Everything is about dignity. How we treat and talk about each other, people, animals, the earth, other religions, cultures, political parties, beliefs. Everything, yes everything is about dignity. How are we doing in that regard? The hateful speech of late, the policies - current and proposed, the taunting, the bullying.
I happen to believe that dignity is pretty basic. When we're right, humble and kind it's in play. When people or other things are hurt, a clear lack of dignity is always exposed for everyone to see. It seems so simple and in reality it is. Sometimes though, we just get sidetracked, all of us. We allow other forces to take over. Insulting other people, belittling their religion, even removing them from our presence, laughing and giggling at someone's misfortune or status. Dignity - a little word that needs a lot more attention these days.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Memories and The Future
Over the past week or so I've been lucky to have had some wonderful correspondence with and from old friends. We've shared thoughts and memories about times we spent together working for peace and social justice through the 60's and beyond. The memories are like those you may have - some good, some bad, some painful. They are also an important piece of our personal history.
Sometimes, many of us, can dwell too much on the past. It can become burdensome and frankly unhealthy. But the past is certainly important. It helps us understand who we are, where we came from and can help lead us in where we're going and how we get there.
One of my dear old friends is currently in Vietnam building homes with Habitat for Humanity. He's working with other volunteers and local Vietnamese helping to make current life better as well as impacting people's future. He recently told a brief story about his conversation and bonding with another volunteer, an ex-marine who fought and watched many die in that land so far away. Two men with different histories, different memories of that war and that time, working together today to make a difference in people's lives.
I've also had recent discussions with some folks about the evolution of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities. Past battles broke down walls and helped people move from institutions to communities where people are living independent lives. The battles today are for dollars to protect those supports and make sure the quality of life for those people continues today and into the future.
The memories and the past battles are so very important. They let us tell the story that helps the next generation continue to move forward. Some of the history prevents people from stumbling in the same pot holes that line the paths along the way. Sometimes falling or tripping is important to the new traveler.
Then I contemplate the future. Many people are involved in issues around the environment and climate change. What an important place to meld the past the present and the future. Our earth, our air, our water and all the elements around us are crying out for protection and stewardship. Young and old are becoming activists together as they see what's happening around them and as they understand the consequences of past and present practices.
The friend I spoke of earlier is also a musician and like all good musicians, he understands the importance of words and music in story telling and messaging. One of his recent posts from Vietnam consisted of a few powerful pictures and these words from Joni Mitchell's The Circle Game - "And the seasons they go round and round. And the painted ponies go up and down....." Here is the complete chorus, hopefully helping us to understand the relationship between past, present and future.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted horses go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
It is a great big circle my friends so join in as we all go round and round.
Sometimes, many of us, can dwell too much on the past. It can become burdensome and frankly unhealthy. But the past is certainly important. It helps us understand who we are, where we came from and can help lead us in where we're going and how we get there.
One of my dear old friends is currently in Vietnam building homes with Habitat for Humanity. He's working with other volunteers and local Vietnamese helping to make current life better as well as impacting people's future. He recently told a brief story about his conversation and bonding with another volunteer, an ex-marine who fought and watched many die in that land so far away. Two men with different histories, different memories of that war and that time, working together today to make a difference in people's lives.
I've also had recent discussions with some folks about the evolution of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities. Past battles broke down walls and helped people move from institutions to communities where people are living independent lives. The battles today are for dollars to protect those supports and make sure the quality of life for those people continues today and into the future.
The memories and the past battles are so very important. They let us tell the story that helps the next generation continue to move forward. Some of the history prevents people from stumbling in the same pot holes that line the paths along the way. Sometimes falling or tripping is important to the new traveler.
Then I contemplate the future. Many people are involved in issues around the environment and climate change. What an important place to meld the past the present and the future. Our earth, our air, our water and all the elements around us are crying out for protection and stewardship. Young and old are becoming activists together as they see what's happening around them and as they understand the consequences of past and present practices.
