Ending a Culture of Rape in the Military

Social theorists from feminist sociologists, like Audre Lorde, to institutional anthropologists, like Michel Foucault, agree that rape is never about sex. Rape is about power. Rape and sexual abuse dehumanizes and humiliates its victims. Its effects ripple through societies beyond those who are abused. This is why rape has been used as a very effective tool by invading armies. It has been documented that rape and sexual humiliation have been used in nearly every war since the Roman Empire. And it is widely recognized as a tool of genocide. Rape has been found in the holocaust as well as the Serbian, Rwandan and Sudanese genocides. And it has been a tool of torture in many international conflicts.

The effects of rape include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and often share similar results to what veterans of war and conflict experience. People who experience sexual violence during war time suffer the dual stress of sexual violence and war. It is for these reasons and more, the use of sexual violence is banned under international law as a crime against humanity.

It should come as no surprise, however, with this long history of rape in wartime, that reports of sexual violence and humiliation at the hands of U.S. soldiers are making their way into the public. Three years ago when pictures of sexual humiliation and sodomy came out of Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq, the public was outraged—and rightly so. But the media, public opinion and the Department of Defense all categorized it as a fluke. Recently, though, we have come to realize that Abu Ghraib was not a fluke, but rather, a harbinger of events to come.

In July of 2006, a group of U.S. service members were investigated by The Pentagon for allegedly raping and killing an Iraqi civilian. And similar stories of soldiers raping women in Iraq are more common that we wish. A horrific story involving a KBR contractor being imprisoned and raped by her colleagues chilled the nation. Last February, a New York Times article reported these are just few of 124 reported sexual assaults investigated in Iraq since 2005. But what is more disturbing is the fact that more than 2,200 sexual assaults have been investigated by the Department of Defense in 2006 alone. It is unknown how many of these took place in Iraq.

A culture of rape is very real in the U.S. Military and it can no longer be ignored. Gruesome accounts of sexual violence between soldiers, military contractors and civilians are all too regular. And the Department of Defense cannot consider these as isolated incidents. As women service members have called for more accountability, the DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office reached out to organizations like the Miles Foundation and Men Can Stop Rape to address the very real culture of rape facing our military. Currently the Veteran Affairs has sixteen care centers for veterans who have experienced sexual assault—many of whom experienced their trauma as far back as Vietnam or World War II.

Currently, the organization Color of Change is calling for Congress to investigate the apparent rape and murder of Pfc. LaVena Johnson in Iraq. Please visit their campaign for Pfc. Johnson. And to learn more about the DoD is working to prevent sexual assault, please visit the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office website at http://www.sapr.mil/.

Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Last week, the House Armed Services Committee held its first hearing in fifteen years regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a policy put into place in 1993 by President Clinton. "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" prevents gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the military from being open about their sexual orientation. Since 1994, over 11,000 people have been discharged from the military due to "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell".

However, last week's hearing offered a great amount of hope for the future of BGLT service members. Testimony was heard from many, including retired Captain Joan Darrah, United States Navy, a member of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Virginia. The majority of the testimonies presented favored repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell".

"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is a discriminatory policy that not only affects the gay, lesbian, and bisexual members of the military but all of us, whether we are friends with those affected or paying our taxes part of which help fund the firing of gay, lesbian or bisexual service members. As Unitarian Universalists and concerned citizens we must take advantage of our current momentum to take a stand against "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246) would repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and replace it with a new provision prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the Armed Forces. H.R. 1246 would also allow people who have been discharged because of their sexual orientation to apply to rejoin the military. Contact your Representative and Senators today and ask them to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, H.R. 1246. Let’s work together to make the United States and the Armed Forces a positive place for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.

United Nations Sunday

During the past year the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) has been making tremendous strides representing our religious movement at the UN. People who know the executive director of the UU-UNO, Bruce Knotts, aren't surprised. And those that have been getting to know him since he was hired in January '08 are thrilled to have such an effective partner at the UU-UNO.


