NJ Gov. Chris Christie modern day AL Gov. George Wallace?

Friday afternoon, February 17, 2012
To: Steven Goldstein, Chair and CEO, Garden State Equality, Montclair, New Jersey

Dear Steven,

Thank you for sharing your "Statement on Governor Christie's impending veto of the marriage equality bill." (Follow the link below this letter to Steven's post-veto statement.) Your openness about your cordial relationship with him, despite your differences is reflective of who and what we must be in this democracy of ours.

I came of political age where leaders who disagree passionately on the issues, who even fight with one another like cats and dogs in the political arena, were able put the fights aside and see one another as people. I grew up at a time when the legendary Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House, Tip O’Neill – a hero of mine – and President Reagan did exactly that. And it’s always been my philosophy in dealing with Governor Christie and his Administration... That doesn’t obviate the pain of the Governor’s veto. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | February 20th, 2012
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AFTER REMEMBERING

Now that we have moved beyond another Martin Luther King Observance, the first celebrated with the presence of the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, I invite you to join me in what will be a re-reading for some of us, and a first time reading for others of us. The Read: MARTIN LUTHER KING: THE INCONVENIENT HERO by Vincent Harding, (Orbis Books, 1996, revised edition 2008). Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | January 24th, 2012
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Fair is Fair Tour: Missoula, Kalispell, Great Falls

MISSOULA

Fun facts about Missoula!

-The name "Missoula" comes from the Salish name for the area, "Nemissoolatakoo."

-Jeannette Rankin, born in Missoula, MT, became the first woman to serve in Congress in 1917.

-The first luge run in North America was built at Lolo Hot Springs on Lolo Pass, just south of Missoula, in 1965.

ACLU's Ninia talks about our organizing efforts in Missoula Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | December 1st, 2011
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JOY and SORROW at the PFLAG NATIONAL CONVENTION

...BUT, MUCH MORE JOY THAN SORROW!

I have found the writings of the Lebanese American artist, poet and writer Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) helpful in my 78-year journey as a southern-born (North Carolina) and Texas-raised African American. The sadness and sorrow of the unfairness of my treatment as a black American may have infected me in ways quite different from the ways others were affected. Early on I realized that there was a brooding, isolating sadness about me that most of my friends were able to avoid. It could have been that the sicknesses caused by my asthma soon after I was born, shaped both my emotional as well as my physical being. Thus, the racism that hurt and harmed my community, my family and me, may have had a deeper impact upon me because of my health or lack thereof. When I first read these words of Khalil Gibran, they seemed to be written especially for me:

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And, the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | November 13th, 2011
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FAIR IS FAIR IN MONTANA NUMBERS ARE IN!

FAIR IS FAIR IN MONTANA

FIRST, a few fun facts about the fabulous state of Montana. With fall in full swing and winter around the corner, here are a couple that will confirm what you non-Montanans think about Montana being as cold and snowy as you imagined. We had a first snow in Helena yesterday, which left just enough to look like a sprinkling of powdered sugar across the landscape. Gil got the big storm over the weekend!

-The largest snowflake ever observed was 38 cm wide was recorded in Montana on January 28, 1887. That’s just darn near 15 inches. Amazing!

-Montana holds the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours. On January 14-15, 1972, the temperature went from from -54°F to 49°F a whopping 103 degrees in Loma!

Fair is Fair after Butte Clergy Lunch

NOW FOR THE RESULTS OF THE FAIR IS FAIR TOUR'S organizing efforts for domestic partnerships for loving, committed same-sex couples:

Ten days, seven cities, 1300 miles...

+ 320 people attended the tour events. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | November 2nd, 2011
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Truth in Progress report on Marilyn’s health condition

There is so much to write about from the Fair is Fair in Montana Tour. Now we're back at it after some life disruptions.

Gil and Marilyn at Great Falls public event

As some of you know, Marilyn was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer three days before the start of the tour and had her first chemo treatment just before she drove to pick up Ninia and then to Billings for the official tour start. Today she has her third chemo treatment. She is surrounded by many loved ones near and far who are seeing her through this time --emotionally, spiritually, and with food, music, laughter, and tears. Read the rest of this entry »

 


4 Comments » | October 20th, 2011
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FAIR IS FAIR: Bozeman and Butte, Montana

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

We're moving along on the tour, behind on our reports from the various cities, but will try to remedy some of that now. To catch up, we filmed as we drove along (which adds its own humor) from Bozeman to Missoula yesterday, stopping in Butte for lunch. Since I (Marilyn) could not attend the Bozeman events on Monday because I was stuck in the hotel room having what I understand is called a "chemo crash," I've captured the events through interviews with my tour co-horts. Read the rest of this entry »

 


1 Comment » | September 22nd, 2011
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FAIR IS FAIR: Billings, Montana


FUN FACTS ABOUT BILLINGS

-Billings is Montana's largest city with a population of 104,934

-The Crow Reservation is the largest of Montana's seven reservations at about 2,300,000 acres and is located about ten miles south of Billings.

-Just south of Billings the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand, took place on June 25, 1876. The Indians that day wiped out all of Custer's men in less than 20 minutes.

-Arlo Guthrie attended Billings' Rocky Mountain College in 1965

-During the Wild West days in Billings, Montana, the cowboys and scarlet ladies of every saloon performed impossible dances atop bars, tables, and in some instances upon the pianos.

SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

We've had a full day today in Billings starting with a clergy breakfast at Good Earth Market where we sat tucked cozily away in the seating upstairs in the open air rafters. Read the rest of this entry »

 


No Comments » | September 18th, 2011
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FAIR IS FAIR in Montana Tour Begins

September 15, 2011

The FAIR IS FAIR in Montana Tour begins tomorrow in Billings, Montana, with Gil's arrival from New Jersey at 4:30 pm. Ninia, our ACLU cohort, and I will be picking him up at the airport, and we'll be off and running! Our schedule is below. We will blogging daily and updating on facebook and twitter as we go along. Please join us on this extraordinary adventure for same-sex relationship recognition. Read the rest of this entry »

 


1 Comment » | September 15th, 2011
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Gil’s “LETTERS TO MONTANA”

LETTER FROM GIL to the many people I met in Montana on the Fair is Fair Tour.

Friends I am writing this from Atlantic City, NJ where I am the part-time Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church. My heart, mind and
spirit are still resonating with the "highs" that I experienced while in Big Sky country. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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No Comments » | September 3rd, 2011
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