UU Mom

"Being Yourself and a UU in Today’s World" by new graduate from #PrinceGeorges #pgcps #maryland

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:43:54 GMT

This Sunday, we will have a sermon by a young man who just graduated from high school. Christian James has been active in the district youth group, serving as the "food dude". He's learned a lot in his years of activity with the group. He will be sharing his vision about "how to handle the stress and load of being a UU while also being yourself. People do not always accept you and your personal beliefs."

If you're in the area, please join us for what looks like a great service. Here's the directions.

Christian James was also a speaker in this sermon on YouTube.

How many churches and organizations let youth and young adults speak their minds in front of the entire organization of all adults, especially something equivalent to the Sunday morning worship service that most members attend regularly? We support our young people! And all are welcome! though we do ask that you respect everyone.

Creativity and You, Me, and Picasso

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:02:58 GMT

This month at church the theme is Creativity. I just put up the podcast and listened to it since I wasn't at church this past Sun. The sermon was Creativity and You (podcast). It was an excellent sermon. She happened to listen to a program about creativity on NPR. It must have been "More Than 50 Years Of Putting Kids' Creativity To The Test" since there is a survey that she mentioned in it.

She read a poem by Monet that I had never heard. She also talked about having to take art in seminary and how we are creative every week at church - and even in our committee meetings where we creatively deal with problem solving and creating new things. I sure enjoy singing at church.

And this week during our Earth Day service, there will be photos displayed in our gallery that both Race & I took. I also helped put together an Earth Chalice that is the result of several people's ideas. There will be poems I've never heard and no one has ever heard since they were created just for this service. I'm looking forward to it.

I know a lot of people have creativity in their life without church. Well, I could cook & sew & do crafts, but it's not the same as doing them with a group of people that I care about and who care about me.

Our minister talked about the Big Bang which no one witnessed and yet most of us believe in it as we tend to be a group of science-minded, educated people. If that was the beginning of creation, creation has never stopped and we're a part of it. She said Picasso said he worked all his life to reclaim the creativity he had as a child. That sounds like a great goal in life. I am a "creative" being even though I don't consider myself an "artist".

Do you like to be creative?, like using your imagination to answer this question that was posed on NPR: How would the world be different if the animals spoke English and Spanish? Really, I'd be interested in your answer.

Stephen Colbert quotes #UU on the Colbert Report last night

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:51:44 GMT

This the e.e. cummings quote that Stephen Colbert recited last night:

“mr youse needn't be so spry
concern in questions arty

each has his tastes but as for i
i likes a certain party

gimme the he-man's solid bliss
for youse ideas i'll match youse

a pretty girl who naked is
is worth a million statues”

You can read about e.e. cummings and his relationship with Unitarianism in a bio from Harvard Square Library.

The bio ends with a poem appropriate for the upcoming Earth Day:

I thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
double unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

My church has long been planning a great day of creativity to celebrate Earth Day which is coming this Sunday: Here's the announcement

Seasonal Dust Allergy #health

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:22:29 GMT

I miss my housekeeper (first world problem :/ ).

About twenty years ago i started having ear aches. Oh, could I relate to the screaming of a toddler! Every spring for 5 years I got them. I asked my doctor if it could be an allergy and he said he didn't think so because my nasal passages didn't have the typical appearance of someone with allergies. Then when I was at a conference in the fall taking a walk in the woods, I got vertigo. I didn't have congested ears or any sniffles, but I did have some fluid in my ears that was causing me to become dizzy. I told my doctor that I was going to an allergist.

I was thoroughly tested for all kinds of allergens and the only one that came out positive was dust (well, you know, not really dust but they call it a dust allergy). I was educated about it and told to buy some chemicals to treat my bed, furniture, and carpets (and remove carpets if possible) and I got special covers for my mattress and pillows. It worked! I never had another ear ache from allergies again. WebMD says that the height of dust allergy season is August, but that's not true for everyone. My allergist told me that it can be seasonal (spring/fall) when you heat in the winter and use air conditioning in the summer. Dust mites like a moist climate and heating and air conditioning dry out the air.

Last week I started to get what I thought was a cold, but it turned out to be dust allergies again. I had to let my housekeeper go last fall after my husband became unemployed. I stripped my bed today and found my dust covers weren't on my mattress and pillow cases - I had been doing so well because my housekeeper was keeping my house so clean (only coming once every other week) that I didn't need them any more. I found them and put them back on and washed my bedding well. I made my own tannic solution and treated my dust cloth, rugs, and chair. I gave my bedroom and livingroom a very good cleaning since those are the rooms I'm in the most. I was very congested after all that, but used some sinus spray and felt much better.

Hopefully my allergy symptoms will go away now, but I hate to wear a mask when I'm cleaning the house and really miss my housekeeper. It should be easier in the future, so I guess I'll get over it. I hope this is useful information for someone else.

