Author’s Note: I was invited to post a version of my remarks from the Presbyterian orientation (CSW60), where I noted that the task of advocacy is not about giving voice to the voiceless but about amplifying and heeding the voices of our sisters and brothers long silenced (to paraphrase A Brief Statement of Faith). I set it up in the style of a prose poem, which is the style I often employ when I write manuscripts that I actually use. It appears below and also can be found on the Swords and Plowshares blog.
All people have voices.
The task of advocacy has nothing to do with giving voice to the voiceless, because
all people have voices.
Some people have voices we choose not to hear.
Some people have voices we ignore.
Some people have voices we force to the margins.
Some people have voices we oppress, repress, suppress.
Some people have voices we have silenced, sometimes for a long time, but
all people have voices.
The work of advocacy leads us
to uncover the voices of our sisters and brothers whose voices we ignore, drive to the margins, suppress, or silence
to hear the voices of our sisters and brothers,
to listen, truly listen, passionately listen to the voices of our sisters and brothers,
to heed the voices of our sisters and brothers,
and then to work with our sisters and brothers whose voices we ignore, drive to the margins, suppress, or silence
to amplify the voices of our sisters and brothers,
to bring the voices of our sisters and brothers to the halls of privilege and the tables of power,
to invite and call and challenge all people, particularly privileged, powerful people,
to hear the voices of our sisters and brothers,
to demand that all people, particularly privileged, powerful people, listen, truly listen, passionately listen
to our sisters and brothers whose voices we ignore, drive to the margins, suppress, or silence because
all people have voices.
The Rev. W. Mark Koenig
Director, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
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