"God doesn't hear your prayers!" - Seeking real dialogue with those who defame us

On Monday evening, I was interviewed on a web-based radio station about the Fellowship of Reconciliation and especially our upcoming fourth annual Festival of Peace. The program, called "The Screaming Woman" radio show, hosted by Toni Quest (who I didn't find to be a screamer at all), is produced weekly on Passionate Internet Voices Radio.

Quest will be one of the featured artists in this year's art exhibit and auction being held at the Festival, and we had a lively conversation about the intersections between art and activism for peace and justice. She also invited me to talk about this year's peace prize winners, one of which is the Rockland Coalition for Peace & Justice (RCPJ).

Yesterday, long-time FOR leader Richard Deats shared a reflection on the most recent RCPJ weekly peace vigil. At this time when presidential candidates are dominating the news during the season of political party conventions, this commentary speaks to the deep divisions we find in our country -- politically, socially, and in our communities.

For over five years (before the U.S. invaded Iraq), there has been a weekly two-hour peace vigil on the corner of Route 59 and Middletown Road in Nanuet, New York, calling for peace. In response to this presence and the strong public support of its call -- "Support the Troops. Bring Them Home" -- a counter-vigil has been started across the road, replete with many U.S. flags and signs that say "USA. All the Way" and "Support the Troops."

They also have blaring music of patriotic marches, so loud that it is almost impossible to carry on a conversation. They have a recording of the "Communist Internationale," which evidently is aimed at us, but to passers-by it presents a confusing sound: are THEY communists?

When we have our closing silent circle, the counter-protesters play the theme of "The Twilight Zone" and yell, "God doesn't hear your prayers" and "God won't answer you." Attempts to talk with them end in shouting matches. Respectful silence seems to me the best response, but I think we need to find creative ways of engaging them in real dialogue. So far this hasn't happened.

It reminds me of Muriel Lester's saying during the Cold War, "It is a lot easier to love a whole nation of Russians than it is to love your neighbor who plays loud music!"

Ain't that too close to the truth?! To listen on-demand to the half-hour radio program of my conversation with Toni Quest, click here.