From perryt at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 4 09:33:00 2006 From: perryt at bellsouth.net (Perry Treadwell) Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 09:33:00 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] War Tax Resistance Message-ID: <4432758C.1040304@bellsouth.net> Here is an editorial the Atlanta Journal Constitution refuses to print. Perry To the IRS and interested others, 2006 Again this year I am refusing to pay for war and the attendant torture. I am sending the calculated tax to a women's shelter. I have been denied my right to practice my religion for the past 35 years. I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and believe that I should not contribute to war and killing in any way. This includes paying personal income tax that goes for past, present and future military endeavors. For the past 35 years, I have refused to send that portion of my estimated personal income tax that goes for these endeavors which amounts to at least 50 percent of this tax. Instead, I have sent this portion to shelters for women and children. For many years I have reduced my income below the taxable level. Presently, the Internal Revenue Service is leveeing my social security payments for past refusal. The religious testimony refusing to contribute to war has its Quaker origins with the founder of the Religious Society of Friends, George Fox, who said, ?I live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars.? He refused to join Cromwell?s army during the overthrow of King Charles in the 17th century or to pay for that war. During the French and Indian War of the 18th century, Friends refused to pay for the war saying, ?...as we cannot be concerned in wars and fightings, so neither ought we to contribute thereby by paying the tax directed by said act, though suffering the consequence of the refusal.? During the Revolutionary War, Quakers also refused to pay. Many were persecuted and lost their property. As President, George Washington replied to the Quaker position, ?Your principle and conducts are well known to me, and it is doing the people called Quakers no more than justice to say that (except their declining to share with others in the burdens of common defense) there is no denomination among us who are more exemplary and useful citizens.? Conscientious Objection was recognized as an alternative to military service during the 20th century but Friends were still forced to pay for war. During the past 50 years the United States has become one of the largest arms dealers in the world, if not the largest, contributing to wars or the threat of war all over the world. The Business of America is war. So this year I will send in my tax return indicating my calculated tax and a letter explaining why, as a member of the Religious Society of Friends, I cannot pay for war. Then I will be charged with penalties and interest for several years before my social security is again leveed. By that time thousands more Iraqis will be killed as well as hundreds of American youth whom we have sent to kill in a ?preemptive war.? From nc_stereoman at charter.net Tue Apr 4 11:08:19 2006 From: nc_stereoman at charter.net (Steve Livingston) Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:08:19 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] War Tax Resistance In-Reply-To: <4432758C.1040304@bellsouth.net> References: <4432758C.1040304@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <44328BE3.5060304@charter.net> Thanks for your witness, Perry. Each of us "finances their swords as long as we can", to paraphrase the advice given to William Penn. It's hard to undo the amount of damage wreaked in our names and with our tax dollars. I feel certain your donations to the women's shelters has been of far greater benefit than the same money would have been had it been paid as income tax. For a number of years, I practiced income tax evasion, more out of irresponsibility than conviction. Once I finally set aside my reckless ways, I learned that because I am self-employed and my income is far below the official "poverty level", my tax liability is zero -- in fact the Treasury pays ME for being so poor! Hence I was confused by your reference to having reduced your own income below the taxable level, at the same time as you asserted that you donate a portion of your estimated personal income tax. It would seem that a portion of nothing would be nothing. Please explain. Steve Perry Treadwell wrote: >Here is an editorial the Atlanta Journal Constitution refuses to print. >Perry > >To the IRS and interested others, 2006 > >Again this year I am refusing to pay for war and the attendant torture. > From pennywright at earthlink.net Thu Apr 6 11:04:47 2006 From: pennywright at earthlink.net (Penelope Wright) Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 10:04:47 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: Hibbard Thatcher update 4/5 Message-ID: <001c01c6598b$800f7260$87441342@user2ih5nie4yp> Friends, the most recent update on HIbbard, containing both sad news, followed by good news! Penelope ----- Original Message ----- From: "Di 'n' Al" To: "Ruby and Hibbard Thatcher" Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 5:26 PM Subject: Hibbard Thatcher update 4/5 > Hello, everyone: > > Alan Thatcher, writing from home in Chicago. > > I was in Nashville last week, along with Phoebe and Jack Thatcher, who > were on spring break from school. Alice is now in high school and on > a > different schedule, so she and Diane stayed home. > > Hibbard was doing very well while we were there and was eager to move > on the Stallworth. He had been energized by the visits of folk dancers > who'd > come to town for the Playford Ball, a dance event which he and Ruby > founded 25 years ago, and for which they were specially honored this > year--though > they could not attend. Hibbard was very pleased to see the > grandchildren. He was, typically, concerned that they might be bored > in the hospital room, > and regretting not having anything for them to read or play with. They > were just glad to see him, and they said that he seemed to improve even > while > we were there. > > Last Friday Hibbard moved to Stallworth, but it was immediately > discovered that he had a high fever and a new bout of pneumonia > starting, so he was > immediately sent to St Thomas hospital, which he first entered nearly > three months ago. > > This was disheartening, but this is regular bacterial pneumonia, caught > very early, and it's responding well to antibiotics. Hibbard has > continued to > get physical, speech, and occupational therapy at St Thomas (actually > more rigorous than he'd been getting at Select), and overall he > continues to > regain strength. > > The latest news is very good, and that is that Hibbard will be moving > to Stallworth--again--tomorrow. I will be in touch when I have contact > information there. > Please feel free to visit him at Stallworth; they have a busy work > schedule but they welcome visitors as they are trying to get patients > back into the full > swim of life. > > Visits, calls, and emails to Ruby are always welcome. > > Ruby Thatcher > 615-298-3747 > ruby7hib at comcast.net > 1012 Battery Lane > Nashville, TN 37220 > > (Ruby usually naps between about 4 and 6. Mike Thatcher is staying > with her and will usually be the one answering the phone.) > > Thank you for holding Hibbard in the light! > > For the family, > > > Alan Thatcher > > > > From freepolazzo at comcast.net Mon Apr 3 09:45:26 2006 From: freepolazzo at comcast.net (free polazzo) Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2006 09:45:26 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Saturdays' Peace March Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060403091504.03274c78@comcast.net> Dear Friends, Thanks to those who were able to march in the Peace and Justice rally in Atlanta on April 1. (no fooling!) The rain had stopped before we left and the skies were clear. It was a beautiful Spring day in Atlanta, GA. Even the police on motorcycles seemed happy to be there. Anneewakee Creek Friends Worship Group was well represented with Barbara, Charlotte, Phil and Free attending. Phil's wife also helped to make signs and marched from the King Center to the southern end of Piedmont Park. I brought a yard sign that the Friends Committee on National Legistlation (FCNL) had been selling on line (www.fcnl.org) that said "War is Not the Answer". My sign had an enhancement on it that consisted of a bumper sticker that said: "Support our Troops: Bring them Home Now" (with a yellow ribbon on it.) see www.bringthemhomenow.com for more info. Stan and his family also made the drive to Atlanta to support the march for Peace and Justice. Thanks to any of the rest of you whom I may have missed. We enjoyed seeing many people from the Atlanta Friends Meeting as well as friends from other peace groups. Unitairans were also out in force with a drumming group to entertain us as we waited for the march to arrive at Ponce De Leon. While we waited for the marchers, I was able to hold up my sign and get many drivers and even one Altanta Policewoman to honk and wave in support. After the marchers went by, Barbara and I followed the end of the march of thousands to Piedmont Park where we ate lunch under a beautiful tree. At Piedmont Park there were speeches and also an exhibit of boots set up in rows on a hillside. Each pair of approximately 500 boots had a slain American soldier's name and age and where they came from. Many were just teenagers and many were in their 40's. So much sadness. They were sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. (www.afsc.org) The marchers also cried out for Justice and many speakers mentioned New Orleans and the poor response to the disaster hurricane Katrina created on the Gulf Coast as an issue that is exacerbated by the America's involvement in the war in Iraq. So many lives and so much treasure spent in the wrong place and for the wrong reasons. (Which are still changing on almost a monthly basis). Channel 11 covered the event but seemed mostly interested in what Cynthia McKinney would say. I was told that the Atlanta Journal Consitution was hostile to the