If the Farm Bill issue does not get resolved by next week, like the tax side of the fiscal cliff, there will be another crisis in America. $7.00/gallon milk.
Hello liberal religionists, where are you? How many of you have talked about the price of milk as a moral issue lately? Or is the issue of the moment gun violence because of the shooting in Newtown?
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Why Is The Sercret Service "Scandal" A "Scandal?"
Grown men had sex. I'm shocked!
They had sex with prostitutes. I'm even more shocked!
C'mon now people. This country is involved in armed conflict in one of the most desolate places in the world and too many of its soldiers seem to not know how to treat dead bodies and yet there is more talk about grown men having sex than the fact that members of the U.S. military are desecrating dead bodies.
Which is the real scandal?
They had sex with prostitutes. I'm even more shocked!
C'mon now people. This country is involved in armed conflict in one of the most desolate places in the world and too many of its soldiers seem to not know how to treat dead bodies and yet there is more talk about grown men having sex than the fact that members of the U.S. military are desecrating dead bodies.
Which is the real scandal?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Strip Searches For Everybody!
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Florence v. Burlington that it was constitutional for states to strip search arrestees no matter what the nature of the offense.
But if one looks at the facts of the case, there is a much more troubling situation that appears on the horizon.
Albert Florence and his wife and child were on the way home when a New Jersey state trooper pulled them over. When the trooper runs a check on the car, it comes up that there is an outstanding warrant on Mr. Florence because of an unpaid traffic fine. However the outstanding warrant was an error and Mr. Florence had the paperwork to prove it. Mr. Florence showed the trooper the paperwork yet was arrested anyway. While in custody he was strip searched twice. Those are the basic facts.
What's so troubling, aside from the fact that the court said that it was constitutional to strip search anyone in custody, was the implicit agreement that anyone can be arrested at any time for any thing.
If a man can be arrested even when he has the paperwork showing that he shouldn't be arrested, what does that mean for the rest of us?
But if one looks at the facts of the case, there is a much more troubling situation that appears on the horizon.
Albert Florence and his wife and child were on the way home when a New Jersey state trooper pulled them over. When the trooper runs a check on the car, it comes up that there is an outstanding warrant on Mr. Florence because of an unpaid traffic fine. However the outstanding warrant was an error and Mr. Florence had the paperwork to prove it. Mr. Florence showed the trooper the paperwork yet was arrested anyway. While in custody he was strip searched twice. Those are the basic facts.
What's so troubling, aside from the fact that the court said that it was constitutional to strip search anyone in custody, was the implicit agreement that anyone can be arrested at any time for any thing.
If a man can be arrested even when he has the paperwork showing that he shouldn't be arrested, what does that mean for the rest of us?
Monday, January 23, 2012
What's In "Justice GA" For Me?
In an article at uuworld.org that came out today, it was written:
"This GA, termed a "Justice GA," will be almost entirely focused on social justice issues related to immigration."
I know immigration is an important national issue. I know Arizona SB1070 is a horrible piece of legislation. Yet if I made up a list of issues/causes that I'm engaged in and/or working on, immigration wouldn't even make it into the top 20.
What's in "Justice GA" for me?
"This GA, termed a "Justice GA," will be almost entirely focused on social justice issues related to immigration."
I know immigration is an important national issue. I know Arizona SB1070 is a horrible piece of legislation. Yet if I made up a list of issues/causes that I'm engaged in and/or working on, immigration wouldn't even make it into the top 20.
What's in "Justice GA" for me?
Monday, February 7, 2011
"Justice" GA?
Why doesn't somebody just tell us the truth?
GA 2012 is NOT going to be a "Justice" GA. GA 2012 is going to be an "Immigration" GA.
GA 2012 is NOT going to be a "Justice" GA. GA 2012 is going to be an "Immigration" GA.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Help Rev. Ron Robinson and The Living Room
Hello dear readers.
Life caught up with me so I've been quiet for a while. I don't know if that will change much, but I felt that I needed to post this. It's from Rev. Ron Robinson and it's about a great opportunity to help him and his merry band in Tulsa. Give what you can; I definitely will.
Consider this: At a bad economic time of recession. At a time in our Tulsa area when community centers have been closed down, especially in our lowest income areas like ours. At a time when parks which are so critical to the life and health of communities and families have had budgets slashed. At a time when our state is dead last as the healthiest state. When our 74126 zip code has the lowest life expectancy in our area. When 40 percent of the vacant residential properties in our two mile radius have been abandoned, not for rent or for sale. When we live in a food desert. When nothing new is beginning for our children, and instead our schools are cutting out teachers, programs, in ways not seen before in our history...
