by Fr. John Dear, SJ
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
One of the nation’s sharpest, clearest and brightest voices for justice and peace is Loyola University-New Orleans law professor Bill Quigley, who is also associate director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Besides teaching, Bill volunteers with the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) and the Bureau de Avocats Internationaux (BAI) in Port au Prince as well as with disenfranchised people in New Orleans and anti-war activists on trial, such as the recent Creech 14 trial in Las Vegas. (Ed. Note: Bill is also a Pax Christi Teacher of Peace.)
Recently, Bill published on CommonDreams.org an essay on what he considers to be the top 10 steps needed right now to move our nation toward true justice and peace. I found his list of urgent national priorities to be startling, provocative and right on target, especially when compared to the drivel of current presidential campaign talk. I thought they were worth sharing, in case readers hadn’t seen them. Here are his words and 10 national priorities…
Excellent words of hope and encouragement in the interview post-article. When we all do some small action towards these 10 steps toward justice and peace, we will reach the tipping point and change will and needs to transform us. The fatal flaw most make is thinking there is nothing I can do to change anything. Start there. Change that first.