I’ve been AFK here at Daily Kos for the past week, and not because I was busy deciding what to pack for Netroots Nation next month. Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m already thinking about that, but last week I was with another community near and dear to my heart. Grab some coffee or your beverage of choice, and follow me below the Story Break after a word from our sponsor…
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Before I ever attended Netroots Nation Yearly Kos, I’d had my first experience with a large community gathering in 2003 when my Unitarian Universalist denomination’s annual General Assembly (GA) was in Boston. It was a fantastic experience, a combination yearly business meeting and community gathering, but as it’s in late June and Netroots Nation sometimes was in June, other times in July, attending two conferences became out of the question.
This spring, K1 asked if maybe I’d consider attending GA as a friend from our congregation was going with her mother, and it was supposed to be a wonderful experience for youth. This year’s theme was on multi-denominational cooperation, in other words… building community. How could I turn that down? And so, last week K1 and I headed to Columbus Ohio for UUAGA. I am still processing a lot of what happened and so rather than focus on one specific event for tonight, I thought I’d give you an overview of what this 4000 person event was like.
First off, it is an instant vibrant, powerful community formed. The Opening Ceremony begins with the banners of every congregation present paraded through the hall — K1 and her friend carried ours! This year the procession was led off by the Orlando UU Congregation to tears and cheers. Much like Netroots, you make new friends over meals or while sharing a charger, in elevators when you notice either a name badge or chalice jewelry/clothing (the UU symbol is a flaming chalice) . And as a small religious denomination with a little over 1000 congregations worldwide representing about 200000 members and youth, gathering 4000 of us is a full 2% of us! We don’t get that opportunity often, to sing in a giant room where everyone knows the lyrics! So we sing, a LOT- imagine after every business meeting, when a particularly hard vote has just happened, your leaders saying “OK, how about we sing?”
This GA focused on a group far too many don’t know exists within Unitarian Universalism… people of color. I will be frank, I had NO idea based on my congregation’s tally of one (K2) that a large and vibrant group existed. After an intense track of BLUU (Black Lives of UU) sessions and the powerful closing worship session in which hundreds of people of color and white allies marched in chanting Black Lives Matter, I will NEVER again forget it. And I’ll be working harder than ever for justice.
What strikes me as possibly the most amazing thing about GA is that youth have a definite voice as well as a vote. There are specific seating areas for Youth Caucus, for all teens aged 14-18 as well as a separate Young Adult Caucus for those 18-35. Our Youth not only attend, they run their own series of panels and workshops, worship services, and if elected by their congregations as delegates (as K1 and her 17 yo friend were) are full voting members at all sessions. They are a passionate and vocal block and it was a pleasure to see 200 active and involved youth navigating the Roberts Rules of parliamentary style debate to speak their minds. There was also an emotional Bridging Ceremony, where those who graduated high school (or the equivalent in homeschool) symbolically cross from Youth to Young Adulthood, met by other Young Adults and welcomed into their new community.
General Assembly is a place where accessibility and inclusivity of language and action is the objective. We had three signs for restrooms: Men’s. Women’s, and Everyone, and we were reminded to trust people to know the rest room right for them. Ribbons were available for people to specify which set of pronouns were their preferred set: He His Him, She Her Hers, They/Them/Their, Ze Zir Zirs, and a blank ribbon if none of those were correct. And yes, we saw all of them and used them! We were reminded that scooters have no brakes (who knew?!), so please to give them right of way! The floor of the general hall had rows and rows of tape, which I thought was someone’s method of laying out rows of chairs, until I learned it was actually a temporary hearing loop to make the sessions more accessible. And where there were chaplains always identifiably available if needed, and a Right Relations Team so that if something *did* happen (as in at least one instance) that required action, resolution could be found.
