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<div>Hi John,</div>
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<div>Thanks for this thoughtful piece--still pondering...</div>
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<div>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.</div>
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<div>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.</div>
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<div>Looking forward to reading responses from folks.</div>
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<div>Ellie Stock :)</div>
<div>elliestock@aol.com </div>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;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<br>
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<div align="center" class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;">The Spirit of the 20’s<br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;">John Epps, August
2019</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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:</div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"><b>The Prevailing Spirit:</b><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.</div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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. </div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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. </div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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.” </div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;"><b>Towards an Authentic Response:<br>
</b>This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the
question of responding to threats to our existence. </div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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. </div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">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.</div>
<div class="yiv8901833331MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:New serif;">Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. </div>
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