Bruce Knotts at UUA General Assembly '08

There are many recent accomplishments that the UU-UNO can be very proud of. Many people are especially grateful to the UU-UNO for the important work it has been doing to raise the issue of human rights for LGBT people at the United Nations. In many ways the United Nations has sought to avoid this discussion, but the UU-UNO was not willing to let it do so. In fact, in Septemeber 2008, during the UN's Human Rights Conference in Paris (organized by UNESCO and the UNHCHR) the UU-UNO is sponsoring a panel discussion on the subject of LGBT human rights that will include representatives from Dutch and Burkina Faso LGBT NGOs. Bruce Knotts describes the UU-UNO's advocacy position this way:

We never disrespect a culture, but... If a culture beats, tortures, rapes, and kills people who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, that culture needs to change. I made it clear at the UN, that I would set aside the issue of same-sex marriage. I felt it important to face the life-and-death issues that face LGBTs around the world first. LGBTs must first have the right to live in safety, free from arrest, torture, beatings and other abuse. LGBTs around the world need access to health care, jobs, housing and education. Once these basic survival needs are met, we can move on the quality of life issues, such as marriage. This position has been respected at the UN. It is solely due to the efforts of the UU UNO that LGBT rights are now firmly on the agenda for the Paris Conference.

Thank you, Bruce - and every one at the UU-UNO - for bringing this important justice work to the United Nations.

Congregations can celebrate the United Nations and the UU-UNO's work by joining with UU congregations throughout North America and hosting a UN Sunday service on October 26, 2008. The theme for UN Sunday '08 is "Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for Us All". Materials for planning a UN Sunday service are available online from the UU-UNO. An additional resource is available from the UUA's Office of International Resources especially for congregations participating in the Faith Without Borders program.

During UN Sunday services congregations can proudly tell inspiring stories about the UU-UNO's work with HIV/AIDS orphans in Ghana, its faithful advocacy for effective intervention in Darfur, the incredible intergenerational gathering at its Spring Seminar on Peacemaking last April, as well as how its taking a stand on behalf of LGBT people throughout the world.

If you haven't scheduled a UN Sunday yet, be sure to do so. And, please consider requesting a special offering during UN Sunday to support the work of the UU-UNO. The representation of our religious movement at the United Nations is certainly worth it.

$48 billion for AIDS, TB, Malaria – PEPFAR Reauthorized

Let’s start with the good news. Our government has approved $48 billion over five years to combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis! The law nearly triples the funding level of its predecessor, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), originally passed in 2003. Along with the $48 billion, the legislation includes new linkages between AIDS and nutrition programs, sets a target of recruiting 140,000 new health care workers, and repeals a travel ban on HIV-positive visitors to the United States.

Additionally, the 1/3rd abstinence-until-marriage earmark has been removed! Five years of advocacy by the Unitarian Universalist Association in partnership with the Center for Health and Gender Equity, Advocates for Youth, National Council of Jewish Women, and many other organizations has finally paid off. In place of the earmark, however, is a requirement that countries must file an explanatory report with Congress if abstinence and fidelity programs fall below 50% of their prevention spending. Fortunately, this is a “soft” earmark in that it does not require that funding be used in any particular way. It is unclear how this requirement will be interpreted and how it will influence the spending decisions of partner countries and the funding decisions of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. But it certainly shows that Congress got the message that the abstinence-until-marriage earmark did not help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Unfortunately, the shortcomings of the legislation largely effect prevention programs. The law fails to mention family planning or abortion services, an omission that many advocates believe will hinder the integration of those services with HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. It only briefly mentions intravenous drug users and men who have sex with men, two high risk populations whose specific prevention needs are likely to be unfulfilled. The law also fails to eliminate the current requirement that recipients sign an “anti-prostitution pledge,” which has reportedly discouraged grantees from doing effective outreach programs for sex workers.

As the Legislative Assistant for International Issues working in the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Washington Office for Advocacy, I have spent the last two years advocating for evidence-based, comprehensive HIV Prevention. Reflecting on the passage of this bill, I recognize that our brothers and sisters around the world who are living with HIV/AIDS need more than charitable handouts; they need firm, unshakeable commitment. The U.S. Government has taken a step toward such a commitment by authorizing nearly $48 billion to help combat HIV/AIDS. While I commend our Representatives for this substantial increase in funding, I am disappointed that their policies fail to support fully integrated, evidence-based prevention programs. This legislation fails to address the real life needs of those who are most at risk of contracting HIV, including sex workers, intravenous drug users, and men who have sex with men. Their suffering will be the measure of this policy’s failure. Again, I applaud our Government for its unprecedented financial commitment to HIV/AIDS, but the real victory will come when our HIV prevention programs carry truth to those who need it most.

