Starving for Relief
For the last 40 days, a 79 year-old man has been starving in hopes that others might not have to.
Rev. David Duncombe led the Cancel Debt Fast, sponsored by Jubilee USA, a network of development and faith-based organizations (including the Union for Reform Judaism), to highlight the need for debt relief for some of the world’s poorest countries. During the fast, Rev. Duncombe walked the halls of Congress, urging legislators to support the Jubilee Act for Expanded Debt Cancellation and Responsible Lending, or Jubilee Act of 2007, which would expand debt cancellation to more poor countries and establish policies for future responsible lending. The fast ended yesterday at an inspiring prayer breakfast on Capitol Hill, with religious leaders and elected officials speaking about the ravages of global poverty and the hope that is within reach.
At the prayer breakfast, leaders of faith spoke of our obligation to justice. 2007 is a Sabbath Year, Imani Countess of the American Friends Service Committee, said: a time when the Torah and the New Testament calls for an end to debt and slavery. Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson reminded us that the prophet Micah said “…what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” We live in the richest country in the world; because much is given, much is required of us.
Ruth Messinger, president of the American Jewish World Service, spoke next. Coincidentally (or not!), she said that her grandson, who just had his bris days ago was named Micah. Ms. Messinger said she had fasted for a day as part of the Cancel Debt Fast and that she had also fasted recently for Yom Kippur. Jews fast on Yom Kippur, she noted, for the sins of commission but also for the sins of omission, like not standing up for those who need our help. Denying oneself food isn’t enough, she said. We must fast, as Isaiah urged us, “to loose the chains of injustice.”
The event climaxed as Rev. Duncombe prepared to speak. Weakened from his fast, the old man was pushed to the podium in a wheelchair. He stood up slowly, but purposely. He held a loaf of bread up and tore it in half, then passed it around the room until all of us had a piece of bread. “Let us be filled with the strength of God,” he said, “and the purpose of God.” He placed the bread in his mouth and after a moment said “Mmm!”
After Rev. Duncombe sat down, four strong advocates for debt relief spoke: Maxine Waters (D-CA), Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO). These members of Congress, who had all fasted for one day, spoke passionately about their faith and their commitment to ending global poverty. That Maxine Waters and Spencer Bachus are both champions of debt relief says a lot about the issue. The American Conservative Union gives Congressman Bachus a 93 percent lifetime conservative rating; Congresswoman Waters gets a 3.8 percent lifetime rating. But this issue goes beyond left and right, beyond Democrat and Republican.
At the breakfast, it was announced that the Senate version of the Jubilee Act would be introduced that day by Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). Advocates for debt relief are spending the week urging their senators and representatives to support the Jubilee Act. Call your congressmen today in support of HR 2634 and S 2166.
Debt relief by itself won’t end global poverty; but it’s a huge step in the right direction, and it means poor countries will be better able to feed their hungry. As Congressman Bachus commented after Rev. Duncombe broke his fast, “Because of Rev. Duncombe’s weakness, there are little boys and girls who are stronger. … We need to make a choice [that will mean] life or death for people all over the world.”