Humanize the Earth!

Tom Mauser’s Petition to Renew the Assault Weapons Ban

Here’s a good example of the power of networks: Tom Mauser’s Petition to Renew the Assault Weapons Ban

church that values questioning

Had a recent talk with a friend that recently joined Willow Creek Community Church. I asked her what it was about the place that made her feel it was the place for her and she said that they welcomed her with open arms even if she wasn’t calling herself a “christian” at the time. She’d been to other churches where the only time they ever spoke to her was to say, “If you’ve been baptised, then you’re welcome to take communion.”

I’m not a church person myself, but if I were, I’d go with the one that’s affirming and about unifying principles of christ, not a set of rules and hierachies. I’m happy that she’s found a “home.”

genocide?

Had a contentious conversation today with a friend where I was saying “genocide” is a word with no real meaning, only a political one, used to justify an internvetion when the powers that be decide one is necessary. She stuck to her point that “genocide” is a real concept and matters to her. I was so locked into my point that I wasn’t able to really listen to what she was saying. She was drawing a clear distinction between the holocaust and the civil war. In the first, intervention was morally necessary (I’m taking a leap from what she actually said, but I’m trying to understand where she might’ve gone had I listened long enough to let her) while in the second, there was no genocide and thus no need for anyone else to get involved. Is it possible that she and I weren’t holding opposing ideas?

comments, wikis, and housing co-ops

Received email:

I stumbled upon your comment originally about wikis and couldn’t help but be more interested in your mention of forming a housing co-op. Lo and behold, you are in CHICAGO, same city as myself.

I happen to live in a newly formed housing co-op (Logan Square Cooperative). Wishing you all the best of luck in your efforts and if there’s any way we can support you in your goals, to please let us know.

My answer:

Comments in blogs are a wonderful thing, aren’t they? I’m guessing I didn’t meet you at the Logan Square Cooperative Open House last month. I was there and had a great time! Your neighbors and other members and friends were really helpful in answering many of my questions about experiences with the process.

Our group started out being called New Edge Co-op because many of the people that got our process started were being evicted from the Edgewood when it was sold for a condo conversion. We’re now incorporated have are calling ourselve the Hub Housing Cooperative. We’ll see if that name sticks. We all know each other through our connection with Critical Mass and the bicycle community.

We’re feeling very close to making this whole deal happen. We actually made an offer that was rejected on a building last month. We’re deciding what to do next in terms of that building plus other buildings that we’re considering. We’re looking at 8-12 units, same as Logan Square or a bit larger.

When we get to a point of having our documents ready I’ll take you up on your offer for help. Thanks much! By the way, does Logan Square Cooperative have a website? I haven’t been able to find it.

special yoga

At the meeting the other night, Debbie was telling us about specialyoga.com in Evanston, Illinois.

Yoga for the Special Child™ is a comprehensive program of yoga techniques designed to enhance the natural development of children with special needs. Our style of yoga is gentle and therapeutic — safe for babies and children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Microcephaly, Autism and other developmental disabilities. These methods also provide an effective treatment for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, ADHD and Learning Disabilities.

If you know of such a child, please consider passing this info on.

circus of the spirit

Tonight I went to Eight:18@Unity for a Circus of the Spirit with my friend Steve. Drum circles, reiki healing, cranial/sacral healing, pranic healing, tarot reading, meditation, belly dancing, face and body painting, juggling, dancing galore and more that I probably didn’t see. Plus the hosts of the event got married tonight just before the event, with a public invite. I didn’t make it for that part, but their love, and the love of everyone in attendance, was very much present. So much of my life is in my head which makes it all the more sweet when I can really connect with being in my body. Good stuff. Good night. :-)

reciprocity

Everyone knows the parable that says, “If you give a person a fish he eats for one day, but if you teach her to fish, she eats for a lifetime.” What if we take it one step further and say, “I will teach you to fish if you agree to then teach others.” Never let the gift stop with you (Susan and Chris have been discussing The Gift which has similar ideas). For me this is a very important idea because otherwise giving and reciving is a hierarchical relationship leaving one beholden to the other and dependent. We each have something to give, no matter how desperate we might be for some kind of help. What are you willing to give?

8. The Principle of Wise Action

At tonight’s weekly meeting (the first one at my house!), we again returned to the Principles of Valid Action:

“You will make your conflicts disappear when you understand them in their ultimate root, not when you want to resolve them.”

Lots of interesting discussion ensued, but perhaps it would be interesting to hear experiences from your life?

personal/social

When I was younger I felt that I was a slave to my emotions. I turned to therapy and different kinds of self-help and group-type activities to try to figure it all out. At the same time I had a real sense that I needed to do something to make the world a better place. It never occurred to me that these two strong pulls in me were related to each other.

For the last 8 years I’ve been involved in the Humanist Movement where we see personal and social change as being intertwined and each necessary for the other. Every time I work on myself (my fear, my anger, my jealousy, my resentment, me feeling like I’m nothing, etc.) it allows me to do more in the world (to reach out more, to have more energy, to connect more with myself and therefore with others, etc.). In turn, this action in the world either reinforces the personal work I’ve already done and encourages me to strengthen it or it shows me areas that need more personal work. It’s a never ending cycle, perhaps a spiral, in the direction of my liberation from suffering and towards my meaning in life, which for me includes a strong piece of helping others.

Kerry & Bush

On the History News Network George Will is quoted as saying that “you can’t slip a Kleenex” between Kerry’s and Bush’s position on Iraq. Can he use “Kleenex” in that context without violating their trademark?