|
A MINUTE OF CONSCIENCE AND PUBLIC WITNESS
Palo Alto Friends (Quaker) Meeting
The Palo Alto Friends Meeting adopts this minute of conscience at this specific time in our country’s history. As Quakers, we believe that God can be found in each of us. Our faith in the inherent dignity and worth of each person guides our vision of the world we seek and leads us to advocate persistently for policies to bring it closer to that vision.
Throughout its history our country has at times failed to live up to its founding principles. Our faith leads us to bear witness and speak out against such failures. Our loyalties are to truth, constitutional governance, moral responsibility and the sacred worth of every person.
We find ourselves especially concerned about what we have lost under the current administration. We name these concerns soberly and without partisanship. It is our fervent hope that these patterns of action be reversed:
Undermining of democratic processes such as:
- Changing constitutional structures, including the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances.
- Threatening free speech and voting processes.
- Limiting freedom of the press, the rise of propaganda and misinformation, the distortion of historical truth, including the experiences of marginalized communities.
- Failing to faithfully execute enacted laws.
- Using of public office for personal financial gain.
Erosion of civil rights and failures to provide due process to those on American soil.
Failure to use our public funds for public good such as:
- Reductions in food, healthcare, and social support programs affecting children, elders, veterans, and vulnerable persons.
- Defunding of scientific and medical research.
Abandonment of the vision of a peaceful world through international cooperation and global partnerships including:
- Alignment with governments that suppress human rights.
- Support of the military industrial complex while abandoning international peace and aid opportunities, resulting in civilian suffering.
Retreat from environmental stewardship and weakening of ecological protections illustrated by:
- Failure to substantially support the UN process to address climate change.
- Abandonment of domestic programs and investments that are designed to counter environmental degradation.
Lack of transparent accountability and restorative justice in matters of sexual exploitation at all levels in our country and communities.
We encourage Friends, and all who share our concerns to engage in public witness, communicate with elected officials, offer tangible aid to those in need, and engage in any other form of peaceful civic action that is revealed to us as being necessary.
April 24, 2026
|
