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THE PASSING OF THE SUVSAURUS

There was a time when dinosaurs lived on the Earth.
Paleontologists who specialize in digging for fossils of
extinct species have found their bones and have
reconstructed their skeletons and given them
fearsome names such as Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The popular Jurassic Park movies have further
enhanced our perception of re-animated dinosaurs.
On the whole we envision the dinosaur as a creature
of awesome size and insatiable appetite. The dinosaurs dominated the ecosystem for about
160 million years. Then suddenly these giants disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous
period 65 million years ago. Explanations for this rapid extinction of the great beasts range
from sudden climate change brought about by a meteor collision to gradual environmental
change adverse to the survival of dinosaurs. There is a silver lining to this sad tale – the
substantial legacy of the Age of the Dinosaur is the deposits of oil from which gasoline is
produced.

The reality in American today, in the words of President Bush, as only he can say them, is
that we have an addiction to oil. Anyone who drives a gasoline-fueled vehicle suffers from
this addiction. The worst of the addicts have the compulsion to burn gasoline at the
greatest rate possible. These addicts have the tendency to drive the SUV. Everyday, many
SUVs with 4-wheel-drive rumble down American’s well-paved urban streets with a single
person in them. In order to do justice to the name SUV - Sport Utility Vehicle - some are
driven in the style of Grand Prix race cars, although in reality they are fanciful trucks.
Some SUVs are deliberately marketed for their intimidating size coupled to a massive gas
hungry engine. Those who buy such SUVs expect all punier species to scamper out of the
way when their Model T-Rex takes to the street.

I see the SUV not as some mechanical dominator of spell-binding attractiveness, but a
unenviable, lumbering monster whose extinction is coming. With gas pump prices
breaking the $3.00 per gallon mark around Cincinnati and $4.00 per gallon in California, the
death knell of the SUV is sounding. The SUV pet is going to be very expensive to feed,
perhaps to the point that their owners must make the decision, heartbreaking or
cold-turkey as it may be, to abandon their voracious 12 miles per gallon monsters. The
poor SUVSAURUS will surely go the same way as that sorry carnivore, Tyrannosaurus.
For me, I love to drive a hybrid-electric car which actually gets 46 miles to the gallon.

Charleston C. K. Wang
April 22, 2006

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THE MYTH OF THE MODEL MINORITY

One Sunday morning in October, our community was jolted awake by the morbid
news of an apparent double murder-suicide at a local Chinese restaurant.   The
comments that were triggered by this tragedy on the internet and elsewhere are just
as disturbing.   Some people pointed to the economic slowdown and linked it with the
stereotype of Asians committing suicide to escape the dishonor of business failure.
Yet others manifested a glib “they are not like us” attitude. Asian American small
businesses, many of which are restaurants, are an inseparable part of our economy
and they share in the hard times and well as good.   We are not isolated islands but
every one is part of this land.   The stereotype of the model Asian minority who can
outwork the rest is just a myth. I know of more Asian American businesses which
have closed or are closing along with the others in this downturn of economic
fortunes. The unexpressed tragedy I have sensed, beginning with my own gut
reaction, is that the Asian American community tends to pretend that “no big matter”
has happened and life for the rest somehow will go on as normal if only we take care
of our own business.   This is followed by an inability to talk about and deal with such
problems as a community. Because of cultural differences and language
complications, generally there is also reluctance within those afflicted to reach out
for help early when tragedy may yet be prevented.    Beyond this, the reality is that
there is limited availability of organizations and professionals to help Asian
Americans who are suffering domestic violence and other severe social and mental
health problems that may lead to homicide. I hope our greater community can come
to view the lives lost with compassion and then reach out to help when help will still
make a difference. We should realize that during these difficult times, misfortune
can strike any of us. In the final reflection, we will be seen as helping ourselves.

An opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang 11/11/2008.

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Relinquish & Receive
Reflections on Life In the Turn Lane & Beyond

By Beverly Jones, May 23, 2009

What do dog food, bath robes, rug cleaning, chandeliers, credit-swaps, derivatives and underwater
mortgages have in common?      Looks like Greed to me.

The British MP’s showed little creativity in their expense accounts compared to our American
“financial wizards”, but it looks like they share the hubris and chutzpah that people seem to acquire
in an environment where “what’s yours is mine, and get all I can.” And, let’s not forget “if everybody's
doing it, it must be all right.”

I’m really, really tired of analysis upon commentary about the genesis of our fiscal meltdown, and the
minutia of various healthcare reforms. We do not seem nearly as intent on investigating the
pandemic of our human propensity toward greed ; which, I venture, is the underlying cause for it all.
Maybe Bob Woodward could investigate. Could we have a national panel to examine this bottom
line? The explanation of “human nature” doesn’t quite get to the core of it.

Surely, we all share the human capacity for selfishness – but, how is it that John grows up to be a
“Donald Trump”and Sam a “High Commissioner of Human Rights”? (The gender reference is not
accidental.)

Greed is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, an ancient compilation of human traits that will lead one off
the path of enlightenment and spiritual growth. Various definitions say greed is the desire to take
more than you need; Proverbs says, “ Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their
household.”15:27 Interesting that “household” is mentioned; we’re learning that taking for oneself
has community consequences.

I nominate Wendell Berry as chair of our “Greed Panel”. He says,

“... the commonly accepted basis of our economy is the supposed possibility of limitless
growth, limitless wants, limitless wealth, limitless natural resources, limitless energy, and
limitless debt. The idea of a limitless economy implies and requires a doctrine of general
human limitlessness: all are entitled to pursue without limit whatever they conceive as
desirable—a license that classifies the most exalted Christian capitalist with the lowliest
pornographer.” “Faustian Economics: Hell hath no limits”, Harper’s Magazine, May 2008.