Responding to the Shooting at Tennessee Valley UU Church

Love is the spirit of this church and service is its law.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.
- James Vila Blake
-- From the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church website

Yesterday morning a gunman entered the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) of Knoxville, TN, and opened fire on congregants from TVUUC and nearby Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, who were gathered for a joint worship service. Linda Kraeger, 61, and Greg McKendry, 60, were killed. Seven people were wounded, five of whom have been hospitalized in serious or critical condition.

Today our thoughts and prayers are with the Unitarian Universalists of Northeast Tennessee and their loved ones. We hold in our hearts those killed and injured, and their families and communities.

As an office, we took a break a short while ago to light a chalice and share in a moment of silence and prayer. We invite you to also take a moment from your day to offer prayers of healing for our UU community.

UUA President, Rev. William G. Sinkford, has released a statement on the shootings (http://uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117154.shtml) and UUA.org is maintaining a webpage (http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117156.shtml) with news updates and resources, including links to Making Meaning After Disaster and Trauma Resources for Families and Congregations.

For UUs in the Northeast Tennessee area, a vigil will be held tonight at a church neighboring TVUUC. See Unitarian Universalists Respond to Knoxville Shooting Disaster for details.

To send letters of support and sympathy to the congregations, TVUUC’s address and contact information are available at http://www.tvuuc.org/ and Westside UU Church’s information can be found at http://westknoxuu.org/.

Interfaith Viewpoints: Justice and Workers' Rights

Yesterday my co-worker Kat and I attended an interfaith dialogue on workers' rights at D.C.'s Jewish Community Center. Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, and Muslim speakers spoke on the theme of "Caring for the Caregiver."

A Christian Perspective

A woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at [Jesus']feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." "Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. --Mark 7:25 - 30, New International Version

Rev. Noemi Mena, from the National City Christian Church in D.C., shared reflections on a passage from the Book of Mark in which a Greek woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Rev. Mena pointed out that the clash of cultures in this story echoes tension over cultural divides between those receiving care and caregivers today.

Like many people in our time who struggle with prejudice, Jesus seems to be put off by the woman's foreignness at first, telling her, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." Jesus implies that the woman does not deserve his blessing because of her ethnic origin. When the woman persists in her faith, Jesus heals her daughter.

As a child, I was taught that Jesus was intentionally testing the woman's faith in this story. But Rev. Mena pointed out that some Christians believe that Jesus "was a man who did not fully understand God's claim upon him at the beginning." In this light, the reader sees not the woman, but Jesus being tested--Jesus must struggle with and overcome his own prejudice during this interaction.

With wealth and power unevenly divided along lines of color, class, and national origin, people must work for understanding that bridges cultural divides. "The miracle occurs," Rev. Mena said, "when we begin to understand."

A Buddhist Perspective

In five ways should a master minister to his servants and employees: 1) by assigning them work according to their ability, 2) by supplying them with food and with wages, 3) by tending them in sickness, 4) by sharing with them any delicacies, 5) by granting them leave at times. The servants and employees thus ministered to by their master show their compassion to him in five ways: 1) they rise before him, 2) they go to sleep after him, 3)they take only what is given, 4)they perform their duties well, 5) they uphold his good name and fame. --Sigalovada Sutta

Dr. Sovan Tun, president of the Cambodian Buddhist Society in Silver Spring, Maryland, shared the above excerpt from the Sigalovada Sutta, detailing the responsibilities of an employer and employee to one another.

Dr. Tun stressed the interrelationship of different walks of life. Indeed, this excerpt was particularly interesting to several of the dialogue attendees because it was one of the few scriptures discussed which elaborated on the mutuality of employer-employee relationships.

