From listener at bellsouth.net Thu Jan 1 23:18:11 2004 From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter) Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 21:18:11 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now Message-ID: <001c01c3d0df$0d863710$6501a8c0@heyoka> Anyone know something about the book my cousin is mentioning here? Any feedback or reviews? Happy New Year, Kit -----Original Message----- From: Warren Hoskins [mailto:warren at hoskins.org] Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:40 PM To: oc-alum at asquared.info Subject: Life-changing book in stores now I read a lot, and sometimes get enthusiastic about a book. This is a different kind of enthusiasm I am experiencing however. I recommend gently but rather insistently that it will be very worthwhile to read COMMON SHOCK -- Witnessing Violence Every Day: How We Are Harmed, How We Can Heal, by Dr. Kaethe Weingarten (Dutton, September 2003), no matter where on the political spectrum you are, no matter your religion or tribe or other "demographic" subdivision of humanity. First, the writing connects. The "homework" has been done, in Dr. Weingarten's own practice and life, and in the places that life has taken her (Kosovo, and South Africa, as well as others). This is potentially as big a book as something like I'M OK, YOU'RE OK, or THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Second, even telling people about this book has brought forth hopeful reactions. This is a book which looks at process, at procedures, and at how we function biologically and socially--it is true about humanity, not just about Western civilization. And, I want your help. I would like to see intelligent criticism of this book, of its research and writing. I really want to know what its perceived flaws are (aside from typos that got through). I doubt very much that what is found would change my mind about what I feel is revealed as true in this book, but it would help me to see what others are likely to take issue with. I found it in the bookstore at Oberlin that shares the Ben Franklin 5 & 10 -- Mindscape? Mindspring? SOmething like that. Wonderful books, including an excellent assortment for children. I have been reading my way through COMMON SHOCK like it is required reading for a course--the course for the rest of my life, I suspect. I also want to look at (but have not yet, so I am sending this on in trust that there is something there) the related web site Dr. Weingarten is affiliated with: http://www.witnessingproject.org --to see what may be there. Peace, Warren OC-'69 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bonnipeg at charter.net Fri Jan 2 11:47:50 2004 From: bonnipeg at charter.net (Peggy Bonnington) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 09:47:50 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] RE: FW: Life-changing book in stores now (Kit Potter) In-Reply-To: <20040102120004.CA785180AA@kitenet.net> Message-ID: Thanks for sharing this, Kit. I enjoyed reading your cousin's endorsement and went straight to the suggested website; it's very interesting at first glance. I thought others might be interested in knowing that you can download and print out the first chapter of Common Shock from that website. I've done that (although not had time to read it yet), and I'm also forwarding to Stuart and others. I should think this would particularly interest those in the psychology / healing / helping fields. Peggy Bonnington http://www.picturetrail.com/pegfollyarts Downtown Artists Co-op ~ http://www.clarksvilleartists.org ARTZ ~ http://artz4u.cjb.net/ Clarksville, Tennessee -----Original Message----- Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 21:18:11 -0600 From: "Kit Potter" Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now To: "SAYMA Listserve" Message-ID: <001c01c3d0df$0d863710$6501a8c0 at heyoka> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Anyone know something about the book my cousin is mentioning here? Any feedback or reviews? Happy New Year, Kit -----Original Message----- From: Warren Hoskins [mailto:warren at hoskins.org] Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:40 PM To: oc-alum at asquared.info Subject: Life-changing book in stores now I read a lot, and sometimes get enthusiastic about a book. This is a different kind of enthusiasm I am experiencing however. I recommend gently but rather insistently that it will be very worthwhile to read COMMON SHOCK -- Witnessing Violence Every Day: How We Are Harmed, How We Can Heal, by Dr. Kaethe Weingarten (Dutton, September 2003), no matter where on the political spectrum you are, no matter your religion or tribe or other "demographic" subdivision of humanity. First, the writing connects. The "homework" has been done, in Dr. Weingarten's own practice and life, and in the places that life has taken her (Kosovo, and South Africa, as well as others). This is potentially as big a book as something like I'M OK, YOU'RE OK, or THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Second, even telling people about this book has brought forth hopeful reactions. This is a book which looks at process, at procedures, and at how we function biologically and socially--it is true about humanity, not just about Western civilization. And, I want your help. I would like to see intelligent criticism of this book, of its research and writing. I really want to know what its perceived flaws are (aside from typos that got through). I doubt very much that what is found would change my mind about what I feel is revealed as true in this book, but it would help me to see what others are likely to take issue with. I found it in the bookstore at Oberlin that shares the Ben Franklin 5 & 10 -- Mindscape? Mindspring? SOmething like that. Wonderful books, including an excellent assortment for children. I have been reading my way through COMMON SHOCK like it is required reading for a course--the course for the rest of my life, I suspect. I also want to look at (but have