BELIEVE AGAIN IN AMERICA

CALENDAR - 2008

QUOTATION COLLECTIONS

NOTE CARDS - EDUCATION

NOTE CARDS - WOMEN

POSTCARDS - PEACE

CUSTOMIZED



VIEW CURRENT
  NEWSLETTER
To receive newsletter
 



Welcome to ProgressiveValues.org

Progressive values expressed through the soundbites of quotations

for hope and inspiration, 

plus commentary and information

to open hearts, enlighten minds and transform the world. 



    Network of Spiritual Progressives-Minnesota  

Postcards to Public Leaders Project

 

In the summer of 2007 some NSP-MN leaders started meeting with Minnesota state legislators to discuss how we might work together for the common good by exploring the spiritual dimension of public policy. Legislative involvement is increasing through continuing meetings and communications.

 

This interfaith grassroots organization recently launched an innovative program to raise consciousness among policy makers about the spiritual imperative to cooperate for the common good. A series of eight postcards is being sent, one each week, to state legislators and Constitutional officers. The colorful postcards include an inspirational quotation on the front and a hand-written message on the back.

 

You can buy these postcards to send to your policy makers here!  A package of all 8 postcards is $10. NSP-MN receives 50% of the purchase price.

 

These are the eight quotations:

 

"Nothing is more contagious than genuine love and genuine care. Nothing is more exhilarating than authentic awe and wonder. Nothing is more exciting than to witness people having the courage to fight for their highest vision." Rabbi Michael Lerner

 

“No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." Isaac Asimov

 

“A spirit of harmony can only survive if each of us remembers, when bitterness and self-interest seem to prevail, that we share a common destiny.” Barbara Jordan


“Politics is the deliberation of how we ought to order our life together.” Aristotle

 

"A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation." James Freeman Clarke

 

"The things we call impossible may be only one more step away from where we are right now. Don't stop trying too soon." Sister Joan Chittister 

 

"We must move forward in the days ahead with audacious faith. The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

"We need an open mind and a big heart and a compassionate imagination to allow for all the combinations we are becoming as a nation and as a human family." Julia Alvarez

 

*  *  * 

 

Thoughts about Senator Barack Obama's speech by Phyllis Stenerson

 

(Note - links to the Obama speech of 3/18//08 plus speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Mitt Romney are at the upper left of this page and in the commentary content.

Update - March 24, 2008 - read/listen to Rev. Jeremiah Wrights's sermons containing the comments at Essence.com. CNN commentator and Essence contributor Roland Martin provides background information and perspective on Wright, the sermons and political exploitation of Wright's remarks.)

 

Senator Barack Obama's speech on March 18, 2008 moved me more deeply than the words of any politician previously. There are several reasons: He is an exceptionally eloquent orator, knows American history and philosophy, has intellectual depth, embraces complexity and speaks from the heart.

 

Another reason it resonated so powerfully is that I was not only ready, but extremely eager, to hear this message. It is long overdue! I am grateful he had the courage to go far beyond the usual safe zone for politicians and move bravely into the realm of moral leadership.


I won't go into details of the speech since it's being widely circulated through mass media and the internet with much commentary. I happened to turned on TV and caught part of the speech. Serendipity! I could hardly believe it was real.


Obama is in a unique position to deliver this message being an African American within reach of becoming President of the United States - what Teddy Roosevelt called "a bully pulpit." Not only is he heard, he is taken very seriously.


We ignore this message at our peril.


In the past seven years I, along with many others, have anguished over the direction of our country and felt that our democracy was genuinely threatened. I've read books and countless articles on the internet, joined with other concerned citizens, organized spiritual progressives, protested, marched for peace, traveled to conferences, written commentary and even preached a sermon in a quest to understand what was happening in our government and society and doing what we can to make things right. 


Time after time wise prophets have spoken to us, telling us we need to change, pointing the way to universal justice and peace. Time and again, we've ignored the messages. We've found the task too difficult, given in and given up. Right wing extremists did not give up but filled the ideology and leadership void, moving the country over the past 30 years away from progressive values and have done more damage to our country and world than we can even imagine.


Outstanding among the prophetic voices was that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Obama's speech is being compared to King's "I Have a Dream" speech and his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." 


Obama's speech fit very well in my worldview developed through life experience, relationships, spirituality, activism and study. I was extremely eager to hear a prophetic call to action and encouraged that it was amplified throughout mass media and the internet.