For me, one of the most interesting points that Dr. Tun brought up related to how we talk about what world religions have in common. If one views the common ground between religions as faith in God, millions of Buddhists and Jains (and many UUs) are being left out, Dr. Tun pointed out. "Common ground between religions should be service to one another," he said.

This idea really rocked my world--especially as an atheist UU who has struggled all year in interfaith coalitions to define the similarity between our denomination and theistic religions. When the commonality between spiritual traditions has more to do with how we relate to one another and less to do with how we do or do not relate to a God or Gods, it opens up many new doors for interfaith work.

A Jewish Perspective

One who hire workers and instructs them to begin work early and to stay late - in a place in which it is not the custom [to do so], the employer may not force them to do so. In a place in which it is the custom to feed workers, he must do so. In a place in which it is the custom to distribute sweets, he must do so. Everything goes according to the custom of the land - minhag hamakom. --Mishna; Baba Metzia 7:1

Rabbi Greg Harris opened by saying that labor issues are as old as the Torah itself. In the oldest Hebrew scriptures, one sees the concerns of employer and employee. Like Dr. Tun, Rabbi Harris emphasized the mutuality of the employer-employee relationship, which stems from respect for one another. The employer must treat the worker fairly, and the worker must ask themself whether they are "living up to the employer's obligation back to them."

Rabbi Harris also spoke about minhag hamakom, "the custom of the land." This text from the Mishna's Baba Metzia commands employers to treat their workers according to local standards. To me, it seemed that this injunction related to the Living Wage Campaign, which is based on the idea that anyone working a full-time job ought to be paid enough to be able to afford shelter, food, medical care, and other necessary expenses in their area. It also reminded me of the struggle for the rights of undocumented workers, who are sometimes underpaid and maltreated by U.S. employers who argue that $3 or $4 per hour is a good wage in an immigrant worker's country of origin.

A Muslim Perspective

None of you has faith unless you love for your brother what you love for yourself. --An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 13

Sister Asma Hanif, the Executive Director of Muslimat Al-Nissa, INC, and a member of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, discussed several ways in which Islam speaks to workers' rights.

Asma's first observation was that the two women on the panel--herself and Rev. Mena--both mentioned self-care in their talks, while the two men focused on the employer-employee relationship--which set me to thinking about different ways that men and women may approach workers' rights.

Sister Asma Hanif also observed that each speaker had mentioned a version of the "Golden Rule," or ethic of reciprocity, found within their faith tradition. The ethic of reciprocity simply holds that one should treat others as one would like to be treated. The Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith records Mohammed as saying, "None of you has faith unless you love for your brother what you love for yourself." (I am fascinated by the small variation between this Muslim version of the ethic of reciprocity and the Christian version I grew up with, which is almost identical except for that lead-in: "None of you has faith unless . . .") Stated in any of a variety of ways, the ethic of reciprocity is a profound injunction to all those who have power over others, including employers, supervisors, customers, and consumers.

Finally, Sister Asma Hanif explained that in Islam, "Your body has rights over you." For example, "Your body has the right to eat and sleep," she said. "You have to take nourishment." Things are designed to keep people from over-taxing themselves; bodies impose limits that each person must respect. It is important to honor the rights of the body, and to make sure that workers who care for others are in turn able to care for themselves.

Labor in the Pulpits/Labor on the Bimah/Labor in the Minbar

Last night's dialogue was sponsored by

• Jews United for Justice
• Interfaith Worker Justice
• D.C. Jobs With Justice

as a lead up to Labor in the Pulpit/Labor on the Bimah/Labor in the Minbar, which will take place in hundreds of churches, synagogues, and mosques across the United States on Labor Day.

Labor in the Pulplit/Bimah/Minbar is an annual joint project of Interfaith Worker Justice and the AFL-CIO. Last year over 600 churches participated in 52 cities.

For more information on interfaith perspectives on worker justice and labor issues, including a four page booklet on The Qur'an and Worker Justice, a handout on American Buddhists and Worker Justice, a Prayer for Labor Day, and much, much more, check out Labor in the Pulpits.

Why UU Service Committee Supports Living Wage $10 in 2010 Campaign

by Johanna Chao Kreilick, Program Manager for Economic Justice, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

The July 24 raise in the minimum wage to $6.55 will help millions of workers deal with the rapidly rising price of gas, food, and other basic items.

