The Pilgrimage Continues...
WHAT IS ALL THIS ABOUT BAND-AIDS?
by Mark and Louise Zwick
Q.: What is "band-aid" work?
A.: It is a word invented by those who believe we shouldn't help poor people
with things, but focus on the structures that cause their poverty. Giving
them things is "band-aid work." To those who believe this, the
only real help is changing structures. Mother Teresa does not
appeal to them.
Q.: How do you respond to the "structurites'" story about bodies
in the
river and band-aid work?
A.: We tell our own story:
There is this community along the river that keeps finding seriously injured
people floating in the river that passes through this town. They are really
busy pulling these people out of the river and taking care of them. They
had to build a hospital. It was expensive. A local leader full of wisdom
suggested one day that instead of doing all this "band-aid" work,
we go upstream to see where all these bodies are coming from--go the source
of the problem.
Well, they discovered the source of the bodies. There was this community
full of highly educated, progressive, liberated people--all college graduates.
They were very sophisticated and ahead of their time. They read only very
progressive magazines and
newspapers. They really believed that "band-aid" work was wrong,
downright silly and lightweight, unsophisticated and not about justice at
all.
Thus everyone in the community was working to change structures, so much
so that no one was left to do "band-aid" work, to take care of
those in need. They threw the hurt, the injured and the needy in the river
where the current was swift, a very fast and efficient solution--their final
solution to the problem.
Q.: Where do you stand on "band-aid" work and changing of structures?
A.: We think they cannot be separated. "Band-aid" work brings
you to the poor and is an essential ingredient in changing structures.
Q.: Do you do band-aid work or change structures?
A.: We try to do both.
Q.: Does your band-aid work do any good?
A.: A battered woman and her five children came to live with us recently
from Casa Maria, our Catholic Worker house in Southwest Houston, after working
up courage to leave a battering husband. Her battering husband purchased
beer and milk--that's all!, over a
period of several years. The only food the mother and children had was what
they received from the Casa Maria weekly food distribution (Thanks, Food
Bank). Ditto, clothing. The only clothing they had was what they received
from Casa Maria's clothing distribution.
Q.: What is your most difficult "band-aid" work?
A.: Providing hospitality. When you receive people into your home, you also
receive their illnesses and problems and must respond no matter how much
you believe in changing structures.
Q.: You write a lot about women. Do you provide hospitality to men?
A.: Yes. Recently, there were 8l men in the Padre Jack Davis Center.
Q.: What do you do with 8l men?
A.: Basically, "band-aid" work: Beds, food, clothing, medical
care, transportation, jobs, English classes, etc. A place to rest a little
and begin anew.
Q.: Aren't you afraid of working with poor people--you know, they may
be violent.
A.: No, what we fear most is crossing Shepherd and Durham during the
rush hour.
Q.: Do you work with homosexuals?
A.: Yes, we work with whoever comes to our door. We have no sexual
test.
Q.: How can you do so much?
A.: We practice voluntary poverty. No one is paid.
Q.: How do you know if you are practicing voluntary poverty?
A.: If you offer your shoes to the poor and they refuse them.
Q.: What will happen to immigrant dialysis patients if the county cuts
off treatment?
A.: They will die, but slowly.
Q.: What keeps you going after fifteen years?
A.: If we didn't study and pray, we would be dead.
Q.: Aren't you ashamed of bringing all these "foreigners?"
A.: We have never brought anyone to the U.S. We think the people should
stay home with their families. But we can't expect them to stay home and
starve to death, however. The millions used for border control and prosecution
of immigrants should be spent on providing people decent jobs in their countries
to keep people at home.
Q.: What is xenophobia?
A.: Fear of "foreigners," condemned in the Bible.
Q.: What upsets some people?
A.: When we use old-fashioned ideas like: We must be in love with God, must
love God passionately, love him in his Poor. People are not sure how to
respond.
Houston Catholic Worker, Vol. XV, No. 4, May-June 1995.
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