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January 2004 QuakerShaker
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Editor, QuakerShaker
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Dec 31, 2003 16:58 PST
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QUAKERSHAKER, January, 2004
Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Religious Society of Friends
The quotation that follows is from pp 128, 129 of Nonviolence and Peace
Building in Islam by Mohammed Abu-Nimer, 2003. It’s available from the
Antioch Library (but is checked out right now):
In February 1989, in the West Bank city of Hebron, an Israeli patrol was
chasing a group of shabab (Palestinian youth, ten to twenty years old,
who were in the forefront of the street protests) after a stone-throwing
incident. In the course of the chase, a young protester was shot and
killed. As the chase continued, an Israeli soldier was cut off from the
patrol and found himself surrounded by a group of angry shabab. Fearing
for his life, he ran to the door of the nearest house and began beating
on it with his rifle. A woman came and opened the door and, seeing the
danger, admitted him to the house and refused to let the shabab enter
and attack him. With the shabab milling around outside, she served the
soldier coffee and waited for the mob to disperse so he could leave
safely. The woman was the mother of the boy whom the patrol had just
killed.
About a month later ... the researcher asked a group of Palestinians
what role religion played in their struggle. Ahmad, the host, replied,
“Religion and custom allow us to preserve our humanity.” When asked to
elaborate, he told the above story and added,”This is why nonviolence is
important to us. We will never ... hate our enemy; we will offer him
hospitality. That soldier could come back again, and the woman would
offer him coffee again.”
This story .... is a microcosm of the complex intertwining of violence
and nonviolence ... and calls into question simple distinctions between
the two. The shabab provoked the action by throwing stones, prompting
the soldiers’ fatal gunfire. One soldier’s fearful response to potential
violence resulted in nonviolent protection by the woman. By sorting out
the complexities of these types of action and their interaction ...,
perhaps we can further our understanding of how nonviolent resistance
functions in movements of social protest.... The story hints at ways
that Islam functions in relation to nonviolence. When asked about
religion, Ahmad linked it with custom and proceeded to tell a story
rather than turning to theory, theology, or narrowly defined religion.
1. Calendar
2. Agenda for January Business Meeting, and First Query
3. Welcoming celebration for Ed Hyde
4. Dances of Universal Peace on New Years Eve
5. Hail and farewell
Quakershaker deadline for February is January 24. Give information to
Ann Cooper (email: adco-@aol.com) or Irwin Abrams.
1. Calendar
Always: Sundays: 8:30 a.m., Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
10:00 a.m. First Day School (Sept-May), at Rockford
10 -10:30 a.m. Meeting (in library of Rockford) to pray
for the spiritual enrichment of the Meeting for Worship. Everyone
welcome.
11:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
Wednesdays: 7:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
Saturdays: noon - 1 pm Peace Vigil, SW corner of Limestone St.
& Xenia Ave.
Wednesday, December 31: 9 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace, at Rockford
Sunday, January 4: Just after meeting for worship there will be a
potluck lunch, followed by Monthly Meeting for Business, at
Rockford.
Sunday, January 11: Just after meeting for worship there will be a
potluck lunch, followed by a celebration to welcome Ed Hyde
into the meeting.
**** **** ****
2. Agenda for January 4 Business Meeting (and text of the First
Query):
a. Consideration of the First Query on Worship and Ministry
First Query: Do you attend meetings for worship in a spirit of willing
service and of prayerful desire to make them profitable to each
individual and to the assembled group? Are you prepared for worship
expecting that your worship will be a source of strength and guidance?
Are you careful not to disturb the spirit of the meeting by late
arrival? Do you practice a waiting spiritual worship and a free and open
ministry under Divine guidance?
b. Review of Minutes of December meeting
c. Committee Reports
Treasurers Report on the Retreat -- Ken Champney
Report on Rockford scheduling -- Paul Wagner
Peace and Social Concerns Report -- Deb Kociszewski
d. Further planning for a meeting with members of Friends Care Board
e. New Business
f. Next Meeting planned for February 1, 2004
g. Announcements
**** **** ****
3. Welcome Ed Hyde to the Meeting on January 11: Of course Ed’s been a
member of our meeting since he was born (actually he was born the last
day of 1983 -- so right around now is his twentieth birthday -- but we
didn’t get around to recording his membership until the following
August), but he just recently made it official that he’s a Quaker by
belief as well as by birth. Right after meeting for worship on Sunday,
January 11, we’ll have a potluck and a welcoming celebration with him.
**** **** ****
4. Dances of Universal Peace on New Years Eve: We’re not sure how
Margaret Fell and George Fox celebrated New Years, nor even when, since
in their day the English New Year seems to have begun in March. But
whatever the Fox-Fells did, we’re sure that ever since John Woolman
began the custom all good Quakers have welcomed in the year by doing
Sufi Dances of Universal Peace. The dances are happening around the
world at midnight New Year's Eve, but we’ll be starting a little before
that. Be a voice in a global peace chorus.
We can pray alone but we can't dance in a circle without each other.
The Dances use simple music, lyrics, and movements to touch the
spiritual essence within ourselves and others. No musical or dance
experience of any kind is required and everyone of all ages is welcome
to join in. Even if you aren't up to dancing you can take part. Here’s
the program for Wednesday night, December 31:
9:00 pm Pot Luck at Rockford Chapel
10:00 pm Dances of Universal Peace at Rockford
11:30 pm Dances of Universal Peace downtown Yellow Springs as we
countdown to midnight
Asalam Aleikum, Shalom, Peace be with you
For more information contact: Tom Malcolm, 767-2293 or Denise Runyon,
767-8422
**** **** ****
5. Welcome a new editor next month: Beginning with the February
QuakerShaker this year, the editor will be Ann Cooper. Those of you who
have been getting the newsletter for a long time remember the great job
Ann did when she edited it before. Newcomers can prepare for a real
treat.
Naturally I (the outgoing editor, Bill Houston) am particularly happy to
have Ann take over. But while getting it out on time can be a real
chore, there are also joys involved, and I’ve appreciated all the help
you have given me, and the tolerance you’ve shown for my glitches. I
specially think of the help I’ve got from Dale, Jean, Harold and Irwin.
I hope 2004 is a good year for all of us, and is better for the planet
than it seems reasonable to expect right now.
As the QuakerShaker goes to press, the minutes of the December, 2003,
Business Meeting are not available.
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