Unitarian Universalists - working in partnership with Let Justice Roll - have been at the center of this upward trend toward economic justice. Your living wage organizing and advocacy -- from Wichita to Atlanta, to Nashville and Tulsa is helping to make the difference for working families across America.

As leading members of Let Justice Roll, UUSC and the UUA are inviting your continued support and participation, beginning with a call to leaders of faiths across the nation to endorse a letter that will be delivered to the new Congress in January. In combination with the faith letter, Let Justice Roll is inviting congregations and organizations to join us in hosting a diversity of “Living Wage Days” services and community events across the nation January 10 and 11.

Learn more at Advancing the Fair Wage Movement > Stories and sign up to join other UUs in building a groundswell of support for a minimum wage that lifts people out of poverty and strengthens our families and economy.

As Dr. King said in Memphis in March 1968, "Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality for all of God's children...Now is the time for justice to roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

Ratatouille: Another Film That Fails the Feminist Film Rule

Ratatouille: Another Film That Fails the Feminist Film Rule

When we want to be amused and entertained without having to put forth much effort, my partner and I often turn to animated films. A viewing of The Incredibles does wonders for getting my mind to let go of stress from life and work.

In that spirit, we sat down last night to see Ratatouille, a Disney-Pixar release (from Incredibles Director Brad Bird) about a rat who pursues his dream of being a chef in Paris. It won an Oscar in 2008 for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. It was creative, fun, & funny—we both enjoyed it.

And yet, like so many other “good” movies, Ratatouille fails the very low bar set by what can be called the “feminist film rule.”

As near as I can tell, the test can be traced to a 1985 comic strip entitled The Rule, from the series “Dykes to Watch Out For” by Alison Bechdel. Bechdel credits Liz Wallace for introducing her to the rule. In order for a movie to pass muster, it’s got to have three things:

1. There have to be at least two women in it.
2. The two women must talk to each other.
3. The two women must talk to each other about something other than a man.

It’s a low bar. And yet I’m consistently disappointed by how many films don’t pass, because it means that millions of viewers are consistently ingesting inexcusably narrow and sexist portrayals of women. Ratatouille, for example, has only one female with enough screen time to be called a character. For some hard data, see the 2007 Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls, which references two studies of the 101 top-grossing G-rated films from 1990 to 2004. Of the over 4,000 characters in these films, 75% overall were male, 83% of characters in crowds were male, 83% of narrators were male, and 72% of speaking characters were male. In addition, there was little change from 1990 to 2004.

Why is it so hard to portray more women in more roles?

The answer, I think, is that it’s not. It’s not hard to portray more women in more roles; filmmakers simply must want to do it. There needs to be an understanding that more and diverse roles for women are important; that’s it something the viewing public demands—or at least expects.

Applying the feminist film test has been an important consciousness-raising discipline for me; I encourage you to give it a try. Next step: figuring out what meaningful action to take. http://www.mediaandwomen.org/whatcani.html seems like a great place to start.

63rd Anniversary of Hiroshima Day

August 6, 2008 will be the 63rd anniversary of Hiroshima Day and there are many interfaith and UU resources available for congregations that plan to hold a worship service or other event.

• UUA President, Rev. William G. Sinkford offers a prayer for Hiroshima Day-

Like most traumatic scars, the ones that are found in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are permanent: reminders of the terrible damage human beings can inflict.

Similar scars can be found in the hearts and souls of people around the world who understand this terror: scars of grief, sadness, fear and even shame.

None of these scars promise an end to war and devastation. Instead, they serve as a reminder of healing and renewal - of a return to life.

Gracious God, Spirit of Life and Love, help us to see our scars: those we have created, those we are called to witness, and those we can soothe and heal.

We are deeply grateful for the buds and blossoms that even the most scarred offer as a revelation to the world.

And, especially on this 63rd anniversary of Hiroshima Day, we renew our commitment to peace individually, collectively and globally:

To "peace within" which calms our anxieties and fears,
To "peace between" which overcomes differences, animosities and conflict,
And, to "the great peace", beyond even our understanding, that is Your gift and which we attempt to be stewards of for the world.

