the benefits of our location is being within walking distance of access to groceries, prescriptions, eye and dental care, the Park View Federal Credit Union and other services without my having to use a car. 

Speaking of cars, most of us in VMRC's independent living facilities own at least one of them, even as our need for this kind of convenient transportation diminishes. In fact, free transportation service is available to any other part of the VMRC campus, a Harrisonburg transit city bus stops by Heritage Haven on an hourly basis every weekday, and medical and other transportation services are also available on call fir a reasonable fee.

While only about 38% of the world's households owns a car, we North Americans have felt entitled to our SUV's, RV's, sports cars and monster pickups, resulting in a surplus of energy-guzzling machines that pose a threat to the planet.

So what if we did more walking and biking, carpooled when possible, used public transportation whenever feasible, and created car sharing co-ops as numerous groups have done across the nation? 

While our addiction to comfort, convenience (and class?) may take a hit, I'm sure our Creator God and our beloved earth would abundantly bless us.

Either We Outlaw War Or We Will Perish By It

Some 70% of Gaza, smaller than Rockingham County, has been reduced to rubble, and an astounding number of men, women and children have lost their lives, many of their bodies unrecognizable and/or unrecoverable.

There is a widespread belief that human beings have gradually become more civilized over time, eventually passing laws against things like cannibalism, human trafficking, dueling, torturing, and other practices finally seen as barbaric.

Actually, the opposite appears to be true. In the past century we have become ever more sophisticated in our means of killing, maiming and dismembering people, along with inventing ever more efficient ways of destroying their habitat and the very earth on which we all depend.

Among the books I've read recently are Killing Crazy Horse--The Merciless Indian Wars in America, by Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard and A Long Way Gone--Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ismael Beah. Each details recent examples in history of barbaric cruelty we tend to think humans are no longer capable of. But we are.

And we now have weapons that are infinitely more lethal than could have ever been imagined in the past. One small atomic or hydrogen bomb alone is capable of creating the kind of instant devastation pictured above, as demonstrated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of World War II. 

That war resulted in an estimated total of 50-85 million deaths, including millions of innocent civilians who died from starvation, disease, massive bombings and in extermination camps.

Most of us North Americans were spared this level of suffering. But World War III would be far worse for all the earth's inhabitants, and would undoubtedly result in the end of civilization as we know it. Thus there is no way for the world to survive other than through our beating our swords into plowshares and banning war forever as immoral, uncivilized and unthinkable. 

The 16th century reformer Menno Simons wrote, "All Christians are commanded to love their enemies; to do good to those who abuse and persecute them... Tell me, how can a Christian defend scripturally retaliation, rebellion, war, striking, slaying, torturing, stealing, robbing and plundering and burning cities and conquering countries? ...They (Christians) are the children of peace. their hearts overflow with peace; their mouths speak peace, and they walk in the way of peace... They seek, desire and know nothing but peace; and are prepared to forsake country, goods, life, and all for the sake of peace."