Social Justice

o The Way of The Cross HAGERSTOWN -- Carrying a large wooden cross through the streets of Hagerstown, a diverse group of Christians spent Good Friday commemorating Jesus' final hours by praying for social causes at stops throughout town. "Christ's life represents doing whatever needs to be done, and if we don't remember that, we don't remember Him," said Angie Scheerer, who wrote a series of meditations for the event. The "Walk for Social Justice" included a call for tolerance in front of a gay and lesbian bookstore, a prayer for economic recovery in front of a downtown bank, and a prayer for residents of Haiti at a church.

A Walk for Social Justice In downtown Hagerstown is planned for Friday at 1 p.m., beginning at Otterbein United Methodist Church on East Franklin Street. Sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council, the walk takes 90 minutes to two hours. Each stop will feature prayers. Walkers will trek to Hagerstown City Hall after prayers for peace and head to University Center Park on West Washington Street for prayers about the environment. The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts will highlight the need for an end to prejudice.

HAGERSTOWN People marched in silence through the streets of Hagerstown on Good Friday, and stopped at seven designated sites along the way to pray for religious tolerance and racial harmony. The Rev. Ed Poling of the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren said the event was designed to bring awareness to social justice. "It's to help us remember that Christ's suffering is part of the world's suffering," Poling said. "It's to help us make the kind of world that God would want for us. " About 40 marchers participated, some taking turns carrying a wooden cross as Christ did through the streets of Jerusalem on the way to his crucifixion on Calvary Hill.

M&T Bank recently brought its total 2006 donations to Interfaith Housing Alliance to $20,000, covering various service regions shared by the bank and by Interfaith. This is the third year in a row that M&T Bank has committed this level of support to the production of affordable housing. "The continuing grants from M&T Bank demonstrate a deep understanding of our work and a clear effort to help bring social justice in housing to those who have been priced out of the market by the recent rapid escalation in housing prices," said Jim Upchurch, president of Interfaith Housing Alliance.

Writer loves his country, but fears government To the editor: Message to Leonard Pitts: the "run" of your mouth shows your true colors. In his opinion article of March 23 in The Herald-Mail, columnist Leonard Pitts recommended that everyone should "run from Glenn Beck as fast as you can. " Pitts is commenting on Beck's discussions over the past few months of the term "Social Justice" now being used, or rather misused. Pitts and others are comparing the acts of Jesus in the Bible with what government and others are trying to thrust on the United States.

HAGERSTOWN -- A small army for peace walked the streets of Hagerstown Friday afternoon, occasionally stopping traffic and praying for social justice at seven spots throughout the downtown area. About 50 people participated in the walk, which was sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council. Men took turns carrying a wooden cross, and two people carried large signs to let passers-by know the crowd was making a Good Friday Walk for Justice. Organizers selected stops on the walk to correlate with social justice themes, said the Rev. Rick Jewell, president of the Hagerstown Area Religious Council.

HAGERSTOWN - In her third year of teaching at St. Maria Goretti High School, Heather Stritch has taken on new responsibilities as the campus minister. Undaunted by the additional duties that began this school year, Stritch, 29, is excited about the possibilities. "I will be organizing Masses as a worship aide and meeting with the priest and choir director," Stritch said. But it's the 25-hour community service program she is really getting into with an eye toward making the graduation requirement more meaningful for the students, she said.

View the slideshow About 50 people participated Friday in the third annual Good Friday Walk for Social Justice in downtown Hagerstown. The walk was sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council and hosted by Otterbein United Methodist Church, where the walk began and ended. In between, the participants stopped at seven locations in Hagerstown, with a different theme for each stop. At the first stop at Hagerstown City Hall, participants prayed for peace, while at the last stop at Washington County Hospital, walkers prayed for health and care of the body.

Writer loves his country, but fears government To the editor: Message to Leonard Pitts: the "run" of your mouth shows your true colors. In his opinion article of March 23 in The Herald-Mail, columnist Leonard Pitts recommended that everyone should "run from Glenn Beck as fast as you can. " Pitts is commenting on Beck's discussions over the past few months of the term "Social Justice" now being used, or rather misused. Pitts and others are comparing the acts of Jesus in the Bible with what government and others are trying to thrust on the United States.

o The Way of The Cross HAGERSTOWN -- Carrying a large wooden cross through the streets of Hagerstown, a diverse group of Christians spent Good Friday commemorating Jesus' final hours by praying for social causes at stops throughout town. "Christ's life represents doing whatever needs to be done, and if we don't remember that, we don't remember Him," said Angie Scheerer, who wrote a series of meditations for the event. The "Walk for Social Justice" included a call for tolerance in front of a gay and lesbian bookstore, a prayer for economic recovery in front of a downtown bank, and a prayer for residents of Haiti at a church.

View the slideshow About 50 people participated Friday in the third annual Good Friday Walk for Social Justice in downtown Hagerstown. The walk was sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council and hosted by Otterbein United Methodist Church, where the walk began and ended. In between, the participants stopped at seven locations in Hagerstown, with a different theme for each stop. At the first stop at Hagerstown City Hall, participants prayed for peace, while at the last stop at Washington County Hospital, walkers prayed for health and care of the body.

Today, Monday, April 6 Spring break Everyone needs a break and students are no different. There will be no school all week for Berkeley County, W.Va., public school students for the spring holiday. Classes resume Monday, April 13. Tuesday, April 7 Learn about Easter customs Easter is celebrated all around the world. Hear some of the historical German traditions associated with Easter customs at the Jonathan Hager House at Hagerstown's City Park.

A Walk for Social Justice In downtown Hagerstown is planned for Friday at 1 p.m., beginning at Otterbein United Methodist Church on East Franklin Street. Sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council, the walk takes 90 minutes to two hours. Each stop will feature prayers. Walkers will trek to Hagerstown City Hall after prayers for peace and head to University Center Park on West Washington Street for prayers about the environment. The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts will highlight the need for an end to prejudice.

HAGERSTOWN - In her third year of teaching at St. Maria Goretti High School, Heather Stritch has taken on new responsibilities as the campus minister. Undaunted by the additional duties that began this school year, Stritch, 29, is excited about the possibilities. "I will be organizing Masses as a worship aide and meeting with the priest and choir director," Stritch said. But it's the 25-hour community service program she is really getting into with an eye toward making the graduation requirement more meaningful for the students, she said.

HAGERSTOWN -- A small army for peace walked the streets of Hagerstown Friday afternoon, occasionally stopping traffic and praying for social justice at seven spots throughout the downtown area. About 50 people participated in the walk, which was sponsored by the Hagerstown Area Religious Council. Men took turns carrying a wooden cross, and two people carried large signs to let passers-by know the crowd was making a Good Friday Walk for Justice. Organizers selected stops on the walk to correlate with social justice themes, said the Rev. Rick Jewell, president of the Hagerstown Area Religious Council.

Since 1910, when D.W. Griffith directed the first film made in Hollywood, according to Filmsite.org, movies have captured the full spectrum of human emotion, telling powerful stories that continue to inspire long after the credits begin to roll. Some of the most riveting reels explore the trials and triumphs of our evolving nation. Sometimes, it is when we revisit the past that we gain the insight needed to script a bright future. The following is a nine-part list of films that address social changes of the past nine decades.