A "coincidence" we should ponder...

[garthranzz]

Mar 25, 1965: The 25,000-person Alabama Freedom March to protest the denial of voting rights to blacks, led by Martin Luther King Jr., ended its journey from Selma on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery, Ala.

Mar 25, 1911: A fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York City killed 145 workers.

For those of you who don't remember, the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. was a sweatshop, employing mainly immigrant Jewish women. It was a catalyst in the Labor union movement. Labor, of course, became a major segment of the Democratic Party (wonder why ). Many, if not most, of the initial organizers were Jewish. Marching with Martin Luthor King was, among others, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a prominent theologian. Labor unions, for all their faults (and they are many) have protected the rights of workers - unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled - those without the education to become Republican Robber Barons and have thus helped change the dialogue about race.

(I must acknowledge I might not have noticed this 'coincidence' had I not heard Barack Obama acknowledge the traditional Black-Jewish alliance, based on civil rights and civil liberties, and call for its renewal.)

Thus we have the coincidences of March 25, which are like partners in a dance. For what the Alabama Freedom March and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire have in common is this: both demanded, one by its action, the other by the reaction to it, a reform, not just of institutions, but of attitudes: giving respect is not an act of charity; it is a recognition of the G-dliness within another. Demanding dignity for others is the only way to dignify ourselves.

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. Good words.

I like that parting point Demanding dignity for others is the only way to dignify ourselves. Its something I haven't thought of, but I think its absolutely true. Moral disasters like the events at Abu Graib take MY dignity away, all of our diginity. We are all interconnected.