racism

The Corrosive and Malignant Danger of Remaining Silent About Racism

CZ

This was shared on the UUA’s facebook page this morning.

“Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ Vanity asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’ But, conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Corrosive and Malignant Danger of Remaining Silent About Racism

Our Faith’s Complacency in Racism

CZ

“We have an absurd amount to learn, or unlearn, about race in this country. America allowed slavery to exist by seeking out personal and regional salvation at the expense of universal salvation. Our country felt better about itself because with the South as the identified patient, it never had to look at its own addiction.”

This reflection by Nathan Ryan is part of healing and of the work we need to be doing.

 

Photo Credit: UU World

 

9 Phrases Allies Can Say When Called Out Instead of Getting Defensive

CZ

There are many isms we are fighting on the way to equality for all people. Whether is be racism, sexism, ageism, heterosexism, ableism, classism, or any other system of oppression, if we are not from the marginalized group, we are not going to have all the answers or do everything right. As Unitarian Universalists we want to “answer the call of love” and help change the world, but sometimes we have to start with ourselves. This article by Sam Dylan Finch has better ways to deal with being called out by marginalized people, because being defensive does not get us anywhere. 

Namaste, 
Cricket 

The Hanukkah-Christmas convergence couldn’t be more symbolic of the light we must embrace – The Washington Post

CZ

“And now is a good time to live up to that promise, to light a candle in the darkness.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-hanukkah-christmas-convergence-couldnt-be-more-symbolic-of-the-light-we-must-embrace/2016/12/22/00e05a58-c866-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html?utm_term=.96b585179472
I really enjoyed this article and hope you do too. Let the light within us all shine brightly. 

Namaste, 

Cricket 

1966 Ware Lecture: Don’t Sleep Through the Revolution, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | UUA.org

CZ

http://www.uua.org/ga/past/1966/ware

In 1966, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the Ware Lecture at the UUA General Assembly. Here is a quote from the beginning of the speech, “The great question is, what do we do when we find ourselves in such a period? Certainly the church has a great responsibility because when the church is true to its nature, it stands as a moral guardian of the community and of society. It has always been the role of the church to broaden horizons, to challenge the status quo, and to question and break mores if necessary. I’m sure that we all agree that the church has a major role to play in this period of social change.”

We are still working. We are still fighting. We need to still be living our principles and working toward a vision of the world where all people are treated equally.

Namaste,
Cricket