Peace Vigiling

I have been participating in the weekly sidewalk peace vigil in downtown Salt Lake each Thursday from 5-7pm for over 4 years. I rarely miss a Thurday. If a holiday falls on a Thursday we still hold vigil. Unfortunately war, torture and injustices do not know “holidays”.

I was pleased that 11 folks came out in the smog-ridden cold to vigil on Thanksgiving Day today. One of our “regulars” brought her three sisters! While not there was not the usual downtown afternoon work traffic, there was a fair amount of traffic and lots of positive response.

Holidays, Consumerism and Stress

Many of my students in school yesterday appeared a little on edge, displaying a higher level than normal of frustration and impatience with tasks in class. One student said to me “It’s because of the holiday tomorrow – everyone is stressed out.” I couldn’t help but think that if we got rid of holidays, this wouldn’t happen. But then I quickly diverted the message of that thought to If it weren’t for the corporate media message of “you’ve got to buy these gifts now and do all these things to prepare for the holidays” we could truly celebrate our cultural heritages without all the commercialism” (which might indeed actually get rid of some of these commerically created holidays!).

Years ago I made a conscious decision to live a more simple life. I still have a long way to go, but my lifestyle has changed dramatically from my early adulthood. I buy used clothing (or get it for free), hardly ever eat out, make my meals from scratch as much as possible, never watch TV, use mass transportation as much as I can, and hand create gifts or get them from locally owned businesses.

Most importantly, I attempt to provide that example in an open way so others may follow suit.
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Utah Religious Community Issues Statement on Torture

Today’s Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune have published the statement from the Utah Religious Community disavowing the use of torture by the U.S. The statement urges our legislators to pass
H. R. 2863 (“Anti-Torture Provisions” – amendments to the Defense Appropriations Act of 2006).

There is one prominent religious community visibly missing from the list of signatories: The Church of Latter Day Saints. This church continues to refrain from taking a stand on this and other issues such as war itself.

On torture, the statement contains:
Torture, regardless of circumstance, humiliates and debases torturer and tortured alike. Torture turns its face against the biblical truth that all humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27). It denies the preciousness of human life and the dignity of every human being by reducing its victims to the status of despised objects, no matter how noble the cause for which it is employed.
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I have been extremely busy with activities at the school where I teach.

This month my social committee held a Harvest Dance and today a Thanksgiving Feast to help build community spirit. It worked! Kids have been having fun, smiling, laughing, and just “being” with each other. It’s great.

I have a great community school and am very fortunate to be a staff member there.

“Thanks” Giving???

(Shamelessly stolen from Oread Daily)
Other websites:
THE NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
36th NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
“Thanksgiving”- a National Day of Mourning
Thanksgiving: A National Day of Mourning for Indians

THANKSGIVING: A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

The United American Indians of New England web reminds us, “Since 1970, Native Americans have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture.
Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”

Below you will find some comments relating to the true story of “Thanksgiving”.
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Meanwhile….

While city councils are being subject to hearing resolutions from private think tanks on “natural” families, Salt Lake City’s new domestic partners benefit plan has attracted more than two dozen employees to enroll in the program.

Despite the efforts of some folks who are suing Mayor Rocky Anderson over the legality of this plan, the mayor’s administration is pushing the plan forward to offer these benefits.

Kudos to this administration for speaking out and standing up for “family” benefits for all who declare for themselves what their “natural” family is.

“Natural” Family?

Today’s Salt Lake Tribune has an article on a proposed resolution by the conservative Sutherland Institute urging mayors and councils to declare the “natural” family as the fundamental unit of society.

Here is what is in the resolution presented to by Paul T. Mero, President of the institute:

The document calls for cities to “envision a local culture” that:

  • “Upholds the marriage of a woman to a man, and a man to a woman, as ordained of God.”
  • “Celebrates the marital sexual union as the unique source of new human life.”
  • “See[s] our homes as open to a full quiver of children.”
  • “Envisions young women growing into wives, homemakers and mothers;
    and . . . young men growing into husbands, home builders and fathers.”
  • I would like to know who exactly defined what a “natural” family is. Hmmm….could it be the heterosexual men who wrote the christian bible, have been at the helm of all empires, and have served in dictatorships in nations and cultures since the beginning of human existence?

    This resolution clearly violates the rights of all people regardless of their view of a “natural” family. It is a slap in the face to women, gays, and people who practice religions other than Christianity. Additionally, in my opinion, it is a resolution designed by a right-wing organization to merge policy making with certain religious values.
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    Collecting video and audio clips, cartoons

    I am collecting Video and Audio Clips and cartoons from websites, local shows, and other sources for archiving on issues such as Green Politics, Living Green, and Peace and Justice.

    Please feel free to forward to me anything you suggest would be appropriate for this page.

    Fairly Informed

    I buy fair trade organic whenever I can. One of my regular fair trade purchases is coffee from a local co-op food buying club.

    Esteban, who runs Chlorophyll has a new blog calledFairly Informed – all about fair trade.

    Fairly Informed is dedicated to fair trade. It seeks to promote it and defend it from detractors, but also challenge it to grow into something deeper and broader than it is today.

    It’s run primarily by me, Steve Herrick. My interest in fair trade developed in my four years spent in Nicaragua. I see it as a low-key but pervasive form of direct action. If we want justice, we have to support it where it exists. We should not wait for companies or governments or celebrities to give us justice. We can act now, even if it’s one small action.

    Check it out and participate. This is cool.

    Utah Peace Train

    Tom King, a Green Party of Utah member and participant with People for Peace and Justice of Utah appeared in the KCPW Radio Program Miday Metro, speaking about the Utah Peace Movement. Tom appeared with another guest from another newly formed Utah Peace Organization.

    Interesting Note: Both guests refer to the Green Party of Utah, but only one speaks the truth.

    Click on the 10:20am segment, “Utah Peace Train”.

    You can also listen to the segement at: Peace Train. (ability to listen to mp3 required. File size=4.7MB)