not yet, so I am sending this on in trust that there is something there) the related web site Dr. Weingarten is affiliated with: http://www.witnessingproject.org --to see what may be there. Peace, Warren OC-'69 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://kitenet.net/pipermail/sayma/attachments/20040101/e199eacb/attachment. html ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list sayma at kitenet.net http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma End of sayma Digest, Vol 12, Issue 1 ************************************ From reddeanna at charter.net Fri Jan 2 15:19:25 2004 From: reddeanna at charter.net (Red & Deanna) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 13:19:25 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now References: <001c01c3d0df$0d863710$6501a8c0@heyoka> Message-ID: <003d01c3d165$55aed890$a5139f18@D714S421> Dear Friends, Here are exerpts from two reviews of Kaethe Weingarten's book, Common Shock. Library Journal is a journal which publishes book reviews for use of libraries making book selections. Publishers Weekly is a magazine that publishes reviews for the book trade. I hope this is helpful. Deanna Nipp ___________________________________________________________________________ Library Journal, Sept 1, 2003 v128 i14 p192(1) (Book Review) COPYRIGHT 2003 Reed Business Information Weingarten, Kaethe. Common Shock: Witnessing Violence Every Day; How We Are Harmed, How We Can Heal. Dutton. Sept. 2003. c.384p. bibliog. index. 0-525-94742-6. $24,95. Common Shock, meanwhile, is a more analytical treatment of a variety of ubiquitous violations that seem to be part of the modern human condition. Drawing on research findings, as well as professional experience in the fields of clinical psychology and family therapy, Weingarten (psychiatry, Harvard) develops the concept of "compassionate witnessing" as a key to transcending human suffering, if not curing or solving it. Four common sources of exposure to violence and violation are described, including illness and death, professionals' constant contact with personal tragedy, and extraordinary political violence akin to 9/11 or genocidal acts. She outlines physical and psychological responses to such experiences and suggests processes whereby their consequences are transmitted intergenerationally. Practical self-help techniques for personal and societal healing are provided. This intense and wide-ranging book--with its unique focus on witnesses rather than participants, rich case histories, strong international perspective, and extensive bibliography--would make a valuable addition to social science and professional counseling collections in public libraries. [Common Shock previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/03.]--Antoinette M. Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IL. ________________________________________________________________________ Publishers Weekly, July 7, 2003 v250 i27 p65(1) Common Shock: Witnessing Violence Every Day: How We are Harmed, How We Can Heal. (Nonfiction). (Book Review) Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2003 Reed Business Information KAETHE WEINGARTEN. Dutton, $24.95 (384p) ISBN 0-525-94742-6 Weingarten defines "common shock" as the biological and physiological feeling that "is triggered by our being witness to an event or an interaction that we appraise as disturbing," which can range from watching a parent hit a child to watching a television news report about a terrorist bombing. She argues that this kind of common shock is an experience that can have "chronic debilitating effects," but that "few people know how to deal with it themselves or, crucially, help children do so." Drawing upon recent research as well as her work as part of the Witnessing Project (which helps individuals, families and communities deal with violence), Weingarten details typical interpersonal consequences of common shock, such as being driven into silence and losing trust in people. Her primary solution to common shock is encouraging people to act "as compassionate witnesses to others," as a way of helping others regain a "sense of safety" and community, and she states that research suggests that "small compassionate ac tions performed routinely could have a major impact." Weingarten may overexplain what seems to be a fairly straightforward idea, but she provides a beneficial service by responding to what is clearly a current social problem; the two appendices provide direct and useful recommendations for how to help others deal with the shock triggered by disturbing everyday events. (Sept.) ________________________________________________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: Kit Potter To: SAYMA Listserve Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 9:18 PM Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now Anyone know something about the book my cousin is mentioning here? Any feedback or reviews? Happy New Year, Kit -----Original Message----- From: Warren Hoskins [mailto:warren at hoskins.org] Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:40 PM To: oc-alum at asquared.info Subject: Life-changing book in stores now I read a lot, and sometimes get enthusiastic about a book. This is a different kind of enthusiasm I am experiencing however. I recommend gently but rather insistently that it will be very worthwhile to read COMMON SHOCK -- Witnessing Violence Every Day: How We Are Harmed, How We Can Heal, by Dr. Kaethe Weingarten (Dutton, September 2003), no matter where on the political spectrum you are, no matter your religion or tribe or other "demographic" subdivision of humanity. First, the writing connects. The "homework" has been done, in Dr. Weingarten's own practice and life, and in the places that life has taken her (Kosovo, and South Africa, as well as others). This is potentially as big a book as something like I'M OK, YOU'RE OK, or THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Second, even telling people about this book has