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Raise Your Voice Against Mass Detention & Deportation
The message below went out on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.
“You who are so-called illegal aliens must know that no human being is illegal. That is a contradiction in terms. Human beings can be beautiful or more beautiful, they can be fat or skinny, they can be right or wrong, but illegal? How can a human being be illegal?”
-Elie Wiesel
This poster was designed by Alfredo Burgos with color added by Ernesto Yerena.
Thousands of us have arrived in Phoenix. There are Standing on the Side of Love T-shirts everywhere, worn by people with smiles on their faces. For people of faith, there is a feeling in the air that convening as we are at this very moment in time may be more than simply fortuitous. Within days, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of SB1070. Pres. Obama’s announcement last week—that some unauthorized immigrants who came into the country before they were 16 will no longer be deported—has reignited a national debate about immigration. Polls are showing broad support for the President’s directive. Republicans are scrambling to respond. This is an auspicious time for us to elevate how the country speaks about immigration, and to influence the policies and laws that are created!
I know there are thousands of you who cannot be here in Phoenix, and yet are here in spirit. Whether you are in Arizona or Maine or Alaska or Colorado, there is something you can all do today and tomorrow to help us capitalize on the energy of this moment:
Contact the White House and urge an end to the destructive ‘Secure Communities’ Program that tears families apart.
Click here for simple directions and talking points.
The White House deserves thanks for taking a step in the right direction. We must also keep up the pressure and let the White House know that the entire Secure Communities mass detention and deportation program is strongly opposed by many people in our country. Every day, parents and children are separated from one another. Every day, migrants who are detained experience egregious human rights violations. And laws like SB1070 and its ilk are terrible public policy that harm local economies, make communities less safe, and invariably lead to racial profiling no matter what the intentions. Hard-working immigrants need to be free to come out of the shadows, and be free from profiling, deportation, and detention.
Let us lift our voices as one against the Secure Communities program system of mass detention and deportation. Wherever you are, pause for just one minute, call the White House, and urge an end to the destructive ‘Secure Communities’ Program.
Click here for simple directions and talking points. Let’s flood the White House with messages of love and justice!
For the estimated 800,000 young people who may be affected by Pres. Obama’s directive, there have been tears and cheers. This change never would have happened were it not for the many brave DREAMers who put their bodies on the line—as well as people just like you, who have passionately advocated for the DREAM Act. Together, we can spur policy change—this is a reality unfurling before our very eyes. Standing on the side of love, we can change heart and minds. If we remain steadfast, we will bring about the sort of dramatic, systemic change necessary to overhaul our nation’s broken system of detention and deportation.
Love,
Dan Furmansky
Campaign Manager
Wisdom from a “Messenger to Mankind”
Jun 20, 2012
“You who are so-called illegal aliens must know that no human being is illegal. That is a contradiction in terms. Human beings can be beautiful or more beautiful, they can be fat or skinny, they can be right or wrong, but illegal? How can a human being be illegal?”
—Elie Wiesel, writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor
A Prayer for Justice General Assembly
Jun 19, 2012
The message below went out on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.
Prayer for Justice General Assembly
By Rev. Lilia Cuervo, Associate Minister
First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Rev. Lilia Cuervo
Spirit of Life, Mysterious and Amazing Force animating all that exists,
From many places far and near, crossing barriers of time and place, we have come to Phoenix, to celebrate this unique Justice General Assembly. Supported and encouraged by the commitment of our faith leaders, and by that of thousands of our fellow Unitarian Universalists across our nation and abroad, we who are here and those who are with us in spirit, are united as one to increase our witnessing and struggle for migrant justice.
Standing on the Side of Love, we gather once again in a world torn by fear, by hatred, by violence, to deeply draw courage and compassion from our faith foundations. Especially during this Assembly, we will remember and embody our Unitarian Universalist principles, calling us to be one in mind and spirit, working for the goodness of our world with unconditional and universal love. We will heed our humanist tradition, teaching us to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We will be aware and appreciative of our Earth traditions, reminding us to love and respect all beings just as Nature gifts us all, without exception, every day and every night, with light and warmth from the sun and the stars.