My strong affinity for Obama's speech is in stark contrast to my being oblivious to the Kennedy and King speeches of the 1960's when I was caught up in my own life and had no frame of reference to understand the events of the time or envision the ramifications for the future.


I believe Obama's call for Americans to have a deeply serious, even spiritual, national conversation about race to be absolutely essential. People need to know the history and understand the complexity of race in America.

 

We might expand the dialogue to include the other issues that superficially sort the human family into groups, that divide one person or group from another such as religion, gender, class, age and nationality plus physical and mental ability.

We must address the damage done by those who exploit these artificial barriers for political or material gain or to advance their ideology.


The dialogue will not be quick, easy or perfect. We'll make mistakes and make people uncomfortable, probably even angry. We'll also find that the vast majority of our fellow citizens are longing to move toward a more just and peacful world. Many are already actively engaged in the progressive grassroots movement and want to broaden their dialogue to include others who have differing perspectives.


No one person or group has the answer. Barack Obama doesn't claim to be able to do this alone and calls for all of us to become engaged. Active citizen education and participation is essential. We need to share what we know and learn from others, do what we can and support others. We can and must do this!      

    
###

 

“Whereof what’s past is prologue, what to come in yours and my discharge.”

William Shakespeare, The Tempest

 

###

 

Update - March 24, 2008 - read/listen to Rev. Jeremiah Wrights's sermons containing the comments at Essence.com. CNN commentator and Essence contributor Roland Martin provides background information and perspective on Wright, his sermons and political exploitation of Wright's remarks.

 

Spiritual Politics - new articles

 

"Presidential Politics Through Spiritual Eyes" by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom Center

 

"Progressive Christians Respond to Neo-con Fundamentalism"
By Gary Vance

 

"In Obama we trust - US elections 2008: Barack Obama represents a progressive religious tradition in America that may act as a counterweight to the religious right" by Gordon Lynch, Guardian UK


"We Need Candidates Who Are Really Religious" by Sister Joan Chittister

 

"Romney religion speech and presidential election put the focus on American values" by Phyllis Stenerson, www.MinnPost.com, December 15, 2007

 

Vote Your Conscience. If You Can.

 

"Archbishop of Canterbury blames mankind's greed for endangering the environment"

 

"After years spent injecting religion into US politics, right-wing pundits are afraid they may have gone too far"

 

"Going beyond God"

 

"The Evangelical Crackup"


"Evangelical Democrat Stirs the Pot in Mississippi" Washington Post

 

 Faith and Politics, Rules of the Game by Ira Chermus


 


Change - new articles

 

"Change: Martin Luther King, Jr., British Petroleum and Precinct Caucuses" by Phyllis Stenerson

 

"Coloring Public Opinion?" by Gregory Solman, AdWeek, January 14, 2008

 

"A Conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin: Great presidents build support for transformative change. What can the next president do to revive a sense of common purpose?" by Robert Kuttner in The America Prospect, December 19, 2007


"The Aquarians and the Evangelicals"


Hope - new articles

 

"The Secret Library of Hope - 12 Books to Stiffen Your Resolve" by Rebecca Solnit

 


 

Sources of information, perspective and ways to participate - click on each for more information

    

Progressive Organizations - you may direct that 15% of your purchase be donated to one of these organizations by noting in the Comment box just before you click to complete your order.

    Network of Spiritual Progressives - Minnesota

    Backbone Campaign www.backbonecampaign.org

    Progressive Democrats of America www.pdamerica.org

    

Spiritual Politics - perspectives

    

Progressive Values - definitions and perspectives 

 

Vision

 

Books - recommended reading

 

America's Founding Documents

    Declaration of Independence

    Constitution and Bill of Rights

 

www.ProgressiveValues.org includes WiseThoughts.com and EducatingForCitizenship.com




 

Free shipping on orders of $30 or more

 

Special 3 for $15

regular price $15 each

Believe We Can Transform America

2008 desk calendar

 

order / more info...


Believe Again in America, quotations from diverse voices 

regular price $10 each

Special 3 for $10

order / more info


 

 

 

 

 

 

Wise Thoughts® Quotation Collections

each booklet has 10 postcards, each with quotations about a theme including peace, justice, democracy, women and vision.

regular price $10 each

Special 2 for $10

 

order / more info...



 

 

 

                                                                                                                            




www.ProgressiveValues.org

Phyllis@ProgressiveValues.org
Paideia (pu-dye'-uh) is an ancient Greek philosophy
of educating for citizenship to create an ideal society.

Paideia LLC ©2007 all rights reserved
  Site by Locus