Comments on: Community Organizer http://jim.casablog.com/2008/09/06/community-organizer/ All a man needs out of life is a place to sit ‘n’ spit in the fire. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:23:21 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jim http://jim.casablog.com/2008/09/06/community-organizer/comment-page-1/#comment-394 Jim Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:57:53 +0000 http://jim.casablog.com/?p=387#comment-394 That is an awesome quote! That is an awesome quote!

]]> By: Laura http://jim.casablog.com/2008/09/06/community-organizer/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Laura Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:53:07 +0000 http://jim.casablog.com/?p=387#comment-393 <p> In defense of community organizing and grassroots activism as an intrinsic part of American democracy, <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080922/dreier_atlas" rel="nofollow">Peter Dreier & John Atlas wrote an editorial piece for The Nation...</a> they would have never commented on the Christian angle (which is why I enjoy <u>your post</u> and consider it a rarity) but I did enjoy this quote: </p> <p> "Visiting the United States in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed in his Democracy in America, how impressed he was by the outpouring of local voluntary organizations that brought Americans together to solve problems, provide a sense of community and public purpose and tame the hyper-individualism that Tocqueville considered a threat to democracy."</p> In defense of community organizing and grassroots activism as an intrinsic part of American democracy, Peter Dreier & John Atlas wrote an editorial piece for The Nation… they would have never commented on the Christian angle (which is why I enjoy your post and consider it a rarity) but I did enjoy this quote:

"Visiting the United States in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed in his Democracy in America, how impressed he was by the outpouring of local voluntary organizations that brought Americans together to solve problems, provide a sense of community and public purpose and tame the hyper-individualism that Tocqueville considered a threat to democracy."

]]> By: Jim http://jim.casablog.com/2008/09/06/community-organizer/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Jim Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:45:35 +0000 http://jim.casablog.com/?p=387#comment-392 Amen, Laura. Amen Amen, Laura. Amen

]]> By: Laura http://jim.casablog.com/2008/09/06/community-organizer/comment-page-1/#comment-391 Laura Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:43:58 +0000 http://jim.casablog.com/?p=387#comment-391 Thank you for your post. "He decided that the war on terror begins at home, and it doesn't begin with "shock and awe" but with service to the poor." I think you offer an interesting Christian view of community organizi­ng. Palin herself can identify with that - she let us know she got started in politics after becoming active serving as a PTA member in her kids school district. I don't think community organizing in Wasilla, as a PTA member, had the same challenges as community organizing in the south side of Chicago at a time when factory closings threatened welfare of so many, but good for her, serving others in her own way. It is just a shame when we tear eac­h other down for serving others and in the next breathe call to serve by fighting in defense of our nation. ­ I take defense as seriously as the next person, but cannot help but feel that our nation would be better served if we enlisted more youth in community service and organizing, fostering understanding and building tolerance rather than taking our youth from the classroom to the front lines half way around the world. Thank you for your post.
"He decided that the war on terror begins at home, and it doesn’t begin with "shock and awe" but with service to the poor."
I think you offer an interesting Christian view of community organizi­ng. Palin herself can identify with that – she let us know she got started in politics after becoming active serving as a PTA member in her kids school district. I don’t think community organizing in Wasilla, as a PTA member, had the same challenges as community organizing in the south side of Chicago at a time when factory closings threatened welfare of so many, but good for her, serving others in her own way.
It is just a shame when we tear eac­h other down for serving others and in the next breathe call to serve by fighting in defense of our nation. ­
I take defense as seriously as the next person, but cannot help but feel that our nation would be better served if we enlisted more youth in community service and organizing, fostering understanding and building tolerance rather than taking our youth from the classroom to the front lines half way around the world.

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