Dear Governor Brewer:

My letter to Governor Jan Brewer, today:


I support you completely in your insistence for a sales tax increase (referendum). Wish we didn't have to wait for voter approval.

Please continue to hold the budget line, Governor Brewer. Arizona needs and deserves good government and most of us KNOW it takes money to operate efficiently and effectively.

Thank you,
Pat Klemme
Active Registered Voter (!)

I am living proof that a life-long Democrat can support a Republican. We ALL need to be going where Gov. Brewer is: to the practical middle where business--yes, government business--gets done well.

Lubna Hussein "Immodest Dress" Trial Postponed

The judicial court in Khartoum Sudan has postponed the trial of Lubna Ahmed Hussein on a charge of wearing indecent clothing, specifically trousers. The trial is being adjourned for a month while the court investigates whether Ms. Hussein's former job for the United Nations confers immunity for her sartorial indescretion.

Here is Ms. Hussein, not only in 'trousers', but blue jeans. Wicked, I'm sure!

Ms. Hussein was arrested by the Islamic fashion police at a cosmopolitan restaurant where she was wearing a pair of green slacks with her dashiki and head scarf. Having been exposed (oh my!) to western immorality through her employment with the United Nations, Ms. Hussein decided she would not take the 10 lashes plus a fine (which other women with her meekly accepted) until she had had a well publicized trial.

Ms. Hussein is quoted in this article by the BBC, "Flogging is not pain, flogging is an insult to humans, women and religions." She means this to be a test case, one which will call the world's attention to abhorrent treatment of women under a civil law that is more severe than Sharia law is. In order to force the court to put her on trial, Ms. Hussein resigned her United Nations job to neutralize the immunity issue. The court is clearly embarrassed to be put into this position, and is deferring its action until media attention dies down.

Good luck there.

To get a clearer understanding than I'm providing, click the highlighted link above for a professional journalist's factual report.

SEAPLEX and Project Kaisei Visit The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Holy Science Friday!

This afternoon on NPR's Science Friday, Miriam Goldstein described a three week scientific mission to study the ecological mess we call the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. She is a graduate student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and she and her colleagues have obtained a grant sufficient for three weeks' use of Scripps research vessel, New Horizon. You can hear her account of the team's plans here. The project is called SEAPLEX--Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastics Expedition. SEAPLEX has its own website, and a newly started --you got it!--blog.

SEAPLEX will be working with Project Kaisei. While the New Horizon leaves San Diego, Project Kaisei's ship will depart from San Francisco with a similar mission:

"Project Kaisei will examine the largest area of the Plastic Vortex, an ocean gyre, situated to the North East of Hawaii, and approximately five days by boat from the United States (San Francisco area). The expedition will consist of a large pass through the Plastic Vortex, with the aim to collect and study plastic and other debris forms from the ocean in order to showcase some of the new technologies that will be used for processing and recycling."

These two expeditions working together give me hope that this environmental mess and its effects on ocean life can be studied and ultimately cleaned up.

I'll be following their progress with interest.

Don't Blame Me, Blame Karen J

Karen J sends this goody along today:

THE WIFE FROM HELL

A police officer pulls a speeding car over. The officer says, ' I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir.'

The driver says, 'Gee, officer I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating.'

Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: 'Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control.'

As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, 'Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?'

The wife smiles demurely and says, 'You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did.'

As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, 'Dammit, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut?'

The officer frowns and says, 'And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic $75 fine.'

The driver says, 'Yeah, well, you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket.'

The wife says, 'Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving.'

And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, 'WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??'

The officer looks over at the woman and asks, 'Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?'

(You'll love this part...)

*

*

*

Only when he's been drinking!

Skirts vs. Trousers for Modesty

Reuters reports on the trial of a woman who had the temerity to wear 'trousers' in public at a restaurant bar in Khartoum in Sudan:

Woman in court in trouser "test case"

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese woman facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers in public made her first appearance in a court packed with supporters Wednesday, in what her lawyer described as a test case in Sudan's decency laws. She attended the hearing wearing the same green slacks that got her arrested for immodest dress.

Indecency cases are not uncommon in Sudan. But Hussein has attracted attention by publicising her case, inviting journalists to hearings and using it to campaign against dress codes sporadically imposed in the capital.

