Our UU Church was Vandalized: Help Needed

Hi all,

Over the weekend, vandals struck our Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield, MO. Obama as Joker signs with the word Socialism underneath were pasted on our marquee and the rainbow flag was stolen.

There are actually people defending the vandals on the News-Leader website. A moment to register and wade into the debate would be appreciated.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090813/OPINIONS/908130344

I had about 19 friends in the congregation that got shot at in Knoxville. They had been Jews and Atheists and Methodists and Catholics when I knew them, but somehow, the dwindling pool of empathy in our society drove them together into that Unitarian congregation.

We are used to having the rainbow flag cut down and having things scrawled on the church. This is the first time the policy debate has become a reason to target us. Of course we help the poor and this is something the vandals are obviously against.

Anyhow, Your support would be appreciated.

-Sandy

Is like beating a Buddhist monk for being nice...

People are so mean.

How horrible!

because my first reaction to this was that they should station a few armed guards around the church and blow away the assholes that were doing this.

That would probably be frowned upon. :-)

... who have such a violent reaction to tolerance. Where is their humanity?

it might be something to consider.

I'd call the stations in Kansas City and ask them to come out and cover this hate crime. Make sure they know about the attack last year on the UU church that killed several members and was motivated by hate talk by rightwing goons.

Tell them it would make a great story, since Harry Truman was from Springfield, and retired to there after his two terms, and Harry Truman was the first president to try to get some form of national health care.

Sell it two ways.

one way to see this is that those who oppose the positive changes being made are responding because THEY are threatened- and are reacting in the only way they know- with anger and hate.

That doesn't diminish the harm done, or the potential of more harm, but it is a symptom of their failing.



It may seem hard to believe right now but I share Gandhi's belief that:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it...always."
— Mahatma Gandhi

:grouphug:

and that a proportion of money sent be allocated for affiliates as yours to be used to repair and restore damage and maybe a national representative to visit you for moral.

Another idea is to contract Interfaith Alliance with Rev. Gaddy. Maybe he can give you other ideas on how to work through this.

their building, I highly recommend a couple of good security cameras to maintain surveillance of the building. This will probably not be the last time your church is targeted.

If you do this, spend the money for quality equipment, with resolutions high enough to provide identifiable images of the miscreants. Any security firm can help you with these choices. Outside lighting is also something you need, if you don't already have it.

By doing this, you'll be acting in a passive, peaceful way. Nothing at all wrong with that. There are federal laws about defacing houses of worship, by the way. Notify the FBI.