Saturday, September 4, 2004 Meeting Notes for People for Peace, Justice, and Healing

PPJH meeting minutes

PJH met at Associated Ministries at 10:00 a.m. on September 4.

Present for check-in were Rob (almost), Colleen, Susan, Mark, Sallie, Karen K., Karen H., Kyle, Sheila. Guest: Olivia.

Discussion: Two books: James Hillman, A TERRIBLE LOVE OF WAR (Penguin Press, 2004) (Rob) and Henri Bergson, THE TWO SOURCES OF MORALITY AND RELIGION (orig. pub. 1932) (Mark).

Further discussion: Propriety and legality of men in military uniform attending political conventions and/or Tommy Franks signing his book (no speech) at the public library. (Call library to complain or find out what's up.)

Further discussion: Trying to weed the facts from the hoopla dispensed during the campaign. Column that cross checks that appeared in TNT noted and appreciated. There's also FactCheck.org, a website that tries to weed fact from fantasy.

AGENDA

Conversation Cafes -- Venue and Question
Military Restrictions
Ellsberg and Benjamin Appearance Sept. 30

Conversation Cafes: Karen H. reported that she will write a proposal to Nativity House to see if the staff wants us to try a Conversation Café there. Their hours are 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Wednesday,Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Karen H. and Colleen will facilitate first one.

Discussion of question for next Tuesday session at Mandolin. Karen K. reported that a person in her group felt he could express himself at C/C in a way he was unable to do elsewhere. Ideas mentioned as discussion possibilities -- personal heroes, sacred space, personal identity (what does it mean to say we are American?), questions about authentic and intimate conversation. Question chosen: (loosely) What is authenticity? Where else can you find authentic conversation in your life and how can you make it happen? The group also decided that we could ask people not in pjh to volunteer to facilitate -- sign up for the month. Discussion: talking objects and what works.

Military Restrictions: Tabled for further discussion.

Ellsberg/Benjamin Appearance: Sallie asked how many copies of Ellsberg's book, SECRETS: A MEMOIR OF VIETNAM AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS, we should order for his appearance September 30 at UPS. Group suggests 50. Sallie says we have enough money to do it and will order. (Books are returnable.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONVERSATION CAFE -- Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the Mandolin Café (3923 S. 12th, near Proctor) at 7:00 p.m.

911 COMMEMORATION -- Sat., Sept. 11 at Wright Park, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., sponsored by World Vision and First United Methodist Church

SWAMI (sp.? sorry) MEDIATATION, Wheelock Library, 9/11

OUR NEXT MEETING - Saturday, Sept. 11, Associated Ministries, 10:00 to 12:00

Medea Benjamin, Daniel Ellsberg and Norman Solomon, UPS, Sept. 30

Respectfully submitted,
Karen H.