The article continues to explain that Ms. Hussein is insisting on this case being adjudicated in court--even if she must resign her United Nations job--to focus an international spotlight on the form of punishment: 40 lashes plus a fine. The fine is not the objectionable point. She contends that lashing a woman 40 times for wearing slacks instead of traditional dress will be viewed as a human rights violation. She hopes to end this punishment, at least for the crime of 'immodest dress' in Sudan.

Good for her! But here is my question: In what way are trousers more immodest than a skirt?

Traditional dress in Sudan is influenced by Islamic definitions. Basically modest dress would consist of clothing that covered a woman's body from the neck to the feet, and the lower portion would be a long dress or skirt. A skirt is open from a waist band to the ground, a fabric tube that encases the legs, but has no closure between the legs to cover genitalia. Sounds pretty immodest to me!

Trousers are open at the waist, then narrow to two fabric tubes, one covering each leg--and they are closed between the legs to completely cover the genitalia. Sounds pretty modest to me!

I have worn slacks, jeans, trousers most of my adult life. When I wear a skirt I feel slightly exposed even with appropriate underwear.

When I wear pants I feel dressed, quite modestly dressed.

I ponder why society has put men in trousers and women in skirts. In patriarchal societies it seems a distinct access advantage for men. Just pull up that skirt and have at it. Anthropologist Margaret Mead would have a field day with this observation, if she didn't already.

My salacious observations are tangential to Ms. Hussein's legal test case. I will be watching with interest as this story unfolds.

The link to Reuters' story is: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090729/od_nm/us_trousers_odd_1

August 1 Update: Here is an interview of Mrs. Lubna Hussein in the London Telegraph.

Happy Birthday (Belatedly) to Diverse Mind

I discovered that I've posted a blog now and then for over a year. Sometimes I'm fairly sure no one is reading but me. Other times I've been gratified by written or face-to-face comments, a sure sign that I'm not alone here.

Diverse Mind has no one particular advocacy. This lack of focus is probably disconcerting to visitors from other blogs that are topically focused. But everyone is welcome come and browse through this Diverse Mind, or to just drop in and see who that commenter is over on Inch At A Time, Telling Secrets, Wounded Bird, or others of my blog friends.

I am in awe of those who can produce a blog post at roughly the rate of one or more post a day! In slightly over a year, Diverse Mind has produced 70 posts. I'm going to give myself an at-a-girl for an average of roughly one a week.

The greatest joy in this is looking at what I've offered and being proud of all but one of the posts. And I'm not ashamed of the one; it just doesn't represent my better choices. My favorite is a mini-meditation that my Higher Power strongly suggested: Respiration. There is resonate core truth in that one that came from Someone greater than me.

Thanks for a good year, Diverse Mind!

Great Pacific Garbage Patch Redux

This is Jan Eliot's marvelous family strip, Stone Soup, on July 28, 2009. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is real, and some estimate it may be approaching the size of Africa. When this blog was new, and I was still learning how to embed pictures, I wrote about this phenomenon here and here.

The name 'Garbage Patch' is deceptive on multiple levels. I always think of a patch as being a small piece of fabric or other material designed to repair something. This patch is immense and destroys rather than repairs. I think of garbage as being the biodegradable leavings from food preparation such as used coffee grounds, vegetable shavings, fat scraps and the like. Garbage is stuff that comes from the planet and returns easily to the earth, even improves the earth with nutrients to support new growth. What circles in this enormous floating morass is not garbage. It is non-biodegradable trash, much of which is plastics.

We need to stop calling this the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. That's entirely too cute. And the only truth in it is 'Pacific', denoting the location of this one. (No, it is not the only one, just the worst.)

Maybe the Indestructible Pacific Killer Waste Dump. How about that? I'm open to reader suggestions in comments.

More important, the world is open to suggestions on ridding our oceans of killer waste.

Thanks to Jan Eliot whose Stone Soup I read at Go Comics and Arizona Republic newspaper.

Health Care Reform: The Republican Option

Heaven help us all!

This about sums up my Republican Senators' point of view.

Senator Kyl and Senator McCain are emotionally stuck in the middle 20th century. I don't think there is any hope of them ever getting gay-friendly.

But worse they are committed to allowing bloated big businesses in pharmaceutical and insurance industries continue to pile up mountains of profit at the health expense of America's uninsured and 'uninsurable'.

Let's remember this when we vote to fill Senate seats in the future. We need senators who will care about their voters, not their money baggers.

