Liberators,
Today marks the 121st day since the Writers Guild of America began their strike on May 2. While one of the major talking points has been the new landscape of streaming and AI residuals, the main issue is about a more equitable minimum compensation “in all areas of media, increased residuals, appropriate TV series-writing compensation from pre- to postproduction, increased contributions to pension and health plans, the strengthening of professional standards and the overall protections for writers, and more” (from Vulture). It is said that, with inflation, pay has declined 14% of the past five years. I don’t know about you, but a decline in my pay would be a hardship for me.
After the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978, Holly Near wrote “Singing for Our Lives”, aka “A Song for Harvey”. The song quickly became an anthem for the LGBTQQIP2SA community and the struggle for rights. The song simply starts, “We are a gentle, angry people and we are singing, singing for our lives” with variations such as “justice-seeking” and “land of many colors”.
During our time of silence before community prayer last week, we included the commemoration of the March on Washington. It was a massive protest march that occurred on August 28, 1963, when some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Also known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the event aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans a century after emancipation. It was also the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s now iconic “I Have a Dream” speech (from The History Channel).
How do we demonstrate God’s love? The aforementioned gatherings that show our care for our colleagues, neighbors, and those beyond our immediate circles are one way. Other ways include the little acts of love we do for each other and taking a stand for social justice. In the Gospel of John 15:9-17, Jesus commands, “Love each other.”
This week, we are going to have a conversational style reflection on the gospel text, as we close the “I’ve been meaning to ask…” journey with the question, “How do we demonstrate God’s love?” I look forward to your stepping into brave space and sharing your personal reflection. See you at 1130 Balclutha or on Zoom at 10 am Sunday.
Marching on,
Rev. Michael Cronin
P.S. Happy Labor Day!