marchers in the story they did. There is coverage on the world wide web, too (see below). Let's hope that America's politicians (and voters) wake up and realize that "War is Not the Answer". Peace is the way and we can bring our troops back home and let the Iraqi people have their country back to themselves. Blessings, Free >Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2006 05:25:11 -0700 (PDT) >Subject: [afmdiscussion] Saturdays' March > >Dear Friends, > Here is a mention on Saturday's Peace MArch. It was also > mentioned in todays www.antiwar.com > > http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4712972 > Peace, > Micheal -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nc_stereoman at charter.net Thu Apr 6 21:15:38 2006 From: nc_stereoman at charter.net (Steve Livingston) Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 21:15:38 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] One Word? Message-ID: <4435BD3A.8090408@charter.net> Dear Friends, I feel that I must say this. Today the Commander in Chief spoke at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. During the course of the question and answer session, he was asked whether there were any decisions he regretted. Part of his reply was: "Obviously, one classic case that hurt us that I wish were done differently was Abu Ghraib, the prison. What took place there and the pictures there just represented everything we didn't stand for. And it hurt us. It hurt us in the international arena, particularly in the Muslim world, where they said, look -- it gave the enemy a fantastic opportunity to use it for propaganda reasons. Look at the United States of America. Look what they're doing to these people. They're disgracing -- they don't believe in the dignity of each person, and, in fact, we do." Please bear with me, I want to parse this just a little bit. If "we" believe in the dignity of each person, then why did the Administration consult with the Attorney General as to how far they could go in humiliating, debasing, threatening, or even causing bodily harm, before a charge of torture could not be defended? Why did the Administration accept a ruling that stated "anything short of the pain of organ failure or loss of a limb"? Because "we" believe in the dignity of each person? Look at the beginning of the quote. Why was Abu Ghraib so regrettable? Is it because of the harm that was done to the victims? Look at the quote: who are the victims according to Mr.Bush? * one classic case that hurt us * just represented everything we didn't stand for * And it hurt us. It hurt us *- it gave the enemy a fantastic opportunity It gave the enemy a fantastic opportunity. Look at the quote again. Does he say ONE WORD about the victims of torture that was inflicted by American soldiers under the auspices of the military command and with the legal consent solicited and obtained? ONE WORD? Steve From wrldpeas at mindspring.com Sat Apr 8 20:27:07 2006 From: wrldpeas at mindspring.com (Roy H Taylor III) Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 20:27:07 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] FCNL Priority Setting Message-ID: <001a01c65b6c$557319c0$6401a8c0@roy> Dear Friends, I am SAYMA's Representative to Quaker Earthcare Witness, co-clerk of SAYMA's Ecological Concerns Network and Editor of the monthly Ecological Concerns Network Newsletter. I am writing you about sending in your priority requests for FCNL adoption. You have until April 30th to get them in. I am hoping that you will read the letter posted below and include energy and the environment in your policy suggestions. Have you sent in your FCNL Policy Priorities? Please send me a copy of them if you have. I would like to include them in an article that I am putting together for the newsletter. Peace & Love, Roy ****** If I have emailed the wrong person in your Meeting to address this, please forward this request to the correct person. ****** Dear Earthcare Friends, February 15, 2006 In January, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) sent a mailing to every meeting and church in the yearly meetings associated with FCNL. It asks Friends to participate in the Policy Committee's process of determining legislative priorities for the Congress that will be elected in November 2006. For those of us who have been asking FCNL to work on energy and environmental policy, promoting participation in FCNL's process of setting its legislative priorities is very important right now. If this isn't already happening in your meeting or church, please ask Friends to begin a process of responding to the Policy Committee's request as soon as possible. Responses are due to FCNL by April 30. The information you need is attached. The response form is available on the FCNL website. Why this is so important right now? In 2002, FCNL identified "reducing dependence on oil" as a legislative priority - the first time a priority related to "seeking an earth restored" had ever been approved. What made this possible? First, FCNL's opposition to the War on Terror led to an influx of financial support for FCNL from non-Quaker