[Engaged] Engaged Practice: I agree....Whats Next?

[Shinshi]

That is awesome Sekishi. Thank you so much for sharing.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Sekishi]

My son and I went to the #FamiliesBelongTogetherMarch in front of our congressman's office today. We considered going to one of the large marches in Richmond or DC, but opted instead for something closer to home where it would be very difficult to be dismissed as "paid protesters" or "fake news".

I was not sure what to expect in a sleepy little town in rural Virginia, but was pleasantly surprised that 50 or 60 people showed up to sing, laugh, chant, and wave signs and flags in the 94F (34C) sun. A few people who were not able to "march" for medical reasons stopped by with ice, water, and to support others.

Response from passers-by was mostly positive; a few hundred honks and cheers of support, maybe a dozen negative shouts, one "coal rolling" truck smoked the crowd, and and one guy doubled back through town a few times to make rude hand-gestures from his Harley.

On the way home my son was positively beaming. While at the march, everyone we met was smiling. There is a teaching in that I think. *It feels good to do good.* It might be scary and your voice might shake, but when you take action in the world with the intention of helping others: you'll feel good.

My son wants to do more. He has already signed up to help out in our local community in some other ways. And I think there is a teaching in that too. Sometimes we read about events that break our hearts and we do not see a way that we can help. *Every harmless and beneficial action is worth taking.* When the heart calls for action -- take action, even if it does not directly help with the issue that awakened the heart original. Sometimes we hear of a terrible tragedy that happens on the other side of the world and it seems there is little we can do to help those affected. The desire to help is our Bodhisattva nature, and we should listen to it and nurture it however we can. Help one being to help all beings.

At least thats how I see it this evening.

Deep bows,
Sekishi

#sat #lah

FamiliesTOgether-2018-06-30_14-40-33.jpg

[Ryushi]

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may be interested in participating in this.

On Saturday July 7th, Green Gulch Sangha (part of San Francisco Zen Center) will be sitting zazen as a vigil at the Richmond ICE detention center. More info: http://blogs.sfzc.org/blog/2018/06/2...h-hosts-vigil/

Saturday, July 7
West County Detention Facility, 5555 Giant Hwy, Richmond, CA 94806
9:30 am – 10:30 am — Zazen
11 am – noon — Ceremonies, Teachings, and Testimonials

I plan on attending.

Gassho.

[Jakuden]

There’s still coverage going on here, CNN has a big story about the issue of getting these children reunited with their parents. It’s inevitable that coverage will fade, though. Poor Puerto Rico got wiped off the map and everyone forgot.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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Yes, it is awful. I keep thinking this is a nightmare and we are all going to wake up and realize it didn't really happen =( But, sadly, it did and my biggest concern is also that media is going to go on to the next thing, and like a herd of sheep, people will follow and this will get forgotten about.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

I already read in one of the big UK papers this morning that they were stopping their coverage (obviously they think the story is over). I found this article from 5 days ago with a list of advocacy organisations, most of which offer legal support to immigrants. Obviously it's a bit out of date now but the list of organisations might be useful. I think it's a lot of the same ones you mention, Shoka, but there are links to donate and links to the websites https://www.refinery29.com/2018/06/2...parated-border

Also Alyssa Milano has just offered to foster an immigrant child and support them through the process of being reunited with parents. At least this kind of action might keep it in the news.

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

This is awful. I think it's interesting that the guy who was interviewed about whether it was inhumane made it very clear that he was 'just doing his job' and took no moral responsibility for his actions. I hope there are ways we can keep up the pressure so that something is put in place to reunite families. I hope the media doesn't go quiet on this now.

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

Yes, it is awful. I keep thinking this is a nightmare and we are all going to wake up and realize it didn't really happen =( But, sadly, it did and my biggest concern is also that media is going to go on to the next thing, and like a herd of sheep, people will follow and this will get forgotten about.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

This is awful. I think it's interesting that the guy who was interviewed about whether it was inhumane made it very clear that he was 'just doing his job' and took no moral responsibility for his actions. I hope there are ways we can keep up the pressure so that something is put in place to reunite families. I hope the media doesn't go quiet on this now.

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

Thank you Eishuu, I agree. Pressure and not allowing it to fall away is an important action to help everyone get united.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Here is just another example of what I also heard and shared. This is horrible to hear and even sadder to know that will most likely be the outcome. Please listen from mark 5:50:

https://youtu.be/o1ZfBFyrskY?t=347

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

This is awful. I think it's interesting that the guy who was interviewed about whether it was inhumane made it very clear that he was 'just doing his job' and took no moral responsibility for his actions. I hope there are ways we can keep up the pressure so that something is put in place to reunite families. I hope the media doesn't go quiet on this now.

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

Is this true? That can't be. I have trouble to believe this even in this mess. Where did you read this?

I am sure that this will become clear in the coming days as to whether it is true or not.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

Here is just another example of what I also heard and shared. This is horrible to hear and even sadder to know that will most likely be the outcome. Please listen from mark 5:50:

https://youtu.be/o1ZfBFyrskY?t=347

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Jakuden]

Michael Avenatti is trying to get the hashtag "#singlestagingareanow" trending on Twitter, urging to reunite the families and children in a single area like a stadium before the problem gets worse. Just go to twitter and retweet the hashtag.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Anka]

Hello all,

The political climate in the United States has made me do much reanalyzing lately. I have read articles and listened to individuals on both sides of the spectrum and have come to one conclusion.

