[Oe List ...] A bridge

Wed Nov 5 17:13:55 EST 2008

Dear Listserve colleagues, ( mates in Austalk,)
What a moment in your history! 
When Jim and I lived in Cleveland, O. for  a year in 1960, and he was pastor in a black Church with the Cleveland Inner City Protestant Parish, all our neighbours were black. My Dentist, Hairdresser, Supermarket, bus drivers, parishioners and all. For a 23 year old white woman, who could not make herself understood most of the time; as our English was of a different pronounciation, it was  wake up time. I have forever after been profoundly grateful to the black community, in "my"ghetto on the east side of Cleveland- for many reasons-  the singing stands out as number one-  on Sunday afternoons when we used to go to the black Churches in our neighbourhood- such passion and delight and pain in their voices, and harmony. Secondly,  such warmth and support, when as our first child was born, and I was thousands of miles away from family- and  thirdly,  perhaps most deeply; the opportunity for me to reflect on my own situation here in Australia, with our black indigenous community-  in their own terrible suffering. (We still are in struggle with this.) 
So,for me, in many ways; your journey has been my journey- it has been a long 40+ years in the wilderness, and for many of you much longer. I do thank God for you all, and I echo Adam-  now it is truly time for the rest of the world to say "God bless America." Justice has flowed and yes, welcome to Century 21, at last. 
Grace and peace,
Isobel Bishop.

---- Original Message ----- 
  From: hfgreene at mindspring.com 
  To: Order Ecumenical Community 
  Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:48 AM
  Subject: [Oe List ...] A bridge

  My favorite quote from last night was by Jessie Jackson. He said people like Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King, Jr. tore down the walls. Now Barack is building a bridge. He add that you can't do that until the walls have been torn down.

  It strikes me that we tore down a lot of walls also and that many of us are now engaged in building bridges. The election of Obama opens new possibilities for us all--not that he will do our work, but that we can do ours.

  Herman

    -----Original Message----- 
    From: "McCabe, Diann A" 
    Sent: Nov 5, 2008 8:28 AM 
    To: Colleague Dialogue , Order Ecumenical Community 
    Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Just great! 

    This year our university is following the common experience theme of "Civic Responsibility and the Legacy of LBJ."  18 year old students have been exposed to LBJ's work--the Great Society, the War on Poverty, the Higher Ed Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and Viet Nam.  They have been exposed to the likes of the Reverend Joseph Lowery and recently, Ambassador Andrew Young.  Their responses have been very heartening.  To hear Andy Young talk about walking next to MLK, never dreaming he could be elected to Congress; to hear Lowery talk about being servants to the common good; to see recordings of LBJ talk about his teaching in Cotulla where he encountered poor Mexican children who showed the awareness of being hated (and to hear LBJ say he never dreamed he'd be president when he taught there)--the students have been exposed to some really good contexts, I'd say.  And the message that's coming to them, the message that they're hearing from Obama (who was here last February) is one of openness to all, a call to come together to work together, not depending on someone else to do the job for you, but to roll up your (our) sleeves and get to work to make our dreams come true.  

    So, here's to the joy of a new day, to new possibilities and to new hope.  Here's to the youth of the world.  (Sitting in a "war room" with our youngest son who watched the local returns coming in, posting them by precint on the white board to his colleagues--the torch is being passed in some ways.)

    Diann McCabe
    San Marcos, TX

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    From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net [dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of George Holcombe [geowanda at earthlink.net]
    Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 12:07 AM
    To: ICA LIST SERVE; Order Ecumenical Community
    Subject: [Dialogue] Just great!

    I remember many years ago, sitting in the cubicle with JWM.  I cannot remember who was all around the table, I remember Betty Pesek was there, I think George Walters was there, maybe Hahn.  We were reflecting on  observations Joe made when we were on the West side, saying the cities would produce Black leaders, and that it would move to Washington.  I don't remember who said it, maybe it was Walters, that one day there would be a Black president, and JWM smiled and nodded.  As I sit and watch the TV, I remember Harrison and Joyce and Larry and Robert, and so many others.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to be in a collegium in the morning with all of them.  Can you imagine! 

    George Holcombe
    14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
    Austin, TX 78728
    Home: 512/252-2756
    Mobile 512/294-5952
    geowanda at earthlink.net

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