Civil initiative maintains and extends the rule of law---unlike civil disobedience, which breaks it, and civil obedience which lets the government break it. The heart of a societal order guided by the rule of law is the principle that the nonviolent protection of basic rights is never illegal. These basic rights and their matching obligations constitute standards of just conduct that government counter-enforcement is unable to nullify, short of destroying the societal order itself. While openly submitting to the trials and penalties imposed by government, the free community refuses to be coerced into collaborating with violations of the law (that is, of right). Rather, it exercises its rights and protects the violated. This is how liberty grows and free societies form.
(excerpt from Goatwalking by Jim Corbett, Viking Press, 1991, p. 104)
Jim Corbett--Quaker philosopher and poet, cowboy, sheep and goat herder, range
analyst and teacher of wildland symbiotics. He was one of the co-founders of the
Sanctuary Movement that helped thousands of Central American refugees fleeing
political persecution during the 1980's. Jim lived in the San Pedro river valley for
many years until his death in August 2001 at the age of 67.
(photo courtesy A. Clark Az Daily Star)
"Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your god with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And then Jesus said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend." Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, :"Go and do likewise."
Norma Price M.D.
Since July 1, 2002, volunteers with the Samaritans have been rendering humanitarian aid in the form of medical care, food and water to migrants in distress in the Tucson sector of the borderlands. During that time, the death toll of migrant workers from dehydration and exposure has continued to set new records. At the same time, the reports of Homeland Security agents' involvement in bribery, assaults, sexual abuse, and racial profiling have escalated as welll. Damage to the fragile Sonoran Desert has left scars that will last100 years and the damage to ancient sites will last forever .Residents of the borderlands have been growing more fearful as the militarization of the border has increased. During this time, NOT ONE TERRORIST has been found.
our friend and fellow Samaritan
Matthew Moore
Director of Youth Ministries 9/2000-5/2003
St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Tucson AZ
Humanitarian & Activist
"The spirit of Christ and our meaning as a Christian people
beckons us to cross borders: physically, socially, and spiritually.
I now leave you with this question: If Jesus were to bring his
ministry across our border -- which direction would he travel,
and whom of us would he seek?" (Dec 2001)
Matthew Michael Foster Moore
June 12 1979 - May 31 2003