#UU Artist Tells UU Message in New Exhibit

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:14:31 GMT

I recently went to a reception for a UU artist friend of mine for the "Homage of Harriet" exhibition at Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

The write up, I believe, was based, at least in part, on an experience in Unitarian Universalism and our Standing on the Side of Love Immigration Rights campaign, which she embellished on during the reception. Here is what she said (click the photo for a larger size to read her story):

During Joys and Sorrows on Sunday she said she appreciated the support of her Unitarian Universalist friends at the reception.

I appreciate my talented friend and hope my readers do, too. Check out her web site Big Bang Banners.

Using Social Media to Spread a Meme #fb #sharing #uu #love

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:20:03 GMT

I wanted to share this on my blog for people who aren't on Facebook, because Facebook is not the only place where sharing can happen. If we all took the way of communicating we like best and put it into practice to share what we feel is important, our message can reach so many more people.

What do we learn without the sharing from people in some way? People write books, they're teachers in schools, they talk to you in person or on the phone, they share at church or community meetings, besides the many online ways of sharing. The wonderful thing about the internet is the many people you can reach in such a short period of time.

The following image was created by my Facebook friend, Tim Atkins, whom I would never have known if not for Facebook, but I have met him in person at the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which, btw, is starting to accept registration for this year's annual meeting. Tim posted today that he made this graphic in only 10 mins. and in one day it was seen by ~25,000 people.

He was part of a few UUs who started the group on Facebook, the UU Media Collaborative, where ideas are shared to create images with a message. Then they are posted on UU Media Collaborative Works where anyone can just click the share button and share the image on Facebook. Some also share on Tumblr, Twitter, their church web site, Flickr, and other places.

It's further been shared through UUWorld.org in Fun with social media, Spinning in new directions, Sharing our faith, and other articles.

Embrace life! Share love!

"...it's God who doesn't believe in us." #religion #uu #philosophy #humanity #politics

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:24:41 GMT

I'm (half) watching the first TV series made by Netflix, "House of Cards". I wouldn't be watching it if it wasn't for my husband. My husband is watching it because the acting is superb (agreed!), the story is good, and it's believable "unfortunately" (I hope not). I really like the actor Kevin Spacey, but his character is loathsome. He speaks to the camera to tell us what he's thinking which is quite different than what he says. The quote about God was from that character and he's also said he doesn't really believe in God.

I know I'm an optimist and idealist more than a realist, but there is more and more evidence to show that what we think affects what we do. I know politicians and people who hold the reigns in the political realm and corporate realm think differently than I do, but I hope their thoughts aren't that callous, pessimistic, and self-centered.

I know that atheism, and atheistic and skeptical thinking, is on the rise. This does not have to be pessimistic, though. The Earth and the Universe are remarkable and wondrous. Most human beings are not mean, spiteful, and purposely hurtful, at least in my experience. Human nature has positives and negatives, but, though I haven't seen a study if there has been one, I believe people try to show their positive nature as much as possible - whether "religious", "non-religious", church-goers, non-practitioners of religion, atheist, etc.

Part of my feelings about this might be that I'm a Unitarian Universalist (UU) and surround myself with people who at least try to be their best selves. There are atheist and skeptical UUs and we welcome them. We're a humanistic faith and our principles focus on the positive nature of people - that they have worth and should be treated with respect and compassion. It gives most of us a brighter outlook or better feelings about ourselves now - people we can connect to and feel good about living without concern for whether or not there's an afterlife which we have no control over.

My small group ministry was just discussing what we would do if we didn't have our church. Some of the replies were like:

I/we wouldn't have this connection where we can talk openly and honestly without fear of judgement of our ideas

I/we wouldn't have a group that embraces diversity rather than, like other groups do: seek people that are more like them

I might or might not be able to find things to do and people to do them with that gives my life meaning

I might not have a caring community to help me when I'm in need, such as recovering from surgery

I'd miss singing with other people

I wouldn't be the person I am since UUism has shaped my life

I wouldn't have learned the leadership skills I have that's helping me in my business life

My children wouldn't have the ideas and potential for leadership and influential behavior if it wasn't for the UU religious education program

Positive thinking affects our behavior and teaching our children to question, think critically, and care about others will change how they behave, which will give us a better outlook for the future.

President Obama was influenced by Unitarian Universalism through his grandparents, though like many of our UU kids, his exposure was limited. He may not be doing what we want him to do, but he's tried to respect the process to a higher degree than many. He's not as transparent as we'd like, but there may be good reason for that based on his knowledge of human nature - both the good and the bad. He is not trying to use his power for his own control and personal interests. He's not one of these "House of Cards" politicians, in my view.

"Generation Squeeze" or "Sandwich Generation"? Friends! #50-somethings #uu

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:20:01 GMT

In the news:
Sandwich generation feeling the squeeze
In Hard Economy for All Ages, Older Isn't Better ... It's Brutal

We're feeling it! Networking with friends is supposed to be the answer.

Fellow Unitarian Universalists! Friends! We have skills for temporary work or consulting until we come up with something full-time and regular.

Here are my IT/ Web consulting/ web site development resume, Non-profit, Education, and Administrative work, and LinkedIn. I can do work remotely anywhere in the world as I taught someone in Kenya how to manage a Wordpress site which I set up. Here is a list of my current sites (which needs to be updated with my latest ones) - this site will be redesigned, too.

