Recently, the governor of Alaska commented on being a community organizer to the detriment. Whenever an opponent has strength someone will foolishly attack that quality. Governor Palin has not put any thought into this attack. When her speech was given, I thought long and hard on what an odd and unusual statement to make! I thought of all the persons throughout history who were “community organizers” and to the benefit of all of us.

I thought of Paul Revere on his midnight ride warning us that the British are coming; of John Adams, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and John Hancock to name a few. They were community organizers without which we would not have a country.

Martin Luther, when he saw corruption within the church over indulges and desired to have a dialogue, became a “community organizer” in his own right and was excommunicated for such acts. Moses, Jesus and Jesus’ disciples became “community organizers” within their respected communities. Jesus was vilified for being a “community organizer” by being crucified by then Governor Pontius Pilot. The Apostle Paul was a “community organizer” traveling far for the love of the early Church.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a spiritual and political leader in India whose principles many around the world study to this day, was a “community organizer” that loved non-violence and all mankind.

Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison made abolitionism politically possible.

Cesar Chavez and Samuel Gompers fought to give labor the right to organize.

Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Stanton helped win the right to vote.

Medger Evers and Martin Luther King earned for blacks the civil rights to which all of us are entitled.

 Even within the confines of the military there are “community organizers.”  When I served in Vietnam some soldiers and marines there did civil action duty. These warriors were “community organizers” and worked within small villages supplying and teaching to the needs of the people within the villages such as medical, dental, agricultural and self defense. It is my understanding that this practice still goes on today in Afghanistan.

And finally, there is a young man here in Sebring, Ohio, who, because his uncle went to Iraq, told his mom that he wanted to organize the community for a march for the troops on Sept. 11 and there has been a march for the past two years now. What do you say to him, Governor Palin?  Being a “community organizer” is a good thing and those that “community organizer” possess responsibilities and qualities more than you will ever realize, Governor Palin!

Clifford Hayes

Sebring, Ohio