by Diane Bowden | Sep 26, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns
The Other Tennessee. “I never knew anybody who really got active because of guilt. Everybody white that I know that’s got involved in this struggle got into it because they glimpsed a different world to live in… Human beings have always been able to envision something better… All through history there have been people who have envisioned something better in the most dire situations. That’s what you want to be a part of.” Anne Braden, quoted in the Facebook page, “The Other Tennessee,” (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Other-Tennessee/464461963762234).
The Other Tennessee is part of a regional online campaign of Southerners stepping up against hate and racism in response to both Black liberation movement on the move and the presence of hate groups in our towns and cities. We’re building on and expanding the white anti-racist tradition in the South. See the coalition’s full statement at http://surjnashville.org/get-involved/the-other-tennessee/”
Serena Williams. I asked how winning felt for her. I was imagining winning as a free space, one where the unconscious racist shenanigans of umpires, or the narratives about her body, her ‘‘unnatural’’ power, her perceived crassness no longer mattered. Unless racism destroyed the moment of winning so completely, as it did at Indian Wells, I thought it had to be the rare space free of all the stresses of black life. But Serena made it clear that she doesn’t desire to dissociate from her history and her culture. She understands that even when she’s focused only on winning, she is still representing. ‘‘I play for me,’’ Serena told me, ‘‘but I also play and represent something much greater than me. I embrace that. I love that. I want that. So ultimately, when I am out there on the court, I am playing for me.’’
Because just as important to me as her victories is her willingness to be an emotionally complete person while also being black. She wins, yes, but she also loses it. She jokes around, gets angry, is frustrated or joyous, and on and on. She is fearlessly on the side of Serena, in a culture that that has responded to living while black with death. — From The New York Times Magazine, August 25, 2015, “The Meaning of Serena Williams: On tennis and black excellence,” by Claudia Rankine.
— The Baltimore-Area Working Group on Racism usually meets 7 – 9 pm on the 2nd Sunday of the month in the Stony Run dining room. We consider issues around racial justice, share personal experiences, and plan and host special events. All are welcome to attend.
by Diane Bowden | Aug 24, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns
In our exploration of the Israel Palestinian conflict we have learned of the destruction and theft of olive trees as part of the Israeli process of taking Palestinian land. We feel that one small way to help is to buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil that is produced by Palestinians. Olive oil from Palestine meets standards for organic. PSC committee plans to buy a case of extra virgin olive oil from Zatoun because 25% of the profit goes directly to the farmer and also uses some of the proceeds to help education, establish small businesses, etc.
We are hoping that enough people in meeting will be interested in buying this product to make our effort worthwhile. To learn more about Zatoun, see their website at zatoun.com.
The price is $20/750ml bottle, including shipping. It would be helpful to know of your interest so we can order an appropriate amount. You can email Verna Boos at hlaford@juno.com to place an order ahead of time. We will also have a small number of bottles to sell at meeting without prior order.
by Diane Bowden | Aug 19, 2015 | Adult Spiritual Education
Sunday, October 25th, 9:30 to 10:45 am in the Community Room.
What are the spiritual implications of our food choices? How do our food choices connect us to the rest of the living world? How can we live in unity with that world?
Our leader for this session will be Dr. Margaret Fisher who is a member of Herndon Friends Meeting where she has served at various times as clerk of the Meeting as well as of Peace and Social Concerns, and Ministry and Oversight. Her current Meeting work is with the Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County committee.
Dr. Fisher has led workshops on this important subject at the BYM Annual Session, Women’s Retreat, Alexandria and Patapsco Meetings, as well as Penn Hill Quarterly Meeting.
by Diane Bowden | Aug 19, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns
Saturday, October 24 from 10-12 noon. A presentation featuring Lynn and Steve Newsom, co-directors of Quaker House Military Counseling Center, Fayetteville, NC, home of Fort Bragg. MORAL INJURY, a relatively new term employed by the Veterans Administration, recognizes that among the effects of war on military personnel is emotional trauma over serious transgressions of moral, spiritual, or religious beliefs. Acknowledging the reality of “moral injury” provides common language for people of faith and conscience to collaborate with the medical profession in caring for the needs of veterans of all wars, past and present. (For more information about moral injury, see the August Meeting newsletter for in-depth article.) This free workshop is sponsored by the Richmond Peace Education Center, the Alliance for Unitive Justice and Friends Meeting. It is open to the public so please share information with others who may wish to attend also. If you plan to attend, please email Gordon Davies or Betsy Brinson. (The Newsoms will be presenting on moral injury to the local Veterans Hospital on Friday.) This is a timely opportunity to learn more about this important concept.
by Diane Bowden | Aug 19, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns
Sunday, October 18 at 1 pm. Dr. Alice Rothchild, Boston physician, human rights advocate and Jewish advocate for peace in Israel and Palestine, will present on her recent and ongoing travels to Gaza. This session is a kickoff to Dr. Rothchild’s three day visit to Richmond, where she will speak and meet with numerous groups and organizations. Dr. Rothchild is the author of
Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience and
On the Brink. In addition, she produced the documentary film
Voices Across the Divide. Her visit to Richmond is co-sponsored by Richmonders for Peace in Israel and Palestine, the Richmond Peace Education Center and our Adult Spiritual Education Committee. For more info about speaker, please see her website at
www.alicerothchild.com.
Finger foods will be served after meeting and before the 1 pm program.