brought forth hopeful reactions. This is a book which looks at process, at procedures, and at how we function biologically and socially--it is true about humanity, not just about Western civilization. And, I want your help. I would like to see intelligent criticism of this book, of its research and writing. I really want to know what its perceived flaws are (aside from typos that got through). I doubt very much that what is found would change my mind about what I feel is revealed as true in this book, but it would help me to see what others are likely to take issue with. I found it in the bookstore at Oberlin that shares the Ben Franklin 5 & 10 -- Mindscape? Mindspring? SOmething like that. Wonderful books, including an excellent assortment for children. I have been reading my way through COMMON SHOCK like it is required reading for a course--the course for the rest of my life, I suspect. I also want to look at (but have not yet, so I am sending this on in trust that there is something there) the related web site Dr. Weingarten is affiliated with: http://www.witnessingproject.org --to see what may be there. Peace, Warren OC-'69 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list sayma at kitenet.net http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From reddeanna at charter.net Fri Jan 2 15:27:38 2004 From: reddeanna at charter.net (Red & Deanna) Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 13:27:38 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now References: <001c01c3d0df$0d863710$6501a8c0@heyoka> Message-ID: <005d01c3d166$7c155cb0$a5139f18@D714S421> Dear Friends, I found a third review of Weingarten's Common Shock. It's below. Peace, Deanna Nipp __________________________________________________________________ O, The Oprah Magazine, Sept 2003 v4 i9 p200(1) Common shock: with violence the background noise of our lives, a trauma expert's groundbreaking book offers a prescription for anxiety: compassion. Pam Houston. Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2003 © Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved IN HER NEW BOOK, COMMON SHOCK, Harvard Medical School-based trauma expert Kaethe Weingarten asks the questions we have been unable to avoid. How do we cope with the acts of violence and violation we are asked to bear witness to each day? How do we keep from living in a state of constant anxiety, from going numb or replicating the violence to which we have been subjected? How can we transform inadvertent passive witnessing into compassionate, active witnessing that can help to heal ourselves and others? In a society rampant with binary thinking--good versus evil, us versus them--how do we move toward understanding and forgiveness of those who are different? How do we hold on to hope and let go of fear? The writing of Common Shock was one act of compassionate witnessing; to read it is another. It is full of stories from every corner of the earth: Kosovo, South Africa, Kenya, France, Palestine, Lower Manhattan; from every walk of life: teachers, doctors, clergymen, tribal leaders, and clerks; from 3-year-olds and 84-year-olds; from abused and abusive parents; from communists and capitalists; from Hamlet and the Oresteia; from Toni Morrison and Adrienne Rich. There is the 12-year-old girl named Abby who decided to fast for Ramadan so that she might better empathize with Muslims every time a hunger pang ripped through her belly, and the Masai warriors who gave their most precious gift--14 head of cattle--to the people of America so that they might heal from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There is the Tibetan monk who after being imprisoned by the Chinese for 18 years was asked what he experienced as the biggest threat while he was in prison and answered, "losing ... compassion for the Chinese," and Cynthia Ngewu, mother of a young man who was set up, framed, and murdered by the South African government, who said, at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, "This thing called reconciliation ... if it means the perpetrator, this man who has killed [my son], if it means he becomes human again, this man, so that I, so that all of us get our humanity back ... then I agree, then I support it all." Common Shock is a map through a difficult present into a restorative future. Chapter 1 warns that reading the book may cause the reader pain, and it does. But the pain is spent on the way to catharsis, self-forgiveness, determination, and, above all else, hope. ______________________________________________________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: Kit Potter To: SAYMA Listserve Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 9:18 PM Subject: [saymaListserv] FW: Life-changing book in stores now Anyone know something about the book my cousin is mentioning here? Any feedback or reviews? Happy New Year, Kit -----Original Message----- From: Warren Hoskins [mailto:warren at hoskins.org] Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:40 PM To: oc-alum at asquared.info Subject: Life-changing book in stores now I read a lot, and sometimes get enthusiastic about a book. This is a different kind of enthusiasm I am experiencing however. I recommend gently but rather insistently that it will be very worthwhile to read COMMON SHOCK -- Witnessing Violence Every Day: How We Are Harmed, How We Can Heal, by Dr. Kaethe Weingarten (Dutton, September 2003), no matter where on the political spectrum you are, no matter your religion or tribe or other "demographic" subdivision of humanity. First, the writing connects. The "homework" has been done, in Dr. Weingarten's own practice and life, and in the places that life has taken her (Kosovo, and South Africa, as well as others). This is potentially as big a book as something like I'M OK, YOU'RE OK, or THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Second, even telling people about this book has brought forth hopeful reactions. This is a book which looks at process, at procedures, and at how we