We’d need to look at the “commonly accepted basis”, with testimony that would explain how toddler
Johnnie grew up to think there are no limits for his acquisitiveness, and feels it is sanctioned by his
cohorts? Were his Christmases so overflowing with gifts that he took plentitude for his birthright or
were they so sparse that, like Oliver, his desire for “more” took over?

I’d like to include as evidence The Enneagram*, a useful tool loosely based on the 7 Deadly Sins.
Many institutions have been interested in its process, including Episcopalians and Jesuits. Certainly
all of us exhibit all of the patterns included, but there does seem to be a core around which we each
organize ourselves.

In this construct the person who exhibits many of the attributes of Greed is variously called: “The
Enthusiast: Spontaneous, Versatile, Acquisitive, and Scattered”, the “Generalist: The accomplished-
extroverted-excessive-manic person”, to name just two variations.

“At their best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and
satisfied.”

In an unhealthy state they may

“Get into conspicuous consumption and all forms of excess. Self-centered, materialistic, and
greedy, never feeling that they have enough. Demanding and pushy, yet unsatisfied and
jaded. Addictive, hardened, and insensitive.” * Enneagram Institute

Harvey Cox, theologian and religious critic , would be another great witness for the “Greed Panel.”
His concept of The Market As God, offers a “religious” analogy for our cultural difficulties:
“The Market is becoming more like the Yahweh of the Old Testament -- not just one superior deity
contending with others but the Supreme Deity, the only true God, whose reign must now be
universally accepted and who allows for no rivals.” Harvey Cox, “The Market As God”, The Atlantic
Monthly, March 1999.

What a lethal and fanciful process we’ve created: people who chafe against limits offered a system
that allows unfettered “freedom”. Maybe our Panel could help us see links of potential greed among
diets, budgets, energy conservation and national purpose and emphasize that freedom needs
limits. The artist freely creates bound by the limits of the canvas; with unfettered freedom toddlers
become anxious, acting out to find the limits that tell them ‘you’re safe if you go here and not there’.

Walter Brueggemann puts our dilemma of freedom and limits into perspective: “Our situation is
[also] one of loss and gift. Our vocation is to relinquish and receive.” To be able to receive the gifts
‘God’s great moves are working in our public arena’ we would need to die to greed in order to be
raised to new life.” Hopeful Imagination

That’s what I call freedom of choice.

© Beverly Jones 2009.   Doing Good. Together. Peony Power is here.
* http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/TypeOne.asp

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On 04/12/2009, Bishop Thomas E. Breidenthal delivered the Easter Sermon at Christ Church
Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati. Reprinted here is the excerpt of the Sermon which touches on
immigration:
begun to welcome this mingling as a sign of the global community that is emerging. But what about the
opening of our borders to immigrants without restriction? Let me tell you about a recent event here in
"...... We have struggled as Christians to embrace the mingling of races and cultures - indeed, we have
Cincinnati that made this question very real for me. An active member of one of our local Episcopal
churches was recently stopped - apparently for no other reason than for looking Guatemalan -
imprisoned for being undocumented, and deported, all within the last week, leaving a wife and children
with whom he was not allowed to communicate. What can I say? We live in a time when globalization
seems to go hand in hand with more and more barriers separating people from one another. We want
money to move freely, but not human beings. This is not to say that borders should be done away with.
They establish national sovereignty, and this in turn ensures mutual accountability and the rule of law
at the local level. But do borders establish an absolute right to keep the stranger and the foreigner
out? Are those who cross those borders without permission criminals? Does the crossing of borders
cancel out the regard we have for the integrity and security of families? This should not be a new
question for us. For at least a thousand years Christian ethicists have been teaching that people ought
to be able to cross borders freely, since the whole earth is meant to be a home for all human beings.
.................." To read the complete Sermon, click here.

BISHOP THOMAS BREIDENTHAL
TOUCHES ON PLIGHT OF IMMIGRANTS
DURING EASTER SERMON

Abraham was an Immigrant: A Theological Reflection
Abraham is widely accepted as a patriarch of the three
great monotheistic faiths of the World. Abraham was an
immigrant. His father, Terah was from the land of Ur of
the Chaldeans (somewhere in present day Iraq) and while
the tribe was resting at Haran, Terah died. Abraham, then
known as Abram, heard God tell him to get out of his country and from his father's house to a land that
God will reveal. Abram, whose obedience is renowned, complied. .... For rest of reflection click here .

5000 CLUB OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
AT HUNGER WALK 5/25/2009

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photos of 5000 Club at
Hunger Walk

Mark Sackett of Christ Church
Cathedral and Pastor Dave Weaver of
Nast Trinity United Methodist Church,
downtown Cincinnati.

2 PHOTOS BELOW: On Saturday, 5/16/2009 the CINCINNATI HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION held the HEALTHY MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES a REGIONAL
CONFERENCE to promote CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS

The Inter-Ethnic Council of Greater Cincinnati

MEET SOME OF THE EDUCATION for MINISTRY (EfM)
STUDENTS & GRADUATES. More photonews coming soon.

Upon completion of 4 years of EfM, Holly
Pratt (right) received her Certificate on
5/24/09

Grace Episcopal Church
College Hill, Ohio

ONE DAY IN JUNE, TWENTY YEARS AGO
TianAnMen (6/4/1989)Revisited

WANGLAW BUILDING GETS FACELIFT

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