sources. Second, "earthcare Friends" had increased their participation in the priorities process. And third, FCNL leadership fully understood the short term and long range importance of this issue. In 2004, the priority on reducing oil dependence was expanded to include "long-term environmental protection," but only limited staff time could be allocated to this work. Now it is likely that advocacy on budget priorities and on energy and environmental protection, formerly assigned to one lobbyist, will each have their own lobbying team. This is wonderful news, but it comes with a caution and a challenge. At the Annual Meeting in November 2005, FCNL decided to operate for the next two years with a deficit budget by drawing on accumulated reserves. It has also embarked on a "New Names" project to increase FCNL's grassroots financial support by 50% within two years. Such growth is necessary to sustain its current level of lobbying activity. For FCNL to continue working on "an earth restored," Friends will need to significantly increase their financial support. What can we do to help make this happen? . A first step is to increase the number of meetings/churches that participate in the process of discerning FCNL's legislative priorities. A concerted effort by earthcare Friends can make a huge difference in this process. In 2004, only about 150 meetings/churches participated. This request is going to Friends in more than 500 congregations. It is your opportunity, right now, to increase the level of participation dramatically Please make sure your meeting/church participates. If you have questions, please contact Ed at 609/261-8190, or Hollister Knowlton, a member of the FCNL Policy Committee, at 215/247-0718. . A second step is to increase the number of Friends who receive FCNL's communications and use FCNL's website. FCNL's experience is that many Friends do this as a result of their participation in the priorities process. Encourage Friends who participate in the priorities process to sign up on line for FCNL's legislative updates on e-mail, which enable easy and direct contact to elected officials. How does this help raise funds for FCNL? Friends who get its mailings and use its website are apt to become financial supporters of FCNL. This is why it is so important for your meeting or church to participate in setting FCNL's priorities. Please encourage Friends who participate in this process to subscribe to FCNL's newsletter and use its website. Please ask both your monthly and yearly meetings to engage with FCNL. And please help Friends understand that we must increase our support of FCNL if we want to sustain FCNL's witness for long term environmental protection as well as for preventing violence and protecting human rights. Peace with and for the Earth, Barbara Williamson Ed Dreby Clerk, QEW Steering Committee QEW Representative to FCNL -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From CIsland at aol.com Mon Apr 10 13:21:39 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:21:39 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] SAYMA listserv change proposal Message-ID: <35b.1fb3e09.316bee23@aol.com> TO: FRIENDS in SAYMA FROM: SAYMA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Communications, Bill Reynolds, Clerk SUBJECT: A proposal to break SAYMA's current single listserv into three separate listserv's DATE: 04/10/2006 The following is the latest, well-seasoned proposal for SAYMA to have three separate listservs. This proposal is set to be brought before the Yearly Meeting to be considered for approval in two months. Send any comments and questions to Bill Reynolds at < _cisland at aol.com_ (mailto:cisland at aol.com) > 1. SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT: This list is for the SAYMA community to discuss general issues of concern to Quakers. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). This list is especially for those who like electronic back and forth discussion about views, opinions, etc. Please compose your postings to this list to reflect the fundamental Quaker value that "there is that of God in Everyone". When responding to another post, respond to that of God in the author or subject of that post. This means express your perspective sincerely without passing judgement on the other's motives, character, intelligence or integrity. Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass for seasoning your thoughts before posting a response. ELDERING GUIDELINES: Form a group of four or five "elders" from those who read the list regularly and appear to have skills in discernment. Ask them to "step in" if a/some subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or excessive numbers of posts. When someone posted something with inappropriate content or tone, elder(s) are advised to email directly to the person who sent the message and suggest in their future postings they use more tender language. Elders may, from time to time, feel a sense that a reminder for what and how we speak on this listserv needs to be sent to the whole listserv, either near the time when an offense has occurred or later. Elders are advised to be mindful that some issues will be resolved without their intervention. This is a good thing. If listserv participants make a mistake occasionally, it does not necessarily have to be pointed out to them. If an individual repeatedly violates the listserv guidelines despite repeated eldering, the listserv elders should consult with each other and reach unity before asking the listserv administrator to remove him/her from the list. "ONE LINER" TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY POST TO THIS LIST: "This list is for the SAYMA community to discuss issues of concern to Quakers. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org)" WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST: This list is especially for those who like electronic back and forth discussion about views, opinions, etc. Please compose your postings to this list to reflect the fundamental Quaker value that "there is that of God in Everyone." When responding to another post, respond to that of God in the author or subject of that post. This means express your perspective sincerely without passing judgement on the other's motives, character, intelligence or integrity. Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass for seasoning your thoughts before posting a response. 2. SAYMA IMP^O^ Bulletin Service: This listserv is to continue the current IMP^O^ Bulletin Service exactly as currently operated by the SAYMA Administrative Assistant without any non-SAYMA announcements or any discussion. (The latter two functions to be covered by the other two listservs.) 3. GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST: This list is for posting announcements about events, information, opinion and information about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). To include such things as: (a) events happening around SAYMA region or nationally. (b) articles, publications, and websites of interest - For example: "FCNL has posted an analysis of the Iraq war budget....." (c) action opportunities such as writing congress, peace demonstrations, (d) SAYMA Monthly Meetings' and Worship Groups' newsletters, minutes, etc. Appropriate responses to announcements on this listserv are to be questions of clarification about details, additional planning information, e.g, time, place, topic and contact information, etc. Any responses other than these particular types of responses are to be posted on the SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV. GUIDELINES FOR "MONITORING" OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST: Form a group of four or five "elders" from those who read the list regularly and appear to have skills in discernment. Ask them to "step in" if a/some subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or excessive numbers of posts. One example of what to say: "If those who have been following this conversation would like to continue, it seems more appropriate to move it to the Discussion listserv." If a subscriber persists in deliberately posting inappropriate material or posting excessive numbers of posts after being appropriately eldered they are subject to removal from the list. WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST: This list is for posting announcements about events, information, opinion and information about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). Appropriate responses to announcements on this listserv are to be questions of clarification about details, additional planning info: time, place, topic and contact information. Any responses other than these particular types of responses are to be posted on the SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Tue Apr 11 12:40:10 2006 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:40:10 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] Darfur Action Links on SEYMpeace.org Message-ID: <32181627.1144773611151.JavaMail.root@mswamui-bichon.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Because I have a particular concern for the people of Darfur, I have added a boxed section to the Peace & Social Concerns home page of Southeastern Yearly Meeting: http://seympeace.org/#darfur Please visit the site and share this information with others. Blessed Be, Michael From Quakerkristi at aol.com Mon Apr 17 12:26:36 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:26:36 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] QUIT Message-ID: <321.2eeb7e7.31751bbc@aol.com> Subject: Quaker Conference on Torture--Join us! Dear Friend, The leading to call for a Quaker Conference on Torture came to me out of two kinds of experience. One was my hands-on work with victims of trauma including torture. The other was my life as an American citizen. The hands-on work was blessed, but the plague of torture will not be resolved by individual therapy. And what about as an American citizen? The British House of Lords said it best: legalizing torture, they said, "dishonours the law, and defiles the state." How can American Quakers help end this civic "dishonour"? One answer is QUIT, the Quaker Initiative to End Torture. QUIT