The friend I spoke of earlier is also a musician and like all good musicians, he understands the importance of words and music in story telling and messaging. One of his recent posts from Vietnam consisted of a few powerful pictures and these words from Joni Mitchell's The Circle Game - "And the seasons they go round and round. And the painted ponies go up and down....." Here is the complete chorus, hopefully helping us to understand the relationship between past, present and future.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted horses go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
It is a great big circle my friends so join in as we all go round and round.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
"The Others" Are Coming - Protect Yourselves
All of the hateful language, speeches and yes, even the commentary, are based on fear versus reasoning during these dark days of December, 2015.
We are currently involved in listening to people talking about banning people with certain religious beliefs from coming into the US. Amazing - people founded a country based on religious freedom, fleeing persecution and now we actually would consider a leader who would ban people based on a religion.
And then of course there are the Mexicans. More problems, more people to bar, ban, lock behind a wall. Let's see, who are some of the other 'Others'? Who are the other people who have forced us into political correctness? Ah the list is long - people with disabilities (why can't we just get back to making fun of them?), blacks, students, women, liberals, leftists, the mainstream media, Hollywood elitists, gays, lesbians, the list goes on.
All of this is based on fear. Reasoning has gone out the window. Local sheriffs are recommending that people with permitted weapons begin to carry them because we live in such violent times. That's what we need - more guns to deal with all of these issues. And when first responders show up to some other unfortunate and deadly event, now they'll have to determine who are the good guys with weapons and who are the bad guys with weapons. The rest of us will need to watch out for the cross fire.
So the bottomline is that we all have to protect ourselves in these perilous times. "The others" are coming. We don't know who they are from one day to the next but we do know this, they're not us. They look and think differently. They sometimes talk differently. They worship differently.
All of this is, of course, shameful but few people are really speaking up. Partly I think because of the other great fear. Is it possible that this is in fact the way our country has changed? Are the hateful things that are being spouted in a bombastic way really the thoughts and values of a large portion of the population? We all hope not, but...but...
We are currently involved in listening to people talking about banning people with certain religious beliefs from coming into the US. Amazing - people founded a country based on religious freedom, fleeing persecution and now we actually would consider a leader who would ban people based on a religion.
And then of course there are the Mexicans. More problems, more people to bar, ban, lock behind a wall. Let's see, who are some of the other 'Others'? Who are the other people who have forced us into political correctness? Ah the list is long - people with disabilities (why can't we just get back to making fun of them?), blacks, students, women, liberals, leftists, the mainstream media, Hollywood elitists, gays, lesbians, the list goes on.
All of this is based on fear. Reasoning has gone out the window. Local sheriffs are recommending that people with permitted weapons begin to carry them because we live in such violent times. That's what we need - more guns to deal with all of these issues. And when first responders show up to some other unfortunate and deadly event, now they'll have to determine who are the good guys with weapons and who are the bad guys with weapons. The rest of us will need to watch out for the cross fire.
So the bottomline is that we all have to protect ourselves in these perilous times. "The others" are coming. We don't know who they are from one day to the next but we do know this, they're not us. They look and think differently. They sometimes talk differently. They worship differently.
All of this is, of course, shameful but few people are really speaking up. Partly I think because of the other great fear. Is it possible that this is in fact the way our country has changed? Are the hateful things that are being spouted in a bombastic way really the thoughts and values of a large portion of the population? We all hope not, but...but...
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Two Part Series On Dorothy Day - Dec. 14th & 21st
I will be presenting a two part series on Dorothy Day, her life and influence, on Dec 14th & 21st, 2015 from 11am to Noon at the Penn Yan Public Library. The series is part of the Classics In Religion series sponsored by Cobblestone Springs in Himrod, NY.
In Part One, I will be presenting a brief overview of Dorothy's early life and her co-founding of the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin in the 1930's. Part Two of the series will cover the period from the 1960's to her death in 1980. I will include some of my own personal expierience and knowledge of Dorothy during the period that I was involved at the Catholic Worker in the mid 60's.
There will be time for interaction and discussion during both sessions.