function biologically and socially--it is true about humanity, not just about Western civilization. And, I want your help. I would like to see intelligent criticism of this book, of its research and writing. I really want to know what its perceived flaws are (aside from typos that got through). I doubt very much that what is found would change my mind about what I feel is revealed as true in this book, but it would help me to see what others are likely to take issue with. I found it in the bookstore at Oberlin that shares the Ben Franklin 5 & 10 -- Mindscape? Mindspring? SOmething like that. Wonderful books, including an excellent assortment for children. I have been reading my way through COMMON SHOCK like it is required reading for a course--the course for the rest of my life, I suspect. I also want to look at (but have not yet, so I am sending this on in trust that there is something there) the related web site Dr. Weingarten is affiliated with: http://www.witnessingproject.org --to see what may be there. Peace, Warren OC-'69 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list sayma at kitenet.net http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: blob?DQ342719 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 37563 bytes Desc: not available URL: From Vmbra at aol.com Tue Jan 6 22:13:54 2004 From: Vmbra at aol.com (Vmbra at aol.com) Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 21:13:54 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] An Alternate Reality Message-ID: <1e.1ffa59b4.2d2cc562@aol.com> Sorry. I've know a few genuine nuts, and you don't make the cut. (That's intended as an ironic comment, and not a rebuke. Nothing you said sounded the slightest bit crazy to me, though I did not agree with all of it.) cps -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From moriah at preferred.com Wed Jan 7 16:44:42 2004 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 15:44:42 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Summer '04 opportunity (age 20-26) Message-ID: <046501c3d570$ce622da0$b872fea9@Mary> Below are an [1] e-mail and [2] attachment that were received at the SAYMA office. Closing date for receipt of applications is March 15, 2004. ^o^ \_/ Mary AdminAsst at sayma.org 276-628-5852 POB 2191, Abingdon VA 24212-2191 ------------------------------------------------ [1] Dear Friends, Please can you pass this information on the Geneva Summer School to any young person (age 20 - 26) in your Yearly Meeting who may be interested in attending. There is some financial assistance available. Thank you, Helen Bradford [2] Dear Friend, I am writing in connection with our annual Summer School on the United Nations, which we run in early July in Geneva. I wonder if I could ask if you might advertise it? I have provided a description below. Thank you. Best wishes Helen Bradford QUAKER UNITED NATIONS SUMMER SCHOOL 4th to 16th JULY 2004, GENEVA The annual Quaker United Nations Summer School in Geneva provides an opportunity for twenty five young people between 20 and 26 years of age to meet together to study the work of the United Nations at first hand as seen through the programmes of QUNO - the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva. QUNO works on disarmament and peace, human rights and refugees, and trade and development. During Summer School there will be talks by staff of the UN, non-governmental organisations and diplomatic missions, as well as informal discussion sessions and visits to the UN itself. The participation fee for the summer school is £350, which goes towards the costs of accommodation, programme and meals. Travel costs to Geneva and spending money are not included. No formal qualifications are necessary. However an active interest in international affairs is needed, as well as the desire to share understanding with others. Application forms are available from Helen Bradford, Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QUNSS), Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ, UK. Or via e-mail: helenb at quaker.org.uk CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS 15th MARCH 2004 ------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jhminshall at comcast.net Fri Jan 9 13:44:59 2004 From: jhminshall at comcast.net (Janet Minshall) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 12:44:59 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: The Village Voice Features Hydrogen's Dirty Details by Mark Baard Message-ID: I thought SAYMA Friends might be interested in this article from the Village Voice which can be found at the web address below. J > >http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0401/mbaard.php > > From jhminshall at comcast.net Sun Jan 18 11:58:17 2004 From: jhminshall at comcast.net (Janet Minshall) Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 10:58:17 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: Love is the power behind nonviolence Message-ID: Friends, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr's birthday I am forwarding herewith a post by Tom Coyner, a Friend from Seoul Monthly Meeting in South Korea. This is an article/editorial reprinted from the Christian Science Monitor. Tom sends out a variety of articles and essays, many related to Friends and or economics. If you write to him and ask, he will put you on his "send" list. Janet >From: Tom Coyner >Subject: Love is the power behind nonviolence > >Love is the power behind nonviolence >Bringing a spiritual perspective to daily life >Christian Science Monitor >Jan. 16, 2004 > >When his house was bombed, Martin Luther King rushed home from his >church on Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, Ala. He'd been preaching and >leading a meeting in support of nonviolence. > >Miraculously his family hadn't been hurt. Yet who knew what would >happen next? Was this the first of a series of attacks? Would the >next hour bring a mob rampaging through the streets? Frightened and >angry, a crowd grew in the front