Race's resume for General Mangement / IT Security INFOSEC, ITSEC / Architecture / Systems Engineering / Quality Assurance / Technical Writing / Information Technology and Services is at LinkedIn here.

We're helping our friends, fellow-UUs, and neighbors whenever we can. Anything you can do to help would be appreciated.

Understanding the Sense of Self #psychology #stroke #education #love

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:36:11 GMT

"With these cells I wouldn't be here. I ask them to heal me. I don't call it god. I just... I don't label it.... I value and celebrate whatever it is. I'm not attached to the language. People ask me if I'm religious. To me, religious is the story... I don't have to go through the story... but I honor the stories. I don't care what your story is as long as it brings you to the same place of love and peace and compassion."

I've been watching Jill Bolte Taylor on Oprah's show from a couple of years ago. It's in 12 parts on YouTube (here's part one). I was looking for it, because after I saw her TED Talk, I wondered what she thought about how one would get to that state of bliss that she had during her stroke. If you haven't seen the TED Talk, you might want to do that first (it's 20 mins.) and then you might want to see the show that is ~10 mins. per part, so ~2 hrs. or read her book.

There's a lot of the same information from her TED Talk in the first 8 parts of the Oprah show, but there are details from her book that would be especially interesting to anyone who cares for a brain damaged child or an adult who's had a stroke or even for yourself if you ever have a stroke. You might come into contact with someone who's had a stroke in the future and you'll know some very important things about how to treat that person from listening to the videos or reading her book.

I've worked with multiply handicapped kids in the past, still do somewhat, but I could relate more to her story in thinking about the children who were deaf, blind, and had cerebral palsy whom I worked with. They were like she was when she was fully affected by her stroke. She was happy and unable to communicate except to smile, like an infant, but she was a person and she had an experience even though she couldn't intellectualize it or discuss it at the time. It's something to remember if we encounter people in a similar situation. She gives important tips about how to treat someone in that situation: pay attention to your mood, your facial expression, and your body language.

Jill's unique personality and knowledge of how a brain works together with her unique experience caused her to find her own way to come to find "Nirvana". I haven't found a way to totally let go of my left brain, but I've done it in part. I've recently learned a lot about my self-talk and how to control it. I think about how my brain works, even though I never studied it professionally as she did. I understand what she's talking about in a deep way and know I'm capable of doing that if I'm sufficiently motivated. I'm very happy with my life now and don't have a need to do that completely. I know that practicing something makes it easier to do and sometimes it would be nice if it was easy, but I'm choosing not to do it, because I have other priorities in my life now and I like using my left brain. I will keep her ideas in mind, though, because I can use them every day a little and someday I might want to focus on that more.

At the end of the Oprah program, she sings "The Brain Bank Jingle" because studying the brain is her focus and she's found the creativity of singing and playing the guitar as one of her pleasures. It's a pleasure we share. Her song is to encourage people to donate their brain - especially people who have mental illnesses. People actually do donate brains for research - the way you can donate your body or eyes. I have a strange brain - an MRI discovered that my gray matter doesn't fill up my entire skull; I wonder if they'd be interested in that when I'm gone (they certainly can't have it before that <smile>).

Facebook Breast Cancer Awareness Meme

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:26:09 GMT

I don't usually do memes. Occasionally there's one that's fun. I've been invited before and I don't remember "playing", but I don't see how they make people really and truly aware of breast cancer. Breast cancer is serious and did you know that even men can get breast cancer? This is what will be helpful if you want to create awareness about breast cancer: 10 Tips for Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection.

The way Facebook works, I can't tell when people look at my posts. The same people who saw the meme apparently haven't also looked at the comments under the status post. They also probably won't see this blog post which will also be posted on my wall. But in case anyone does: I'm not going anywhere for a number of months!

The one comment I wish you did see was the story about the trip I did take.

It was great to see so many people check out and comment on my status, though. I guess the idea of traveling excites people.

A principled life - a UU way of living #uu #life

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:53:31 GMT

The American way (& it's true in other countries as well) means earning a living & making money to survive (shelter, food, health insurance or put away savings to pay for health care or paying taxes that pays for health care in other countries, etc.). We also have human instincts that include pride and independence. With the problems with government these days, some people want to get out of our governmental system, including a friend of mine who wanted me to use pliers to pull her teeth), but if you have a house (own or rent), drive a car, have a legitimate job using your social security, it's impossible to live outside the system.

None of us are totally independent. We all have to interact with others. We can't make enough food for ourselves, we don't build the roads we traverse, we don't usually build our own homes (I know one person who did, but someone else put together the materials and plans to do it). We are dependent on others and how we treat others is important.

Unitarian Universalists have just 7 principles and going to church is NOT explicitly a part of them. I still like A. Powell Davies quote, "I go to church ... because I fall below my own standards and need to be constantly brought back to them ... I must have my conscience sharpened--sharpened until it goads me to the most thorough and responsible thinking and action of which I am capable." Besides the social aspect, I like to be reminded of our principles, too, and now our covenant of how to treat each other. UUism has become a way of life for me, though, as I was reminded in UU Way of Life.

