HOW MANY WAYS can you say “resist”? In recent issues, we’ve urged people of faith to “challenge,” “subvert,” and “defy” the leaders and systems that run counter to Jesus’ message of abundance, inclusion, and love. We’ve shared stories of faith-fueled ways to “protest, “persist,” and “persevere.” And on more than one occasion, we’ve indulged in the old prophetic standby: “Speak truth to power.”
But the best synonyms for “resist” aren’t in a thesaurus. They’re words like “organize,” “accompany,” and, as we explore in this issue, “vote.” “Voting is simply the easiest part of the whole process for making positive change,” explains Randy Woodley. We agree: Voting should be easy, though as Carol Anderson explains in “It’s Not Just the Russians,” some officials are intentionally restricting voting access, especially for people of color. So don’t be tempted to think your vote is meaningless; it’s the very power of voting that such efforts seek to curtail. If you read nothing else in this issue, read this: Check your local voting guidelines and ensure you cast your ballot on Nov. 6.
Yet resistance comes in many forms, so don’t stop there. Be creative: For Tevyn East and the members of Holy Fool Arts, upending a culture of domination involves face paint, puppets, and stilts. Each summer, the troupe hosts the Carnival de Resistance, a monthlong residency drawing on the global carnival traditions of communal participation, celebration, play, and mockery of power structures. “I felt old addictions and patterns of thought—that my body is not precious, that I should be ashamed of my heritage, that spending money makes me feel better—begin to loosen,” explained Carnival crew member Grace Aheron. “The empire has walls built around and within us; I am grateful for the way in which Carnival invites us to topple all those walls—and invites the Holy One to fill the spaces between.”
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!