yard. > > >Dr. King stepped onto his front porch and addressed the mass of men >willing to defend him and his family. > >No one would have blamed him for resorting to armed protection. >Instead, he urged restraint. He told the crowd to go home and put >away their weapons. Those whom he asked to stay the night to >watchfully protect his home were told not to have any guns. In the >face of violence, King stuck firmly to his message of nonviolent >response and relied on the superior power of love to ultimately >defeat hatred. > >King preached and practiced the biblical concept of "love your >enemies." It was more than conviction in the Scriptures or blind >faith in the Word of God. King had moved beyond a doctrinal platform >to a living faith and comprehension of God as Love. As he said >later, "Nonviolence is absolute commitment to the way of love." > >It's this absolute conviction of the power of love that makes King >so appealing to me. The founder of this newspaper, Mary Baker Eddy, >once wrote: "I make strong demands on love, call for active >witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements >as its results.... Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness >without activity and power" ("Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896," >page 250). Whether or not King was aware of her words, certainly he >put this message into practice in ways that blessed hundreds of >thousands of people. > >I know how frightening guns and tear gas can be. I was in high >school and college during the campus uprisings in the United States. >My mother, who was attending graduate school at the time, narrowly >escaped being taken hostage. The professor told them to turn out the >lights as armed students rushed through the building. In the dark, >Mother prayed. Suddenly the door burst open. A gun-wielding man in >his 20s swung his rifle around the room as his eyes adjusted to the >dark. > >Mom said later she prayed for everyone's safety and to know that God >governed. The professor suddenly stepped into the light spilling >from the hallway and calmly told the intruder that his graduate >students had important oral exams to complete. The man hesitated, >and then turned and left. The class continued. The campus closed for >several weeks, as others had been taken hostage. > >On several occasions, heavily armed National Guardsmen arrived at >sporting events or concerts I attended. Once my friends and I were >detained by a guardsman armed with a machine gun. In each case my >only resort was prayer. I was afraid. Students had been killed only >a few hundred miles away. I would pray mightily that the God of love >would love us and keep us all safe. We quietly extracted ourselves >from each circumstance without incident. > >These experiences caused me to respect in a profound way the >tremendous moral courage and spiritual conviction of >African-Americans during the '50s and '60s. And even more to realize >the elements of divinity that Martin Luther King expressed in his >daily walk and life. He practiced Jesus' teaching as a powerful >force in the modern world. As he said in 1957, "I am convinced that >love is the most durable power in the world.... love is an absolute >necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate for >hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the >universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut >off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through >love." >Read >full quotation. > >Today Jesus' message as practiced by Martin Luther King is just as >needed as ever. There is hatred in the world. Armed groups are >taking power through violence and the threat of violence. Fear, >prejudice, injustice, and slavery still exist. Expressing divine >Love is the only way to permanently remove these evils. As we >celebrate Martin Luther King's life, let's rekindle a conviction in >the power of love to reverse hatred and restore justice. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Tom Coyner > Home Tel: 82-2-764-8387; Fax: 82-2-747-7653 > Home Email: coyner at netsgo.com > Mobile 82-11-9099-6195 > Home Web: http://www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >The power of the weak lies in a people's acceptance of suffering. >The weakness of the strong is that a disproportionate use of >force against the weak eventually corrupts their own society. > > - William Pfaff >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Tue Jan 20 08:53:02 2004 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 07:53:02 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] FWD: HAGER APPOINTMENT Message-ID: <29281232.1074603182748.JavaMail.root@wamui08.slb.atl.earthlink.net> Friends, This is a serious issue worth sharing. Blessed Be, Michael. From: FirstCoastDWIN at aol.com To: FirstCoastDWIN at aol.com Subject: HAGER APPOINTMENT President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two years, during which time its charter lapsed. As a result, the Bush Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new members. This position does not require Congressional approval. The FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee makes crucial decisions on matters relating to drugs used in the practice of obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties, including hormone therapy, contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and pregnancy termination. Dr. Hager's views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring omen Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient. Hager's mission is religiously motivated. He has an ardent interest in revoking approval for mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) as a safe and early form of medical abortion. Hagar recently assisted the Christian Medical Association in a "citizen's petition" which calls upon the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone in the name of women's health. Hager's desire to overturn mifepristone's approval on religious grounds