Lately I've been trying to help a neighbor friend who is not a UU & has no interest in it. I have told my friend's story to others hoping to get some advice about how to navigate a system that's not working for her and what I've gotten is cash stuffed in my purse and offers of money, which is lovely and shows that people care for people they don't even know and want to help. Here is my friend's story:

My friend of 4 yrs. is a neighbor but comes from quite a different background (our first 2 UU principles encourages integration & it's very good to my humanity to meet & get to know people who are different from me). She comes to visit me almost every day. She likes to care for our yard which is bigger than most in the area and has a large wooded area. She loves nature as I do & caring for the environment is one of our UU principles. She gets part time work in lawn care, but it's seasonal and she's never had a job that's offered health care insurance or dental insurance.

Last spring she started to suffer from tooth aches. She was both hit by a branch in the cheek and punched by someone, besides not having the genes and resources to keep good teeth. Her aching became severe a couple of months ago & I can't bare to see her in such pain, so I've tried to help her with no success. Since she doesn't have a job or young children and is not a senior, she is not eligible for Medicaid. We were sent to apply by the clinic, but then were told that Medicaid doesn't pay for dental care any way. I took her to the dental clinic, the only one in the county, and used our unemployment card to pay for her care, because they said, "There's no such thing as free dental care." Payment was needed upfront. They didn't work on her teeth but just gave her a check up, a prescription for pain and a referral. The place where she was referred also does not do dental care without upfront payment. They will also check her on the first visit and not do any work. She needs 8 extractions (as it's much cheaper than root canals as most middle class people would get). It's a crazy run-around and I will persist until my friend is no longer in pain.

Today my friend applied for a job and will walk 10 miles to apply for a job again tomorrow. She has a lot of integrity and pride. She won't get dental insurance with any job she would be applying for, as far as I know. I told her if she gets a job during morning hours or even early afternoon hours, since beurocracies tend to require long waits, that it might impede her ability to get her dental work done. She continues to do what she feels is right and she doesn't want me to collect funds from other people. We have paid for soft foods for her so she could eat, though, since she can't chew and we've paid for her prescriptions, too. She has lost a lot of weight which was mostly muscle since she didn't have much fat ever. She is all skin & bones. I'm kind of in a quandry trying to live by our system's rules and helping a friend while respecting her wishes also.

Not that other religions don't instill the qualities of helpfulness in them, too, but this woman was turned away and made fun of by others. She says we're her only friends. I appreciate my friends who are willing to help with money. I want to set up a site for her to collect for her dental care, but I don't think she'd approve. Also, they won't know how much it'll cost until they do the initial check up at the referral location since she needs oral surgery. She doesn't want me to do so much to help her, but then again she is taking my help and we have a reciprocal relationship since we're friends and she likes to help us, too.

I wish we could afford to pay a yard worker and/or housekeeper, then she could consider herself independent but she doesn't see how the reciprocation works any way. She wants to be self-sufficient, but doesn't have the means to do so. If I didn't feel encouraged by my faith to respect all kinds of people and live in a diverse area and didn't live by my principles in this way, I might just let her live in pain and probably infection, too. I know large churches help neighborhood people and have health care programs. She wouldn't go to them, though, because they'd preach to her and expect her to have their religious beliefs - at least that's what she has experienced and I've heard from many that that's true. The majority of the U.S. is Christian according to statistics, but they can't allow people like my friend to live a better life by having Universal Healthcare, but has been a big issues among UUs.

Other members of my church also work in the community and do good works outside of church. It's the UU way.

Issues of poverty and low-income people in the U.S., pertaining to food was on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show, Access inequalities to win at weight loss (she also happens to be a UU).

Comments are welcome. You can reply on Twitter or Facebook. If you comment here, I believe you'll need to join LiveJournal as I get too much spam in comments. You can join and not actually blog here, though. Just come back here after you register. Thanks!

Facebook Governance? Internet Privacy? What do you think?

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:01:02 GMT

Moat people who use Social Network tools just want to use them and be left alone. However, many are concerned about their privacy and rights, which is very reasonable.

Facebook is asking us to vote on their new governance policy, though I don't know what good it will do. Here are some of the things the changes will include:

Ask the Chief Privacy Officer. We’ll be launching a new feature on our Facebook and Privacy Page to let you submit questions about privacy to our Chief Privacy Officer of Policy, Erin Egan.
Facebook Live Events. Erin Egan will host webcasts on a regular basis to address your comments and questions about privacy, safety and security.

Other Proposed Updates: The Data Use Policy also includes updates that provide more descriptions about our practices and reflect changes to our products, including:

New tools for managing your Facebook Messages – replacing the “Who can send you Facebook messages” setting with new filters for managing incoming messages.
Changes to how we refer to certain products, like instant personalization.
Reminders about what’s visible to other people on Facebook. For instance, when you hide things from your timeline, those posts are visible elsewhere, like in news feed, on other people’s timelines, or in search results.
Tips on managing your timeline. For example, you can use tools on your timeline or activity log to delete your own posts, or you can ask someone else to delete a post in which you’re tagged.