Inspired by the generous and compassionate spirit of these traditions, we covenant to unite our hearts and minds in the struggle for justice, embracing oppressors and oppressed alike. Grant us awareness to recognize that embedded in each one of us is the potential to become either, and the humility to face the fact that on occasion we have been both.
Spirit of Healing, embolden us to act without ceasing individually and in community, standing always on the side of love. In these confusing and perilous times, may this love prompt us to recommit to work for the benefit of all, but especially for migrants and their families. Whether living here for decades or recent arrivals, countless are stereotyped and labeled, live in constant fear of deportation, see their families torn apart by harsh laws applied unjustly; countless more labor long, underpaid, and unappreciated hours. All of these conditions may render their bodies and souls exhausted, weary, and hopeless.
Touched by your compassion, may they never give up, and may they be able to turn their despair into hope; may their dreams for a better life for them and their children come true, and may they, deep inside, hold the certainty that for each one of their offenders, there are many more that love, respect, and appreciate them for the human beings they are.
Spirit of Justice, help us even in the middle of our busy lives to be clear that our work is not finished until those responsible for advancing and protecting migrants rights, effectively and conscientiously do so. Grateful for every opportunity to stand on the side of love, we will work with renewed energy and strength until all dividing walls tumble, and just and compassionate laws guide authorities and all of us they serve on the path of justice, peace and understanding. Let this, our dream, be fulfilled in the name of love. Amen and blessed be.
Plegaria por la Justicia Asamblea General
Por la Rev. Lilia Cuervo, Ministra Asociada
Primera Iglesia en Cambridge, Massachusetts
Espíritu de Vida, Misteriosa y Maravillosa Fuerza que animas todo lo existente.
De muchos lugares cercanos y lejanos, cruzando barreras de espacio y tiempo hemos venido a Fenix, para celebrar esta Asamblea General, especialmente dedicada a la Justicia. Apoyados y animados por el compromiso de nuestros líderes en la fe y por el de miles de otros Unitarios Universalistas a través de nuestro y otros paises, los que estamos aquí y aquellos que nos acompañan en espíritu estamos unidos en un cuerpo para incrementar nuestra labor como testigos contra la injusticia y para luchar por que lo justo llegue a los inmigrantes.
Nos reunimos de nuevo en un mundo desgarrado por el temor, el odio y la violencia, firmes del lado del amor, para extraer valor y compasión de las raices más profundas de nuestra fe. Recordemos, especialmente durante esta Asamblea, encarnar nuestros principios Unitarios Universalistas que nos llaman a unirnos en una mente y un espíritu, para trabajar por el bien de nuestro mundo con amor incondicional y universal. Escuchemos las enseñanzas de nuestra tradición humanista que nos llaman a afirmar y promover el valor y la dignidad inherentes de cada persona. Seamos concientes y apreciativos de nuestras tradiciones basadas en la madre tierra, que nos recuerdan que debemos amar y respetar a todos los seres, así como la Naturaleza nos regala a todos, sin excepción, cada día y cada noche, luz y calor solares y estelares.
Inspirados por el generoso y compasivo espíritu de estas tradiciones, convengamos unir nuestros corazones y mentes en la lucha por la justicia, abrazando tanto a los opresores como a los oprimidos. Concédenos la conciencia de reconocer que en cada uno de nosotros reside el potencial para convertirnos en el uno o en el otro y la humildad para encarar el hecho de que en ocasiones hemos sido los dos.
Espíritu Conciliador, anímanos a actuar sin cesar como individuos y en comunidad, siempre firmes del lado del amor. En estos confusos y peligrosos tiempos, pueda este amor movernos a reanudar nuestro compromiso de trabajar por el beneficio de todos, pero especialmente por el de los inmigrantes y sus familias. Sea que hayan vivido aquí por décadas o que hayan llegado recientemente, innumerables son estereotipados y marcados, viven en constante miedo de ser deportados, ven sus familias destrozadas por leyes duras aplicadas injustamente; tantos más trabajan largas horas, insuficientemente remunerados y apreciados. Todo esto puede hastiar y agotar sus espíritus y sus cuerpos y dejarlos sin esperanza.
