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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, Ellie.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John and Lynda Cock<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Dialogue <dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Ellie Stock via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net><br>
<b>Reply-To: </b>Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net><br>
<b>Date: </b>Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6:09 PM<br>
<b>To: </b>"oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>, "oe@wedgeblade.net" <oe@wedgeblade.net>, "dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net" <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net><br>
<b>Cc: </b>"Elliestock@aol.com" <elliestock@aol.com><br>
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hi John,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Thanks for this thoughtful piece--still pondering...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We continue to work with many others at the local level in our communities, and local, regional, national, and global levels through the church and other NGOS, specifically
on issues related to the environment, racial justice/white privilege, immigration, root causes of poverty/hunger, indigenous rights--trying connect as many dots/movements as possible--hoping and trusting that all such work from every corner of the globe will
eventually create a groundswell of action and change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Sometimes, it is just overwhelming. My mantra is to work toward the vision of what needs to be, rather than focusing on being against whatever/whomever we don't
like. Not always easy. It just may take millions of people to take to the streets to change the tide, before it is too late--for us, our grandchildren or to the seventh generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Looking forward to reading responses from folks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Ellie Stock :)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">elliestock@aol.com <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: John Epps via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net><br>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe@wedgeblade.net><br>
Cc: John Epps <jlepps39@gmail.com><br>
Sent: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 4:36 pm<br>
Subject: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:106%"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">The Spirit of the 20’s<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">John Epps, August 2019</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an
Internal Crisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">The Prevailing Spirit:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black"><br>
Our External Situation is best characterized as one of <b>THREAT</b>. Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talk of recession is in the air. Politically,
we have cut off alliances and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. And encompassing
all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of
<b>FEAR</b>. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, and we’re increasingly in
a black or white situation: agree or fight. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">The Existential Question in this situation is
<b>HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?</b> With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address larger
issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement from both parties, cannot move through
Congress. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">We Escape through
<b>BLAMESTORMING</b>; we look for scapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin, Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others.
Extreme hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">Towards an Authentic Response:<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time,
the mass changes needed can come from local people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however,
have a hand in inventing it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"New serif",serif;color:black">Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">_______________________________________________<br>
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