Posted on 9/2/2007, 12:22:00 AM by Diana in Wisconsin
Many people in the Madison area may never get the chance to hear for themselves what the experience of today's immigrant workers is like, says Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman.
Some of them will get that chance this weekend.
"Immigrant Workers in the Pulpit" is bringing local workers to 15 area churches and synagogues to share at worship services their experiences as immigrants on the job.
In a variation on the Interfaith Coalition for Workers Justice of South Central Wisconsin's annual Labor in the Pulpits, the organization is focusing on immigrant workers to give them a voice in the midst of red-hot political controversy over the status of immigrants in the United States.
"This is important because of the tenor in American society," Zimmerman said. "There is such vicious discourse on the immigration issue. It is important for people of faith to hear people who are immigrants and really struggling in society."
One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers.
"It's like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported," he said in a statement.
Participating congregations include Temple Beth El, Beth Israel Center, Community of Hope United Church of Christ, First Baptist Church, First Congregational Church of Christ, James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist, Madison Mennonite, Sherman Avenue United Methodist, Trinity United Methodist, Unity of Madison and University United Methodist.
Zimmerman's congregation, Sha'arei Shamayim, hosted a worker speaker last week. "The person who spoke to us was really moving," she said. "It was the first time he shared his story with people different from him. It was valuable on a deep level, there's definitely been discussion around it."
Rev. Jakes Voker, pastor at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, said his congregation has been involved in the annual worker talks. Participating in the immigrant worker program was a natural progression.
"It's not a new thing for us to be involved with social issues," he said. "Our congregation is very open-minded."
The coalition wants to expand the program beyond "the choir" of congregations dedicated to social justice to faith communities for whom taking on a potentially divisive issue during services would be a stretch.
"This is to begin the process of getting faith communities more involved," said Rabbi Renee Bauer, who organized the program. "Our goal is to keep the conversation going and expanding."
Zimmerman said communities of faith must take on a bigger role in the immigration issue.
"If religion means anything, we must apply our values to the world," she said. "That means getting involved in political issues."
“You’re ILLEGAL CRIMINAL INVADERS! Which word in that sentence don’t you understand? Yeesh!”
B U M P !
Given the current climate re illegals, this in your face approach is a good thing.
Eventually, our ‘leaders’ will be forced to follow the will of the people and arrest these criminals.
Can’t Wisconsin just give Madison to Cuba and get it over with?
Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman
“One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers. “It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported,” he said in a statement”
REAL IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT FEARFUL OF BEING DEPORTED
ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE FUGITIVES ON THE LAM AND ARE RIOTING IN THE STREET DARING ICE TO ARREST THEM...
“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing...”
It’s not a form of terrorism. It’s the fear most criminals feel.
“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported,” he said in a statement”
::::::
Yeah, it is a tough life when you are a CRIMINAL, ain’t it? Sorry, but the people feeling the “terror” are the REAL AMERICAN CITIZENS who are the victims of the COST, TAXATION, CRIME, DRUGS, SLAVE-TRADE AND DISEASE, to say nothing of our government’s complicity in supporting these CRIMINALS. That is the real terror.
It’s bad enough when the dems pander; but this.
Illegals you will be sent home; so don’t come crying to us with your sob stories. You should be in your home countries making them better and btw take our politicians with you.
This is political and is a direct violation of their tax exempt status.
Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order.
Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.
http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html#article14
Time to protest outside these political buildings that pass as places of worship.
It certainly is.
If you're here legally, you have no fear.
Give them AMNESTY!
Give them 30 days to GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY!!
One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers.
Ricardo, I feel your humanity, I don’t care.
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!
this business just grieves me.
These people wouldn't know the truth if it hit them in the face... "I robbed that bank and now I'm being terrorized because I have to worry about the police finding out and arresting me..". Legal immigrants have none of that worry...don't do the crime if you can't do the time....
The REAL terrorism is hordes of illegal aliens and Aztlan activists marching and chanting "Viva LaRaza!" in the streets making threats and demands and carrying foreign flags ....
This feels weirder than the twighlight zone. When someone says that illegals are acting “Holier than thou” in flouting the law, now they’re actually DOING IT FROM THE PULPIT!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.