Amen.

(Photos: A Phoenix tree survived the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Six weeks after the bombing it produced buds, and was later transplanted to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park where it lives today.

The long scar along the length of the tree’s trunk was caused by the force of the bomb.

(Photo Credit: Paul Custodio Bube, Lyon College)

• The UUA is a partner organization of Faithful Security which provides a very useful "Educational Toolkit" that includes worship resources for Hiroshima Day.

• Shortly after the bombing in Hiroshima, Rev. A. Powell Davies of the All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington DC gave a famous sermon called "Lest We Forget". In it, he encourages the congregation to give supplies to the victims of the bomb. After sending school supplies to the Honkawa school in Hiroshima, the church received 45 hand drawn pictures by the children of the city. These pictures have recently been restored and discussions on how to best preserve the pictures are being held in the church. For more information the relationship between All Souls and Hiroshima's school children, please visit: http://www.honkawa-film.com/about.html

• The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum website has terrific photographs and archives of the annual "Peace Declarations through 2007:

That fateful summer, 8:15. The roar of a B-29 breaks the morning calm. A parachute opens in the blue sky. Then suddenly, a flash, an enormous blast ― silence ― hell on Earth... (more)

• Be sure to visit the museum's "Kids Peace Station" which includes presentations about Sadako Sasaki and the "Peace Crane" tradition.

(How to create an origami peace crane)

Did you know UU Minister, Reverend Fred Small, was inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki and wrote the song "Cranes Over Hiroshima" (lyrics) (Download at Amazon)

• Celebrate the interfaith coalition that advocated to quash the "Reliable Nuclear Warhead" bill in the U.S. Senate. The bill was defeated on July 10, 2008! If your congregation opposed this bill - which would have created a new nuclear weapon - offer a thank you to Senators who opposed it.

Stop the War in Iran Before it Begins

This week, we, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy and Witness are joining up with our coalition partners at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) to prevent the United States from entering into war with Iran.

H. Con. R. 362, which would create an American-led blockade of all ground, sea, and air transport into and out of Iran, currently has 219 supporters in Congress. In addition to upholding economic sanctions, this bill would create a military presence on the borders of Iran.

This hostile policing of Iran would be tantamount to a declaration of war.

H. Con. R. 362 is a dangerous step toward another short-sighted and costly war in the Middle East. Please urge your Representative to not support this resolution.

Today is a national call-in date to tell Congress we do not want war in Iran.

Call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or click here to look up the direct numbers for your representative's DC and local offices.

If you need it, feel free to use the following script:

"Hi, my name is ____________ and I am a resident of Congressperson ___________'s district. I am calling today urge you to oppose H.Con.R. 362. This blockade of travel into and out of Iran is being advertised as an alternative to war. However, it would require the use of our already shorthanded military to enforce the borders. Many would see this as a move toward invasion or war.

I urge you to instead support diplomacy with Iran by amending the resolution to replace the blockade with multinational diplomatic talks.

Thank you."

Picture credit: [ecpark] on Creative Commons

UU Immigration Activists in the News

"How as people of faith could we not stand with immigrants? Isn't that what religion is all about?"

--Susan Leslie, UUA, quoted in the Boston Globe

On July 4th, the Boston Globe published a front page article exploring the role of religious groups in supporting immigrant workers. The article features the involvement of the UUA and Boston's Arlington Street Church with the New Sanctuary movement. Our very own Susan Leslie of Congregational Advocacy is quoted! Read all about it in Churches Champion Immigrants' Plight.

In addition, the UUA webpage is featuring a story about Massachusetts UU immigrant activists' involvement in a statewide coalition. Check out Unitarian Universalists Join Welcoming Massachusettes Campaign Kick Off in Support of Immigrants.

Susan and I are collecting stories of how UUs all over the country have been involved in volunteering and advocating around immigration issues, so that we can share them with the greater UU community. Please contact Susan or I if you have a story to share!

Susan - sleslie [at] uua [dot] org
Lisa - lswanson [at] uua [dot] org

Support Iraqi Refugees

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a seventy-five year old multinational relief organization, is working to bring to attention the current state of the millions of Iraqi War refugees.

