JiM's Dreams

I have finally caught up on my sleep debt and can now write about last weekend without using far too many exclamation points and comma splices. Why?

I took a group of 10th and 11th graders to Washington, DC to learn how to lobby on Capitol Hill, informed by their Jewish values and ethics. I will say, they seem to be highly liberal values and I am OK with that. We met up with 250 other kids and their chaperones and studied for two days about what liberal Judaism says on subjects as diverse as Fair Trade Coffee, Reproductive Rights, GLBT Hate Crime legislation, the genocide in Darfur, Immigration, CAFE standards, campaign finance reform, etc. I was blown away by how seriously our kids took these concerns.

Besides the lobbying and praying and such, we did get to do a little sight-seeing. It was cherry-blossom time, so it made sitting in traffic a pleasure on our way to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the WW2 monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the Smithsonian. Holding Havdalah (the Jewish ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath) on the steps of the Jefferson Monument was quite a trip. First, to be able to freely and joyously express our religion without fear of retribution, harm or even ridicule is quite the heady scent of freedom. Several passersby stopped to join in or just watch and listen to the singing, including 2 Moslem families. All within sight of the Washington Monument which honors the man who wrote the phrase "to bigotry we give no sanction" in a letter he wrote to the first Jewish congregation in the US, the Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island. See above comment on "heady scent of freedom".

Monday morning, we stuffed all the kids into their best clothes and set out for Capitol Hill. After walking three times around the Hill widdershins (thank you, Capitol Police), we did get to see the Supreme Court building and Museum and saw Justice Ginsburg go by at a distance. We went to present to our Senator's aide and the only open space was the Caucus Room featured in "Good Night and Good Luck". So the kids presented their position speeches in the same room where Mr. Murrow spoke, all soaring ceilings and moldings and deep carpets and marble columns. The aide was informed and courteous and discussed the senator's views on each of the subjects we brought up.

Then it was off to the House side of the Hill to talk to our congressman's aide on Darfur, Reproductive Rights and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (which would allow police departments to actually prosecute hate crimes against the GLBT community as actual hate crimes, which carry heavier penalties than random crimes). The Rep is a harder sell, as he tends to vote pretty much counter to our values. However, his aide took copious notes, had a long discussion with us and complimented our group on their extensive preparation. He said he'd never had a group of lobbyists so well prepared, professional or amateur! We glowed with pride for our kids' sake.

So, here is what I have learned about lobbying:
- 20 phone calls constitutes "a flood" of response on an issue
- Courtesy, brevity and information are the ways to change someones mind
- Showing up can change the world
- We have so much power and we don't use it or even realize that we should

Here is what I am asking from you, my friends:

1)Put your congressperson and senator on your email list, speed-dial, etc
2)Take 5 minutes a week to familiarize yourself with the issues coming up for vote before the Senate and the House. Utilize information gained for Step 1.
3)I do not care if you are liberal, moderate, conservative, libertarian, Republican, Communist, Socialist or Yellow-Dog Democrat. Just express your opinions on things that matter to you in this world. If you don't, de facto decisions will be made by those who do pick up their phones, write a letter or send an email. And you know what "they" are like!
4) Seriously, we live in a representative Democracy - make sure someone is representing YOU and your values.

OK, I have now waved my flag in a suitably fervent manner. What a cool country we live in, no matter how messed up our foreign policy, our military involvement, our immigration policies, our Supreme Court, our social and civil liberties... at least we're in there slugging.

(I don't have to tell you to vote, right?!)