OF BABIES AND BATHS: IN DEFENSE OF ACORN

There have been suspensions for misconduct, some distressing and thoroughly unacceptable, in the Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia police departments – and endless other departments across the country.  After due process, penalties are appropriate.  But there are no plans to de-fund, much less dis-band, these units!  Devious and fraudulent brokers have conducted insider trading, manipulated the financial system for their own gain, or outright embezzled funds in investment businesses large and small.  Indictments and appropriate convictions are important.  But no one proposes that these firms be dismantled.   Fire Departments, local charities, even larger regional and national philanthropic groups are victims from time to time of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, gifts diverted for personal use.  Culprits identified and prosecuted.  But no one advocates for the abolishment of these organizations or discourages continuing charitable support.  Even churches are not immune from illegal and immoral behavior on the part of clergy, staff or lay volunteers.  The guilty are appropriately dealt with.  But no one argues that a church or denomination discontinue its life and ministry.

Some ACORN employees were caught by cell phone camera involved in what appears to be compromising, unethical and illegal behavior.  It is appropriate to investigate any degree to which this may be systemic, symptomatic of more extensive unacceptable actions.  Guilty parties must be identified and brought to justice.  But why the haste to discredit and dismantle the entire organization? Why the rush to judgment?  Why did Congress act so precipitously to de-fund ACORN?  Why this broad-brush assault?  

I am not alone in the suspicion that it is the kind of work ACORN has done that evokes at least a substantial part of this spirit of retaliation.  Among the huge numbers of voters they registered (last I knew this is an essential enterprise in a vital democracy), a large majority were persons-of-color, logical in terms of the neighborhoods and population with which they work.  Among the many citizens with whom they have worked to secure housing, fair wage employment, child care, employment-readiness programs, health and nutrition education, public services are people-of-color.  The issues around which they have offered advocacy, interceded where injustice was at play, involve largely people-of-color.

All of this is the more troubling because it begins to appear like a pattern:  Conduct surveillance of organizations whose target population, issues of concern, activities and actions do not align with those conducting this careful observation; then, cherry-pick “telling stories” out of miles of film and present them as “typical” or “representative” – and then work to arouse the broadest possible indignation and opposition.

Martin Niemoller comes to mind, a Lutheran pastor in Germany of the late 1030’s.  Paraphrased:  They came for the Jews, and I was not a Jew, so I said nothing.  They came for the homosexuals, and I was not a homosexual, so I said nothing.  They came for the gypsies, and I was not a gypsy, so I said nothing . . .  Finally they came for me, and there was no one left to say anything.  I have not and likely will not become a recipient of ACORN’s services . . . but I have felt compelled to say something!