The migrant farm workers who harvest tomatoes in South Florida have one of the nation’s most backbreaking jobs. For 10 to 12 hours a day, they pick tomatoes by hand, earning a piece-rate of about 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket. During a typical day each migrant picks, carries and unloads two tons of tomatoes

  The tomatoes are used by many fast food companies.

Beginning last year Burger King has been under fire for refusing to increase the pay of tomatoe pickers. The corporate greed of Burger King surpassed its fast food rivals, both McDonald's and Taco Bell agreed to the increase (although after public pressure).
Farm workers want to get paid 46 cents instead of the 45 cents they currently get paid for a 33 pound bucket full of tomatoes.

But its not just about pay, it is about basic human decency.
   

   Last year I wrote a "diary"about ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) . I made reference of the religious organizations supporting ENDA. In particular I quoted the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations support for ENDA.

"As people of faith who stand for the equality and dignity of all people, we oppose discrimination against all individuals, including gays and lesbians, for the stamp of the Divine is present in each and every one of us."

ENDA finally has a chance of passing the senate this year. The only problem- while it has protection for sexual orientation there is no protection for gender identity.

We know what love is by this: that he laid down his life for us so that we ought to lay down our lives for others. But whoever possesses this world's goods and notices his brother in need and shuts his heart against him, how can the love of God remain in him? Dear children, let us put our love not into words or into talk but into deeds... ( John 3:16-18).

There is a mosque in the small city of West Springfield Massachusetts. They have been the target of acts of vandalism. Police don't believe it is a hate crime and think it is possibly the work of 'teenagers'. But still it is disturbing that innocent people are being harrassed probably as a result for being Muslims.

The Islamic Center of Western Massachusetts has recently been the target of three attacks.

On March 21, the windows and windshield of a van parked at the center were smashed with a large stone while Islamic Society members were in the midst of their Friday prayer, Islamic Society President Dr. M. Saleem Bajwa said Tuesday. The front door of the center's new hall was shattered with another large stone on March 26. On March 28, two large windows of the main building were smashed with stones. These windows are high off the ground and would require some force to break.

In addition to the vandalism, the Islamic Center received threatening telephone calls.

One of my favorite theological concepts is Kenosis. It pertains to Phil. 2:6  

though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  

     

 As a follower of Christ, one has to move in the direction of 'self-emptying'. It is in emptying ourselves we will be able to be more receptive and attentive to Christ and his spiritual teachings. And in emptying ourselves we will be able to experience the fullness of what Christ leads us to- God's transcendent principal of love & compassion.

I remember several years ago when they announced China was going to host the 2008 Olympics. I remember thinking at the time was it really wise to give a country with such a horrible human rights record that honor?
But I understood some of the thinking- with the spot light on China they would be under pressure to respect basic human rights. Well, they aren't doing too much respecting....

I feel like I am disintegrating into God or nothingness. I have been full of fear and bliss, ecstasy and suffering I feel like my body is going to thrown into the burning sun or into infinite unfathomable darkness. The emotions are so raw. Is my ego is being devoured. I felt such intense love and despair for all living things and the horrible confusion and suffering we experience. I am scared because I don't know if it is liberation or madness I am getting close to. I still want to be an I. My life has been an illusion, the only thing real is emptiness which the ego abhors; reason is a crutch to help us gasp at the unnamed. The word society is meaningless when one is a dead man. I feel meaning in everything and absurdity in everything I feel like laughing and screaming at the same time. What have I done to deserve such beauty of the birds flying outside.  I am below them they fly so high with grace. I am praying to Jesus to either make me anew or end me forever. What a weird trip I have been on. I want to get off now. "The lessons of life amount not to wisdom, but to scar tissue and callus." Wallace Stegner

Like fellow SP Quotefiend, I am personally fond of collecting quotes. Often, in quotes one can find nuggets of wisdom and insight about life and the human experience. I was wondering if people would like to share a few of their favorite quotes?

Father Frank Pavone national director of Priests for Life spoke against elected Catholic Democrats saying

Faithful Catholics have had enough double-talk... is not possible to advance 'respect for life and for the dignity of every human being' while tolerating the dismemberment and decapitation of the human beings still in their mothers' wombs. These legislators do not only contradict their faith; they contradict the very meaning of public service, and should not be in public office any longer. If they cannot muster the will to protect defenseless children, they should resign," Father Pavone added. "We don't need public servants who can't tell the difference between serving the public and killing the public."

And Mr.Bill of the Catholic League said the Catholic Democrats have not been "respecting the life and dignity of every human being... (and their respect) doesn’t extend to children who are 80-percent born. It is not easy to reconcile that position with their voting record on abortion, which includes opposition to the ban on partial-birth abortions."

Today is the feast day of Saint Dymphna, the patron Saint of nervous disorders and mental afflictions. Saint Dymphna, is one of my favorite Saints. I frequently pray and ask for the intercession of her to help people who might be mentally or emotionally suffering.
 I love Saint Dymphna, she inspires me to see with loving eyes, and live with a sensitive & compassionate heart. She inspires me to be yielding, and patient, and resist strict judgment in dealing with people's fears and mania's.
Saint Dymphna helped me in my time of despair, darkness and depression and I know she can help others, and help refresh and clear a wary mind. Praying to the Saints is not rational, it is mystical...But it works and the effects upon my consciousness and life is real...

Best Buddies

is an organization
dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. Our six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e -Buddies® and Jobs – will positively impact more than 300,000 individuals this year. Best Buddies also is systematically implementing our 2010 initiative that will witness the organization's continued significant growth, both domestically and overseas. Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute services to the community that equate to more than $70 million USD.

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is a corrupt thug and leader a corrupt police state. He cares only for power while the people of Zimbabwe suffer.
And the people are suffering. The average life expectancy is 36 years,(a decline of 6 years since 2000) 82% of the population lives in poverty, 50% is unemployed,47% of the population is undernourished and 1/5 of the adult population is HIV positive.
The Zimbabwe situation is a good source of information. Amnesty International documents the repression and abuse of the state.

And Mugabe has lead the state into economic ruin while he cracks down harder on those who challenge his rule.

Two lawyers were arrested for trying to defend opposition members illegally detained by the Zimbabwe police. After their arrest there was an attempt at a peaceful protest but it was squashed by police force.