Conmovidos por tu compasión puedan ellos nunca rendirse sino tornar su desaliento en esperanza. Puedan sus sueños por una mejor vida para sí y para sus hijos realizarse y puedan tener muy dentro la certidumbre de que por cada uno de sus ofensores, existen muchos más quienes los aman, respetan y aprecian su humanidad.
Espíritu de Justicia, ayúdanos aún en medio de nuestras ocupadas vidas a tener claro que nuestro trabajo no está terminado hasta que aquellos responsable por avanzar y protejer los derechos de los inmigrantes, lo hagan concienzuda y efectivamente. Agradecidos por cada oportunidad de estar firmes del lado del amor, trabajaremos con renovada energía y fortaleza hasta que todos los muros que nos separan se desplomen y leyes justas y compasivas guien las autoridades y todos nosotros que ellos sirven en la ruta hacia la justicia, la paz y la comprensión. Que este nuestro sueño sea realizado en el nombre del amor. Amen y que así sea.
More >Sermon Sunday: “Happy and Gay”
Jun 17, 2012
Rev. Theresa Novak (right) is the minister of the UU Church of Ogden.
This week’s Sermon Sunday feature, entitled “Happy and Gay,” comes from Rev. Theresa Novak and was delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah on June, 3, 2012.
“You can be anybody you want to be, you can love anyone that you will. You can dream all the day never reaching the end of everything possible for you. The only measure of your words and your deeds will be the love you leave behind when you’re done.”
I cried the first time I heard that song – and the second time. OK, I cried today too.
Tears can be from pain, but they can also be tears of joy. My tears are happy tears.
I am so glad that I am gay! Don’t you wish you were? You don’t have to answer than just yet. Maybe later you can answer that question, but not yet.
It is pride weekend, and while I know a lot of you identify with the slogan, “straight but not narrow,” this morning I want to lift up how wonderful it is to be in a relationship with someone of the same gender.
As much as I appreciate the reasoning behind the argument that being gay is not a choice, it also bothers me. It leads to quickly to the idea that no one would choose this life, that what gay people need is tolerance and pity, after all, we were born this way, and we just can’t help it.
I don’t pretend to understand the science behind the argument, and I also know that many gay people have tried really hard to become heterosexual and have failed both miserably and painfully.
It may not be a choice, at least for everyone.
But I want to say clearly and proudly today, that if it is a choice, it is one I am both happy and proud to have made. It is GOOD to be gay. Yeah, there is a lot of discrimination; it would be great if the larger society were more accepting. It is getting better, but even when it was really terrible, even when it was illegal everywhere in the world, it was still worth it.
It may surprise some of you because I am so young at heart, but I am in my 60’s – early 60’s, very early 60’s. I was 15 in 1965 when I fell in love with my best friend we will call Kathy. We were in Rainbow Girls together if you can believe it. Anyone know about the Rainbow Girls? It is an organization for young women affiliated with the Masons and Eastern Star. Job’s Daughters is another one; the boys were in DeMolay. We would dress up in floor length formals, and conduct very serious rituals. In 1965, the rainbow was not yet a symbol of Gay Pride – that did not happen until 1978. I like to think the creators of it got the idea from me. Not true, but I like to think that, because I was, and still am, a Rainbow Girl. I just don’t wear floor length formals anymore. Floor length clerical robes, yes, fancy formal dresses, no.
As young girls often do, Kathy and I shared our hopes, our fears, our troubles, and our souls. One night we hugged each other and neither one of us wanted to let go. We knew something was happening while we held each other, but it took us awhile to figure it out.
In 1965, in a small town, we didn’t know any other gay people, any other lesbians. There weren’t any on TV and it wasn’t mentioned in the newspaper.
We did know that if you “wore green on Thursdays it meant you were queer.” That was the playground taunt when I was growing up. But what is one to do if March 17th falls on a Thursday? If you didn’t wear green on St Patrick’s Day, you would get pinched. Get pinched or be queer? Any sensible person would choose queer.
Seriously, we knew enough to know that what we were doing was not something that others thought was OK. But we knew it was wonderful; we were, after all, in love. I wrote in my journal the following question: “How can anything so wrong be so right?”
We were good for each other and we were glad that we were both girls. If one of us had been a boy, our parents would never have let us spent the night together. We had a whole lot of sleepovers in the year and a half that we were together.