Each side feel they are doing the correct thing. This feeling is backed by the ideals and ideas that are heavily ingrained in them by the media they consume, the people they interact with, and their childhood.

From this side the policies enacted against illegal immigrants seems cruel and unjustified. However, people who lean toward the conservative side see the policies as necessary to protect their lifestyles and those they care about.

Please remember that all people are victims of delusion and the monster humanity created called politics. All these political issues can be studied from hundreds of vantage points and each one leads to a solution. However, everything is a trade off. There is no solution that will make everyone happy.

James F
Sat

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[Sekishi]

Well, yep, the situation seems to be chaos on reuniting the existing parents and children. Hopefully, this will be quickly remedied.

Unfortunately what I’ve been reading from activist groups since last week it seems pretty clear that either planning for eventual re-uniting or families was poor, or willfully omitted.

I’ve tried to remain optimistic, but we are seeing this echoed now by mainstream media sources. Some children may never be reunited with their families. It is infuriating and heartbreaking.

I will be out on the streets on June 30. Maybe sooner too.

Time to make a shirt that says simply “I do care.”

Deep bows and some tears,
Sekishi
#sat



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[Jundo]

Yes, I heard it today both on the CBC radio programs "On the Island" and "The Current". I will keep looking for the transcripts for "On The Island", but here is the one for "The Current" (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/...ript-1.4716032).

Yes, things will in time become more clear, but this is still a huge issue. One immigration lawyer was very concerned with this, but we will have to see how things unfold in the coming days and weeks.

I myself hope this is not the case ... but it is a very worrying position.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Well, yep, the situation seems to be chaos on reuniting the existing parents and children. Hopefully, this will be quickly remedied.

https://us.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/06/21/erin-burnett-trump-reversal-separate-families-monologue-ebof.cnn

I also wonder with some puzzlement at this coat (true story) that Mrs. Trump wore today to visit the children and afterward, a very strange choice. Very strange:

https://us.cnn.com/2018/06/21/politics/melania-trump-jacket/index.html

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Jakuden]

What you have written here is pretty much exactly what my grandparents had to go through on Ellis Island! My grandfather was 15 and came over alone. Applied and was approved for citizenship some years later.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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[Jundo]

It is also worth noting that Wednesday was the International Day of the Refugee. It is said that there are 69 million displaced persons worldwide.

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-refugee-day-2018/

The following is offered as "citizen (and an immigrant myself)" not "Zen teacher" ...

Politics is preventing us from establishing rational, effective systems to deal with the problems of refugees and illegal immigration. I very much believe (being raised in Miami, a city of refugees from the Caribbean and elsewhere) that most people wish to come, work hard and have a good life. They aid the economy, they often do the jobs that others are unwilling to do. The vast, vast majority live peacefully, work hard and contribute to the economy and society. Such people should be welcomed, as my own ancestors were welcomed (and I am welcomed as a foreigner in Japan).

However, in return such people must be honest and work hard. Any arrest and conviction for a felony, especially a violent felony, should mean immediate and final deportation after punishment, one strike and you are out. (I just read that, despite claims otherwise from the White House, the crime rate in Germany is the lowest in decades despite high immigration rates: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ner-question-2 ) They must actively work or seek work, and not merely collect social services without such effort or other extenuating circumstances. They must attempt to learn the local language and abide by local customs (while the surrounding society also recognizes and honors freedom of religion and cherishes some cultural diversity).

At the border, there should be stations to welcome certain types of individuals: People who pass a health test, demonstrate a physical ability to work, provide some evidence of refugee status if applying as a refugee (that they are fleeing legitimate violence), and can show someone in the welcoming country willing to sponsor them (a family member or potential employer seeking workers). They would be issued an identity card which they must always carry, and which must be shown to receive social services or upon police request together with proof of current employment or active seeking of work via employment offices (In Japan, I must comply as a foreigner and non-refugee alien with all of these requirements). With modern technology, place a locator chip in the card so that their location can be established (they are guests in the country, not citizens, so civil rights are more limited), and if they are ever found to not be carrying the card then they are subject to detention. Allow a path to citizenship or permanent residence after 10 years of clean living in the country. Set a high quota each year for number of people admitted, and establish procedures in the home countries for people to meet these tests legally before they must make the terrible journeys at the hands of bandits and smugglers.

Others who fail to comply with these standards would not not be admitted or will be deported when found.

It is really not so complicated. It is not perfect, and also (and unavoidably) harsh in aspects, but better than the present situation.

Furthermore, we must do all we can to improve the situation, economically and through other assistance, in countries of origin.

Most refugees and other immigrants eventually blend in to the local culture, by the way, especially those raised there from childhood. The numbers coming to Europe and the US seem very large but are actually a small percentage compared to the native population and not that much more than immigration rates in prior generations. People of the past were also quite mobile and fluid. In America, hard to find many people all of whose ancestors were there 150 years ago.

That is my too simple, too imperfect plan. However, I am not a politician.

Peace, Jundo (citizen and immigrant to another country, not Zen teacher, on this issue)

SatTodayLAH