rather than scientific merit would halt the development of mifepristone as a treatment for numerous medical conditions disproportionately affecting women, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, psychotic depression, bipolar depression and Cushing's syndrome. Women rely on the FDA to ensure their access to safe and effective drugs for reproductive health care including products that prevent pregnancy. For some women, such as those with certain types of diabetes and those undergoing treatment for cancer, pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition. We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs may color his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect women's lives or to preserve and promote women's health. Hager's track record of using religious beliefs to guide his medical decision-making makes him a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this committee. Critical drug public policy and research must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of this important panel should be appointed on the basis of science and medicine, rather than politics and religion. American women deserve no less. WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS. 2. OPPOSE THE PLACEMENT OF THIS MAN BY CONTACTING THE WHITE HOUSE AND TELL THEM HE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ON ANY LEVEL. Please email President Bush at president at whitehouse.gov and say "I oppose the appointment of Dr. W. David Hager to the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable in a policy-making position. Using the FDA to promote a political agenda is inappropriate and seriously threatens women's health." From kcarlyle at main.nc.us Fri Jan 23 11:53:09 2004 From: kcarlyle at main.nc.us (Kim Carlyle) Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 10:53:09 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] SAF Message-ID: <001701c3e1c9$007bdf20$8f6dc0d1@qew> Dear Friends, The latest edition of the Southern Appalachian Friend was mailed last week to a monthly meeting or worship group near you. It was also sent electronically (as a Rich Test Format file) to more than eighty Friends. If you would like to receive the current issue electronically, and receive future issues electronically, please send your name, monthly meeting, and (of course) e-mail address to SAFeditor at SAYMA.org EarthPeace, Kim Carlyle From jhminshall at comcast.net Tue Jan 27 16:36:24 2004 From: jhminshall at comcast.net (Janet Minshall) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 15:36:24 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] A More Balanced Look at Outsourcing Message-ID: Friends might be interested in this article (web site below) which, despite the title, The Dark Side of the Outsourcing Revolution, is a balanced piece about jobs contracted outside of the US by multinational firms. It is far more accurate than info I've seen from Quaker organizations about both the costs and the benefits of outsourcing to workers in the US as well as those abroad. It is written by a Bangladeshi who sees the issue through Asian eyes. Janet Minshall http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17601 From bright_crow at mindspring.com Wed Jan 28 09:13:30 2004 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 08:13:30 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] FWD: Rep. Sanders Launches New Webpage Dedicated to Civil Liberties Message-ID: <18767509.1075295610509.JavaMail.root@wamui05.slb.atl.earthlink.net> Rep. Sanders Launches New Webpage Dedicated to Civil Liberties Dear Friends: I wanted to share with you a new webpage that Rep. Bernie Sanders has launched dedicated to civil liberties and in particular the Freedom to Read Protection Act, legislation which would amend Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Section 215 allows the FBI, after showing minimal justification, to search a library or bookstore for "any tangible things" including library circulation records, book purchasing lists, computers with hard drives, Internet use records, and registration information stored in any medium. This site includes up to date information on the Freedom to Read Protection Act, as well as press releases/statements, links to organizations working to protect civil liberties, articles, and reports and other documents on the USA Patriot Act. As the campaign to amend Section 215 and other sections of the USA Patriot Act continues here in Congress, our office will keep this page updated with the latest information on the Freedom to Read Protection Act and other pro-civil liberties initiatives. Please feel free to share this information with other friends or members of your organizations that may be interested in this new webpage. The webpage can be found at http://bernie.house.gov/civil_liberties/index.asp . Thanks and Happy New Year. Sincerely, Janko Mitric Legislative Assistant Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) (202) 225-4115 http://bernie.house.gov From jhminshall at comcast.net Wed Jan 28 13:58:34 2004 From: jhminshall at comcast.net (Janet Minshall) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 12:58:34 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] A More Balanced Look at Outsourcing In-Reply-To: <20040128061621.61283.qmail@web41510.