Political cartoonist David Horsey comes to me via Go Comics.

Wise Latinas Rule!

Ben Sargent, one of my favorite political cartoonists at Go Comics, absolutely nails the disgruntled WASPMs who insist on niggling away at Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The offending Republican senators should see themselves through the eyes of tolerant diverse Americans. They would be ashamed of themselves.

Every news outlet I read agrees that nominee Sonia Sotomayor will be consented by the Senate. Yet White Republican Male Senators (okay, I'm outa caps now!) make fools of themselves pestering her about a speech she made once, a speech to an audience of predominently Latina women. Haven't any of these macho lilly white elitists ever given a speech in which they made statements to motivate and inspire their audience? That's all it was!

Shame, shame.

And good on Ben Sargent for calling them on their probable fears. Imagine: Someone other than a white male might actually be as good as....!

Update at 8:05 AM: Per NPR,Sen. Kyl will vote against Judge Sonia Sotomayor. He will explain in a press conference later today. Hrummmpf!

Working Dogs Rule!

The Baaa-Studs have put their high tech skills to work demonstrating the skills of their working dogs. True. I am not giving a lot of credit to the other stars of this show. Well, you'll see!



Hat Tip to Katie Sherrod at Desert's Child.

Hot Flash! News Flash!!

Hot news or news flash, but here's today's good news:

The House of Bishops (of The Episcopal Church) has passed Resolution C056 which opens the pathway for designing rites for same-sex blessings and allows for 'generous pastoral care' in jurisdictions where same-sex marriages or civil unions have been legalized. It's the Anglican way of saying, local bishops may allow (or not) pre-union counseling and even some type of ceremony to mark Episcopalian couples' unions.

Alleluia in the highest!!

Before I get too carried away, let's remember that's the action of the House of Bishops; we still must get approval in the House of Deputies. Let us pray.... Amen!

Update: The House of Deputies has concurred with wide margins among laity and clergy.
Amen Ba-wo! Amen Ba-wo! Amen sia kudu misa!

A Short Joyful History of Integrity Eucharist

The history of Integrity Eucharist at The Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention is remarkably recent--just since 1988! In this video, Rev. Canon Dexter Cheney talks about the first occasion in Detroit. Then enjoy images from this year's Integrity Eucharist followed by additional history of the G/L/B/T journey to full inclusion in TEC:

The Episcopal Church Welcomes ALL of Us!

On Friday I grabbed my toothbrush and comb and went to Anaheim California to attend a special church service, Holy Eucharist by and for members and friends of Integrity. Integrity is the fellowship of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Episcopalians that advocates for sacramental equality within our church. I was not in small company; over 1200 members and straight allies participated. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Bishop Gene Robinson, our church's first OPENLY gay bishop, and Bishop Barbara Harris, our church's first woman bishop, who delivered a stellar call for inclusion. It was a joyful experience for me on many levels. The music reverberates in my memory causing my heart to leap with pleasure at my encounter with God at the table with several hundred of my close, personal friends!

Super-short history: The Episcopal Church has been working its way toward full inclusion of GLBT members since 1985, but sustained a setback to progress at our last general convention (2006). In an attempt to placate some parts of the church in places where homosexuality is still subjugated and criminalized, a resolution (B033) was passed promising we would exercise restraint in choosing bishops "whose manner of life" might offend other parts of the Anglican Communion. The wording was short and simple. It failed to satisfy those conservative members of the Anglican Communion and it offended GLBT faithful to varying degrees. (Call me hyper-offended!)

Now the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops have passed a resolution (D025) which supercedes B033 and clarifies the Episcopal Church's relationship with the Anglican Communion and with ALL of its members, especially GLBT faithful (shown as ammended):

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,; and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.

The Episcopal Church welcomes ALL of us: Straight, GLBT, and those who'd rather GLBT weren't here. And that's the way The Episcopal Church is--Via Media with room for all!

Health Care Reform: The Public Option Question

Here's a real education about the health care 'public option'. After watching Bill Moyers interview a former Cigna public relations director, my mind is made up. Get your coffee and settle down for a revelation:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

Good Morning World!

Sometimes a day just calls out for recognition! I am glad to be alive today.

I look forward to what the day will bring.

• time with friends
• a little housework
• a friend's sobriety anniversary
• and whatever else God may pack into the day

Thank you to the Universal Creator for another beautiful day!

