Homecoming :
Stories of Living in God's Way
Kathy Keler: The Spiritual Practice of Resistance
One important faith practice that I try to follow regularly is to support the mission of WRRCAT, the Washington Region Religious Coalition Against Torture. I was drawn into this about 3 years ago, through my neighbor Helma, who is involved in the Episcopal Peace Fellowship as well as other means of expressing her faith insocial action. Helma told me about a conference on Torture to be held at the River Road Unitarian Church, where I heard journalist Seymour Hersh, Senator Carl Levin, as well as others-- includingsurvivors of torture--speak about not just the immorality of torture, but also about how counterproductive it is as a means to gather intelligence. The conference was quite galvanizing, and I was particularly moved by the testimony of the survivors of torture. Over the course of the next couple of years, I joined in a number of anti-torture demonstrations on Massachussets Ave across from the Vice President’s house, as well as one in front of the White House, and one on the steps of the Supreme Court.
Each time I joined in one of these demonstrations, I felt moved and inspired; I often take part in larger antiwar demonstrations, which I value as well, but at the antitorture events I feel my whole heart is engaged at a deeper and undivided level. There is no question in my mind that what I am doing has meaning as a testimony of love of humanity.
Ealy in 2008, I attended a dinner at a WRRCAT organizer’s house where I was introduced to TASSC, the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition. I volunteered to help out with a couple of meals for their June annual conference, which gathers torture survivors from all around the world to witness and lend support to one another. With the generous help of Pilgrims members, as well as a donation from my mother, I was able to provide a dinner and a lunch for the conference. Although I felt some fear that connecting with people who had sufffered so terribly would retrigger my own issues with severe depression, I found the experience to be much more healing than upsetting--there was a lot of joy, warmth and celebration to balance out the painful moments.
In fact, I feel that all activism against torture can be healing on a very deep level. When we set out to right a wrong in the world, we also have an impact on our own lives. That’s why, every time I see the “Zero Tolerance for Torture” bumper sticker on my car, it reminds me that I also should not torture myself--a strange notion, perhaps, but actually I think that I’m not alone in needing that reminder.
