MUST READ ARTICLE - JOSHUA Connections Worrisome

At a Jan. 16 meeting at Green Bay's Union Congregational Church, the state director of WISDOM, an umbrella group for JOSHUA and 10 sister units, was asked what most influenced the operation of the organization. "First, Saul Alinsky; second, the Civil Rights movement and third, labor organizations," he said.

The latter two are household phrases. Saul Alinsky is a conundrum.

Alinsky is a self-proclaimed Marxist. He also is a profound elitist. He initiated the 20th century model of grass-roots organizing and wrote "Rules for Radicals" for those who would follow him. One of his persistent mantras was that the end justifies the means: "Do what you can with what you have and clothe it in moral garments."

He kept company with Al Capone, the first Mayor Richard Daley and Marshall Field III, an eclectic group to say the least. Alinsky said he would never join an organization he helped create. Too confining, he said, and one wears out his welcome.

Alinsky used community churches and their leaders to determine issues and provide a foundation for his organizational efforts. Churches were the bedrock of a neighborhood and offered experienced and respected citizens for those efforts. And they did not question his socialistic goals.

Alinsky started the Industrial Areas Foundation to accept organizing funds from other foundations, his wealthy friends, churches and corporations. It exists today.

The Gamaliel Foundation was created by Gregory Galluzzo and is cut from the same cloth as the IAF. Gamaliel's Web site says it "is an organizing institute that brings together communities of people living out our faith and values to bring about justice and collectively transform our society." The organization envisions units in every metropolitan area and would break down whatever local ordinances it deemed in opposition to its socialistic goals.

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