Next gathering, April 17: "Action, Contemplation, and Resilience," with Josh and Chris
Cynthia Martinez received an opportunity to show her film in Kalamazoo on April 17, so we moved her appearance at Still Processing to May 15. We look forward to hosting her in May!
Chris De Blaay, my colleague in the Israel/Palestine work, and I have begun preparing a conversation for next week, April 17, at Port 393. Port 393 will now be our venue for the foreseeable future!
Chris and I are consistently in conversation about events in the U.S. (and around the world). We are trying to be clearheaded about what is happening and what it portends. We are listening to experts, attempting to accept and understand reality. We know that moral clarity and moral courage will be required. Joy and hope are essential, as are anger and sadness. And we must do it together, as much as possible.
We have entered an era of deception, absurdity, and cruelty. But we will resist. The world that we desire is worth fighting for. I still believe in humanity, in our goodness, in our softness, in our ability to love. But I am also deeply disturbed by what is happening. The cruelty of humanity has been ignited in a way that scares me. I recognize that the future is truly unknown.
So I hope to see you next week. We will think together, laugh together, express our indignation and fear together.
I leave you with this Substack post from Anathea Butler, Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought, and chair of the department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She does not mince words, which I have come to appreciate.
