Are Women Human?

Are Women Human?

I once saw a question raised related to violence against women that questioned: “Are Women Human?” Seems like a superfluous inquiry, doesn’t it? However, treatment of women, whether it be through actions, attitudes and/or expressed values demonstrate that we are not. Historical roots and traditional customs offer deep roots to a negative response to this question. Instead, we are often seen as objects rather than subjects. We are seen as subservient rather than equal to men.  It seems to take…

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To Make the Invisible Visible!

To Make the Invisible Visible!

Can you remember the last time you heard the presidential candidates speak about people living in poverty? We hear concerns about the middle class and outrage over the top 1% and tax cuts but what about those persons who aren’t included in these categories? Think about it! To name a few who aren’t ‘counted’ – women & girls caught in human trafficking, homeless people, drug addicts, single moms and their children, elderly women and men, farmworkers, rural and urban poverty,…

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Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Please begin by viewing the above youtube (c.5 min.) Incorporate the reflection below into your own thoughts. How does this thought-provoking information and challenge connect with your choices to the upcoming elections and candidates – presidential, senatorial, house reps?  This election, as we know is unprecedented in our nation’s history.  Much is at stake, especially for the lives of those who are poor and/or marginalized.  The present situation did not happen overnight!  There are surely many factors, among them movements…

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Election 2016

Election 2016

We, U.S. citizens – and the rest of the world – have experienced months and months of the primary campaigns along with, continued campaigns toward the general election in November 2016. However, at this time we have two major candidates rather than almost twenty!  Seems, in theory, like it should be pretty simple, doesn’t it? However, could there be two more contrasting world views? World views reflect and encompass a person’s values, priorities, choices, morals, ideals, etc. As you listen…

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Yes, we have differences

Yes, we have differences

Yes, we have differences (see below).  No, we share a common humanity. It seems we need a better balance between the two! To identify a few startling events from our recent past: Timothy Thomas, an unarmed 19 yr. old in Cincinnati shot and killed during Holy Week of 2001. Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old, shot and killed in 2013.  This month -July 2016 -2 men killed in two consecutive days:  Alton Sterling, 37,in Baton Rouge, LA., Philando Castile, 32, killed in St….

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Dan Berrigan, S. J.

Dan Berrigan, S. J.

Dan Berrigan, S.J. dead at the age of 94 – died Saturday, April 30, 2016. Who was he? Priest, prophet, poet, teacher, author, protestor, mentor . . . Many words have already been written about him; many more will come.  For those of you not so familiar with his journey of justice I offer the following youtube (about 8 minutes)  www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODE99vSoDsc In addition, I wish to share two of the experiences I had with him. In the summer of 1974,…

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The Challenge

The Challenge

Sunday, February 28, 2016 the New York Times had a number of articles/columns on gender, race and class. One that particularly struck me was “The Faces of American Power, Nearly as White as the Oscar Nominees”.  www.nytimes.com/…/race-of-american-poweer.html  It graphically illustrates the people of power in U.S. culture, government, education and business. The objective is to demonstrate that inequality is not limited to film! Is this a new insight?! No, however the pictorial display provides a convincing argument that patriarchal systems…

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When I was about 10 years old, walking down a narrow sidewalk in a small town with my mom, an elderly black man came walking toward us. As he drew closer he tipped his hat and stepped off the sidewalk to allow mom and me to pass. We smiled at him, said hello and thank you. Following that incident, I asked my mother why he did that. Her reply: because many white people expect that but we know it isn’t…

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Hearing the voices…

Hearing the voices…

Yesterday evening a segment of the NEWSHOUR focused on girls’ high school graduation; in fact the first in the small village highlighted within Afghanistan! Another significant event of the past week – the death of Sister of Charity Mary Grafe who spent many years of her ministry in Over-the-Rhine meeting, assisting and talking with high school girls in 20/20 (Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center) along with other women’s groups in OTR. Mary used to joke that at first she was…

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Lesson on War

Lesson on War

LESSON ON WAR:  Empathize with your Enemy “One of the most fearsome ideas to emerge in the course of the 20th century was the idea of total war – the belief that the most effective way of winning wars was by the obliteration, or the threat of obliter- ation of the civilian population of the enemy’s town and cities by means of an annihilating attack from the air. . .civilians have more and more frequently been made the target of…

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