The Moral Imperative of "Activism"

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The more recent prophets and activists I have known have generally been able to do this -- to release the truth of the act to the four winds. And, thankfully, this seems to help them avoid taking themselves too seriously.

Laughter Also Needed

Humor seemed to work that way for Dan Berrigan. Here's how he recounts the immediate aftermath of the action at Catonsville:

"We sat in custody in the back room of the Catonsville Post Office, weak with relief. ... Three or four FBI honchos entered portentously. Their leader, a jut-jawed paradigm, surveyed us from the doorway. His eagle-eye lit on Philip. He roared out: 'Him again! Good God, I'm changing my religion!'

"I could think of no greater tribute to my brother."

The Berrigans help affirm for me that this God of ours is a merry one, and that we are the entertainment. And that's one reason a light touch is often helpful.

Code Pink, for example, knows this well. Watch, for example, the intervention team from War Addicts Anonymous engage "President Obama" outside the White House. Obama says, "I can quit anytime I want!" But, can he?

How I look forward to descending on our own "Tahrir Square" at Freedom Plaza in Washington starting on Oct. 6. In the final analysis we will be confronting the "upper crust," which my Irish grandmother described as "a bunch of crumbs held together by a lot of dough."

But will we be successful? Wrong question. We will be faithful -- and, I am sure -- have a good bit of fun in the process. For I believe it is true: the good is worth doing because it is good.

Feels good, too.