Day 30, Sept. 9
This morning was to be the longed for reunion of those of us who went on different trips. I went sight-seeing. The director of the Peace and Justice Office and a Sister who is on his staff and is a lawyer visited Catholics in the State of Orissa. Last year, Catholics were brutally attacked, raped, murdered, had their homes burned, and everything taken from them including their ID’s. Things are not any better now. I wanted to hear how their trip went.
I did get an earful of the terrible time the Christians are having not able to wok a decent job. They can only be coolies. None have ID’s and the government is not helping the process. Sister presented a plan whereby they can get replacement ID’s through the Federal Freedom of Information Act. They can apply to see their own records. The state officials can stall for 30 days; then the law kicks in. We will find out how in a month or so. The conversation was intense and time went fast. Let’s pray for those who are hurting so much and can’t move out without ID.
That afternoon II decided to make my move and try out the Delhi subway – the Metro. It has three lines and some more a year away. It is quite modern in contrast to the Kolkata subway. I decided to go to an historical park that depicts various tribal peoples n India. By the time I got to the proper station the time for closing was drawing near and a transit cop gave me the wrong direction from the station. It also started to rain. So, I beat it back to the Metro, after walking around the Supreme Court at their closing time rubbing shoulders with lawyers (maybe a judge or two) who wore the typical garb you’d see in a British Court room drama. I took a different way home and made it in time to take a shower before dinner.
Dinner featured the usual banter plus a conversation with the Youth Ministry leaders. They seem to have their act very much together. I could have been speaking to US leaders so small has the world gotten.
This morning was to be the longed for reunion of those of us who went on different trips. I went sight-seeing. The director of the Peace and Justice Office and a Sister who is on his staff and is a lawyer visited Catholics in the State of Orissa. Last year, Catholics were brutally attacked, raped, murdered, had their homes burned, and everything taken from them including their ID’s. Things are not any better now. I wanted to hear how their trip went.
I did get an earful of the terrible time the Christians are having not able to wok a decent job. They can only be coolies. None have ID’s and the government is not helping the process. Sister presented a plan whereby they can get replacement ID’s through the Federal Freedom of Information Act. They can apply to see their own records. The state officials can stall for 30 days; then the law kicks in. We will find out how in a month or so. The conversation was intense and time went fast. Let’s pray for those who are hurting so much and can’t move out without ID.
That afternoon II decided to make my move and try out the Delhi subway – the Metro. It has three lines and some more a year away. It is quite modern in contrast to the Kolkata subway. I decided to go to an historical park that depicts various tribal peoples n India. By the time I got to the proper station the time for closing was drawing near and a transit cop gave me the wrong direction from the station. It also started to rain. So, I beat it back to the Metro, after walking around the Supreme Court at their closing time rubbing shoulders with lawyers (maybe a judge or two) who wore the typical garb you’d see in a British Court room drama. I took a different way home and made it in time to take a shower before dinner.
Dinner featured the usual banter plus a conversation with the Youth Ministry leaders. They seem to have their act very much together. I could have been speaking to US leaders so small has the world gotten.
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