The Need for Net Neutrality

You may have seen the op-ed in the Billings Gazette which advocated to abandon net neutrality.  The author claimed that there was plenty of competition out there.  What he seemed to knowingly omit, was that his listing was not about competition in particular markets.  In particular markets, there are sometimes broad, sweeping monopolies among internet service providers.  In fact, to have competition is more the exception than the rule.  And its dwindling.

We need net neutrality to provide coverage too often lacking for faith communities and movements.  Some say faith communities are dying.  I say they are morphing. I say they are radically changing to meet the growing challenges around issues of transience, rootedness, disconnection, a compelling need to connect the one with the whole, patrimonial capitalism and austerity, human rights, collective power, and democracy, climate change, and a welling-up love for the earth.  Hear those as two heads of the same coin.  Net neutrality is an important tool for how all those challenges are met.

There are incredible movements happening across the world, promoted by faith communities.

First we pray . . . then we organize.  I say that they are one in the same.  Prayer is the spiritual language.  Organize is the political language.  Solidarity with God, with each other, and with God's good earth is the politico-religious language.

This is a powerful video put forward by the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries on Facebook.  You can go to the Thunderclap site here and read the reflection and see the video.  Or you can watch the video below.