We encourage you to read through all the proposed changes using the links below.

Further information is here.

I find that it's hard to have a good discussion except for in closed groups on Facebook, but often that's the case on LiveJournal, too. It's just the nature of the internet and people, I guess. The ones who abuse it make it harder on the rest of us. Also, we have to realize that everything uses resources and very few resources are really "free". Facebook is a tool and we can choose to use it or not and the same goes for the internet. I've been a big fan of the internet for a long time.

Those of us who share on LJ believe our posts are private when we mark them to only be visible by certain people. Even though the support here looks like a cooperative, it's legally a business, LiveJournal, Inc. and if everyone from Facebook made LiveJournal accounts, they might change their policies, too. Facebook users would not like the limits we have here, though. There are many more resources on Facebook (photo galleries are much bigger and attractive, searches and ways of connecting are more varied). Also, it's not like a blog and people with blogs on Wordpress or Blogger might not like LiveJournal either since it does work differently. My biggest complaint here is no ip blocker to reduce spam if we want to allow non-LJers to be able to comment. Of course, non-Facebook users can't comment there either, but some other blogs have ways of keeping spam down and commenting open.

Long posts like this are rarely seen on Facebook. One needs to link to other content. I think that's one thing people really like about Facebook - connecting, but doing so briefly. Their privacy policy says, "When you publish content or information using the Public setting, it means that you are allowing everyone, including people off of Facebook, to access and use that information, and to associate it with you (i.e., your name and profile picture)." This is just logical and is true of the entire internet. I've had a personal web page since before Facebook, so I've let myself be public.

For my friends and other readers who don't like Facebook ads, until they give you an option to pay (hopefully a low fee) to get rid of the ads, seeing ads is the only way Facebook has to get revenue (unless they sell user information which I don't think they're doing). Apps and other tools can gather information, but I think they're trying to keep it down. Most web browsers these days have an ad blocker so that can help you, too, if you choose. The people who make those apps usually like a donation, too. I suppose using an ad blocker would be against the policy: "You will not do anything that could disable, overburden, or impair the proper working or appearance of Facebook, such as a denial of service attack or interference with page rendering or other Facebook functionality." but to my knowledge they don't enforce it for that.

What do you think about all of this?

Climate change - do you believe?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:33:22 GMT

For those who do not yet believe in climate change, here's a short article about scientists who don't believe in it (and those that do).

If you believe in climate change, what are you doing?

Last week my county made new laws to help make buildings more environment-friendly, but it can't be done by laws alone. There are things we can do.

Electricity is the #1 source of carbon emissions. One of my internet service providers hadn't thought about it until I asked and then he looked into what he could do right away. It doesn't hurt to ask businesses and organizations you deal with how they are reducing their carbon emissions.

There are lots of things we can do at home, too, if you haven't already.

Preparing for and expecting more climate change and extreme weather is also a good idea. Bill Becker, the Executive Director of the Presidential Climate Action Project, wrote "In fact, any disaster-prone community can achieve greater resilience, even when resources are scarce. Often, the most important resource is not financial capital from the government, but intellectual capital from the citizenry."

And if you want some entertainment, check out Mom's Clean Air Force.

"It's not yet the end" Let's celebrate!

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 04:01:50 GMT

I saw a wonderful movie tonight, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" about a young man in India who starts a retirement home luring people who are disappointed and/or in their retirement. I won't tell you what happens in case you want to see it, but I have to share this quote.

Judy Dench's character said, "The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. As we always must, we came here and we tried, all of us in our different ways. Can we be blamed for feeling that we are too old to change; too scared of disappointment to start it all again? We get up in the morning; we do our best, nothing else matters. But it’s also true that the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing. All we know about the future is, it would be different. But perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same, so we must celebrate the changes. As someone once said, everything will be alright in the end. And, if it's not alright ... then trust me, it's not yet the end."

#Unitarians a #cult ? @ColbertReport

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 05:35:24 GMT

Stephen Colbert reported tonight that Billy Graham has Unitarians on a list of cults. I know Unitarian Universalism is too long to say (or list), just like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is the official name of Mormons (now Unitarian Universalism doesn't sound so long, does it?). We do shorten it ourselves, though, to UU.

For those of whom were wondering, Unitarian Universalists (UUs), though we do relate to "Free to Be You and Me", we're far from a cult. We're an official religion dating back to the 18th century as Unitarians and Universalists and then they merged in 1962. We had Unitarian U.S. Presidents among our founders and President Obama's grandparents attended a UU church.

Actually, all the "cults" on Graham's list are religions. Now Billy Graham has decided that Mormons are officially a religion (even "Christian"). That's why Stephen Colbert was mentioning it.

