[Oe List ...] Hooray!

Sun Nov 8 13:36:46 PST 2020

Bill and All,

I agree with what you said, and also David Becker’s comment. They are correct. I was joyful at the results. But we must listen to what Susan is saying, for as much as we feel she is “wrong” the place from which it comes is real. I know Susan and have listened to her before. She probably would agree with us that those who demonize and threaten others are not helpful. I will try and take us to that land.

I think everyone would agree that if you redrew the lines of the United States you could do it in a way that would change the results. They are a social invention, done in a time without grasping the full consequences of the arbitrary lines for so many years into the future. So we have stuck with them and lived with the results for all these years, but each time it gets to a point where a small shift would make a different result. One side says “suck it up, you lost” and the other finds reasons to say “no more sucking”. The tension gets tighter and tighter, the sides get their feet in cement. One option is to say, well, Biden will get us back to “normal” where the forces that are acting elsewhere in the world on this same issue are saying no as well. The USA just seems to be the worst right now. Not many years ago we told the Native Americans to “suck it up” (or die). 

My point is that this conversation leads only one way, into a downward spiral into chaos. We need dialogue, not conversation. A dialogue starts with the premise that we all have dirty hands, therefore it is a confessional stance. Secondly, it works only when you fully understand what the other is saying (not agree). They (and we) need to be satisfied that you truly can stand where they stand and see what they see, and vice versa. What is the “common ground”? Our humanity, the infinite worth of us all, broken as we may be. This is not easy. But demonizing the other human beings is what can destroy us, from either side. We all need to heed John Lewis; Love (agape) is the answer, and trust the Mystery.  

Peace,

Jack

> On Nov 8, 2020, at 1:25 PM, Bill Schlesinger via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
> It is true that the world is not a monolith.  It is also true that there are court challenges.  However, we have accepted the title of ‘president elect’ for many called elections won by a similar percentage in the past.  And even in 2000 we did not demonize the workers.  We did not consider our fellow citizens to be traitors.
>  
> DAVID BECKER: They are very concerned. I talked to some of them yesterday. There are- these are people who have been away from their families for days. They haven't seen the much. One of them, his son, just had a birthday and he had to miss that birthday, essentially because he was working the polls. They are getting no sleep. They're getting death threats. Some of them include racist and anti-Semitic language. And then we hear about this threat on their lives. It's shameful. I mean, these are public servants who are doing you know, they're not always well-paid. They're not really well paid at all. They don't get a lot of recognition. Usually when we only know their names, when something goes wrong, they're really heroes of democracy right now.
>  
> From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net>> On Behalf Of Susan Fertig via OE
> Sent: Sunday, November 8, 2020 10:44 AM
> To: Cynthia Vance <facilitationfla at aol.com <mailto:facilitationfla at aol.com>>; Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>>
> Cc: Susan Fertig <sfertig at blueskytech.us <mailto:sfertig at blueskytech.us>>
> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Hooray!
>  
> The world is not a monolith. 50% of the people did not vote for Joe Biden. I am in that 50%.
> He is not yet President-elect. There is still court challenges going on.
>  
> Susan
>  
> Susan Fertig-Dykes
>  
> And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought .  Isaiah 58:11
>  
> From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net>> On Behalf Of Cynthia Vance via OE
> Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2020 8:14 AM
> To: oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> Cc: Cynthia Vance <facilitationfla at aol.com <mailto:facilitationfla at aol.com>>
> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Hooray!
>  
> Thank you, thank you, thank you! 
>  
> We're joining the world of nations again!!
>  
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-first-executive-orders-measures/2020/11/07/9fb9c1d0-210b-11eb-b532-05c751cd5dc2_story.html?fbclid=IwAR2N_Af7bDqFLmqOimIKiCFdEjEovBUQ9OTkxX95mZvezvvLNk0eUMI389A <https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-first-executive-orders-measures/2020/11/07/9fb9c1d0-210b-11eb-b532-05c751cd5dc2_story.html?fbclid=IwAR2N_Af7bDqFLmqOimIKiCFdEjEovBUQ9OTkxX95mZvezvvLNk0eUMI389A>
>  
> 
> Cynthia Vance 
> facilitationfla at aol.com <mailto:facilitationfla at aol.com>
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Isobel and Jim Bishop via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>>
> To: Beret Griffith via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>>
> Cc: Isobel and Jim Bishop <isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au <mailto:isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au>>
> Sent: Sun, Nov 8, 2020 12:32 am
> Subject: [Oe List ...] Hooray!
> 
> Dear colleagues,
>  
> We are so pleased and relieved about your election results!
>  
> Best wishes to every one.
>  
> Isobel & Jim
>  
>  
> Isobel and  Jim Bishop
> isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au <mailto:isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au>
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
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