Keeping a Downs baby = pro-life?!?!?

"Palin's pro-life, she has a baby with Down Syndrome" seems to really mean "No one in their right mind would have a child with Down Syndrome unless they were too committed to their pro-life values to abort." For real? Come on!!!!

That sentiment pisses me off. Without ever saying it directly, they send a strong & clear message that folks with Downs are inferior and not worthy of life in order to bolster their pro-life stance. They're wrong on both counts.

These messages imply that my pro-choice family is crazy and that my brother (who has Downs) is somehow less worthy than the rest of us. I beg to differ!! But honestly, I can't be reasoned & rational here because I'm angry at my core - angry that this crap is said & repeated over & over, angry that the "liberals" & commentators haven't challenged this, angry that so few on the left or right talk about developmental disabilities at all, angry that so many babies with Downs are being aborted, angry that so many don't have access to abortion, angry that those who get abortions don't have access to counseling resources before and after, and angry that this little baby has become a political pawn.

If you don't know folks with Downs, volunteer for Special Olympics, or join Best Buddies, or reach out to that person you see on the bus. That extra chromosome includes a double-dose of friendliness & extrovertedness (how else do we explain my brother being a HUGE extrovert in an introverted family?!?) -- so if you reach out, you'll be met more-than-halfway.

East/West Home...and the List

I'm home - well, this other home here on the left coast. I've had a rocky landing, as those of you I've talked to know.

Here's a synopsis of how the coasts measure up:
East coast home gets points for: green green green everywhere, real heat & humidity, the beauty, safety going for walks at night (ok, this is about living in the suburbs-for better and worse), walking barefoot inside & outside without dirt or danger (and yes, this is about my house & yard versus my parents'), and family close by.

West coast home gets points for: people of color and visible queers everywhere! So many wonderful friends & folks, and the YMCA with my yoga teacher and the hot steam room.

The Verdict: I'll be hanging out here for the next 2 years, then I'm heading East permanently. That's really been the plan for a while, but being there this summer confirmed it as "The Plan."

The List
I've started keeping a "things to do before I leave California list. Let me know what it's missing and join me to do these things!

• Wilbur or Harbin Hot Springs
  
• Japanese Tea garden in Golden Gate Park
  
• Winetasting
  
• Joshua Tree (preferably in wildflower season - Jan/Feb)
  
• Año Nuevo when the elephant seals are birthing - Jan/Feb
  
• Chez Panisse
  
• Mavericks (the mega-wave surfing contest in winter)
  
• Folsom Street Fair
  
• Sistas Steppin in Pride
  

Yes, I know it's embarrassing that I haven't done some of these things in the 13 years I've been in California. I now have 2 years to be less embarrassed! Help me!

In lighter news: CPE is done!

CPE has been done for over a week now. Here's a couple photos from our last day. I'll post something about my vacation later.

No more Feeling Wheel for a while!

Chilling out before our final luncheon.


Once done, we went to Starbucks and H. painted our nails. I got 5 different colors of pink and I've even left it on for the last 10 days! (my hand is coming out of the right edge of the photo)

Part II: Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons....

Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons
is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers' sons
we who believe in freedom cannot rest
~ Ella's Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock
I was incredibly moved watching the video of the Tennessee Valley UU Church's Rededication of their sanctuary a couple weeks ago - the video of Rev. Chris Bruice's words here brought me to tears. I am grateful to be a Unitarian Universalist and proud of the way TVUUC and the UUA has reacted with support and love through the grief. (left photo)



Reading this article about enforcement of Hartford's teen curfew this weekend, I found myself despairing that a Rededication of sacred space (and indeed, all land is sacred) is not possible for those who live in the North End of Hartford. (right photo) Reading the headline, I was glad for the curfew because I'm so angry and sad about the violence, but of course once I thought about it, I know that the curfew won't help end violence and will instead criminalize more black and brown youth.

For the lives of Greg McKendry & Linda Kraeger killed at TVUUC, Santos Guerra & Ezekiel Roberts killed in Hartford this month, and for Jim D. Adkisson & Rene Fernandez who've been arrested in these shootings -- we who believe in freedom cannot rest.

Until Hartford can be resanctified as TVUUC was, we who believe in freedom cannot rest.

My thoughts are in Knoxville

While I was preaching that there are many paths to truth and we must engage each other in our differences with mutual love, a man opened fire in the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville. Here's more info -a description of the UU response & service Mondayand an article about some of those shot.

My thoughts are with those in Knoxville, and those all over who dare to believe in welcoming and loving all people (geez, I never thought that was a dangerous statement before).

In lighter news, I got sucked into the squirrel-chasing. When I was home alone the other night and the squirrel came, I opened the window and yelled at it. When it came back, I poured water on its head - that did the trick and it didn't come back. Now, why is it so bad for a squirrel to be eating from a birdfeeder?

Squirrels and Preaching

Ahhhhhh, suburban life. Yes, this is a squirrel baffler. It's supposed to prevent squirrels from getting into the birdfeeder and eating that precious birdfood. But the squirrels here in West Hartford are too smart (must be the good schools) -- they manage to climb up the corner of the porch and jump onto the birdfeeder anyways. Ok, that's fine - a bit annoying, kinda funny, but fine, says I.

But not my dad. No sirreeebob. When he sees the squirrel on the birdfeeder, he jumps up, runs outside, and chases the squirrel at a fast clip while barking. Yes, barking, like a dog! And this from the rather bookish man who rarely moves quickly! When the squirrel inevitably comes back, Dad (or Mom, cuz she's party to this madness as well) goes for the water hose. Doesn't matter if we're in the middle of a game, or a great conversation, or dinner--squirrel-on-birdfeeder means emergency response! Luckily, my parents are good at laughing at themselves. It's a ridiculous sight!

In other news, I preached today. It went well, I'm glad I did it (and even enjoyed it), and glad it's over. I'm not done thinking about the tension between freedom and responsibility, between justice & tolerance though. My punch line was that we need to engage different opinions when we're in a community of love -- I gave the example of the lone republican in a UU congregation (and yes, he came up to me and thanked me at the end), but I didn't talk about what about the lone radical queer who doesn't support marriage equality. I realized on the way home that I don't actually do what I told others to do - I have seldom spoken up when I've disagreed with the apparent majority in my congregation, and that's what I was calling on folks to do. Yep, I got work to do to! Gosh, this faith thing is hard!

That's my post-sermon rant of the day. I'll spare you the self-criticism about how I'll improve the sermon-writing process next time, but I will give major props & gratitude to Leah for tons of amazing feedback & sermon fodder.

Two weeks left of CPE, three weeks 'til I'm back in the Bay!

Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons....

Living in Oakland, I'm aware of violence and killing of mostly black & brown young men - but I've never known anyone who's been hurt, never been directly impacted by it. Responding to trauma calls as a chaplain here in Hartford, however, my colleagues and I witness the impacts of street violence firsthand. Wow. I'm horrified and outraged - both at what's happening and at how little attention I've paid to similar violence at home in Califas.

Here are the stories in the paper of cases that came to our hospital just from the last 5 days:

Thursday night: Two Women Injured In Hartford Stabbing

Friday night:
Police: Teenager Attacked Stepsister
(and, on the lighter side, though still not minor, Two State Troopers Hurt In Accident

Saturday night:
3 Dead In Hartford Incidents Over The Weekend

Jakeem Jaquan Tully, RIP

Monday night:
Seventeen-Year-Old Suffers Neck Wound In Hartford

May all those impacted by all of this violence heal in body and spirit,
May they be surrounded by comforting love,
And may all find and create peace, from the North End of Hartford to Baghdad.