Latest Wizduum Blog Posts

Environmental Justice

Submitted by shaktinah on Wed, 05/30/2007 - 20:05

Currently on the UUA website, if one goes to the page under visitors/justice&diversity/environmental justice, one finds a nicely written blurb that isn't about environmental justice at all, but rather environmentalism and eco-spirituality.

The page will be changed and soon, but it gives me the opportunity to talk about what the UUA is now versus what we can be. We are a mostly white, mostly middle-to-upper-middle class group of folk. Most of us love "nature" and are pro-conservation, and a fair number of us incorporate at least some amount of eco-spirituality into our practice. We are well-intentioned folk but we often see things only through our own mostly white, mostly middle-to-upper-middle class perspective. And this is where much of the environmentalist movement is right now, not just UUs.

Cindy Sheehan

Submitted by shaktinah on Tue, 05/29/2007 - 19:11

Cindy Sheehan quit yesterday as the "head" of the Peace Movement. The mother of Casey Sheehan, who died at the age of 24 in Iraq, gained national attention as she camped outside of Bush's Crawford Ranch, waiting for an explanation for the war. Since then, she has been the "face" and "voice" of the Peace movement. Even while others work for Peace, the media has mainly paid attention only to her. There is no disputing that Ms. Sheehan's story is compelling and that she has poured her soul into her cause. And as she cites criticism against her as the reason for her quiting, I feel slight reluctance in piling on a little more. But only slight.

In Memoriam

Submitted by shaktinah on Sun, 05/27/2007 - 20:10

To all those who died, or who were injured, both physically and psychologically, my gratitude.

For every moment when I've forgotten your sacrifices, my deepest apologies.

Jerry Falwell's Legacy

Submitted by shaktinah on Sat, 05/26/2007 - 08:56

It's been over a week and a half since Jerry Falwell died. I've thought about him many times but between the trip to Ithaca NY and work and church obligations I haven't had the time to collect my thoughts til now. The truth is I'm kinda saddened by his passing.

Falwell had lost relevancy in later years as other preachers of the Religious Right had come to the fore, and I find myself thinking more about him in his death now than I did the last decade or so of his life. But his impact on me and all of us was huge.

Happy Birthday to the Buddha

Submitted by shaktinah on Thu, 05/24/2007 - 16:56

According to the calendar that I snatched from my parents during Christmas because it is full of beautiful pictures of San Francisco that make be very homesick, it's the Buddha's birthday today.

Of course, that depends on whether you are Mahayana or Theravada Buddhist.  If the former, then it's the Buddha's birthday today.  If the latter, then you celebrated the Buddha's birthday, enlightenment, and death on the last full moon (May 2nd).

Anyway, in explaining the difference to an officemate between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, I said that the Mahayana tradition was closer to UU.  The truth is that Mahayana is closer to what I wish UU to be.  I don't actually know which one is closer to what UU is in actuality.

Battle Hymn of the Republic - Redux

Submitted by shaktinah on Wed, 05/23/2007 - 16:38

In doing a little research on The Battle Hymn of the Republic (originally written by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe as a Union rallying cry for the Civil War), I discovered that Mark Twain wrote a parody of sorts in 1901 in response to American imperialism in the Philippines. I like his version better:

The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Brought Down to Date)

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps—
His night is marching on.

In Need of Grace

Submitted by shaktinah on Mon, 05/21/2007 - 20:22

Maybe it's because I came back from my trip to Ithaca exhausted.  After a day of traveling by car and bus and finally metro train, I went directly to church for the last session of Theologies of Liberation.  Maybe it's because I myself am in need of Grace, but the most compelling thing that I remember from the participants' discussions is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the enormity of what is wrong in this world and our complicity.

For those who benefit from systems of oppression, sin is to contribute to the maintenance of these systems both actively and complicitly. For those who suffer under systems of oppression, sin is to accept this without resistance.

I have sinned.  We all have.  And despite our best intentions we will continue to do so.  We realized in that room that we are all in need of Grace.  And someone asked what Grace is.

Pages

Forum Activity

Monthly Themes
Fri, 10/31/2014 - 08:11
Joyce: Lifelong UU (sort of)
Mon, 06/16/2014 - 07:09
wizdUUm Is Looking for UU Story-Tellers
Tue, 10/01/2013 - 22:01
More

Miscellania

wizdUUm.net is made possible in part by generous support from the Fahs Collaborative. 

Find us on Mastodon.