Wake up, Mr. Like! or Sometimes I like to go to the South Side and Sing Little Mermaid

I started my new job with CCDA last Monday. I'm a volunteer coordinator/national recruiter for TechMission, and my stipend is paid by AmeriCorps. I'm picking up the lingo of corporate culture pretty quickly. Courtesy at first over efficiency...but once the pleasantries are out of the way...lookout. I have my own office with a glass-windowed-door, at least an hour of paid lunch, and the benefit of no office dress code. While they may not be paying me much for my services, the perks are handy. I can't knock the 2 block commute either. I realize this is a fantasy-dream-world compared to most of corporate america (except google), but let me enjoy myself for a little while.

My training for this job was a few weeks ago in Boston. Surprisingly, I didn't update while I was there. I guess I was too busy having fun. I got to see my family and hung out with YiOu. Technically, I was supposed to stay in Dorchester the whole time, but that didn't really happen.

CCDA is in the midst of Conference planning/executing/anguishing time. They keep me rather busy, and as I will be coordinating a large part of the 250+ volunteers (for a 2500 person conference) I will have nothing but lofty, idealistic thoughts for the next few weeks. Fortunately, I won't have to cover all of the nitty and gritty details, but I will rather work as a liason between CCDA and the various hospitality committees set up in St. Louis. They are flying me down there on Thursday to help with a volunteer training session.

I feel like I'm in a movie. Are we in a movie?

Tracking down stolen laptops for Harambee. Talking to fences and guys on parole. The police hit things hard and fast. I'm running out for coolant in the midst of strategy for upcoming grant proposals.

The main thing I'm getting from all of this is the orientation required to run an urban ministry. This isn't on simply a day-to-day level, but there are national connections and Board-member considerations..."Where's our weekly report?" Dealing with the theft of our kids' laptops, making sure the playground passes inspection and then being caught up in the lives of so many other people who depend on you for support. This is detective work, mentoring and steering young adults, counseling, finding money and being responsible...oh so responsible. This whole thing is delicate; it is intricately painted from all directions in subtly frustrating shades of grey. I'm having the time of my life.

Who Would Jesus Deport?

Elvira Arellano was arrested and deported by ICE agents at around 2pm PST on Monday, August 20. The Trib did a thorough piece on it. I've been following this story since she sought sanctuary at Adalberto Methodist Church in Humboldt Park. I think that this issue throws the entire immigration debate into sharp relief. This particular situation is catalytic for pundits on all sides of the issue (and there are definitely more than 2 sides...which is in part why we have no comprehensive legislation as of yet). It is an issue of sovereignty. Our a priori conceptions of nation-statehood and humanity come directly into play. Those more inclined to weigh human life over the wishes of the overarching political organization tend to support Elvira, while those who believe strongly in the priority of laws (existing for the purpose of order, privilege, etc) generally condemn her actions. It's the classic divide between a belief in the flourishing of all peoples and the belief that discipline is the foundational element of governance. The difficulty in this for me is my history of political thought. I have fully thrown myself into both camps and the result is a deep empathy that prevents me from crossing the Rubicon.

As a Christian, I must remember that my allegiance does not lie by default with a nation-state. My first duty is not to a construct of man. In the larger picture, borders and quotas and laws help the functioning of the whole, but I do not take issue with their existence (while less than ideal), I disagree with the present methods and policies that divide families unnecessarily. My Christian identity allows me to disconnect myself from the tyranny of paradigm.  One could argue she is protesting an unjust system of laws designed to protect the interests of those in power. Cynicism in this process runs both ways. Weighing the options, I think that what she is doing is noble.

While looking at different perspectives on this issue, I ran across the following videos.

The first: Glenn Beck

linked from Diggers Realm

and the second: Tribute to Elvira Arellano and her son Saul

from Elvira's Song.

"Everyone knew it was probably a question of when, not if. It just makes me feel really sad because she knows she's looking at time in prison."
        -Joshua Hoyt, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

I met that guy during Wheaton in Chicago. He was holding a press conference on the first of the ICE actions in Chicago. The irony here is that I wanted to meet Elvira, but I went to LA instead...where she was arrested.


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