...Being a group of crazy local residents in this area, we believe another world, another community, another response is possible. So working with the University of Oklahoma Graduate Design Studio we are developing plans for a place for extensive community gardening, gazebo for entertaining, space for families, a living kitchen right by the garden where people who grow can cook and dehydrate on the space, where we can have cooking lessons, community meals, play equipment, a firepit, where folks can watch fireworks and the stars at night, where it will be an outdoors third place environment, sustainable, bringing hope. So...
We, A Third Place Community, now have a chance to purchase a city block, an acre, up on a hilltop overlooking downtown Tulsa, at 60th and N. Johnstown Ave. where two abandoned homes are rundown and abandoned. Right across from where one of our community gardens started last summer is now located. A location bridging two ethnically diverse neighborhoods, one incorporated in the city of Tulsa and one in the unincorporated Turley part, where people and school children walk.
We have had our offer of $15,000 accepted for the property, paid in cash at closing. Now to make it real we have to raise the funds as soon as we can. Which means we have to ask everyone for help and to pass this on to their email lists and social media in order for us to reach our goal:
Be a part of this groundbreaking, ground transforming initiative, at this time, and at this place. Be a part of the group that makes another world possible. People from right here, and from around the country and even the world have a chance to make this real, to be listed on our sign at the site of LivingKitchen Garden Park Givers. Your name, your family, your children's names, those whom you want to give it in honor to or memory of.
We need as soon as possible to raise the $15,000, even as the OU Design Studio is finishing up the plans and visuals that we will pass on as soon as they are completed.
We need just one person to give $15,000, or 15 people to give $1,000, or 150 people to give $100. That is how we make it real. Be a part of this opportunity, right now, to be a part of this original list of Garden Park Givers. Reply and let all know you are helping. Let's raise it by Easter, April 4. Talk about a resurrection of hope and spirit of life. Pass this notice on to all and let them know you are contributing at what amount and give them a chance to change the world too between now and Easter.
Send checks made out to A Third Place Community Foundation to 6514 N. Peoria Ave., Turley, OK 74126. We are a 501c3 non profit organization. Sorry we don't have an online donation avenue possible yet, but don't let that stop you. Do it the old-fashioned way.
Send a message that another response, another world, another kind of community is possible.
Go to www.turleyok.blogspot.com or become a fan of us on Facebook and follow how we are doing, what we have done, and our activities coming up and dreams. This initiative is a great one, but even greater is on the way.
Pledge, donate, surprise yourself and the world and all those who don't know that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. Pass on the Possibility.
Ron Robinson
A Third Place Community
"small acts of justice done with great love change the world"
Life caught up with me so I've been quiet for a while. I don't know if that will change much, but I felt that I needed to post this. It's from Rev. Ron Robinson and it's about a great opportunity to help him and his merry band in Tulsa. Give what you can; I definitely will.
Consider this: At a bad economic time of recession. At a time in our Tulsa area when community centers have been closed down, especially in our lowest income areas like ours. At a time when parks which are so critical to the life and health of communities and families have had budgets slashed. At a time when our state is dead last as the healthiest state. When our 74126 zip code has the lowest life expectancy in our area. When 40 percent of the vacant residential properties in our two mile radius have been abandoned, not for rent or for sale. When we live in a food desert. When nothing new is beginning for our children, and instead our schools are cutting out teachers, programs, in ways not seen before in our history...
...Being a group of crazy local residents in this area, we believe another world, another community, another response is possible. So working with the University of Oklahoma Graduate Design Studio we are developing plans for a place for extensive community gardening, gazebo for entertaining, space for families, a living kitchen right by the garden where people who grow can cook and dehydrate on the space, where we can have cooking lessons, community meals, play equipment, a firepit, where folks can watch fireworks and the stars at night, where it will be an outdoors third place environment, sustainable, bringing hope. So...
We, A Third Place Community, now have a chance to purchase a city block, an acre, up on a hilltop overlooking downtown Tulsa, at 60th and N. Johnstown Ave. where two abandoned homes are rundown and abandoned. Right across from where one of our community gardens started last summer is now located. A location bridging two ethnically diverse neighborhoods, one incorporated in the city of Tulsa and one in the unincorporated Turley part, where people and school children walk.