If you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, there are a lot of places to get information on the internet since even the founder of the world wide web, Tim Berners Lee is a Unitarian Universalist. He says, "The[re] is one other thing that comes to mind as common between the Internet folks and the UUs.... UUism is full of hope, and the fact that the Web happens is an example of a dream coming true and an encouragement to all who hope." Some people like to think of us as the "open source" religion as one of our seven principles is a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning".

We have UU congregations (churches, fellowships, societies, or sometimes just called "Unitarian Universalists") in every major city in the country and in many cities that aren't major and even in some unincorporated towns, like mine. Plus many online communities, too. Even if it's new to you, you probably know a UU, though you might not know you do as we tend not to make a big deal about it since many UUs don't like to be solicited so they often don't want to do anything that looks like solicitation. We're very welcoming, though, and according to ReligiousTolerance.org, "The UU Association was the first large religious organization in North America to welcome homosexuals and bisexuals as full members, eligible to become clergy." Also its the religious organization to have the first African-American president of a traditionally white association. We're often a step ahead of society, so even though we're small, we might have an influence.

Dia de los Muertos & ancestors #justice #injustice

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:42:39 GMT

We celebrated Dia de los Muertos at my church today - a remembering of family members who've died. We're a wonderful multicultural congregation.

Later I saw this video which has a connection through race understanding and read the description:

There will come a day that all things made unequal will again become balanced. Don't you hear our ancestors talking to us family, They are calling us loud and clear, let's not make them wait anymore! WAKE UP AND TELL EVERYONE A SHIFT IS TURNING IN THE UNIVERSE...ASE!!

Even though some people think of Maryland as the "north", I know people from southern Maryland who grew up just like this lady, though they didn't have the experience of suddenly knowing as a child. They're still in a process of understanding. Actually, even as a New Yorker, I've found the subtle things we experienced growing up and know that no matter how much I try, there are things in my subconscious that will always be there.

Why church? Why deal with inner spirituality? Why love? #maryland #princegeorges #uu

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:11:36 GMT

I live in a state with a lot of churches and other religious organizations, but non-religious or non-church-going people are the biggest growing population. There are many reasons that I understand. People can go to a karaoke bar instead of singing at church, but is that intergenerational (are children allowed)? Spirituality is not something you can put your finger on, but you know when your spirit is low and a group of caring people may help lift your spirits. My church has a monthly Guided Spiritual Experience workshop to help people find what works for them.

"Church" and "religion" means different things to different people, but most of us are greatly influenced by our childhood experiences in that. In my church we don't have a creed that tells people to believe a certain way about God, the after-life, or read a particular holy book and interpret it in a certain way. Church for us is more about a faith community that helps to spread hope and give life meaning and purpose.

It's hard to share what is meaningful, as it is different for each person. My church isn't for everyone, even though it's open to everyone. We have a covenant of right relations that is posted on our wall, because how we treat each other is a vital part of our religion.

Children (and parents) have a lot to do in their lives, but we have a religious education program that helps them think critically and find a supportive community in a society where people might not agree with them and might even act hatefully toward them for being different. Sports and other programs are important, but I feel that this program made a difference in my children's lives. Teaching them is also very meaningful in a society full of contention.

This month our theme is forgiveness, which is a value that may be hard to deal with, but is universal and human nature to have problems with someone where forgiveness is important. The main sermon about that is here - click on the POD icon to listen to it. Yesterday's sermon was about our heritage - the family from which we come, the genes we inherit, and what we do with who we are as a result. Our guest speaker also spoke about death and a ritual around honoring our ancestors. Next Sunday, we will actually practice another similar ritual, Dia De Los Muertos: Day of the Dead. We will remember and honor our loved ones who have died. Bring a photo or memento of a relative or loved one to place on an altar. Anyone who would like is welcome to join us.

There were two recent articles about this faith organization:

In the Washington Post: Unitarian Universalists see chance for growth in growth of secularism I like the quote: “In our tradition, you get to be wrong,” he said. “God is big. God is magnificent. You can’t tell me that we know everything there is to know about God yet.” - It does come as a surprise to many that we are also open to people who are agnostic or affirm that they do not believe in God, though we are still a religious community.

In USA Today: Unitarian faith growing nationwide I like the quote: De Lee, an astronomer...is one of a growing number of Unitarian Universalists, a group of people who believe in organized religion but are skeptical about doctrine. and Unitarians believe their open-minded faith has a bright future as an alternative to more exclusive brands of religion. - The final statement is about being right, but our goal is to help each person find what is right for them and if that means moving on to a different religion, we acknowledge that can happen. But we don't argue that there is only one right way to believe.

TV, Diversity, & an overabundance of #whiteness . #tv #diversity

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 05:22:46 GMT

"Partners," which premiered tonight, did not get good reviews. But I couldn't even watch it after the first few minutes as it started by showing a cast of 4 white people. And then there was a Latina character who talked in an old-fashioned stereotypical way. I'm so tired of that stuff. When will Hollywood stop all that whiteness?

"Star Trek" was a good example of diversity from decades ago and it should have improved from there. Actually, science fictions are generally the best shows for racial diversity. CCH Pounder is an outstanding actress and has a great character in "Warehouse 13".

