Thanksgiving 2011
Hello everyone!
A few weeks ago my wife, Cathy, and I had a chance to see the show “War Horse,” now playing at the Lincoln Center Theatre in New York. It is a powerful and, at times, overwhelming experience. It is set in World War I England and France, and tells the story of a horse and the young man who raised him. One of the most staggering things I learned from the dramaturge’s work in the playbill is that during World War I, 8 million horses were killed in battle! 8 million!
I have been allowing that number to dwell in my thoughts since I learned it. Imagine the sight of 8 million horses roaming acres of land, free to roam, enjoying every moment of their existence. That is a fantasy of our imaginations. The reality was that those 8 million horses were used and abused by human beings in order to exert violence, not only on the animals used by the other side, but on the human beings, both soldiers and civilians in the slaughter that was World War I.
This is a time of remembrance, of thanksgiving. In this nation we set aside a day to give thanks for the blessings of our life. It is a marvelous thing to do, to say thanks, and to make it a national day of thanksgiving. Around our country, indeed in places throughout the world, our fellow citizens will sit down to share a meal. A turkey is usually the centerpiece, perhaps a ham or a roast. I know my family will sit down with a 22 pound turkey, with all the trimmings, with our four children, their spouses and our nine grandchildren. We will go around the table and offer thanks. My thanks will be directed to the land and the animals that are the source of the beauty at our table. I think of the turkey which so often in our country lives a miserable life prior to feeding our bodies and, indeed, our souls on this very special day. I think of the land that gave rise to the wheat, corn, green beans, yams, cranberries, apples, pumpkins, with a massive assist from the energy of the sun and life-supporting water and air.
What I want to remember, as well, in thanking the earth for being the source of our food, or our very lives, is how we use and abuse the animals, the land, the water, the air, all of the sources of the food and appliances and stuff for which we give thanks today. Again, I think of the turkey grown to massive proportions, larger than nature intended, so that its breast is large enough so that one turkey in the middle of the table is able to feed our large family. I think of the pesticides and herbicides and fertilizers used on the land in order to increase production from each acre so that more yams, green beans, apples, cranberries, wheat, and corn can be made available at a cheaper price so that more people can have a table at Thanksgiving that is loaded with tasty delights for parents and children and grandchildren. I think of the air that is polluted by our energy producing coal-fired power plants, and of the water that takes on the effluents from our power plants and the other industrial plants that make possible the lifestyle for which we give thanks this day. In saying thank you for our blessings, I want to remember the cost of those blessings, and to thank the earth, its plants and its animals, its soil, its water and its air, for taking on the burden of our lifestyle, of being faithful to us, much like the horses led to slaughter were faithful to their human masters.
In the traditions of those native Americans who presumably shared this day so long ago with those European settlers in the “New World,” I hope I will remember to give thanks to Mother Earth, for the abundance that she provides, and I hope, finally, that in thanking Mother Earth I will also commit myself to a deeper appreciation and celebration of the profound communion that exists between human beings and the whole universe, a communion that should drive us to regard nature as more than merely a commodity, a resource, whose value is only found in our use or abuse of it. May God make it so!
Peace, at this Thanksgiving time,
Mark Doorley
President, The Board of Trustees
The Center for Environmental Transformation
NEWS AND NOTES
1. JOIN US FOR A PEACE MARCH IN CAMDEN! Saturday, December 3, 2011. Rather than working in the greenhouse or gardens, come walk with us. Visit this website for all the information. This is an opportunity to walk for an hour and to be inspired to act for peace. 2. Be sure to join us on our Facebook page. Feel free to post information there about things related to sustainability and environmental justice. You can find us here. 3. We are approaching the holiday season when we all have such a difficult time thinking of a gift for a loved one. We have some wonderful gift ideas. First, there is Fr. Michael Doyle’s “green book” entitled “It’s a Terrible Day, Thanks Be To God.” This is a collection of his monthly letters, full of human stories, inspiration and poetry. It makes a wonderful table book, that one can open each day to read a different letter and get up in tears, inspired to pray. It costs $23.50 with shipping and handling. Second, there is the DVD “Poet of Poverty,” a documentary based on Fr. Michael’s monthly letters, narrated by actor Martin Sheen, with video of Camden and Ireland. It is a challenging film, but it raises important questions for us to consider. It costs $22 with shipping and handling. Lastly, you can make a contribution to the Center in honor of a loved one. All of this is possible through our website or by sending a check payable to “The Center for Transformation” to 1729 Ferry Ave., Camden, NJ 08104.
4. Speaking of holiday gifts, make it your plan to come to Sacred Heart Church at the corner of Ferry Ave. and S. Broadway this coming Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. You may go out on “Black Friday” to the huge malls, crowded with people. On Sunday, starting at 9:30AM and ending around 1:30PM come to the basement of Sacred Heart Church for the annual Fair of the Heart. There will be wonderful hand-made crafts for everyone. Here is a description from one of the organizers:
ANYONE LOOKING FOR A WONDERFUL, NEW HOLIDAY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE, COME TO THE FAIR OF THE HEART AT SACRED HEART CHURCH ON BROADWAY AT FERRY AND JASPER STREETS. THERE WILL BE DELICIOUS FOOD, A RAFFLE AND MANY BEAUIFUL AND WELL-PRICED THINGS TO BUY, ALL HANDMADE... CROCHETED ITEMS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ORNAMENTS, JEWELRY... A GORGEOUS CALENDAR. BEST OF ALL, COME TO MASS FIRST... 8:30 OR 10:30... FOR A BEAUTIFUL START TO YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON
Most of the proceeds go to the Center for Environmental Transformation
5. On Monday, December 5th, at 7PM at Voorhees Middle School there will be a showing of “The Poet of Poverty” sponsored by Sustainable Voorhees. Mark Doorley will facilitate a conversation after the film. If you haven’t seen this, please make it a point to come. You will hear about all the activities going on in the neighborhood featured in the film. Most of you who received this email probably have seen the film, so encourage your neighbors and friends to come out to see the film.
