Making Meanings

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Making Meanings
Wed 4 Nov 2009 12:00am

I used to live in a Vermont town where we called the local weekly paper the “Valley Snooze” (Its publishers called it the “Valley News.”) It was a town – far smaller than Sudbury – where if you really wanted the news there was one of two places to get it: Dan & Whit’s parking lot, or the local dump on Saturday mornings.

The news mostly was a snooze, except when it wasn’t. Like this week in Sudbury, when the local weekly, “The Sudbury Town Crier” featured stories about two former local high school students: John Odgren, 19, incarcerated and awaiting trial on the charge of murdering a fellow student, and a 27-year-old Sudbury man arrested at dawn by the FBI and charged with “conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.” (Thankfully, the familiar faces of two First Parish youth provided a much-needed antidote; they were also featured tolling the Meetinghouse bell as part of the 350.org rally in support of an international Day of Climate Change.)

In one report about the latest arrest, a local business man is quoted as “shocked” that a kid from around here would want to support terrorists. This community, he said, “is the apex of understanding and tolerance.” Really? I’m more in the camp of the paper’s managing editor who wrote: “With all due respect to the folks in Sudbury and other well- to-do communities…, when are you going to wake up?” If we think “stuff like that” happens elsewhere, what planet are we living on? “Stuff like that happens everywhere. Even here.

As a Unitarian Universalist who affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and avows justice, equity and compassion in human relations, and upholds the use of the democratic process, and champions the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all, these incidents – like so many others – challenge me to examine my values and assess my responses and also my responsibility.

A few years ago, when asked to speak at a memorial service for James Alenson at L-S, I began predictably enough: “We are here to remember James… and what his death means to his family and friends … and to each of us. We are here to remember what happened here… and that it happened here.” But later, I also chose to acknowledge John Odgren and his family: “We are also here to acknowledge that James’ death is not the only tragedy in this story. We must accept that this is tragedy, too, for “Jack” Odgren and for his family.” The latter was not very popular with some listeners, but I could say no other and be true to my religious and personal values.

Now I am frankly wrestling with my response – and my responsibility – to the Mehanna family, to the local Islamic Center, and the Muslims who live in our neighborhoods. I know nothing about the veracity of the charges, but my heart tells me that a lot of local Muslim families will suffer because of this breaking news.

Are you asking yourself some of the same questions? I’m eager to host any conversation about how we live our UU values in the face of the daily news that challenges us. Want to join me in that conversation? Let me know.
Katie Lee