Last night Dr. Kurt Johnson led us in a different type of Reflection. Instead of reflecting on someone's writings or philosophy, we brought our own "six word memoirs" and then explained why we chose those particular six words. Many of these memoirs were quite emotional and evoked strong feelings in the listeners. Afterwards I think we knew quite a bit more about each other than when we entered the room.
As part of the closing exercises, we discussed whether it was difficult or easy to find just six words to sum up our lives so far, and what extra words we would add, if any. Then we used three to six words to describe our futures. Mine were: health, continued love, success, and laughter. Roger said, "You want everything!" and I grinned and said, "Why not?"
We also watched the TV episode where Susan Boyle wowed the crowd with her song. Afterwards we discussed society's tendency to pigeonhole people according to their appearance, and the assumption that an "unattractive" woman couldn't possibly be a fantastic singer. This site has had over 7 million viewings now, and shows that people may be tired of this kind of superficial judgment. Maybe we're ready for looking beyond the surface.
Kudos to Maureen for hosting, to Kurt as always for leading the Reflection, and to Constance for assisting and contributing the "Six Word" idea.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Second Annual Seder
On Friday, April 10th, the Brooklyn Humanist Community gathered at Michael and Antoinette's home for our second annual Humanist Seder. As always there was plenty of delicious food: pot roast, chicken, vegetables, salad, homemade gefilte fish, just to name a few of the items. We also had a huge variety of desserts.
With twenty-three of us in attendance, the house was just about bursting at the seams. Celeste and Bruce "led" the Seder but everyone had a chance to read several paragraphs. We used the same text as last year but added a couple of songs supplied by Julie. This year, when we mentioned our "heroes," I heard the names of many departed family members. So it was a Seder of love and remembrance, also.
Along with the dessert of cakes and macaroons, Michael and Antoinette supplied an American flag sheet cake in honor of their son Jonathan, who departs for the Navy on April 20th. We sang "Anchors Away," and "God Bless America."
Kudos to Michael and Antoinette who always do an excellent job of hosting a party, and kudos to Jason who was an enormous help, serving food and drink to everyone.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
BHC March Program: Sex Trafficking
On Sunday, March 29th, members of the Brooklyn Humanist Community assembled at Michael and Antoinette's household to hear Rachelle Suissa, Vice President of Brooklyn/Queens NOW, speak on "Sex Trafficking of Women and Children." Ms. Suissa filled us in on the enormity of the problem and the legislation that has been passed on various levels to combat this crime. Many of the young women who are brought into the U.S. on false promises and then forced into prostitution are minors according to our laws, so sex trafficking in women is very often sex trafficking in children as well.
Ms. Suissa explained that it is very hard to catch the sex traffickers, who are well organized and able to vanish at short notice. Instead, it is often the victims of sex trafficking who end up being arrested for prostitution. Many are in the U.S. without proper documentation, and face possible deportation. Often these young women and girls do not speak English, and have not been paid, so that they lack even the resources to go home.
Despite the legislation that has been passed, in New York only $450,000 has been allocated to deal with this problem. Ms. Suissa pointed out the New York City spends more than that just cleaning up after a heavy snowfall. Between insufficient funding and unfortunately, some police corruption, it is very difficult to eradicate sex trafficking, but we can continue to press for better legislation and more funding to deal with this problem.
We discussed the possibility of a joint program on the topic with Brooklyn/Queens NOW, possibly a film screening on the subject in order to raise public awareness.
Our thanks to Antoinette and Michael for hosting this event, to Constance for inviting the speaker and providing her with transportation, and most especially to Rachelle Suissa for her excellent presentation of a thorny and heartbreaking issue.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March Reflection: Desmond Tutu
On Saturday night, March 21st, we gathered at Rozanne, Michael and Shaina's for our March Reflection. The topic this time centered on the quotes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. As always we enjoyed the food, and Rozanne's special touch made it out of this world. Her beet salad, carrot salad, homemade hummus, rosemary chicken, yogurt dip and especially the secret recipe wine cake were fabulous. Michael acted as our bartender serving wine and soda, and Shaina greeted guests and took their coats.
In the opening go-around, Rozanne shared that through the BHC she has begun visiting hospice patients at the Visiting Nurse Service Hospice, and that she finds the work enormously satisfying. I also reported that while I was not medically cleared to visit patients, I asked to work with veterans, and the volunteer coordinator has assigned a World War II veteran to me, for periodic telephone calls.
