Speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Neal R. Jones, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, (a member of the SC Progressive Network) at the April 1 People’s Stimulus Rally
A great teacher once told a story that went something like this: Once upon a time, a man was traveling down a winding, dangerous road, and he was set upon by thieves, who beat him and robbed him and left him half dead. By chance, a priest was traveling down that same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Later, a Levite came down the road, and when he saw the man, he too passed by on the other side. Then a Samaritan came upon the man, and when he saw him, he had compassion, and he went to him, bound up his wounds, and took him to an inn where he could be cared for. Jesus concluded his Parable of the Good Samaritan by telling his listeners, “Go and do likewise.”
This story was told long ago, but it is as current as today’s news. For the people of South Carolina have been left lying in the ditch, beaten down by the second highest unemployment rate in the country. We have been robbed of our health insurance. Over 300 persons per day are losing their health insurance in South Carolina, so that 16 percent of us are uninsured, one of the highest rates in the country. We have been wounded by a ìcorridor of shameî that runs through the heart of our state, where our neediest children have been consigned to a ìminimally adequateî education, as if that were morally adequate. We have suffered from a minimum wage that is not a livable wage and does not reward the hard work or respect the dignity of working people. In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, all Americans are hurting, and South Carolinians are hurting the most.