Books Worth a Look

  • Little Bee by Chris Cleave - This book is a must read. Better than anything else I've read, it takes you vividly into the life of a person in the 3rd world who has no choice but to escape. It is brilliantly written & works well as an audio book. Often I've sent info about the wonderful refugees I've met in Europe. We know only so much of their plight as it is painful for them to recall much less live through again by recounting it. But over time it is clear what they've lived through. This book is excellent as you discover the horrors of their world. Somewhat how to me, it is like being in Europe near a Concentration Camp. One has an obligation to visit it. 'Never to Forget.' In this case, to have our eyes opened.
  • Garbage King by Eliz Laird - The book is set on the streets on Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia and here lives Mamo and his sister Tiggist. When Mamo's "uncle" offers a job, he soon sets out on a bus to work. Little does he know that he is actually being sold into slavery...

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Rioting in London

It started about a 40 minute bus ride north of the Catholic Worker House where I've lived, worked, and have good refugee friends now living there. Seems there's a massive undercurrent of rage against the police & the system - esp against 'the haves' who keep getting more & those who experience cuts whenever there's a financial crisis.

Today I venture into London to Tottenham the original site of rioting to go to a lawyer's office to get help for my dear young refugee friend seeking asylum. We have to do by a slightly circuitous route as the main road near the lawyer's office is closed due to debris & burned out cars & buses.

My good friend Danny & his wife have had to cancel our dinner tonight in central London as their route home is through the area - Croydon - which had very bad rioting last night.

It is somewhat surreal being here during this as I've been to many of the affected areas- mostly outside central London. All areas where tourists basically do not go.

I'm to help out on a soup run for the homeless in the streets of central London tomorrow night. Do not know at this point if it'll run.

Violence of any sort to me is wrong. That said it raises serious questions about justice, use of authority, just how rich any one person has a right to be - (for me not very!) All questions that humanity has struggled with over many centuries. Sadly all too often those who have so much remain rather clueless.

Working for, praying for justice & well being for all remain our most import task.

Cheers all from Basildon, Essex - a 39 minute train ride from London.


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REFLECTIONS & ARTICLES

Thoughts on the amazing people I get to meet.

Rich, my 19 year old friend, soon to be Franciscan and recent community member at Haley House in Boston. An article he wrote.

http://www.capuchinfranciscans.org/pdf/2008%2003%2011%20CVO%20Update%20A%20community%20of%20two%20tables.pdf