Our Pilgrimage in the Rear View Mirror

The trip this year was outstanding.

It was serene and peaceful, as democrat and republican lions bedded down with democrat and republican sheep.  Not an angry or radical word was spoken and all was well with the world.

But wait!  It transpired during the most horrendous tumult the world has recently seen. Mubarake, the Egyptian dictator, had just fallen to people power as had Tunisia.  Remember him, we’ve almost forgotten his name. Libya rose up against Kaddafi. Bahrain’s people were demanding rights while Saudi Arabia and the US were poised to prop up its ruling class.  Yemen and Syria were suddenly afflicted with democracy and then the physical world fell apart. 

Japan cracked, then went up in smoke and flood while their vaunted technology failed utterly, spewing radioactive clouds over its people before wafting on the winds to California.  We were awed at the simple engineering mistake of putting backup generators in basements, vulnerable to the tsunami.  Hawaii shook belching flame and ash while waiting for the tidal wave and its native people yearned for freedom.  Seismologist and climatologist mused over the possibility that global heating might contribute to the outbreak of quakes and volcanoes.

Maybe we should not have been quite so out of it and serene, given the world situation, not to speak of Wisconsin and the continued assaults on our own democracy.

Another outstanding feature of the Faith and Politics Alabama Pilgrimage this year was the large size of the delegation and the enthusiasm with which everyone approached each new adventure – Birmingham local speakers at the 16th Street Baptist Church were inspiring with their stories of recovering from the bombing and death.  The band for the p3 young peoples was mind blowing.  Average age 14.

The Rosa Parks museum was a high point where every single pilgrim bought my book.  It was fun for me to have such a high-powered captive audience at Rev. Abernathy’s church, which is so central to the civil rights movement.  Everyone laughed with me over how timid us little white boys were as we got swept up in the movement with veterans like John Lewis and Dianne Nash, Bernard Lafayette, and those gorgeous singers, Betty Fikes and Dorothy Cotton.  Every person in the church seemed to understand the power of Ms Parks saying to me that I had to take a stand, or as John Lewis says, “Get in the way.”

To Faith and Politics and its new and old leadership, I say keep the faith and the good works!

Bob Zellner March 21, 2011

Tune in to The Injustice Files, Friday, March 4

Keith Beauchamp has done more to re-open cold case civil rights murder cases than anyone.  Please help Keith, CBS, and me get the word out about this great documentary to be shown tomorrow. William Moore is a true American Hero who was murdered in my home state of Alabama. We know who assassinated him but the murderer is still being protected by God knows whom?

Dear Friends,

Please tune in this Friday (March 4, 2011) for "The Injustice Files" Episode 3: He Walks Alone.

On the Investigation Discovery Channel at 9pm est /8pm CST.

Episode 3: 'He Walks Alone ' profiles the murder of William Lewis Moore who was the first known white martyr of the American civil rights movement! Please spread the word!

Thanks in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Keith A. Beauchamp
Executive Producer/Host
"The Injustice Files"

P. S. View a sneak peek of Episode 3 here:
http://investigation.Discovery.Com/videos/the-injustice-files-the-dangers-of-southern-activism.Html#icpgn=idhpdrl4

Click here for channel finder:
http://investigation.Discovery.Com/channel-finder/?Ecid=icpgn=idtpnv

Click Here for Channel finder:
http://investigation.discovery.com/channel-finder/?ecid=icpgn=idtpnv

11th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Observations on the occasion of the 11th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage organized by the Faith and Politics Institute and led by Congressman John Lewis from March 4 to March 6, 2011

Fellow Pilgrims,
A lot is happening in our country and the world as we retrace the steps of recent history. When John Lewis and Hosea Williams placed their feet on the Selma side of the bridge that day heading east toward Montgomery they had little idea of their odyssey’s ultimate significance for the South, the nation and the world.

We are witnessing the triumph of the philosophy and tactics of nonviolent direct action worldwide. Al Qaeda terrorist are hanging their heads for the carnage wrought by their nihilistic violence. A simple Tunisian vegetable vendor tired of being disrespected and mistreated by his autocratic government and its police sparked an unstoppable grassroots thrust toward democracy. It is toppling entrenched ruling classes and dictators right and left, leaving heretofore-untouchable power élites checking flight schedules.

As Congressmen and Senators and opinion makers bond together during this long weekend, let’s think and pray about Wisconsin and the rights of working people, the elimination of hate and violent rhetoric from political discourse, and the spread of democracy and humanity world wide.

It took a lot of faith for John and Hosea to take that first step and it takes a lot of faith to do good politics these days.

Bob Zellner March 1, 2011