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20040128061621.61283.qmail@web41510.mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Tim Johnson, Thanks for the long and detailed response. (For the original message Tim and I are discussing go to http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17601). Liberal economists who care about poverty in the world (no, economist is not a dirty word) are concerned that the general public does not recognize that the export of American jobs is bringing unparalleled numbers of the world's poor out of poverty. Indeed, labor union-produced public education info distributed at political rallies and anti-globalization demonstrations indicates that the world's poor are becoming poorer as a result of globalization. Not so. The labor movement, which I support and have supported for years, has directed public concern about job losses toward keeping the high-paid jobs of affluent Americans here at home. Instead American workers need to change their focus somewhat and keep up better with fast-paced scientific, technical and economic changes so that they can ensure their own job security and so that more people in the rest of the world can work, become consumers and thus create even more jobs elsewhere. Rather than trying to stop globalization American workers, especially those in industries being hard hit by job losses, need to recognize that the only thing that will actually work to keep employment high in the US is innovation and a faster pace of job retraining. I'm talking here about innovations such as those which produced the electronic communications revolution, the computers that we are using right now, and millions of new jobs. John Sweeney (AFL-CIO Pres.) has taken on job retraining of displaced workers as a high priority but most union members are not aware of the larger picture that he sees. The fact is that innovation is the engine of growth in our economy, and growth is the means by which we and other developed countries have steadily increased our standard of living over the past 350 years since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Production and job retraining over the years has been constantly changing and adapting to provide newer, better, and less expensive goods and services. Now its time for the rest of the world to begin to catch up with us. Our economic progress in the US was uneven with some industries and some groups being the first to experience a higher standard of living and others lagging behind but still improving over time. It was/is this uneven economic development which produced/is producing the violent reactions and harsh military and police responses. (Bloody demonstrations and mass killings occurred in this country and were the impetus behind the formation of the first labor unions in the 19th century. (Labor's Untold Story, by Boyar and Morais '55, printed and reprinted over the years by the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers, provides a good overview from the worker's perspective). Now some less developed countries (LDCs) and groups in those countries are achieving economic development faster than others. Their economic progress is also uneven with rich people most often getting the greatest benefits of economic change to start with and then having to share those benefits with more and more people in order to preclude bloody, violent and disruptive coups, revolutions and civil wars. . There have been/will be violent responses to uneven development but that is not a bleak and pessimistic statement. China and India have just in the past year or two turned the corner and their swift rate of economic development is beginning to bring the poorest of their people out of poverty as a result of globalization. Think of the numbers involved! There is much more to say about individual workers, population, the environment, and other related issues. Many of those social concerns are addressed automatically in the process of economic development. (Yes, really). When people have enough to eat, a means of cooking which doesn't require constant wood cutting and when they have access to clean water which doesn't require carrying it daily on foot for miles and miles, they have the time and space in their lives to begin to think about clean and beautiful surroundings, fewer children to feed and care for, and better conditions of employment. Unions, NGOs and other international organizations such as the UN are addressing those concerns but in so doing they often focus on the bloody, the violent and the tragic and really don't convey the overiding benefits brought about by economic development -- the larger picture that I referred to earlier. Enough. Thanks again for responding. Janet Minshall Tim wrote on 1-27-04: >Thank you for sending this, Janet. (note to others: You should read >the link before reading my very long-winded, somewhat >stream-of-consciousness response.) >It is certainly true that racism and xenophobia are destructive of >discussion about these issues. But it is also true that unless there >is a counter-weight to corporate decision-making, all workers (and >nature) lose in the 'lowest cost' (to the company) marketplace. >Walmart threatens Bangladesh pants suppliers with moving to China if >they don't cut costs further -- a real threat, as before that >Walmart moved its contract from Mexico to Bangladesh, and before >that from the American South to Mexico, and before that from the >American North to the American South (and it never bought from >Sweden). Why? Lower wages, fewer benefits and protections (health >insurance, holidays, vacations, 40-hour work weeks, job safety, >support when injured on the job), lower taxes (because there is less >government support for schools, for health, for people fighting >poverty -- for feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering >the homeless), fewer environmental safeguards for clean air and >water, less protection for workers' safety. Of course, racism within >as well as between and among nations plays a role (our own nation >being an obvious example, though not the only one). >As workers organize into unions, corporations are held more >accountable, at least to the workers. In some nations, the response >of the corporations and governments is violent -- even to the point >of murdering ('disappearing') union organizers. In those >nations where the government protects unions (right to organize >laws), workers (fair wages, limited hours, job safety, no >discrimination, etc.), and the environment, real progress has been >made in so many areas -- protection against discrimination based on >race, gender, religious belief, nationality, sexual