Reviews, Recipes, and Random Slices of Life

Happy things:
1. Because of Pride, the pastor read a 500-year-old prayer of blessing written by Menno Simons for the marginalized and the persecuted, and
2. For the first time ever, Cassius actually stayed in the nursery without either parent for a while and *didn't* have an atomic-level meltdown that led to the staff coming to bring us back. There was some fussing, but he was happily playing when we picked him up.

Tangentially, if I'm ever on a panel about religious schisms, I'll just introduce myself as "a member of a Protestant, Anabaptist, Mennonite, GLBTQ-affirming church...so I know all about schism." I have no plans to be on such a panel, but.

(x-posted from Fb because it actually seemed to have a little substance)

I have a relative who is in the habit of sending out fwd emails and chain letters that support his political views, which are, I should mention, a bit more right-wing than most of the rest of the family. I don't usually respond, because usually they don't pertain to my choices. But then he sent one out with a subject line of "Planned Parenthood: A $1 Billion Evil Empire."

I am the sort of person who has to stand up and speak out when she disagrees strongly with what another person is presenting as fact or as acceptable/unacceptable behavior. And yes, this has caused strife in some of my relationships (including with some of you!). But to say nothing, just to keep the waters smooth and my life easier, would be unforgivably weak.

This email exchange followed. I'm italicizing his emails.

( Read more... )

Note: If the question comes up, you're welcome to link to this post and/or to quote from *my* responses. I didn't address the "notify the police" comment because I'm not current on all the issues and didn't want to open that can of worms. But I believe that most states that have a "notify for underage" rule require that the *parents* are the ones who are notified. That clearly wouldn't have helped.