Demonstrations, Marches, & Public Protests

[Neto]

I hope this isn't considered political, because while it does involve the belief in non-participation in political action and advocacy, I'd like to avoid the straight political angle here.

I'm writing this because some comments elsewhere here on MN brought up a memory regarding the official Wycliffe (WBT) position and warning regarding such things as I put in the subject title.

We were warned that any time we might see a crowd gathering while in the city, to avoid even going over to see what it was about. I think I only saw a crowd milling around in our state capitol (Porto Velho, Rondonia) once, and we never found out what it was about. However, there were frequently illegal camps set up by the Sem Terra (Landless) group (The full name is Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra - MST; translated as Movement of Landless Rural Workers), usually on the grounds of the local INCRA offices (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária - National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform), At least that was the case in our capitol city, PVH.

A somewhat related type of "event" was witnessed by one of our co-workers, and he DID stick around to see what would happen. A military jeep parked in a no parking zone along the main street in the capitol. A policeman stopped and started writing out a ticket. A military guy came back to the vehicle and confronted him. At some point they both pulled their guns. Then the policeman called in for reinforcements. Soon after, more military jeeps arrived as well. So it looked like there was going to be a violent conflict between the military and the police. However, Brazilians rarely (from my observations of conflicts) come to blows. They get right in each others' face, yell, cuss, etc., but then just walk away. (I only saw a 'fight' escalate once. Two taxi drivers were arguing over where they could park. One of them shoved the other back, and he stumbled over the curb and fell into the street. Fortunately no cars were coming right then, or he could have been run over. But that was the end of the 'fight'.)

So the above is just memories that came back to me this morning, thinking about the question of Christians, and especially "anabaptists", participating or not, in demonstrations or protests. I am not aware that our congregation has anything at all in our conduct standards about this entire question. Actually, I know for certain that there is no mention of this at all. How about you all's congregations? Any statement about this?

[mike]

I'm not sure if our conference (Hope Mennonite Fellowship) has an official statement, but I am pretty sure that attending a demonstration, march, or public protest of any kind would be considered highly suspect, even ones that promote values we believe in such as March for Life.

[JohnL]

Wycliffe makes sense. Avoid the crowds gathering.

I hope this isn't considered political, because while it does involve the belief in non-participation in political action and advocacy, I'd like to avoid the straight political angle here.

I'm writing this because some comments elsewhere here on MN brought up a memory regarding the official Wycliffe (WBT) position and warning regarding such things as I put in the subject title.

We were warned that any time we might see a crowd gathering while in the city, to avoid even going over to see what it was about. I think I only saw a crowd milling around in our state capitol (Porto Velho, Rondonia) once, and we never found out what it was about. However, there were frequently illegal camps set up by the Sem Terra (Landless) group (The full name is Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra - MST; translated as Movement of Landless Rural Workers), usually on the grounds of the local INCRA offices (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária - National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform), At least that was the case in our capitol city, PVH.

A somewhat related type of "event" was witnessed by one of our co-workers, and he DID stick around to see what would happen. A military jeep parked in a no parking zone along the main street in the capitol. A policeman stopped and started writing out a ticket. A military guy came back to the vehicle and confronted him. At some point they both pulled their guns. Then the policeman called in for reinforcements. Soon after, more military jeeps arrived as well. So it looked like there was going to be a violent conflict between the military and the police. However, Brazilians rarely (from my observations of conflicts) come to blows. They get right in each others' face, yell, cuss, etc., but then just walk away. (I only saw a 'fight' escalate once. Two taxi drivers were arguing over where they could park. One of them shoved the other back, and he stumbled over the curb and fell into the street. Fortunately no cars were coming right then, or he could have been run over. But that was the end of the 'fight'.)

So the above is just memories that came back to me this morning, thinking about the question of Christians, and especially "anabaptists", participating or not, in demonstrations or protests. I am not aware that our congregation has anything at all in our conduct standards about this entire question. Actually, I know for certain that there is no mention of this at all. How about you all's congregations? Any statement about this?

[JohnH]

In Israel I was once suddenly in a flash protest on Rothschild Ave (in the trendy part of town where the hip restaurants are).

Myself and my companions decided how to lay low until we could make ourselves scarce. Since the signage was in Hebrew I could not quickly identify what the protest was even about. (I later figured out it was some kind of anti-Muslim protest that was specifically somehow complaining about live animals exported to Muslim countries to be slaughtered there. I frankly don’t know any more about the protest than that, other than that it obviously had an anti-Arab element associated with it.)

We were able to make ourselves scarce by picking a restaurant to duck into, although that meant we ate dinner twice.

[JimFoxvog]

I've met at least a half dozen folks from our Mennonite Church at recent peaceful demonstrations. I hope it can help calm some of the angry minority there.

I'm part of a very small weekly peace vigil in front of the county courthouse that we started in January 2002. We aim to keep it focused on peace, not denouncing any political figures. We are calling people to prayer.

This picture omits our theme sign at the roadside.

[Valerie]

As a Christian, I believe prayer is more effective than protesting, but we have joined Right to life demonstrations in our town which was basically lining our streets with Scriptural. I think they are effective in a sense that it shows the difference between a peaceful demonstration or March coupled with prayer vs a rebellious rioting spirit the world displays.

I think was a Christian it is important to not be “guilty by association “ aligning ourselves with an angry mob.

We did attend a Trump rally about a half hour from us (stuck in traffic 2 hours getting into the grounds) but I told my husband it was too worldly for my liking- it was positive & enthusiastic & patriotic however I don’t agree with some of what it conveys although we agree with Trumps policies- attitudes matter & do we feel praying is more important but I understand others needs to stand up as a witness for ideologies & policies they feel important.

I do believe Black Lives Matter but my spirit was troubled about the “movement” & founders & turned out my spirit was right to not join as they were exposed & honestly I think things got worse from it, not helping.

[JohnH]

I do believe Black Lives Matter but my spirit was troubled about the “movement” & founders & turned out my spirit was right to not join as they were exposed & honestly I think things got worse from it, not helping.

It turns out the leaders of that movement were actually interested in starting a nonprofit that paid themselves a big, six figure salary and used the donated funds to go buy themselves mansions. They also weren't black.

[Southerner]

We did attend a Trump rally about a half hour from us (stuck in traffic 2 hours getting into the grounds) but I told my husband it was too worldly for my liking

No, need to tell me. I can tell and the "too worldly" part is interesting.

[Valerie]

I do believe Black Lives Matter but my spirit was troubled about the “movement” & founders & turned out my spirit was right to not join as they were exposed & honestly I think things got worse from it, not helping.

It turns out the leaders of that movement were actually interested in starting a nonprofit that paid themselves a big, six figure salary and used the donated funds to go buy themselves mansions. They also weren't black.

Some of the leaders are actually into the “occult” (not cult).

[Southerner]

I think was a Christian it is important to not be “guilty by association “ aligning ourselves with an angry mob.

When you attended the Trump rally, was there a lot of vulgarity? My son and I were skiing two weekends ago and I get tired of the vulgarity. It makes people seem low IQ to me