Constance provided the quotes and gave us a short biography of Desmond Tutu. We circled the room reading his quotes aloud, and then gave our resonances and reflections on the ones that spoke to us. I mentioned that a professor in college had said something rather similar to Tutu's statement about neutrality as an inappropriate response where there is injustice and a grave imbalance of power. Antoinette pointed out Archbishop Tutu's statement that everyone is entitled to a stable community and that the first of these communities is the family. Many of us contributed our thoughts to the reflective conversation, and Kurt provided us with his insights into Integral Spirituality.
As we decided at the recent membership meeting, people brought nonperishables to be donated to a local food pantry.
It was a delightful evening. Kudos to Rozanne, Michael and Shaina for their hospitality, and our thanks as well to Constance and Kurt for running another excellent Reflection.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Book Club Discussion: Not Me
At Sheila's this afternoon we discussed the novel Not Me by Michael Lavigne. The major question was whether Heinrich/Heschel, the S.S. bookkeeper who changed his identity to that of a Jew who died in the camps, deserved redemption.
I gave him partial redemption because even though his hatred was pretty ugly, I believed that at some point he felt remorse. I felt that his philanthropy went beyond what was necessary to avoid detection and that maybe he had grasped the evil of his previous identity.
In all, though, a majority of the group did not feel he ever really got beyond his initial hateful feelings even though he did come to care for two of the Jews he met in Israel. So even though he became a philanthropist they felt he was just trying to get into God's good graces and not really feeling genuine remorse for aiding and abetting in the Holocaust.
As usual it was a lively discussion with many different viewpoints. Kudos to Sheila for leading such great guided conversations. Next month on April 19th we'll be discussing The Secret Lives of Bees.
I gave him partial redemption because even though his hatred was pretty ugly, I believed that at some point he felt remorse. I felt that his philanthropy went beyond what was necessary to avoid detection and that maybe he had grasped the evil of his previous identity.
In all, though, a majority of the group did not feel he ever really got beyond his initial hateful feelings even though he did come to care for two of the Jews he met in Israel. So even though he became a philanthropist they felt he was just trying to get into God's good graces and not really feeling genuine remorse for aiding and abetting in the Holocaust.
As usual it was a lively discussion with many different viewpoints. Kudos to Sheila for leading such great guided conversations. Next month on April 19th we'll be discussing The Secret Lives of Bees.
BHC March Board Meeting
At our March meeting, the BHC Board began discussing the incorporation process. Our attorney-contact at Wilmer Hale had raised the question of whether we preferred to incorporate in New York or Delaware, and provided us with the pros and cons.
We decided that it made the most sense to incorporate in New York since we intend to be a Brooklyn-based organization.
Next, we formed a task force to work on the tax exemption forms at the next Board meeting. In April we will meet on two consecutive Tuesdays, April 7th and April 14th, in order to work on the forms and the necessary budgets.
BHC has a productive, working board and it's a pleasure to serve on it with Tony, Bruce, Adriana and Michael.
We decided that it made the most sense to incorporate in New York since we intend to be a Brooklyn-based organization.
Next, we formed a task force to work on the tax exemption forms at the next Board meeting. In April we will meet on two consecutive Tuesdays, April 7th and April 14th, in order to work on the forms and the necessary budgets.
BHC has a productive, working board and it's a pleasure to serve on it with Tony, Bruce, Adriana and Michael.
BHC Membership Meeting
On Saturday evening, March 7th, BHC members gathered at Ruth S.'s apartment for a semi-annual general membership meeting. We received an update on the progress of our efforts to incorporate and our search for a permanent venue.
Three of our members completed the volunteer training for the veterans in hospice project with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, and one is already actively visiting hospice patients. One member suggested we do some work on Alzheimer's. We also agreed to begin collecting nonperishables to send to food pantries, which are hurting for donations due to the economic downturn.
Bruce, our Treasurer, reported that 13 members have already paid their annual dues in part or in full. During the meeting several members handed in dues, bringing us up over the threshold we needed to begin the incorporation process. Thanks to all who have contributed, and full speed ahead!
Three of our members completed the volunteer training for the veterans in hospice project with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, and one is already actively visiting hospice patients. One member suggested we do some work on Alzheimer's. We also agreed to begin collecting nonperishables to send to food pantries, which are hurting for donations due to the economic downturn.
Bruce, our Treasurer, reported that 13 members have already paid their annual dues in part or in full. During the meeting several members handed in dues, bringing us up over the threshold we needed to begin the incorporation process. Thanks to all who have contributed, and full speed ahead!
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