April 2025 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] 2 questions about the other world in the midst of this world
by James Wiegel 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

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Re: [Oe List ...] Hands Off Our Democracy (a Ghazal for You)
by Zoe Barley 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Very well done. Zoe Barley Denver Colorado -----Original Message----- From: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Apr 10, 2025 12:06 PM To: ORDER LISTSERVE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, ORDER LISTSERVE <oe(a)wedgeblade.net> Cc: Milan Hamilton <mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com> Subject: [Oe List ...] Hands Off Our Democracy (a Ghazal for You) Catherine Welch is responsible for this. She replied to my poem with "this needs music to go with it. So I went to one of my collaborators and tried to find a vibe that would give it a steady yet unconventional beat. The ghazal's incessant repetition of certain words or phrases and rhyme scheme built into the couplets seemed to emphasize to me the importance of being faithful to our constitution and yet have the rest of the lines go in different directions. While it is addressed to the main co-conspirators of destruction, maybe it will also complement our impetus to action as we seek "A Path Forward." (I hope it's ok I included the pictures you all posted, as well as some from the hundreds of places joining in the April 5th event-I'm sending it as a Google Drive link as well as a link to my YouTube channel)) https://youtu.be/q1uybXFUHVI Hands Off Our Democracy.mp4 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRNDML-q7qor2Gmw3oHJsXuF8YEX9Chk/view?usp=…) Hands Off Our Democracy.mp4 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRNDML-q7qor2Gmw3oHJsXuF8YEX9Chk/view?usp=…) Mellow Milan Hamilton80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com (mailto:mellowmilan2@gmail.com)

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Hands Off Our Democracy (a Ghazal for You)
by Milan Hamilton 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Catherine Welch is responsible for this. She replied to my poem with "this needs music to go with it. So I went to one of my collaborators and tried to find a vibe that would give it a steady yet unconventional beat. The ghazal's incessant repetition of certain words or phrases and rhyme scheme built into the couplets seemed to emphasize to me the importance of being faithful to our constitution and yet have the rest of the lines go in different directions. While it is addressed to the main co-conspirators of destruction, maybe it will also complement our impetus to action as we seek "A Path Forward." (I hope it's ok I included the pictures you all posted, as well as some from the hundreds of places joining in the April 5th event-I'm sending it as a Google Drive link as well as a link to my YouTube channel)) https://youtu.be/q1uybXFUHVI Hands Off Our Democracy.mp4 <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRNDML-q7qor2Gmw3oHJsXuF8YEX9Chk/view?usp=…> Hands Off Our Democracy.mp4 <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRNDML-q7qor2Gmw3oHJsXuF8YEX9Chk/view?usp=…> Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com

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Aging options
by Robertson Work 10 Apr '25

10 Apr '25

Dear colleagues, How are you aging? Bonnie and I are considering options of aging in place where we are, or downsizing and then aging in place, or moving into a senior community. What have you done? How do you find it? Any lessons or advice to give? What are you planning to do? Best wishes, Rob Robertson Work Books and bio<https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF> Essays on Substack<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/> Videos and articles<https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/> Interviews and poetry<https://www.globalheart2heart.com/a-compassionate-civilization-creating-a-n…>

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April 5th Denver rally pictures
by Sunny Walker 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Complements of Susan Erickson. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q8FraQ5ewSlGVTZerntutg2H8_gS_jwN *Sunny Walker * *She/her/hers* *On **Arapaho, Cheyenne, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux) tribal land* Certified Facilitator (Also Certified ToP Facilitator) ToP Methods Mentor Trainer - Upcoming Courses <https://www.top-training.net/w/> Virtual Facilitation Collaborative Senior Facilitator sunny.sunwalker(a)gmail.com 303-587-3017 For diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging inquiries: sunny(a)diversityinnovators.com www.diversityinnovators.com For virtual facilitation inquiries: sunny(a)virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com www.virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com

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Hands Off Our Democracy (a Ghazal)
by Milan Hamilton 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

*Hands Off Our Democracy* *(a ghazal for You) * Hey Mister T and Little E, please take your hands off our democracy. We do protest against your anti-democratic, sour democracy. We know you both have no need for what the rest of us humans depend on: What you label “entitlements” were voted on to power democracy. Civil servants you consider free-loaders and frauds in society, We believe are essential workers in this cowered democracy. Book bans and unlawful deportation of American citizens Must be considered to be a nation with de-flowered democracy. What did you not understand when you heard from everyone “tariff means tax”? And by the way, creating oligarchs makes for whor-ed democracy? Free speech, free markets, free press, freedom from fear, freedom from want--freedom ain’t free. The words “free” and “freedom” ring hollow in a Trump Tower democracy. Mother Earth is the last voice you will hear in our democratic pleading. Mister T and little E, here’s our glower—“Hands off our—democracy.” Milan Hamilton March 6, 2025 The Ghazal (pronounced guzzle) was originally an Arabic poetic form, like an ode, often about unrequited or unattainable love, tracing back to Persian poets in the 7th century, becoming popular in the 13th & 14th centuries (Rumi & Hafiz), found its way to northern India, translated into Urdu, Hindi, Pashto, Turkish, and Hebrew. Goethe and Lorca experimented with it in German and Spanish. Indian musician Ravi Shankar popularized the form in the English-speaking world in the 1960s (the ghazal was often sung and accompanied Sufi dances). But it was the poet Agha Shahid Ali, who introduced the classical form in English to Americans. His poems “Tonight” and “Even the Rain” are worth a look. I chose this form for my Poem “Hands Off Our Democracy” after participating in the April 5th Hands Off gathering, to remind Those Who Care to keep the faith that being on the right side of history still matters. -- Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com

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Photos: Massive nationwide protests
by Ellie Stock 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

>From Indivisible re photos/videos of Hands Off Rallies: Take some time to feel good today -- seriously. Head over to our social channels (Bluesky, Instagram) to scroll through the incredible photos -- or check out this quick video highlighting events in all 50 states. Ellie elliestock(a)aol.com

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Hands Off Rally, Doing our part today
by ELINOR STOCK 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Participated in the Oberlin, OH Hands Off Rally. Played a drum during the rally. Cellophane-wrapped signs for rain which materialized toward the end. Ellie 😊🌎 elliestock(a)aol.com Sent from my iPhone

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Doing our part today
by Milan Hamilton 07 Apr '25

07 Apr '25

How many of you were there? Sent from my iPad

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Fw: April 5th 2025
by Jill Persichetti 07 Apr '25

07 Apr '25

Here we are at Hands Off rally in St. George, UT ----- along with reportedly 700++ other participants including all political parties! Heard Salt Lake City rally had many, many more participating proving Blue AND Red states are concerned and united. Cheers, Jill and Luigi ________________________________ [cid:f87bc761-baaf-4e13-97e3-7c78e49b79b9@namprd19.prod.outlook.com] Sent from my iPhone

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