I Must Do Social Justice Work

I Must Do Social Justice Work

My name is Joan Kemble. I have been coming to the USH since 1960 when we met at Pearl Street in downtown Hartford.

I first felt I was a Unitarian in high school, when a boyfriend taught me about Unitarian beliefs; he was the grandson of Norbert Capek, the Czechoslovakian Unitarian martyr. I did not attend a service until 1957 when Tom Kemble took me to his church in Iowa City. I remember sniggering at the old hymn tunes dressed up with new words. But after that I was hooked-- on Tom and the Unitarians.

I have always been a naive person. As a child and into adulthood I believed that there should and could be justice in the world. Now I know that there is not a lot of justice in this world and we have to do the work to make it so. I am compelled to work for justice issues. We have crazily busy lives, with our large family, our organic market gardening, our farm animals, and B & B business, The demands of time bring a tension that is always with me, but I MUST do justice work.

Earlier I did social service projects, and still do some today, but now my focus is on advocacy--to attack systemic problems--particularly racism, the death penalty, our healthcare system, the Iraq war and more. We are indebted to our good friends Jean Petty and Steve Shepard for setting the standards that we try to follow.

We try to live in a sustainable way-- to leave a tiny footprint on the earth. Tom has been an organic gardener since 1960 when everyone, including me, thought he was crazy. Now we try to integrate our lives in such a way to make our outsides match our insides, to live our values as much as we can. The UU principles are guides for this.

I love the energy of being with a group of people who aim to bring about justice. The UU General Assembly experience has been a highlight for me –the energy of thousands seeking justice, arguing for different causes, and coming to consensus. Then going back home to work on these issues At one GA I had an elevator conversation with Bill Sinkford, President of the UUA. I told him how inspiring the emphasis on justice was. It seemed to permeate everything, but back home it did not feel that way. He told me that it was my job to make it so!

That is what I try to do here, in this place that I love. To get you to join the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (justice arm of our denomination) and to take an active part in the Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice, whose mission it is to advocate for Hartford’s justice issues along with people of other faiths. I hope to get you folks out to anti-war demonstrations or others consistent with UU stands and principles and to get your help in attacking the hunger problem in the neighborhood up the road by giving generously today when the basket comes by.

And by thoughtfully bringing a food item from each person in every family every week in recognition of the great need and of the fact that we, here, are blessed. While getting bread for ourselves is materialistic, giving bread to others is a spiritual pursuit.

Justice work IS my spirituality. I invite you to join us on the Information and Advocacy Sub-Council task force to enlarge the impact this Society can make. As Margaret Meade said, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Joan Kemble

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 03/05/07)