They are currently looking for people to sign their IRC Iraq Humanitarian Pledge. This pledge calls upon the Bush Administration and the United States Congress to: strengthen humanitarian assistance to the region, support peacebuilding efforts and community-based reconstruction and development, and expedite the relocation of Iraqi refugees.

For every person who signs the pledge, the IRC will donate an extra $1 to support Iraqi victims of war and refugees.

Please sign the IRC Iraq Humanitarian Pledge and support these important efforts to help the victims of war. For more information on the IRC, please visit http://www.theirc.org/ or click on the banner below.




Ed. Note- This is the 100th blog post for Inspired Faith, Effective Action. Thank you all for your support and kind thoughts.

Act Now to Repeal the Ban on HIV Travelers and Immigrants to the U.S.

Posted below is a special, urgent Action Alert from Immigration Equality.


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The U.S. bars anyone with HIV/AIDS from immigrating or visiting - even as a tourist. HIV is the only disease singled out by Congress for special treatment. The ban is unfair, ineffective, and disproportionately harmful to LGBT immigrants and their families. While opposite-sex couples qualify for a waiver to the ban, same-sex couples do not.

Today the Senate is considering legislation that would end the ban. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) added language to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is being debated on the Senate floor today.

Send a message urging your Senators to support the Kerry-Smith provision and to ensure that the repeal of the ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants remains in PEPFAR.

Immigration Equality has been working to end the HIV ban for more than a decade. Don't let this opportunity pass us by - contact your Senators now and ask them to repeal the HIV travel ban!

Meet the New Social Justice Statements

Two weeks ago, at the Unitarian Universalist Association's annual business meeting, General Assembly, the new UUA social justice statements were passed. The new four year study cycle--Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI)--was passed along with five new Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW).

The AIWs along with the new CSAI will give both the UUA and its member congregations insight into which social justice projects have been given higher priority by the delegates of the General Assembly.

This year, we passed a new CSAI on Ethical Eating. For the next four years, the UUA and its member congregations will be studying how our eating choices affect our bodies, our communities and our world. Questions of environmental toll, resource distribution, health and diet, and economic impact of globalized food economies will undoubtedly be asked. This topic was overwhelmingly passed by the member delegates and was endorsed by UUs for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, UUs for A Just Economic Community and the Youth and Young Adult Caucuses.

This year, six new Actions of Immediate Witness were passed. These AIWs will help guide our public and internal policy for the next year. They are:

• End Present Day Slavery in the Fields- Hot on the tail of our success working with the Coalition of Immokolee Workers (CIW), this AIW encourages congregations to work with the CIW and other organizations to make sure our farm workers are treated fairly and justly.
• Extend the Tax Credit for Wind and Solar Power- This AIW calls on Congress and State Legislators to extend tax credits for alternative and renewable energies. For more information on how UUs work for the Earth, please visit the UU Ministries for the Earth.
  
• Oppose a U.S. Attack on Iran- In a change from our 2002-2007 AIWs concerning Iraq, this strives to prevent a new and short-sighted war with Iran. Click here to learn how to prevent legislation that would cause a war with Iran and click here to learn how to support more diplomacy with the Iranian Government.
• Oppose the Florida and California Marriage Protection Initiatives- This AIW calls on residents of all states, particularly California and Florida, to oppose legislation that would amend state constitutions to define marriage as between one man and one woman. For more thoughts on Marriage Equality from the Advocacy and Witness Team, please click here.
• Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $10 in 2010- This AIW encourages congregations to work with Let Justice Roll and other organizations to increase the Federal Minimum Wage to a living wage within the next two years.
• Single Payer Health Care- This AIW calls on all UU congregations to be informed advocates for a Federal Single Payer Universal Health Care System.

The new CSAI and AIWs will be important in the coming year to make sure we all work in a unified and effective community for our common dreams. For more information on these and past social justice statements please visit http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/socialjustice/index.php.

Religious Leaders Summit for Peace

Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President William G. Sinkford arrived in Sapporo, Japan on July 2, 2008, to participate in the "World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace" scheduled prior to the start of the G-8 Summit of World Leaders in Japan (July 5-6). The gathering brought together senior religious leaders from the world’s faith traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Shintoism and Zoroastrianism—as well as Unitarian Universalism.