We held a panel discussion for our three candidates for next UUA President, to be voted on next year. Three WOMEN, all of whom covenanted to campaign fairly, on issues only, upholding each other’s worth and future leadership potential within the organization. We debated tough topics, and took hard votes where out of four wonderful choices, only one could move on to a four year denomination-wide study-action series. And we witnessed that power of Youth, when in frustrated response to the item “The Corruption of our Democracy” winning over “A Conversation on Race” they drafted and presented to universal acceptance by acclamation a Response Resolution demanding a multiyear report on antiracism work. K1 was on stage for that with the entire body of Youth, and I’ve never been prouder.
Oh, and I got to hear Reverend Dr. William Barber not once but TWICE, when he addressed our opening session in a stirring message and then later that day led a public rally for racial justice.
I could go on for a lot longer, and I’m consciously leaving out one transformative for me event because I’m not quite ready to write about it yet, but I want to draw to a close sharing two themes often repeated in worship, in sessions, and in conversation among us that resonated with me both as a Unitarian Universalist AND as a progressive Democrat:
We are stronger together
I put my hands in yours, that together we may do the work I cannot do alone
These are true for all of us here- we NEED each other to do this work today, through election season, and every day. Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd’s sermon at Sunday worship exhorted us to stop with the “fake fights that divide us, like what color to paint the church bathroom” when we should be uniting on our commonalities to fight injustice. Can we PLEASE stop with the fights that divide us, and unite to fight injustice?
More to come, I promise. But for now, let’s get to what you really came here for… the Trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures formatted lovingly by BeninSC!
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From dcnblues:
I thought this comment by itsjim described those obstructing judicial nominations with great insight, in Joan McCarter’s diary on the subject.
Highlighted by aimieehs:
This comment by limpidglass could be a diary in its own right, on isolationism and progressive strategies on global issues, including global warming.
For Tuesday, June 28, 2016, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
1) He’s definitely lying when he talks empty talk a … by Torta +223
2) In my view, it is more the delusional part than … by mnkh +183
3) Sorry if I’m a bit short tonight. I’ve had a few … by Crashing Vor +184
4) Personally, I think he’s tearing her down, and w … by Diogenes2008 +182
5) So Obama shouldn't have endorsed HRC? by chicago minx +147
6) If ignorance is a defense, that gives the entire … by Dave G +146
6) I think a much better term is ideologues, people … by kovie +146
8) McKibben should get to work? Seriously? Leading … by Meteor Blades +144
8) ...and apparently HRC shouldn’t have endorsed Ob … by cbastian +144
10) What appalling gibberish. … by twalk +133
11) You know what’s strange? After 25 years of GOP a … by billyzero +129
12) What a sanctimonious prick. by The19thDoctor +124
13) He’s very sexist. His whole posture is that the … by Jason Hackman +121
13) Mandating federal agencies weigh the climate imp … by Lefty Coaster +121
15) He's a monster, nothing new there. by a2nite +119
16) The Republican mindset in general (there are exc … by pierre9045 +118
17) No endorsement, no speaking slot. Let him jabber … by chicago minx +117
18) Hear, hear. And the consequences of victory or d … by Torta +109
18) That statement is outrageous. … by mnkh +109
20) It is truly offensive that he is painting himsel … by water +107
20) I never get tired of that Christie/Trump pic. by chicago minx +107
22) Same rule as with family: yell with the doors cl … by Crashing Vor +108
23) Bernie is turning out to be a major disappointme … by John R +106
24) Unfortunately, he speaks in Bernglish… … by sarcasm +104
25) Great roundup. … by Sher Watts Spooner +103
26) Republicans do not believe in the social contrac … by hnichols +102
26) The solicitation charge requires scienter, that … by Its the Supreme Court Stupid +102
28) Well, if they have the internet, it is one page … by Jen Hayden +101
28) I think it's time to move on guys. I was with hi … by Bensonola +101
30) He’s not exactly a Democrat, he’s just borrowing … by Catte Nappe +100
Top Pictures
2016-06-29, courtesy of jotter!