Opinion Articles on Social Justice topics
We can feel it in our bones. Our democracy is in crisis. The well-orchestrated rise of Christian Nationalism and ultra-conservative forces is right in front of our eyes. Ponder, for example – the Citizens United decision; the initial election of Donald Trump; Mitch McConnell’s cleverly executed rightwing takeover of the Supreme Court; the insurrection on … Continue reading Our Democracy Is In Crisis – We Need to Act Now
When I visit UU websites, when I attend UU services, and when I participate in UU conversations, I see evidence of deep concern, compassion, and love. For democracy. For the environment. For our global siblings in the Middle East. In Eastern Europe. For people seeking refuge and opportunity in our country. For people seeking to … Continue reading An Oblique Gaze, Commentary by Kim Rebecca-Murray
As we look forward to this year’s federal elections, I want to spotlight one of the fundamental values of our American democracy. Our founders established a political system in which no single person or an elite group, such as a king or an aristocracy, could gain control of the decision-making processes. James Madison laid out … Continue reading A Democracy If You Can Keep It, by Kenneth Mitchell
Noticeable UU support for Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas An essential effort during March 2024 centered on the response to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton taking action to shut down Annunciation House. This Catholic humanitarian organization has provided hospitality and other life-saving services to migrants for decades. In reply, 268 faith leaders and 165 … Continue reading UU solidarity from across the U.S. for Annunciation House
Sean McCarthy Member of the UUSJ Immigration Action Team Maryland I am a semi-retired attorney helping a few migrants apply for immigration benefits on a volunteer basis. My wife is a native of Colombia who came to the United States many years ago to study and work. We later adopted two beautiful children from … Continue reading Immigration Turmoil on the Hill and the Way Forward for UUSJ
There were many common-sense ideas in the Dec. 20 editorial “A grand bargain on Ukraine and immigration,” but requiring migrants to wait in a third country is cruel and makes no sense. “Third country” presumably means Mexico, and the evidence is clear that Mexico is not a safe place for migrants to wait. From January … Continue reading Steve Eckstrand on “Making migrants wait in Mexico is not a good solution”
Our democracy is in danger; our country is at a crossroads. Those who support democracy, whether Independent, Republican, or Democrat, must speak out powerfully. We must educate ourselves and others, including our family and friends. We must contest the errors and misrepresentations in the media. Above all, we must identify people who support our democracy … Continue reading Our Country Needs Our Words and Values More Than Ever
It is because of my Jewish heritage and my family’s history in pogroms, ghettos, and concentration camps that I am speaking out against Israeli treatment of Palestinians, most especially the nightmare being visited on the people of Gaza right now. It is because I was told the stories of my people, because of the losses, … Continue reading I Side with the People – They Do Not Have to Be My People
By Jean Pierce, Trustee The U.S. Supreme Court handed down decisions that challenge our polity and have inspired me to fight that much harder to preserve our democracy. I was glad that the Independent State Legislature Theory gained no traction in Moore v. Harper. Like so many, I’ve been concerned with the ethics of the … Continue reading Urgency on Voting Rights
By Dan Schneider, Trustee When many of my ancestors came to Ohio from Germany in the nineteenth century, there were no federal restrictions on immigration. Compared to today, entering the United States was relatively easy. While many of us like to say we’re a nation of immigrants and their descendants, that statement makes invisible the … Continue reading Living In Hope For Immigration Justice