has organized the Quaker Conference on Torture, June 2-4, 2006 at Guilford College, in Greensboro North Carolina. I hope you'll join us there. There's plenty to do. The conference will hear from people working on Capitol Hill, at the UN, with churches and human rights groups. We'll start work on a network of worship, study and action. We have asked local Meetings to send Friends to Greensboro on their behalf, to bring back the information and motivation which will be brought together here. Active public witness against torture is just beginning in the United States. Friends can play an important role in this struggle. It is likely to be long and challenging; we're familiar with that. Remember: space at the conference is limited, so we hope you'll register soon. Late fees apply after April 28. This conference is being organized by QUIT, the Quaker Initiative to End Torture. It has been endorsed by numerous monthly and yearly meetings. Major support has also come from the Friends World Committee for Consultation-Section of the Americas. More information and a registration form is at our website: www.quit-torture-now.org And please pass this message on to others. In Friendship, John Calvi Convenor John Calvi calvij at sover.net 802/387-4789 PO Box 301 Putney VT 05346 USA www.johncalvi.com www.quit-torture-now.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From freepolazzo at comcast.net Tue Apr 18 20:43:48 2006 From: freepolazzo at comcast.net (free polazzo) Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:43:48 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Conference to present alternatives to the Religious Right Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060418204334.0340b8c8@comcast.net> Hi, In case you didn't get this. Free PS: Sorry for duplicates. >Subject: Please help me build an alternatve to >the Religious Right--beforeit's too late! > > HYPERLINK "http://files.tikkun.org/images/progressives-banner.jpg"nsp > >I would like your help in getting word out to the largest email lists to >which you have access (both personal and organizational) about the Spiritual >Activism conference that will be held in Washington, D.C. May 17-20, 2006. >The conference is the first East Coast appearance for the Network of >Spiritual Progressives, co-chaired by me, Benedictine Sister Joan >Chittister, and professor of African American studies and Religion at >Princeton U. Cornel West. I'm sorry I have to reach you through this >impersonal note--but I don't know how else to do this. > >The Network of Spiritual Progressives has 3 goals: > >1. to challenge the misuse of God and religion by the Religious Right to >justify war and militarism, cuts in programs for the poor and powerless in >order to justify cuts in taxes for the rich, assaults on human rights and >civil liberties, and destruction oaf the separation of church and state; > >2. to challenge the religio-phobia and hostility toward religious and >spiritual people that appears in some sections of liberal and progressive >culture, and to help the Left distinguish >between reactionary forms of religion and the progressives forms that it >took with Martin Luther King, Jr., William Sloan Coffin, Abraham Joshua >Heschel and many others. and to build a new spiritual progressive politics >not only for religious people, but also for those who do not believe in God >but are "spiritual but NOT religious" > >3. to seek a New Bottom Line in the Western world so that institutions get >judged efficient, rational or productive not only to the extent that they >maximize money or power, but also to the extent that they maximize love and >caring, kindness and generosity, ethically and ecologically sensitive >behavior, and enhance our capacities to respond to other human beings as >manifestations of the sacred and inherently valuable and to be respected, >and enhance our capacities to respond to the universe with awe, wonder and >radical amazement at the grandeur of all that is. > >This is the ground floor of building a new kind of paradigm for progressive >politics, and it could have a major impact in making the liberal and >progressive forces far more successful in healing and transforming American >society. As I've shown in my new book The Left Hand of God: Taking Back our >Country from the Religious Right, many people agree with the Left on >specific issues but still end up feeling that their greatest pain is the >deprivation of love, a sense of meaning in work, and a feeling that they are >surrounded by materialism, selfishness, and moral insensitivity, that their >children are subjected to sexual pressures before they are old enough to >handle them, and that the Left seems oblivious to these kinds of issues and >only addresses economic entitlements and political rights. > >We in the NSP (the Network of Spiritual Progressives) care very much about >eliminating poverty, fighting for equal rights, ending the war in Iraq and >the militarist assumptions that led to it, but that these important >struggles will not be won until the Left also seems to care about these >other "meaning" issues in the lives