Comments for General Assembly 2009 http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org A Unitarian Universalist Association Blog Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:22:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Standing on the Side of Love, Part 2,874 by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/26/standing-on-the-side-of-love-part-2874/comment-page-1/#comment-66 kim Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:22:35 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=153#comment-66 It also struck me as a beautiful gesture. It also struck me as a beautiful gesture.

]]> Comment on Rethinking our approach to diversity by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/26/rethinking-our-approach-to-diversity/comment-page-1/#comment-221 kim Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:10:21 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=167#comment-221 What is it really about class? What about someone of working class makes the middle and upper-middle class UUs uncomfortable?(and vice versa) Is it education level? Is it values? Is it what George Lakoff calls Nurturant versus Strict upbringing? What is it? My father came from a family of working-class intellectuals (yes, there used to be such a thing...) and he was entranced with UUism, and quite comfortable. Is it the "intellectual" part? When I think about cultural differences, I think about the kind of unconscious traditions like how far apart we stand when we talk, how long a pause between sentences we read as "end of paragraph -- ok to cut in now", and other things like that which are truly different in different cultures. When I think of that with respect to UU services, I think of how staid our services are, especially compared to the kind of service at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. If we made our services more lively, would we lose all the people who like the New England style? How dangerous is spontaneity? What is it really about class? What about someone of working class makes the middle and upper-middle class UUs uncomfortable?(and vice versa) Is it education level? Is it values? Is it what George Lakoff calls Nurturant versus Strict upbringing? What is it?
My father came from a family of working-class intellectuals (yes, there used to be such a thing…) and he was entranced with UUism, and quite comfortable. Is it the “intellectual” part?
When I think about cultural differences, I think about the kind of unconscious traditions like how far apart we stand when we talk, how long a pause between sentences we read as “end of paragraph — ok to cut in now”, and other things like that which are truly different in different cultures. When I think of that with respect to UU services, I think of how staid our services are, especially compared to the kind of service at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. If we made our services more lively, would we lose all the people who like the New England style?
How dangerous is spontaneity?

]]> Comment on God Speaks to the UUs by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/26/god-speaks-to-the-uus/comment-page-1/#comment-239 kim Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:38:01 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=221#comment-239 I heard it was a triple rainbow. I heard it was a triple rainbow.

]]> Comment on "What's wrong with a Pentecostal Unitarian or Universalist?" by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/27/whats-wrong-with-a-pentecostal-unitarian-or-universalist/comment-page-1/#comment-253 kim Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:33:09 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=272#comment-253 We didn't go to this workshop, but we went to another one Lavanhar gave called "the entrepreneurial church". We were very impressed with Lavanhar: his enthusiasm, his warmth, his willingness to make mistakes and corrections, his easy sharing of power with his team. We didn’t go to this workshop, but we went to another one Lavanhar gave called “the entrepreneurial church”. We were very impressed with Lavanhar: his enthusiasm, his warmth, his willingness to make mistakes and corrections, his easy sharing of power with his team.

]]> Comment on Local flavor from Salt Lake City by Sally G http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/25/local-flavor-from-salt-lake-city/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Sally G Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:59:58 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=121#comment-53 I loved SLC when I was there 15 years ago, and had more time to explore it "around" GA (a couple of days on either side). At the Utah Arts Festival, two men were holding hands. In events at and near GA, former mayor Rocky Anderson made great speeches about the need to reject torture and the need to hold those responsible for accountability for their actions. Alta has hardly changed— remote mountains just half an hour from the city and a legendary lodge in the same family since opening in 1939 (Snowbird has grown). SLC's new (2003) library has a "green" roof garden, which is accessible and beautiful, with a magnificent view. Everyone is hospitable and helpful, or so it seemed to me, both visits. Having read of Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore in my guidebook, I was looking forward to a visit and did enjoy their used/rare section in particular; however, I was distressed to hear of Mr. Weller's death on 24 June, and the store's impending move. I wish the family and the business well. I loved SLC when I was there 15 years ago, and had more time to explore it “around” GA (a couple of days on either side). At the Utah Arts Festival, two men were holding hands. In events at and near GA, former mayor Rocky Anderson made great speeches about the need to reject torture and the need to hold those responsible for accountability for their actions. Alta has hardly changed— remote mountains just half an hour from the city and a legendary lodge in the same family since opening in 1939 (Snowbird has grown). SLC’s new (2003) library has a “green” roof garden, which is accessible and beautiful, with a magnificent view. Everyone is hospitable and helpful, or so it seemed to me, both visits. Having read of Sam Weller’s Zion Bookstore in my guidebook, I was looking forward to a visit and did enjoy their used/rare section in particular; however, I was distressed to hear of Mr. Weller’s death on 24 June, and the store’s impending move. I wish the family and the business well.

