Peter Maurin - Easy Essays

Peter Maurin was the co-founder, with Dorothy Day, of the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933. Peter was born in 1877 and died in 1949. He was a French peasent and former Christian Brother who believed in manual labor, the agrarian movement but most importantly hospitality and supporting those in need. He spoke on street corners in New York City and elsewhere about the need for radical personalism. He spoke to anyone who would listen. He reasoned, "the way to reach the man on the street is meet the man on the street." He was a teacher, a lecturer and philosopher and a troublemaker of sorts. Peter wrote short pieces that became known as Easy Essays. They were bold in thought but simple in construction. From time to time I will add one or two to this blog. What Peter Maurin wrote in the 30’s and 40’s can certainly have meaning today. Here is an example:

Prostitution of Politics
The Republicans say:
“Let’s turn the rascals
out.”
The Democrats say:
Let’s turn the rascals
out.”
The Republicans
call the Democrats
rascals.
The Democrats
call the Republicans
rascals.
For the Republicans
as well as for the
Democrats
politics
is just a profitable business.
By making a business
out of politics,
politicians
have prostituted the
noble calling
of politics.

….......Peter Maurin