J.J. Abrams is a renowned producer of science fiction TV shows. "Lost" had some non-white actors and the current "Revolution" has Maria Howell , Daniella Alonso, and Giancarlo Esposito, who are doing great acting jobs. They're primarily in a sea of whiteness, though. I think the diversity of personality types in his shows also makes them interesting besides the plot with the unusual dilemmas and mysteries. Of course, the gender diversity and non-traditional female roles are good, too.

It would be nice to have more comedies and light dramas with fewer white people, like the world I live in and the United States of the future and possibly many other countries.

I try not to just sit and be entertained, though it is nice to do. Now that I have a selection, I like to watch shows that reflect my principles and values. I don't like to support programs that stick to the old lack of racial and/or cultural diversity.

It maybe better than it used to be - in the mid-twentieth century, but not as much as one would expect more than a decade into the 21st century. Don't you think?

A sad story & hope for assistance #payitforward

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:17:32 GMT

Family, friends and thoughtful acquaintances, This is a "pay it forward" kind of situation if anyone has ever done a goodness to you without expectation of return. And if they haven't, you could get it started & some people believe that it will come back. As Melvina Reynolds sang, "Love is something if you give it away, you end up getting more."

We all have problems sometimes. Usually we can manage to get through them OK. Sometimes it seems almost impossible. I don't know how my brother feels as he doesn't express himself well. He's a wonderful happy-go-lucky soul and loves to tell stories.

One night a few weeks ago, after helping his wife, Lisa, of only 5 yrs., fight cancer, which was first diagnosed in 3rd stage 2 1/2 years earlier, I called my brother on his cell. He was in the hospital and stepped out of her room to talk to me as he didn't want to talk about Lisa in front of her. I asked him how she's doing and he told me that the doctor said that she'll either die there or she'll go home to hospice care. He was very matter-of-fact about it after trying to keep her alive for 2 1/2 yrs. He loves her deeply. She was only ~50.

I didn't ask any tough questions after he told me she was dying, assuming he might not have "made arrangements" yet or thought ahead to what happens afterward. Maybe I should have because it could have helped him release, but he was resisting any expression of feelings. So I just let him talk about whatever he wanted to talk about. He talked about Lisa's open heart surgery and how he felt about the doctor and staff there at that hospital where she had the surgery. He felt good about that hospital, because it was an amazing experience where she went through a rare open heart surgery over a year ago. I think the video or photos of that surgery have gone on to be an education to other doctors as all those they knew had never seen such a condition - it was a miracle that she was still alive with fat encompassing the inside of her heart, but they fixed it and her life went on for more than a dozen months.

He didn't tell me he had lost his job due to his decreased ability to focus on his work due to his wife's illness. He mentioned problems with his old truck which was his only mode of transportation. He didn't mention that it was really not fixable, especially with the resources he had. So now he's mourning the loss of his wife and he has no job or transportation to find work.

Here is the story as told by my neice:
A Family Sticking Together at GoFundMe

I will be giving, even though I'm not making much as a self-employed web site developer and a substitute teacher and the new book I have a story in gives me no royalties - I write to share information I think will be helpful.

The book could be useful in this situation and to many who work with people who deal with people who grieve, or deal with dying or death (and we all do at some point, don't we?). It's about the 9 Enneagram personality types and has examples from many sub-types, the last one being my story (not this one, but one of when the doctors thought I might be dying). It's good to understand how others think and feel in this time when we're exposed to many people who are very different from us. The book is The Enneagram of Death: Helpful insights by the 9 types of people on grief, fear, and dying.

My husband might be out of work in two months as he's been given notice, but we still have money in the bank and we still have a house, so I can't give as much as I'd like. We can look forward and plan and deal with whatever happens.

My favorite Obama quote at the #DNC2012 & #Maryland participation

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:51:04 GMT

I've been posting on Facebook more than my blog, but this is worth posting twice (at least). From Obama's acceptance speech (video | transcript):

I'm hopeful because of you.

The young woman I met at a science fair who won national recognition for her biology research while living with her family at a homeless shelter – she gives me hope.

The auto worker who won the lottery after his plant almost closed, but kept coming to work every day, and bought flags for his whole town and one of the cars that he built to surprise his wife – he gives me hope.

The family business in Warroad, Minnesota that didn't lay off a single one of their four thousand employees during this recession, even when their competitors shut down dozens of plants, even when it meant the owners gave up some perks and pay – because they understood their biggest asset was the community and the workers who helped build that business – they give me hope.

I think about the young sailor I met at Walter Reed hospital, still recovering from a grenade attack that would cause him to have his leg amputated above the knee. Six months ago, I would watch him walk into a White House dinner honoring those who served in Iraq, tall and twenty pounds heavier, dashing in his uniform, with a big grin on his face; sturdy on his new leg. And I remember how a few months after that I would watch him on a bicycle, racing with his fellow wounded warriors on a sparkling spring day, inspiring other heroes who had just begun the hard path he had traveled.

He gives me hope.

