Unionist in Search of...
My relationship with the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Insitute (MCLI) began at San Francisco State in the early 1990’s. I was enrolled in a philosophy class entitled ‘Peace Studies’.
On the first day of class, my instructor, Ann Fagan Ginger, asked the class three questions:
1. How many of you got out of bed this morning?
2. How many of you ate breakfast?
3. How many of you either went to school or work?
Everyone’s hand went up. Ann then stated that most of the people in the world do not have a bed to sleep in, do not eat breakfast and have neither work nor school to go to. Thus began my relationship with the MCLI. It is never easy or comfortable. Words lie “warm” and “fuzzy” I would never se to describe it.
As one enters the Institute’s office, one immediately “gets” that important business is brewing. High stakes. World issues. And how tiny problems contain universal application and visa versa. Example: how a lowly postal worker has the right to dignity and respect, not only according to the ‘union contract’, but spelled out in the U.N. Charter. All workers have these rights. So one can easily see how our concerns here in the U.S. are connected to worker everywhere. It may see like a no-brainer, yet if you are being treated badly, it helps to know that you have some backup behind the union contract. :
The MCLI opened up a world of words. Ann taught that words matter and they matter more when you put them on a piece of paper These words offer inspiration and solace. There exists beautiful language in the Charter and in the U.N. Conventions that speak to all our rights and issues. In addition to the positive language in the Constitution, they offer a mechanism to ensure that the provisions are followed. Follow up is what takes work.
Things I have learned: That MCLI is a source of knowledge with a purpose to make the world a better place to live. Thank you, MCLI. I will be forever grateful.
&mdash Victoria Sawicki