June 21

Getting Lost...and Finding Friends in Tarpon Springs

On Sunday, June 21 I kicked off my summer speaking tour at the (Historic) Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs (www.uutarpon.org). But that was after I spent three hours making great time driving from Melbourne (where I stayed the night with family) only to be upended by the ever elusive “Center” street. In the process I was, however, able to find an open office supply store to do some last minute printing. (Can you believe the nerve of office stores NOT to be open by 9am?!) Well I ended up finding the place – the oldest UU church in the state! – just before the service was set to begin.

Inside I finally got to meet Daniel Callaghan, the man I had spent a ton of time emailing back and forth. Dan honored me with an amazing intro, reflecting on our incredible Florida March to Stop War on Iran in August 2008. Dan and his wife Anni participated in the protest along with area members of the Florida Peace Action Network like Bettejo, who was also at the service.

Before I spoke Dan read the words of Col. Ann Wright. And Quimby Heotzler got the place jumping with outstanding jazz. Then I did my thing.I discussed “Humanism and the Peace Revolution.” I’m particularly concerned that too many in the “freethought” movement have become narrowly focused on church-state separation and science that they ignore bringing an end to U.S. militarism.

I discussed the often forgotten Enlightenment philosopher, Condorcet. (Who first publicly called for women’s enfranchisement – before Mary Wollstonecraft—had an amazing, egalitarian marriage with partner, Sophie, and tried his best to write democracy, social safety nets, and other good stuff into the French constitution....before he was killed via the Reign of Terror.) Bottom line, Condorcet envisioned a world in which we would look back at war as a “freakish atrocity.” It’s a vision we have to keep alive.

I delved into the latest developments in our nation’s moral shame: American-made torture (including rape), killing civilians in Afghanistan (http://rethinkafghanistan.com), recent details of U.S. military expenditures (7 times that of China, the second top spender), and the Democrats passage of the war supplemental bill. Holding my amazing and joy-filled 7 month old daughter is a poignant reminder of how my own government is depriving so many others of simple joys....like watching their children play and grow.

During the talk/sermon I got a little emotional, a little fiery, a little preacher like. When it was over I wasn’t sure if I had outraged folks or overwhelmed them. I sometimes get accused of preaching to the choir. But I’ve made it my mission, during this series of summer talks, to challenge progressives to confront American imperialism; to ask the question: is it any less horrific to kill innocent people under an Obama administration than it was during Bush’s reign? The uncomfortable, painfully obvious answer of “no” reminds us all that we have a lot of work to do over the next four years.

When we were finished I was met with a great deal of support. The general response was that I offered a much needed jolt to those who have been intoxicated by a change at the governmental helm. Best of all, I had a series of wonderful conversations. One woman – a lifelong socialist she said – told me of how she was directly involved in the process of desegregating Orlando schools. Amazing people we follow....... And I also spoke to west-coast Florida activist extraordinaire(s) Melissa, Jeanie, and Bettejo. We talked about strategy and organizing future marches. Now that’s time well spent.