Comments on: Pope and Hope? http://blog-aauw.org/2008/04/16/pope-and-hope/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:13:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Nancy Shoemaker http://blog-aauw.org/2008/04/16/pope-and-hope/#comment-205 Nancy Shoemaker Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:32:44 +0000 http://aauwnational.wordpress.com/?p=105#comment-205 Barbara - AAUW certainly isn't perfect -- according to the master calendar at least six states had their annual meetings last weekend which conflicted with preparations for Passover if not specifically the first seder. However, I've found that to be the exception. Locally we do celebrate year end "holidays," not Christmas. We do try to honor all the aspects of the diversity statement (and probably fall furthest from the ideal when one looks at gender). We in North Carolina are trying to make sure that in the future we are sensitive to days that are special to minorities. See http://www.aauwnc.org/2008/04/06/convention-conflict-with-passover/ for the links we've found to help us cross check future events. If you know of others, please let us know. Your larger points, though, do bear reflection. Thanks for posting. -Nancy Barbara -

AAUW certainly isn’t perfect — according to the master calendar at least six states had their annual meetings last weekend which conflicted with preparations for Passover if not specifically the first seder.

However, I’ve found that to be the exception. Locally we do celebrate year end “holidays,” not Christmas. We do try to honor all the aspects of the diversity statement (and probably fall furthest from the ideal when one looks at gender).

We in North Carolina are trying to make sure that in the future we are sensitive to days that are special to minorities. See
http://www.aauwnc.org/2008/04/06/convention-conflict-with-passover/ for the links we’ve found to help us cross check future events. If you know of others, please let us know.

Your larger points, though, do bear reflection. Thanks for posting.

-Nancy

]]> By: Barbara Mullin http://blog-aauw.org/2008/04/16/pope-and-hope/#comment-203 Barbara Mullin Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:49:52 +0000 http://aauwnational.wordpress.com/?p=105#comment-203 Why is there such a silence from AAUW on the listed public policy issue of separation of church and state? At branch meetings do we have prayers? Do we refer to our "Christmas" meeting in December instead of our "Holiday" meeting? Does diversity only mean race and not sexual orientation or religion? Is AAUW considered to be a "Christian" organization? At National AAUW planning meetings do members talk about joining "faith based" groups with AAUW? Do AAUW branches give "Christian" books at "Christmas" to public schools? When we go to the National AAUW Public Policy page online, there is not a question about the support of separation of church and state but the reality out here is another thing. Even when corrected, do we still insist of using the "christian" terminology thinking oursevles brave and courageous? The national scene of having a Pope address us about patriotism and a president address us about religion is pretty scary. Did anyone read "The Plot Against America" by Philip Roth? Barbara Mullin Why is there such a silence from AAUW on the listed public policy issue of separation of church and state? At branch meetings do we have prayers? Do we refer to our “Christmas” meeting in December instead of our “Holiday” meeting? Does diversity only mean race and not sexual
orientation or religion? Is AAUW considered to be a “Christian” organization? At National AAUW planning meetings do members talk about joining “faith based” groups with AAUW? Do AAUW branches give “Christian” books at “Christmas” to public schools?

When we go to the National AAUW Public Policy page online, there is not a question about the support of separation of church and state but the reality out here is another thing. Even when corrected, do we still insist of using the “christian” terminology thinking oursevles brave and courageous? The national scene of having a Pope address us about patriotism and a president address us about religion is pretty scary. Did anyone read “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth?

Barbara Mullin

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