Cobblestone Springs is an interdenominational retreat/renewal center located in the Finger Lakes Region of rural Upstate New York. Housed in an historic 1840's cobblestone mansion, it overlooks the Seneca Lake valley. Well-kept Mennonite farms surround the property, and horse and buggies regularly pass by the house. More about Cobblestone Springs here.
In Part One, I will be presenting a brief overview of Dorothy's early life and her co-founding of the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin in the 1930's. Part Two of the series will cover the period from the 1960's to her death in 1980. I will include some of my own personal expierience and knowledge of Dorothy during the period that I was involved at the Catholic Worker in the mid 60's.
There will be time for interaction and discussion during both sessions.
Cobblestone Springs is an interdenominational retreat/renewal center located in the Finger Lakes Region of rural Upstate New York. Housed in an historic 1840's cobblestone mansion, it overlooks the Seneca Lake valley. Well-kept Mennonite farms surround the property, and horse and buggies regularly pass by the house. More about Cobblestone Springs here.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Stoking Hate & Creating Fear
That seems to be where we are. Some of it is the result of the actions and the realities of the world that we're seeing every day. Some of it is the result of our presidential campaign process that allows people to rant and rave for a year and a half before an election in contrast to countries that limit campaigns to 6 to 8 weeks. We've been affected by war, by economic injustice, by environmental threats, by religious fanaticism or religious bankruptcy. We seem to be reaping some of the results.
As peacemakers and peacekeepers struggle with the challenge of keeping people focused on sensible responses to world events, we have people who stoke the hate and create the fear. Syrian refugees, Hispanic farm workers and migrants, Muslims, people who think, speak and look differently are all presented as our enemies, as outliers from the rest of us.
Donald Trump of course takes the cake, which seems to be his ultimate goal. He has questioned the President's loyalty, his religion and his birthplace. He has talked about killing the families of terrorists. He has promoted waterboarding and other methods of torture. Others have thrown out the concept of internment camps, similar to those that were used to hold US citizens of Japanese heritage during World War ll. These discussions I fear will get worse over the next few weeks and months.
Fear impacts how we process information. It takes over and overrides our normal way of thinking. It can be a terrible and irrational thing.
My own view is that we all have a responsibility to let these folks know that their language and ideas are irresponsible and not helpful. This type of talk needs to be stopped in its tracks whenever and wherever possible. We can't accept it. Any more Islamophobia just helps create more radicalization.
We should certainly be appalled at beheadings, torture, the killing of innocent men, women and children. But we have to protect people, religions and nationalities from explosive hatred through speech and headlines.
After I wrote this, I saw an article where Attorney General Loretta Lynch spoke and warned about an anti-Muslim backlash and I thought adding the link here may be useful. Here it is - Loretta Lynch Article
As peacemakers and peacekeepers struggle with the challenge of keeping people focused on sensible responses to world events, we have people who stoke the hate and create the fear. Syrian refugees, Hispanic farm workers and migrants, Muslims, people who think, speak and look differently are all presented as our enemies, as outliers from the rest of us.
Donald Trump of course takes the cake, which seems to be his ultimate goal. He has questioned the President's loyalty, his religion and his birthplace. He has talked about killing the families of terrorists. He has promoted waterboarding and other methods of torture. Others have thrown out the concept of internment camps, similar to those that were used to hold US citizens of Japanese heritage during World War ll. These discussions I fear will get worse over the next few weeks and months.
Fear impacts how we process information. It takes over and overrides our normal way of thinking. It can be a terrible and irrational thing.
My own view is that we all have a responsibility to let these folks know that their language and ideas are irresponsible and not helpful. This type of talk needs to be stopped in its tracks whenever and wherever possible. We can't accept it. Any more Islamophobia just helps create more radicalization.
We should certainly be appalled at beheadings, torture, the killing of innocent men, women and children. But we have to protect people, religions and nationalities from explosive hatred through speech and headlines.
After I wrote this, I saw an article where Attorney General Loretta Lynch spoke and warned about an anti-Muslim backlash and I thought adding the link here may be useful. Here it is - Loretta Lynch Article
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