“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer – except that you have actual responsibilities.” - Sarah Palin, September 3, 2008.
Sarah Palin criticized, chided, and mocked Barack Obama over his experience as a community organizer. Certainly, this is an inflammatory issue, because many groups, from Christian to environmental groups, rely on community organization as a very important tool to achieve their goals. Reuters reports that “faith-based community organizers have a message for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin: they have ‘actual responsibilities’ thank you very much.”
Personally, I have canvassed door to door and by phone, and community organizers can have a very challenging job. As a result, I have a lot of respect for folks that do community organizing. Furthermore, community organization is very important in promoting a healthy democracy, since it allows citizens on a grassroots level to participate in governmental and non-governmental decision-making. From Clean Water Action’s Blog: We All Live Downstream:
Community Organizers. Like Ben Franklin? Like John Adams? Like Mahatma Gandhi? LikeMartin Luther King, Jr.? Like Cesar Chavez? You mean the people who go from door to door, person to person, and engage in discussion with members of their communities to make this a better world? You mean people who care enough to make a difference? While it may be true that voluntarily taking on the responsibility to live your values and care for your community may pale in comparison to reviewing parking meter ordinances, I think a little more respect may be called for. How can we teach them?
By organizing. Organizing in our communities. Doing the thing we do best. By organizing against the ethically bereft, treasury looting Bush Administration and their proposed heirs to the throne, John McCain and Sarah Palin. We throw the full weight of our organizing community behind the effort to elect community leaders, with the values most Americans embrace, to office. We teach Rudy, Sarah, John and the whole crew the power of organizing and the “actual responsibilities” we have to our families, our neighbors and our communities.
There was so little truth and integrity in Governor Palin’s remarks to the Republican National Convention that it was almost an honor for community organizers to be singled out for a sarcastic jab. I don’t think it will be too long before those casually disrespectful comments look very frightening in the rear view mirror.
Furthermore, Kim Bobo, Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice made these comments regarding Sarah Palin’s negative remarks regarding community organizers:
Contrary to Palin’s disparaging remarks, organizers have major responsibilities for creating policy changes. Feeding the hungry and housing the homeless are clearly responsibilities of people of faith. We do that by providing food and shelter and more importantly, by organizing to address the causes of injustice and inequity which lead to hunger and homelessness,” said Kim Bobo, Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice, a congregation-based community organization in Chicago.
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Every time Sarah Palin opens her mouth she reveals how great is the depth of her ignorance. She needs to shut her pie hole. I know I (many others as well) would appreciate it if she did.
This country had to endure 8 years of the most jingoistic bullying and violation of our rights, w/in our lifetimes, under the leadership of “The Decider” aka King George II.
Unfortunately, there are many Americans that think like that creature from Alaska. I have known more than a few of those type people. You cannot tell those folks anything. They are convinced that they and other right-wing fundamentalists and others who think just like them have been anointed by God. They are insufferable and arrogant. If you are Dubya it must be tough being touched by the hand of God and no one in other countries acknowledging it. You have to work extra hard being a jerk toward other nations demanding the respect that your megalomania deserves, especially in dealing w. our traditional allies. However that really turns on “the base”.
Maybe this helps explain somewhat why Bush won the first time and that’s why he won re-election; being God’s “chosen one”. An incredible number of people believe that notion. And it’s their way or the highway.
Ignorance may be taking a breather but, believe me, it will rear its ugly head every time there is an election and in between.
It is interesting to observe Bush’s low approval rating against Sarah Palin’s high approval ratings (although a fair share of Americans view her negatively). She is the reincarnation of Bush, his policies, narrow worldview, and ignorance; however, people are willing to lie down with a dog all over again.
Re community organizers vs. mayoral responsibilities. What is Palin talking about? I don’t think she has a clue. Community organizers try to work within the community to improve and to better the lives of the inhabitants &/or for a certain goal. The position of mayor is not the same as community organizer “w. actual responsibilities.” Often the com. organizers work for little money and volunteers will help out for no money.
Certainly not for $150,000+ in clothes, etc.