I don't know what party these men and women belong to. I don't know if they'll vote for me. But I know that their spirit defines us. They remind me, in the words of Scripture, that ours is a "future filled with hope."

It was so cool that so many Marylanders participated in the convention: Rep. Steny Hoyer (my congressman), Senator Barbara Mikulski, Governor Martin O'Malley, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, and Rep. Donna Edwards.

It was good to hear Rep. Barney Frank, too; I'll miss him. This interview of him and his husband was good, too, as well as this photo. I hope we pass Marriage Equality in Maryland.

Funny politics & economy #liberal #gop #progressives

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:15:09 GMT

I saw this on HBO, but seeing it again in Daily Kos makes me want to save it here so I can look back at it and refer to it if it comes up.

Bill Maher makes a point in such a way, it makes me laugh, even though this shouldn't be funny!:

He didn't go on a spending spree. He didn't break up the too big to fail banks. They've only gotten bigger and fail-ier. That's not what liberals wanted, that's what conservatives wanted.

At the 2008 convention, Sarah Palin chanted "Drill, baby, drill". Under Obama, there's more drilling than ever. That's not what environmentalists wanted, that's what conservatives wanted.

Obama spent most of last year conceding the Republican premise that government needed cutting. That's not what progressives wanted, that's what the Tea Party wanted.

The Dow was at 7,949 when he took office, now it's 12,000 and over, corporate profits are at their highest ever. If he's a socialist, he's a lousy one.

President Obama is also not bad on jobs:

Not to say the economy is great, but these are new times and we have to think of things in new ways.

I wish we could be less partisan.

Voter fraud a hoax #gop #liberals #voting

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 04:48:29 GMT

My son posted some articles on Facebook & we got in this conversation. We've both been election judges and we know that voter fraud is a hoax. It's not really in the main media and the idea needs to be spread, though there are lots of articles one can link to which will help spread this message. Having voter IDs makes voting harder & disenfranchises the voter. We don't need it & it is counter to our democracy. Here is what my son says and his links:

Speaking as someone who did work as an Election Judge, asking for ID seems counterintuitive. That means we have to have someone on duty who knows what ID's are valid and can check for fraudulent papers. In order to accurately do this without huge lines, that means hiring and training additional judges for each precinct. To you conservatives reading this, yes that means A BIGGER AND MORE INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT.

It makes more sense, and saves more money, to do these checks at registration time and prosecute cases after they have been committed. Not to mention it prevents legitimate voters (Such as WWII veterans) being denied their vote on election day, and eliminates the unconstitutionality of what amounts to a poll tax.

Portage County veteran, 86, doesn't vote after VA identification card rejected at polls
A Portage County World War II veteran was turned away from a polling place this morning because his driver’s license had expired in January and his new Veterans Affair’s ID did not include his home address.

He started with this YouTube video: Turzai: Voter ID Will Allow Romney to Win Pa.
(Reposted with permission.)

Realities of Tent City #uuaga #uu #immigration

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:27:04 GMT

I keep watching video from the UUA General Assembly. I wanted to post about Right Relations and other things, but I don't have the time.

I recently watched: United Church of Christ President Rev. Geoffrey A. Black on two vimeo videos on this blog.

This dance is an example of nonjudgemental attitudes #relationships #acceptance

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:13:06 GMT

In this video, you can see some people are bold, some people are shy. Some take to dancing right away. Some start slowly. Some dance wildly while others drum on their thighs. It's a diverse group, but everyone there is accepting each other and enjoying the experience. This is during a rally where there are people from all over the U.S., most who don't know each other.

Offsite delegate participation experience #uuaga

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 22:44:03 GMT

Yesterday I was able to participate in mini-assemblies. I never did when I participated live. It was great to be a part of that important process.

I think I'm ADD & try to do too much - I need to focus. Offsite is easier for me to focus, though we miss lyrics and translations, but there will be improvements in the future. Of course, we miss those great rallies & large group singing that has a powerful feeling.

We figured there'd be a runoff on the Study Action Issues (CSAIs). The offsite delegates votes were:
CSAI 3 - Reproductive Justice 51.28%
CSAI 4 - Exploring Class Barriers 48.72%
Apparently it wasn't so close on site, because there was no count & Reproductive Rights won easily.

We were told there are 1300 delegates, not including minister, credentialed DREs, etc. (offsite delegates) with 1,644 total delegates - 518 congregations 3,900+ people in attendance! There are 85 offsite delegates, though some have tech issues - we only see about 60 online at one given time & often fewer.

We did get a text translation of speakers after the fact here. We weren't able to donate to the AZ partners as we couldn't find an appropriate link.

Offsite delegates are also getting to know each other through chat.

I also wanted to mention that I wish all the best to those who attend the vigil tonight. Gini, our moderator, said, "Counter demonstrators can [legally] carry arms." If I was there, I'd be out there with you. Hugs and best wishes for great vigils.

A favorite quote from President Peter Morales tonight was, ""No place for mediocre church." Yes!

I will try to post about the Right Relations team later, because I think they're great! But I don't know anything more than anyone else who just saw the plenaries.