orientation, >disability, etc.; child labor laws; health care; worker safety; >environment; the arts; et al. While the focus is so often on >material consumption, I believe that the far greater advances have >been in physical health, opportunity for intellectual, artistic, and >spiritual growth, and environmental protection. >It is certainly true that the world cannot sustain the kind of >energy-intensive, resource-depleting, throw-away consumption that we >see in the U.S. On the other hand, allowing corporate interests to >act on a transnational level where they move from job market to job >market based on their own internal cost leads to an increase in the >worst trends that we see. Workers in those nations are abused (even >the Indian information workers so praised in the article must work >long hours for much lower pay than those whose jobs they are >taking, not to mention the Chinese families who move from the farm >to the city only to find that even their children must work for >pennies an hour for long hours six and seven days a week with safety >standards that would make you shudder, just to survive -- and the >grossly overpaid CEOs' jobs are not among those being outsourced); >environmental protections are almost nonexistent; and things like >building strong communities and supporting families are essentially >impossible. And it actually accelerates American over-consumption as >consume prices are lower, allowing greater consumption (at least for >those who have jobs). >Of course, businesses in most other developed nations have long been >at a competitive disadvantage vis a vis the United States as they >provided better health care, education, support for families with >young children, support for the elderly, etc. -- which resulted in >U.S. corporations having higher profits and U.S. CEOs making higher >salaries while the majority of Americans have lower quality of life >than those 'less competitive' nations (as reflected in infant >mortality, mental and physical health, racial disparities, education >levels, and many other indicators). >The answer to these problems is most definitely not blind trade >barriers, "only buy American," racism, or xenophobia (all of which >have been used by corporations as strategies for increasing >profits). On the other hand, the answer to these problems is also >most definitely not international laissez faire, allowing -- in >reality encouraging, even requiring (for their survival) -- >corporations to seek the 'lowest cost' (excluding costs to the >environment, to the worker, to the community, to future generations). >What is needed is stronger international requirements related to >these issues -- fair trade, to use the parlance, instead of 'free' >trade. We can focus on this individually, with certification of fair >business practices (treatment of workers, communities, >environment) analogous to certification of organic produce. We can >work to elect public officials who will support fair trade -- >tariffs should be based on human and environmental rights, for >example (thus products and services from nations with few standards >would be taxed at higher rates, and credits would be given for >exceeding those standards; this would mean that a Volvo would >receive a credit when imported into the U.S., since Sweden's >environmental protections and treatment of workers and their >families and communities are better). >It would be essential that support be provided to 'developing' >nations to incorporate these higher standards, particularly in view >of the direct costs suffered through (for example) our support for >military thugs who have quashed peoples' challenges to unfair >treatment. >It's not enough to say that a worker makes more money than s/he >would without that job (which is sometimes true) if that worker is >being treated unfairly (as is often the case), especially when it is >taking jobs from others. Poisoning the water and the air, heating >the globe (15% of the earth's ice mass is being lost each decade, >according to a new report), promoting more and more consumption of >resource-intensive throw-away products -- these and many more ill >consequences (Haliburton, General Electric and others have supported >terrorist nations for decades, for example) are already accelerating >due to the fact that corporate regulation is decreasing while the >need for it is increasing. When corporate power acts >internationally, it acts with the least environmental protection, >the worst worker protection, the least morality, because that's what >helps its 'bottom line.' >Putting systems into place to support fair trade is not an easy >undertaking -- but then neither is using the military approach, with >its enormous economic and incalculable human and spiritual costs. >Without waiting for government(s) to act, we can look to John >Woolman as a model and, as individuals, we can refuse consumption of >products produced through immoral means. >Thanks again, Janet, for calling attention to these important issues. > >Janet Minshall wrote: > >Friends might be interested in this article (web site below) which, >despite the title, The Dark Side of the Outsourcing Revolution, is a >balanced piece about jobs contracted outside of the US by >multinational firms. It is far more accurate than info I've seen >from Quaker organizations about both the costs and the benefits of >outsourcing to workers in the US as well as those abroad. It is >written by a Bangladeshi who sees the issue through Asian eyes. >Janet Minshall > >http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17601 >_______________________________________________ >Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list >sayma at kitenet.net >http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma > > > >Love & truth, agape & satyagraha, Tim > >Tim Johnson, e-mail: timinathens at yahoo.com > >"Love is a verb." -- Stephen Covey > > >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. >Try >it! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: