I think the state should ONLY be in the business of civil unions. No marriages, gay . . . or straight. Leave it all the church, or whatever substitutes for the church people want.

I think marriage is sacred - a spiritual union. Of course the western human history is that marriage was as much a property and legal arrangement, which is why the state is involved. But that's not what is truly important.

Much of the argument of including gays in marriage is based on the legal protections that go along with marriage, things that affect property, visiting rights at hospitals, etc. Only someone really hateful would deny those rights, and civil unions also have the virtue of providing a mechanism for other circumstances that are hard for a one-size-fits-all legal system to take into account - two sisters living together, for instance. They need legal protections too, even though they aren't married, aren't in that category at all.

I've always wondered why one person's marriage would threaten another.   more »

I'm occasionally frustrated by advocates for good causes who make a lot of noise but aren't effective. And there are others who choose apathy and feel powerless when seeing that. I offer below a quick course in effective political communication. This is not regarding elections and voting but in working with those we've elected. The point is to have an impact, to be effective, rather than simply complaining among the choir.

Three main points: - All Politics is Local (the representative or official cares about how it will effect their district)
- QUALITY of communication is important (be concise and focused)
- Build a long-term relationship (we're all humans here!)

The mindset here is to be strategic; to ask, "What will it take to get X to happen?" Then you plan backwards, thinking about the laws and regulations that might have to change, who you'll have to reach to make that happen, and what points of leverage you have. Obviously there are other powers in play, so I'm not saying you can win all the time . . . But there ARE some things you can achieve.   more »

Canadian, Ian Welsh writes that power and leadership requires that you must supply meaning and a way for people to belong:

"The Christian right supplies meaning for their people."

This is not just theological, but political.

The problem for the rising repressive class is that they have outsourced their meaning to evangelical Christians who are not easily controlled. This is our opportunity.   more »

Amanda struggles with acceptance and writes about it beautifully.  How well I know the agony of this struggle.

I grew up taught that I could grow up and change the world. How many times have I heard that story about the starfishes getting thrown back into the sea?   more »

Since a little past christmasi have been reading a
book by Derrek Jenson called  "The Culture of Make
Beleive". Recently read this  ...
"Our culture has made us all slaves to an idea . . . And slavery to an idea is far more dangerous than slavery to a human because we do not even know we are slaves  ...   more »

Interesting discussion on Blogging of the President about the division between technocrats vs. activists in the democratic party. . . . the activists on the liberal side proved they cannot lead either. Thus the democrats and liberal America fell under the influence of technocrats. And while technocrats may realize they've been played, they haven't yet found a new language because the activists haven't developed any new language.   more »

Matt Bai writes about Andrew Stern, innovative and President of the Service Employees International Union. Stern is shaking things up in the Labor movement, pushing for globalization and new methods of organizing. The article discusses Stern�s approach with labor and draws connections to the predicament of the democratic party. It strikes me that the predicament of the mainstream denominations (and of Quakers) is remarkably similar.   more »

What are values we share, as citizens and humans?

I am convinced that finding the places we agree is wiser and more productive than focusing on divisive distinctions. I believe that we can lift up common values and   more »

In the United States, something has shifted. The way is open for politicians to take positive leadership stands and evoke universal, inclusive values which include protecting the environment. Kerry has yet to catch up to this new reality, but some congress people have, and the next Presidential election will be fundamentally different (if Bush doesn't careen us off the cliff first).

This is new, a result of changing times and the internet. We've hardly seen the results yet,   more »

A correspondent wants to take power and use it for the highest possible good.

Well, what is the highest possible good? I could answer that, but I recognize that I'm a failable human and my answer is going to be imperfect. Possibly even really off base, despite my best efforts or delusions.

So if one is going to assert a highest possible good, there has to be some authority to that truth.    more »