The religious leaders were united in their call to the G8 to take "bold action" in response to "threats that confront humanity, including the destruction of the environment and climate change, extreme global poverty and deteriorating food security, nuclear arms, terrorism and violent conflict." For each of these threats the religious leaders urged the G8 to make specific commitments, including:

• Establish a new binding framework to follow up the Kyoto Protocols that limits global average temperature rise to avert catastrophic climate change.
• Take leadership to ensure the achievement of the UN Millenium Development Goals, including on the Gleaneagles aid quantity and quality promises.
• Pursue rigorous implementation of nuclear reduction and nonproliferation policies leading to the goal of total nuclear disarmament.
• Re-affirm and strengthen its commitment to standards of international law in its efforts to counteract terrorism and promote international security.

See the complete "Call from Sapporo" (Word).

During the summit religious leaders offered remarks on a draft version of the "Call from Sapporo." Reverend Sinkford was invited to address the threat of "The Destruction of the Environment and Climate Change" from the religious perspective of "Interdependence and Inter-relatedness". In his remarks, Rev. Sinkford reminded the Interfaith community that,

"…as long as we choose to take the comfortable moral high ground and issue pronouncements from that promontory, we will be welcome to stay there, on the sidelines… This religious leaders summit is an invitation to leave that safe promontory… On the brink of a gathering of political powerhouses this week, let us claim our own inter-related, interdependent power: a global communion of the faithful—the Hands of the Holy who cannot be denied."

Rev. Sinkford’s remarks were confessional, clearly recognizing that the United States has repeatedly failed to act interdependently and has refused to be a participant in global agreements on climate change. And yet, he also noted the leadership that the interfaith community—including Unitarian Universalists—are offering through prayer, legislative advocacy and by "green-ing" their facilities.

President Sinkford concluded by stating,

"The G8 political leaders will shortly arrive. The prophets among us must appeal to those among them who have ears to hear. But let us also make our own promises to them: that we are not waiting for them, that we are today’s stewards of policies and imperatives from the world of faith. Let them be advised, let a message of expectation be served, but most importantly, let them hear our promise: a promise of hope and commitment—to a world made fair and all her people one."

See the complete text of President Sinkford's speech (PDF).

Following the conclusion of the religious summit, President Sinkford traveled on to Tokyo to meet with leaders of Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK), a 6.5-million member lay-Buddhist movement and decades-long interfaith partner of the UUA. This was President Sinkford’s first opportunity to meet with the recently elected chairman of RKK—Reverend Yasutaka Watanabe—as well as the Director and Deputy-Director of External Affairs for RKK—Reverends Takeshi Kawabata and Keichi Akagawa. The RKK and UUA are enthusiastic to pursue new opportunities for engagement.

Bush Signs Final War Funding of His Presidency

On Monday, June 30th, President Bush signed the last major war funding bill of his presidency. The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, totals $162 billion and will fund the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through the beginning of 2009. The supplemental includes $21.1 billion for a host of domestic programs, including $2.7 billion for Midwest flood relief, a 12 week extension of unemployment benefits, $5.8 billion to rebuild the levees destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and a new G.I. Bill that will provide educational benefits for veterans who signed up for service after September 11th, 2001.

These important forward thinking domestic initiatives are cause to celebrate. And, in a twisted sort of way, the signing of Bush’s last war funding bill is also cause for celebration; even though it cost the American taxpayers $600 billion dollars to reach this milestone (these costs were assessed when the Unitarian Universalist Association issued its Moral Balance Sheet over a year ago and again when the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee looked at the costs of the war during this year’s Justice Sunday).

Of all the egregious atrocities this administration has committed in the name of the American people, the Iraq war stands out as the most shameful and immoral. As we are forced to swallow a final helping of our children’s yet-earned money, let us hope - and through our work ensure - that the next time our Congress takes up the business of funding this war it will be to end the occupation. With Bush’s war chest running out, let us envision a responsible global engagement that honors both our democratic core principles and the international community of nations. May that vision soon come to life.