After Kathy and I broke up, she was a year older and we began to have different friends and interests, I dated a few boys. I even lived with a man for three years while I was in college. That was OK. I like men, but to be honest, for an intimate relationship, for a life partner, for me, women are just better. I decided to come out and to identify as a lesbian. It was a decision, a choice to lead a more fulfilling life. Because of that choice, I was lucky enough in 1975 to fall in love with my dear Anne. It has been good, not perfect, no one’s life is perfect, but Anne and I have had a very good life together. We have had children, children that always knew they were wanted. Lesbians don’t tend to get pregnant by accident. Having children was a choice, a choice I would definitely make again.
If being gay is a choice, it is also one I would make again.
Frankly, being gay is so great that heterosexuals really should be jealous of us. You have all heard the line, “Men are from Mars and women are from Venus.” If you are part of a same gender couple, at least you live of the same planet!
Seriously, there are so many gender related cultural attitudes and approaches to life that it is just easier to understand and get along with someone of the same gender. There is also the fact that we are still a male dominated society, and with same gender relationships, the external power differential, including earning capacity, tends to be less.
If you live with someone of the same gender, you also don’t have to argue about whether or not to put the toilet seat down.
If you are close to the same size, you can even share clothes without anyone else noticing. We did that some before I gained so much weight, but then again I have always like purple more than Anne does.
No two people are exactly the same, but the standard gender roles require a lot more negotiation in heterosexual relationships. Our oldest son, when he was about 12, made the comment that he liked having two moms partly because it gave him the freedom to be who he was. He could like cooking, he could like doing yard work, and could just be whoever he was. He wasn’t locked into a stereotypical gender role just because he was a boy. He’s a heterosexual and he is going to make some woman a wonderful husband one of these days.
Studies show that children raised by same gender parents turn out pretty much like other kids do with the small, but not insignificant difference, that as adolescents and as adults they are more accepting of all kinds of differences. We need more people like that in the world.
When our kids were small the other mothers we met would often comment as they saw us both changing diapers and dealing with the kids that they would love it if their kids had an extra mom to help with all the mothering duties. Not that men can’t do those things, and not that there aren’t some dad’s, both straight and gay, who are awesome at all the nurturing tasks, but for at least most of those women, their husbands were just “helpers” and the childrearing duty was not fully shared. They said they were jealous and I think they really were.
There are also all the straight women friends who, when their relationships with men just didn’t seem to work out, have told us that they wished they were lesbians because it just seems a whole lot easier. They were jealous of what Anne and I have together.
Jealousy can be a good thing. It is much better than tolerance, and it is certainly better than disgust.
The point of this sermon is not, however, a recruiting effort. Yes, I think it is great to be gay; it makes me happy. But even if straight people have it harder in some ways, they can be happy too, and the real message is that we all need to find the good that is in each of us, in each of our lives. There are advantages and disadvantages to almost everything.
A lot of things have and will break our hearts. There is so much that we would change if we could, about the world and about our own lives. There is loss, and there is grief, discrimination, and oppression. There are tragedies of all kinds in life. Most of us would like more of something in our lives. More time, more money, better health, better weather, more peace, or more excitement, there is always something that we think will make our lives better. I’d love it if we had marriage equality throughout the world. I would love it if all churches were as accepting of diversity as this one is. We can work for the changes we would like to see. But in the meantime, let us count our blessings. Let us be happy with who we are and what we are doing.
Each of you has positives in your life. Recognize them and celebrate them. Celebrate who you are, a complex human being with a complex life. Know that there is a river than runs in each of our souls; we are all somebody. Don’t get stuck in the negative messages. No one is less than anyone else. We all have inherent worth and dignity. Relish it, enjoy it, be who you are. The song Beth sang addresses a young child,
“You can be anybody you want to be, you can love anyone that you will. You can dream all the day never reaching the end of everything possible for you.”
But the message of the song isn’t only for children, although I wish all children could hear it. We all can continue to dream. Our dreams need have no ending; no limits imposed by others who would tell us that they know better than us what our lives should be like.
We have only to remember that “the only measure of our words and your deeds will be the love we leave behind when you’re done.”
Stand on the side of love. Choose to stand on the side of love. It is the only thing that really matters. Amen and halleluyah!
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