We have had our offer of $15,000 accepted for the property, paid in cash at closing. Now to make it real we have to raise the funds as soon as we can. Which means we have to ask everyone for help and to pass this on to their email lists and social media in order for us to reach our goal:
Be a part of this groundbreaking, ground transforming initiative, at this time, and at this place. Be a part of the group that makes another world possible. People from right here, and from around the country and even the world have a chance to make this real, to be listed on our sign at the site of LivingKitchen Garden Park Givers. Your name, your family, your children's names, those whom you want to give it in honor to or memory of.
We need as soon as possible to raise the $15,000, even as the OU Design Studio is finishing up the plans and visuals that we will pass on as soon as they are completed.
We need just one person to give $15,000, or 15 people to give $1,000, or 150 people to give $100. That is how we make it real. Be a part of this opportunity, right now, to be a part of this original list of Garden Park Givers. Reply and let all know you are helping. Let's raise it by Easter, April 4. Talk about a resurrection of hope and spirit of life. Pass this notice on to all and let them know you are contributing at what amount and give them a chance to change the world too between now and Easter.
Send checks made out to A Third Place Community Foundation to 6514 N. Peoria Ave., Turley, OK 74126. We are a 501c3 non profit organization. Sorry we don't have an online donation avenue possible yet, but don't let that stop you. Do it the old-fashioned way.
Send a message that another response, another world, another kind of community is possible.
Go to www.turleyok.blogspot.com or become a fan of us on Facebook and follow how we are doing, what we have done, and our activities coming up and dreams. This initiative is a great one, but even greater is on the way.
Pledge, donate, surprise yourself and the world and all those who don't know that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. Pass on the Possibility.
Ron Robinson
A Third Place Community
"small acts of justice done with great love change the world"
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Who Do We Say We Are????
hello dear readers.
Since the UUA now has a new president, I thought I would repost this from a couple of years ago. With the beginning of a new administration, I think it's worth asking again.
The question about the UUA(or UUism): besides same-sex marriage, does the UUA(or UUism) have any passion for anything?
It doesn't seem to be spiritual development/formation or maturation, because if it were there would be more curricula out there. It doesn't seem to be religious literacy, or the kids who go through most UU Religious Education programs wouldn't come out as religiously ignorant as they were coming in and most adults would understand that the religious world is bigger than their past or current congregation. It doesn't even seem to be REAL social justice or we would be reaching out and working with the other religious progressives out there no matter what their religious stripe. (where is the UU version of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement?)
For all their faults (and speaking as a former fundamentalist I know there are many), mega-churches have passion. They know what drives them: bringing people to Christ.
What drives the typical UU church? Where is their passion? In all this talk about growth in UU circles, nobody seems to be looking at the facts; the churches that are growing, no matter what theological stripe, have PASSION. They know what they want to do and try to find ways to do it. They have a story and can articulate it. They know their mission and can articulate that as well. These churches have DREAMS (and I'm not talking about strategic plans but real dreams). They see their place in the world. Most of all, they are NOT afraid.
So.....where's the UU's/UUA's passion?
Since the UUA now has a new president, I thought I would repost this from a couple of years ago. With the beginning of a new administration, I think it's worth asking again.
The question about the UUA(or UUism): besides same-sex marriage, does the UUA(or UUism) have any passion for anything?
It doesn't seem to be spiritual development/formation or maturation, because if it were there would be more curricula out there. It doesn't seem to be religious literacy, or the kids who go through most UU Religious Education programs wouldn't come out as religiously ignorant as they were coming in and most adults would understand that the religious world is bigger than their past or current congregation. It doesn't even seem to be REAL social justice or we would be reaching out and working with the other religious progressives out there no matter what their religious stripe. (where is the UU version of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement?)
For all their faults (and speaking as a former fundamentalist I know there are many), mega-churches have passion. They know what drives them: bringing people to Christ.
What drives the typical UU church? Where is their passion? In all this talk about growth in UU circles, nobody seems to be looking at the facts; the churches that are growing, no matter what theological stripe, have PASSION. They know what they want to do and try to find ways to do it. They have a story and can articulate it. They know their mission and can articulate that as well. These churches have DREAMS (and I'm not talking about strategic plans but real dreams). They see their place in the world. Most of all, they are NOT afraid.
So.....where's the UU's/UUA's passion?
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