Those of you who have heard me speak about London Citizens over the past few months, know I believe the organisation has the power to make a huge contribution to creating the civil society I would wish for us all.
On Monday I had the huge privilege of representing the organisation as one of the chairs of a General Election Hustings, hosted by Citizens UK, at Westminster City Hall. The leaders of all three major parties were there. The event was featured on virtually all the major news outlets. Links here.
http://www.citizensukblog.org/citizensuk-4th-debate-in-the-news/
And there is a clip of me here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrQZt5WXqyc
So why did the next Prime Minster decide to speak before a bunch of religious leaders, social activists, asylum seekers and workers on the minimum wage? Actually, all the party leaders explained precisely why they were there. They believe religious communities and other social organisations are places of commitment, responsibility and politics in the real sense of the word – matters concerning society and its inhabitants. All the party leaders wanted to align themselves to this source of political power – in the real sense of the world – because they all know that the real business of creating a fair and just society cannot be completed in the Palace of Westminster, no matter who sits on which set of comfy leather benches.
This Thursday we must, of course, all vote – it is a holy responsibility. But we should also look beyond Thursday and commit ourselves to the year-round work of strengthening our communities, and using our commitment to our communities to create the just society we all want to be a part of. I invite anyone interested in hearing more about London Citizens to contact me. I and I look forward to sharing more of this conversation into the future.
And lest anyone think that all this politics has nothing to do with matters of Torah – Deuteronomy 30:19
Vote well.
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