The new doc on Dorothy Day, “Revolution from the Heart” (PBS 3/2020) begins with the episode when Dorothy and her companions refused to cooperate with NY’s compulsory civil defense drills. After giddy scenes of families hiding under picnic blankets (“They know what to do!) ...
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we cut to Dorothy sitting in the park in defiance of the law and going to jail. It is a brilliant juxtaposition of Day—at the time deemed foolish, marginal, unrealistic—against the common “wisdom” of the day which now appears literally insane.

Nov 24, 2019 · 3:16 PM UTC

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It puts in relief the contrast between the so-called “wisdom” of the world and the “folly of the cross.” This was a time when “sane” strategists were prepared to kill hundreds of millions in the name of defense and children were drilled to “duck and cover” in the event of war.
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In relation to such thinking Day didn’t mind being considered foolish, impractical, or “crazy.” In her view policies considered prudent, practical, and sane were in fact muderous, suicidal, and blasphemous. So she went to jail. Her actions hold up well in the light of history.
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