As soon as the announcement was made on CNN that Barack Obama was elected as the next President of the United States of America there was a collective shout of JOY and elation from folks in my neighborhood!! Then the fireworks and honking of car horns started and went on and on and on!!!! What a wonderful and historic evening and a new era for our country!!!!!
Unfortunately Potter, the cockapoo, was not so thrilled with all of the noise, especially the fireworks. He was shaking so much it was pitiful! I held him close and eventually he calmed down. He stayed close all night long!
I think Archibishop Desmond Tutu says is best:
"Today Africans walk taller than they did a week ago -- just as they did when Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994. Not only Africans, but people everywhere who have been the victims of discrimination at the hands of white Westerners, have a new pride in who they are. If a dark-skinned person can become the leader of the world's most powerful nation, what is to stop children everywhere from aiming for the stars?"
On Weds I walked across the seminary campus with one of my classmates who is a mature African American man. I asked him if he ever thought he would see this day, and after a pause he told me that he might cry again. He said that what surprised him was how he welled up with emotion as he walked into his polling place! Then I shared that my impluse is to hug my African American classmates. He said "that would be okay" so in the middle of the road we stopped and exhanged a heartfelt celebratory hug.
The challenges that face President-Elect Obama are great. Our prayers and patience will be needed. But our country has spoken and the global community has concurred - "Yes We Can!"
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prayer for an Election & Prayer for Social Justice
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Donna Brazile Is Not Going To The Back Of The Bus
http://jezebel.com/5059945/donna-brazile-is-not-going-to-the-back-of-the-bus
We've been waiting three days for this moment. This morning, the New Yorker finally posted video from "If I Were Running This Campaign," the Saturday morning panel featuring NY'er staff writer/moderator Jeffrey Toobin (swoon), and a bevy of his CNN colleagues, including Ed Rollins, Alex Castellanos, and Donna Brazile. Topics discussed: The GOP leadership, Bill Clinton, and Sarah Palin. As the 80-minute discussion wound down, Toobin raised the specter of race in the campaign, and Brazile, 48, let loose with an impassioned, ad-libbed exhortation that could be seen as a prescient, preemptive strike to the race-and-religion baiting tactics ("strategies"?) employed by the increasingly-ugly McCain-Palin campaign. Donna's remarks above; you can watch the entire video here.
We've been waiting three days for this moment. This morning, the New Yorker finally posted video from "If I Were Running This Campaign," the Saturday morning panel featuring NY'er staff writer/moderator Jeffrey Toobin (swoon), and a bevy of his CNN colleagues, including Ed Rollins, Alex Castellanos, and Donna Brazile. Topics discussed: The GOP leadership, Bill Clinton, and Sarah Palin. As the 80-minute discussion wound down, Toobin raised the specter of race in the campaign, and Brazile, 48, let loose with an impassioned, ad-libbed exhortation that could be seen as a prescient, preemptive strike to the race-and-religion baiting tactics ("strategies"?) employed by the increasingly-ugly McCain-Palin campaign. Donna's remarks above; you can watch the entire video here.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
World Blogging Day for Millennium Development Goals
My stomach is aware that I usually eat at this time. But today at this time I will not eat. I am spending this time praying, fasting and witnessing in solidarity with thousands of others who are united in support of the Millennium Development Goals.
As my stomach grumbles I am remembering the people of Finetown, near Johannesburg, South Africa, who I met this summer. In spite of extreme poverty, living in homes made of cardboard and sheets of tin with outhouses out back and a water faucet down the deeply rutted dirt road from which they carted large plastic containers of water in wheelbarrows (if they were lucky), these lovely people shared their warm hospitality and joy with this stranger. In spite of AIDS and hunger, poverty and violence, these individuals shared their lives with me. The least, the very least I can do is pray, fast and witness.
O God open our eyes to see those in need. Open our hands to give to those in need. Open our hearts to care for those who are poor and in need, and to care for Mother Earth. Open our ears to hear the cries of women and men who are victims of rape, mutilation and terror. Break open our lives to love our global neighbors as ourselves and to care for this earth, our island home. Amen.
As my stomach grumbles I am remembering the people of Finetown, near Johannesburg, South Africa, who I met this summer. In spite of extreme poverty, living in homes made of cardboard and sheets of tin with outhouses out back and a water faucet down the deeply rutted dirt road from which they carted large plastic containers of water in wheelbarrows (if they were lucky), these lovely people shared their warm hospitality and joy with this stranger. In spite of AIDS and hunger, poverty and violence, these individuals shared their lives with me. The least, the very least I can do is pray, fast and witness.
O God open our eyes to see those in need. Open our hands to give to those in need. Open our hearts to care for those who are poor and in need, and to care for Mother Earth. Open our ears to hear the cries of women and men who are victims of rape, mutilation and terror. Break open our lives to love our global neighbors as ourselves and to care for this earth, our island home. Amen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sept. 25: Pray. Fast. Witness.
In solidarity with people of faith throughout the world and in response to the Anglican Communion's call, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation invites you to commit tomorrow - Thursday, September 25 to:+Pray. Say prayers with special intention for the extreme poor throughout the world.
+Fast. Skip at least one meal in solidarity with the nearly 1 billion people who go to bed hungry each night. (As possible depending on health ... consult your doctor if in doubt)
Click here for information about giving the money you would have spent on the meal(s) you skip to ERD's MDG Inspiration Fund.
+Witness. Participate in an online advocacy action promoting our government's fulfilling its promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Statehood for Washington, DC - PLEASE!!
The District of Columbia needs to become a state so that we are not governed by the Federal Government. Our citizens are being overlooked as the House of Representatives and possibly Senators with the President's backing EASE gun control regulations in DC.
From the Washington Post:
"The House bill would abolish the city's gun registration requirements and allow residents to own semiautomatic pistols and rifles. It also would allow District residents to buy guns in Virginia and Maryland and would prohibit the council from taking any action to "discourage or eliminate" private ownership or use of firearms. " http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091701314.html?hpid=topnews
You've got to be kidding me! In the Nation's Capital, which already has a high crime rate, the government is going to allow residents to own semiautomatic pistols and rifles!!!
We need our statehood so we can govern ourselves. Then hopefully this type of legislation would never become law.
From the Washington Post:
"The House bill would abolish the city's gun registration requirements and allow residents to own semiautomatic pistols and rifles. It also would allow District residents to buy guns in Virginia and Maryland and would prohibit the council from taking any action to "discourage or eliminate" private ownership or use of firearms. " http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091701314.html?hpid=topnews
You've got to be kidding me! In the Nation's Capital, which already has a high crime rate, the government is going to allow residents to own semiautomatic pistols and rifles!!!
We need our statehood so we can govern ourselves. Then hopefully this type of legislation would never become law.
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