All posts by Chuck Fager

"Dog Days" Diversions, Current Affairs, Et Cetera, Signs of the Times, Social Justice

Dog Days Flashback: Enlightenment In A Canadian Emergency Room

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Originally posted in July, 2009

In the current health-care melee, we hear much alarmist talk and Canada-bashing, aimed at their single-payer health system.

A few days back, I had an unexpected chance to observe the Canadian system up close. What I saw was very instructive.

Here’s what happened: on the last evening of a Toronto visit, I was invited to dinner by a young couple – let’s call them Hank and Sue, for privacy.

Continue reading Dog Days Flashback: Enlightenment In A Canadian Emergency Room →

Hard-Core Quaker

Conference, Day Three: A Rule of Thumb & The Invisible Epistle

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At Thursday morning’s program (Jan. 15, 2009), attendance was down significantly from yesterday. Is it just me, or could the smiling positive pietism be wearing on the patience of many?

The morning’s panel, entitled “Speak Truth to Power,” was another “surprise” lineup, not identified until we showed up. Yet in fact it was utterly predictable, made up of church lobbyists, all based in Washington.

Continue reading Conference, Day Three: A Rule of Thumb & The Invisible Epistle →

Hard-Core Quaker, War & Peace

Peace Conference Update-Wednesday: “I Don’t Know”

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The conference speaker Wednesday night was a welcome improvement. Alexie Torres Fleming’s story is easy to summarize: born and raised poor in the south Bronx, she escaped from a collapsing neighborhood into middle class respectability, but then was drawn back to live and work in her home turf. She now operates a youth program.

Continue reading Peace Conference Update-Wednesday: “I Don’t Know” →

Hard-Core Quaker, War & Peace

Looking for WAR at the Peace Conference

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Folks, I don’t get it.

I’m here in Philadelphia, at a conference entitled “Heeding God’s Call” . It started on Tuesday Jan. 13, 2009 and will extend into Saturday the 17th.

It’s supposed to be about strengthening the peace witness of churches and other faith groups, but especially that of the so-called “Historic peace Churches,” namely Quakers, Mennonites & Brethren. These three groups, especially the first, made up the large majority of the 270 or so persons I counted present in the opening session.

Continue reading Looking for WAR at the Peace Conference →

Hard-Core Quaker, Stories-Quaker

Reading Religious Murder Mysteries For Relaxation, Fun and Sometimes A Bit of Spiritual Growth

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Liz Yeats

[Reprinted by permission from The Best of Friends, Vol. 1, a collection published by the Fellowship of Quakers in the Arts, in 2000. A lot of interesting mysteries have been published since then, but this is a good starter.]

I know no better relaxation than curling up in my favorite chair with a nice cup of tea and good murder mystery. Make it a well written religious, murder mystery that delves into spiritual, theological, and social concerns, and you have my perfect afternoon; my Sabbath from the cares and drudgery of my personal and professional life; a time and space suspended from reality. Yes, a virtual time and space in which I can exercise my mind trying to determine who done it and why! Continue reading Reading Religious Murder Mysteries For Relaxation, Fun and Sometimes A Bit of Spiritual Growth →

Fire This Time, Hard-Core Quaker, Sedition Watch, Signs of the Times

Knoxville & “Killing All Liberals”

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A good friend of mine from college days is a member of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian church in Knoxville that was shot up on Sunday, July 27. She was there with her husband, but thankfully was not hit.

(“Thankfully.” I feel a twinge of survivor’s guilt writing that; but there it is.)

The reports Monday about the rantings of the shooter, wanting to kill all liberals and gays, and the targeting of this particular church, well-known for its welcoming stance and other progressive views, brings a lot of things home to me.

Continue reading Knoxville & “Killing All Liberals” →

Hard-Core Quaker

Dave Zarembka: “Not To Engage FUM Is Cowardly”

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The short essay below is by a Friend who has spent much time in Africa, working with the Africa Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) project.

I believe Dave makes some cogent points. In particular, I agree that “engaging” Friends United Meeting (FUM) over the issues of homophobia, and the other matters listed in my post below, “Wrestling With a Roomful of Elephants,” is the best course.

Continue reading Dave Zarembka: “Not To Engage FUM Is Cowardly” →

Black & White & Other Colors, Hard-Core Quaker, LGBTQ & Gender, Quaker History, Quaker Theology, Signs of the Times

The Shame of Kenya: Epistles of Hate

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Below is the complete text of two epistles issued by East Africa Yearly Meeting — North.

I note that the 2007 Epistle comments on the statements at the FUM General Board session in Kenya, as well as responding to some reaction to them from a Yearly Meeting in North America.

From this 2007 Epistle, it appears to me that it would be a mistake to consider this matter in any way “resolved.”

Continue reading The Shame of Kenya: Epistles of Hate →

Hard-Core Quaker

Wrestling With A Roomful Of Elephants:

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FUM After Kenya (First posted on June 1, 2007)

[See the response linked below from Patrick Nugent, former head of the Friends Bible College, Kenya.]

Current Quote: “While somewhat less colonial, the [Friends United Meeting] work in East Africa is still structured around economic disparities that promote patterns of dependency. FUM has made a lot of progress in this area, but old patterns die very hard. Impoverished Kenyans and Ugandans expect all help to come from outside, in the form of U.S. dollars.

Continue reading Wrestling With A Roomful Of Elephants: →

Hard-Core Quaker

“Roomful of Elephants” – A Response by Patrick Nugent

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A response by Patrick Nugent, who is soon to complete his work as Principal of Friends Theological College.

06/09/2007

Introduction: I’ve long admired Patrick Nugent for the high quality of his theological scholarship and reflection (see this essay for a fine example: http://www.quaker.org/quest/issue7-2-nugent01.htm . I also bow to his commitment to putting that theology into practice, as in his service in Kenya.

Continue reading “Roomful of Elephants” – A Response by Patrick Nugent →