of many Americans. Moreover, the Left is >only clear on what it is against, but rarely has it communicated clearly >what it is for. That's why we are taking our demand for a New Bottom Line to >the Congress and the media May 17-20-along with a detailed SPIRITUAL >COVENANT WITH AMERICA that is meant to provide a positive vision of what a >progressive spiritual politics is about (you can read it fully explicated in >The Left Hand of God, which, I'm happy to say, has become a national >best-seller since it was published by Harpers in February). > >The spiritual activism conference will be a unique blending of progressive >religious people with progressive "spiritual but not religious" people. >Among the presenters, besides me, Cornel West and Sister Joan Chittister: >Jim Wallis (progressive Evangelical editor of Sojourners and author, God's >Politics), Cindy Sheehan (mother of U.S. solider killed in Iraq war), >Episcopal ArchDeacon Michael Kendall, Marie Denis (Fellowship of >Reconciliation), Rev. William Sinkford (national president, Unitarian >Universalist Association), Rev. Joan Campbell (Chautauqua Institute), Harry >Knox (Human Rights Campaign), Rev. Penny Nixon (Metropolitan Church, San >Francisco), Rabbi Brain Walt (national chair, Rabbis for Human Rights), >Seyyed Hossein Nasr (author, The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for >Humanity), Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (chair, Progressive Caucus, U.S. House >of Representatives), Shaikh Kabir Helminski (Sufi teacher), Svi Shapiro >(author of Beyond Liberalism and Excellence: Reconstructing the Public >Discourse on Education), Rev. Ama Zenya (United Church of Christ), John Dear >S.J. (Catholic non-violence activist), Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Progressive >Democrats of America), Robert Thurman (Buddhist teacher and author The Jewel >Tree of Tibet), Jonathan Granoff (chair, American Bar Association committee >on disarmament), Rev. Lynice Pinkard (United Church of Christ), Bill Meadows >(national chair, Wildlife Association), Enola Aird, Katrina Vanden Heuvel >(editor, The Nation), Christopher Hedges (former NY Times reporter and >author: War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning), Peter Gabel (associate editor >of Tikkun and professor of law, New College of California), Thea Levkowitz >(Religion and the Environment), Rev. Tony Campolo (Evangelical teacher), >Holly Near (progressive music), Michael Bader (psychoanalyst), Michael >Posner (human rights), Arthur Waskow (Shalom Center), Rev. Donna Schaper, >Nanette Schorr, Rabbi Debora Kohn, Barbara Coombs Lee, Enola Aird, Rev. Bob >Edgar (chair, National Council of Churches), Rev. Debora Johnson, John Seed, >Paul Wapner, Mary Darling, Rev. Donna Schapper, Harvey Cox, Janet Chisholm, >Roshi Bernie Glassman, Rev. Glenn Harold Stassen, Rev. Paul Smith, Çharlene >Spretnak, David Abrams >Rev. Robert Hardies & Rev. Louise Green (All Souls Unitarian church), and >many more. > >Even if you can't come to the conference, you can join as a dues paying >member the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) and help us out >financially, or even help us build a local chapter in your area. For >information on registering for the conference or joining the NSP: >www.spiritualprogressives.org or 510 644 1200 (between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. >Pacific Daylight Time). > >I hope you personally will come, or join, and I'd particularly appreciate it >if you'd send this note to everyone you know, and in your own name urge them >to come as well.. > >Many blessings, > >Rabbi Michael Lerner >Editor, Tikkun, rabbi of Beyt Tikkun synagogue in San Francisco, and author, >The Left Hand of God >RabbiLerner at Tikkun.org From bright_crow at mindspring.com Sat Apr 22 11:24:17 2006 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 11:24:17 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] Equality Florida: Fairness for All Families Campaign Message-ID: <22731897.1145719457395.JavaMail.root@mswamui-swiss.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Conservative Floridians have already collected 455,000 petition signatures for a constitutional amendment which would permanently prohibit marriage or civil unions for same-sex partners, and which threatens to strip away domestic partnership benefits currently enjoyed by thousands of partners, gay and straight. Equality Florida is working to opposed this amendment and to achieve full marriage equality for our families, and they champion domestic partnership laws, benefits, and registries. We are seeking at least 600,000 petitions from fair-minded people to offset those pro-amendment signatures. If you know people in Florida, please visit my page at http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/advocacy/bright_crow-406001 , share this link with them, and encourage them to join the campaign and to pass the information along to others. Thanks, and Blessed Be, Mike Shell From Quakerkristi at aol.com Wed Apr 26 15:40:12 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:40:12 