]]> Comment on God Speaks to the UUs by Sally G http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/26/god-speaks-to-the-uus/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Sally G Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:37:40 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=221#comment-238 I had read an article in the Salt Lake Tribune (June 23 or 24, at the opening of GA) about another possible action of the Divine One in the Salt Lake area just before our official arrival, this time against a local church: a Mormon temple's angel Moroni, gold-covered and atop the steeple, was hit by lightning and was left sans gilt. The reporter, apparently a pragmatist, suggested that it was primarily poor planning: no lightning rod. The two events in such proximity bemuse me. I had read an article in the Salt Lake Tribune (June 23 or 24, at the opening of GA) about another possible action of the Divine One in the Salt Lake area just before our official arrival, this time against a local church: a Mormon temple’s angel Moroni, gold-covered and atop the steeple, was hit by lightning and was left sans gilt. The reporter, apparently a pragmatist, suggested that it was primarily poor planning: no lightning rod. The two events in such proximity bemuse me.

]]> Comment on What we've been talking about by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/28/what-weve-been-talking-about/comment-page-1/#comment-283 kim Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:10:25 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=354#comment-283 My partner and I liked UUU a lot. We went to the theology one. I can see that it would have been difficult for anyone with ADD: A friend walked out early: he liked it but couldn't take it being so long. I don't know yet whether he went back the second day. (we're not home yet*). *We're in Seattle. I experienced the intense green and many trees here as a great relief from Salt Lake. Interesting as they are geologically, I could never live in a desert. My partner and I liked UUU a lot. We went to the theology one. I can see that it would have been difficult for anyone with ADD: A friend walked out early: he liked it but couldn’t take it being so long. I don’t know yet whether he went back the second day. (we’re not home yet*).

*We’re in Seattle. I experienced the intense green and many trees here as a great relief from Salt Lake. Interesting as they are geologically, I could never live in a desert.

]]> Comment on Final impressions of GA 2009 by kim http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/28/final-impressions-of-ga-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-289 kim Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:03:26 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=361#comment-289 Another possible reason for feeling exhausted is that Salt Lake City is at an altitude of about 4300 feet. I suspect the older one is the longer it takes to adapt. When I was in my early 20s it took me a week. I don't think a week would have been enough this time. Another possible reason for feeling exhausted is that Salt Lake City is at an altitude of about 4300 feet. I suspect the older one is the longer it takes to adapt. When I was in my early 20s it took me a week. I don’t think a week would have been enough this time.

]]> Comment on Liveblogging the Celebration of the UUA Presidential Candidates by Dan Harper http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/27/liveblogging-the-celebration-of-the-uua-presidential-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Dan Harper Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:10:36 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=286#comment-259 Chris Walton -- Thanks for the clarification! I admit that I was confused about the exact parliamentary procedure that went on. Chris Walton — Thanks for the clarification! I admit that I was confused about the exact parliamentary procedure that went on.

]]> Comment on Liveblogging the Celebration of the UUA Presidential Candidates by Chris Walton http://ga2009.blogs.uua.org/2009/06/27/liveblogging-the-celebration-of-the-uua-presidential-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Chris Walton Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:47:57 +0000 http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/?p=286#comment-258 Dan, contrary to what you wrote <a href="http://blogs.uua.org/ga2009/2009/06/27/liveblogging-the-celebration-of-the-uua-presidential-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-50" rel="nofollow">above</a>, the delegates voted NOT to send the Principles and Purposes revision back to the congregations. The revision was effectively rejected and cannot be introduced again for at least two years. The margin was 13 votes: <a href="http://www.uuworld.org/news/ga/2009_06_01_archive.php#8808861577854406871" rel="nofollow">573 for, 586 against</a>. Dan, contrary to what you wrote above, the delegates voted NOT to send the Principles and Purposes revision back to the congregations. The revision was effectively rejected and cannot be introduced again for at least two years. The margin was 13 votes: 573 for, 586 against.

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