Noisy New Year to you!

What are these people waiting for?




It was the Full Moon, and that means it was time for... not just earthquakes, but since it is also New Years in the Chinese calendar, it's time for a Big Parade in San Francisco.


Sorry about the dark pictures, it was... um... dark. Here's an immortal favorite:


Guess what year it is?


Planes, cablecars and automobiles...


And the boys in the band...


I wish my pictures of the Boy Scout Marching Band, or of Miss Laos came out better, but they didn't... so you are lucky to have another float picture:


And dozens of groups with dragons... these folks cheated a bit, putting it on a float (but it was well lit!)


Well, gotta go catch up with my parade!

-Charlie

Stations of the Nations Prayer Site

I'd like comments on this.

I can think of several UU Churches or Congregations that might be good locations for such a prayer site.

I am sad that so many of us ignore the state of War that exists in our country, and maybe this could help to bring it into community consciousness. Notice that nothing here is specifically UU or specifically pro- or anti- War. I like that. The War is everyones responsibility. Note that, with the exception of the word "prayer", there is nothing which people could consider religious about the Site, and nothing explicitly Christian.

Charlie




The Stations of the Nations Prayer Site

This is a proposal for a temporary Prayer Site for prayers related to the War declared by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Prayer Sites should be open to the general public, and in a public place. They might be placed on the grounds of a church or other religious building.

The Prayer Site can consist of a series of "Stations", with a place for one or more persons to sit, stand or kneel.

Stations can be as simple as a series of wooden signs at eye level. More sophisticated Stations could be made with two sturdy vegetable crates-- one for sitting, and one with the name of the Station inside it (to keep the wind and rain off of any words or images).

Each Station should draw the attendee's attention to an aspect of the War. Stations could be identified by the name in simple block letters. It could also include simple pictures or graphics (for example, a Navy flag) and other information (for example, the number of Navy personnel currently deployed into the War Zone.) These are places of prayer, not reading rooms. Offensive decorations should be avoided.

Stations should allow for prayer, and not block traffic or be otherwise intrusive.

While stations may be combined, we suggest that Stations be established for:
U. S. Army Personnel,
U. S. Navy Personnel,
U. S. Marine Corps Personnel,
U. S. Air Force Personnel,
Other U. S. Government Personnel,
State Military Personnel
Local Military Personnel deployed overseas,
Contractors and their Families,
The Families of Military Personnel,
Military Personnel from Other Countries,
Military Personnel who have died due to the War,
Contractors who have died due to the War,
Civilians who have died due to the War,
Children orphaned,
Military Personnel injured due to the War,
Civilians Injured due to the War.
The Families of those dead or injured
Persons in love with those dead or injured

If you wish, and depending on local religious practice, a Prayer Site might include:

Management and Owners of Corporations providing Contractors
The Earth

Some faith traditions require that even one's enemies must be prayed for. These might be included:

Enemy Combatants
Persons financing Enemy Combatants
Enemy Combatants who have died due to the War

If all Stations are not fully accessible, a Station with the list of Stations might be included as well.

The Prayer Site should include an explanation, such as the following suggested text (If several languages are common in the community, translations should be posted as well):

-----
This Stations of the Nations Prayer Site has been established for the duration of declared War.

Different Stations have been set up to focus attention on different groups involved in or affected by the War.

1) It is a place of prayer and meditation. You are welcome to visit, even without praying.
2) You may select one, several, of all of the Stations, and may visit them in any order, taking as much time as you wish. You are free to skip Stations.
3) Different traditions pray in different ways, please feel free to pray in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
4) Please be respectful of others and their prayer and meditation practices. In some cases, this may require you to skip Stations or change your order of visiting.
5) If you have no tradition, you might say: "I turn my mind to (name of station), and acknowledge the wish that they might be safe and healthy at the end of the War" or "I acknowledge the deaths of these men and women"
6) Please do not add religious symbols, decorations, incense or candles
7) Go in peace.
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