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] QUIT Message-ID: <292.93e59ba.3181269c@aol.com> Subject: Quaker Conference on Torture--Time Is Short! Dear Friend-- I don't mean to intrude, but time is getting short. Quakers worked for a hundred years to rid the United States of legal slavery. Now we are called to help rid our nation -- and the world-- of torture. That's why the Quaker Conference on Torture will convene on June 2-4, 2006 at Guilford College in Greensboro NC. That date will be here soon. But time is getting short. Quakers also worked for another hundred years to advance the rights of women. Can we muster comparable determination to end torture? Will you join us at the conference to help get it started? And Quakers have worked for 300+ years to end war. (We're far from being finished.) Yes, we've all got plenty to do. But now torture needs to be added to the list. And time is getting short. We've asked meetings to select Friends to attend the conference, and bring back information and motivation to help build this new long-term witness. Can you fill this role for your meeting? (You're also welcome to attend on your own.) Remember: space at the conference is limited, so we need to hear from you very soon. Late fees now apply after 4/28; but there are still some spaces left. This conference is being organized by QUIT, the Quaker Initiative to End Torture. It has been endorsed by numerous monthly and yearly meetings. Major support has also come from the Friends World Committee for Consultation-Section of the Americas. More information and a registration form is at our website: www.quit-torture-now.org Will you join us at Guilford? There's much to do. The time is getting short. And please pass this message on to others. In Friendship, John Calvi Convenor John Calvi calvij at sover.net 802/387-4789 PO Box 301 Putney VT 05346 USA www.johncalvi.com www.quit-torture-now.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kuenning-licia at voicenet.com Wed Apr 26 17:05:00 2006 From: kuenning-licia at voicenet.com (Licia Kuenning) Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:05 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] "Time is short" Message-ID: <20060426200705.15402.qmail@mail21.voicenet.com> Probably most Friends on this list have seen the Farmington prophecy on one or another of the other Quaker lists--or through the snailmail distribution of it that I sent to a long list of unprogrammed meetings, including those in SAYMA. I mention it here only in case there are those on the list who remain unaware of it--and therefore do not realize that on June 6 the events at Farmington, Maine, will set in motion major changes in the nature of human life, which in the long run will end war, torture, and many other evils. If anyone cannot access my website: http://www.megalink.net/~klee please write to me off-list, and I'll be glad to send you a copy of that message and/or to answer your questions about it. Licia Kuenning Farmington Friend http://www.megalink.net/~klee klee at megalink.net licia at qhpress.org WATCH FARMINGTON! (41 days to go) From freepolazzo at comcast.net Sat Apr 29 15:57:54 2006 From: freepolazzo at comcast.net (free polazzo) Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:57:54 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Chaplains at war discussed on the radio on Monday 1PM EDT Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060429155254.03375008@comcast.net> Dear Friends, Friend and author Kristin Henderson will on the radio speaking about Chaplains at war on Monday from 1 to 2 PM Eastern Time. Kristin is also leading a workshop at FGC in Tacoma. Kristin is a Quaker living in the Washington DC area and her husband is a chaplain in the military who has been assigned to duty in Afganistan and Iraq. Interesting couple. Blessings, Free >Hello all, > >As many of you know, I was in Iraq in December, embedded with the Army in >Mosul. The article from that reporting trip, "Chaplains at War: In the Hands >of God," appears in this week's Washington Post Magazine and online at: >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/print/washpostmagazine/?nav=left > >On Monday, May 1, I'll be taking questions and talking about the article >online and on the air. First, from 1-2pm Eastern Time, I'll take questions >online at www.washingtonpost.com. Click on "Discussions" in the top bar. Then >starting at 2:10, I'll talk about it with broadcaster Sam Litzinger. You can >listen to the interview live online at: >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wtwpradio/2006-04-30/Monday.html >In the Washington, DC, area you can also listen live on the radio on 1500-AM >and 107.7-FM. > >For those of you who are REALLY interested in the work of the chaplain corps, >my earlier article on chaplain confidentiality in Military Spouse Magazine is >now online at www.kristinhenderson.com/essays.htm. >Wishing everyone good reading, >kh > >--Kristin Henderson >--kh at kristinhenderson.com >--http://www.kristinhenderson.com > provides info on Kristin's books and > articles, and links to support for > combat vets and their families