Let Governor Brewer Do Her Job

Today I have written to my senator and representatives as well as the leaders of our legislature to insist they deliver the budget to Governor Brewer. I hope she returns it to them with specific guides to improvement, because their time-wasting efforts have fallen far short of what Arizona needs.

Arizona has the capacity to be a high ranking state in quality-of-life issues. Arizona voters know it takes investment--yes taxes--to improve education, health care, services for homeless and mentally ill, and security from crime and terrorism. Our legislature seems to think the way to a better Arizona is to pinch pennies and cut services.

Governor Brewer is an excellent businesswoman and administrator. Our legislature should take advantage of her skills and experience.

A WEH To Meet the Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals are realistic if we can all find a way to contribute. A friend of mine just showed me a way to make the most of my MDG charity dollars, and I'm embarrassed that I didn't realize this opportunity sooner.

I'm a crank when it comes to charitable giving. I want to know that my donation will be used for the charity, not for fundraising costs, administrative costs, staff pay, etc. And Friends of WEH is a sure-fire winner. My friend, the Reverend Carol Hosler, recently returned from a trip to Cameroon in Central Africa where she spent her time with the founder and director of Women, Environment and Health. Carol knows Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka very well because they were roommates and friends in college a few (ahem) years ago. Carol and three other board members of Friends of WEH worked with Ruth and her team in everything from repackaging basic foodstuffs to health care assessments conducted by a volunteer group of student nurses from Linfield College.

Carol documented her reunion with Ruth and the visiting team's work with Women, Environment and Health in her Cameroon trip blog. Her letter to the Board of Friends of WEH is eloquent and gives the exact information I need to be sure my MGD dollars will be well spent. I heartily recommend the rest of her blog also, especially the photos and stories of WEH clients being served.

I also recommend this 2 minute trip to Cameroon to see the work of WEH and Friends of WEH for yourself: MGD Work of WEH

So here's a challenge: Pick this one, or another one, but find a way to support reaching the MDG's by target year 2015. Donate regularly or pitch in and help with the work as Carol and the board members do. For me, this is the WEH.

Yes and No

Yes. My friends, M & J, are still married according to the California Supreme Court.

No. Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will NOT be repealed.

I'm trying to be grateful for a mixed blessing.

Common Cement at Tulane with Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres is a personal hero, and here in her own words is why:



Ellen gives witty, wise, and joyful advice to Tulane's Spring 2009 graduating class. I'm not sure Tulane realized what they were getting into when they invited her, but it may have been the best commencement address of the year!

Thanks to the Rev'd Elizabeth and Grandmere Mimi, and to Lisa, too. This is a keeper!

Proposition 8: The Musical

Proposition 8 in California evoked some of the most creative advertising in the history of politicking. As we await the decision on Proposition 8, let's enjoy again Jack Black's starring role:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

Another Season of Advent

I'm living in a season of advent right now, a time of anticipatory waiting.

Two friends of mine became a married couple last summer in California. They happen to be two men, and they were legally married in the span of time when marriage for gay couples and lesbian couples was validated by the California Supreme Court. In November California voters narrowly passed Proposition 8 making gay and lesbian marriage illegal again.

The California Supreme Court is now evaluating arguments for and against the language of Prop. 8. Even the Attorney General of California, who approved putting Prop. 8 on the ballot, asked the court to overturn the proposition. As I understand it, the CA Supremes will decide whether the language of Prop. 8 is contrary to the constitutional language guaranteeing equality for all citizens. They will also decide whether the existing married gay/lesbian couples will continue to be legally married.

The Supremes' decision will be announced this coming Tuesday, June 2. My friends are not alone. Thousands of couples were married between June and November. I'm waiting with detached academic interest. I cannot know how anxiously those many couples must feel as they await the California Supreme Court's decision.

More emotional for me is the pending national General Convention of the Episcopal Church scheduled for July this year. TEC meets only once every three years. Last time, in 2006, TEC failed to make any headway toward forming a liturgy for same sex commitment ceremonies. Worse, at the latest possible hour, then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold persuaded the PB-elect, Katharine Jefferts Schori, to join him in getting a resolution passed to promise the Anglican Communion we would not consecrate any bishops "whose manner of life" might offend other members of the AC. Resolution B033 was so mildly worded that it failed to assuage fears of conservative provinces. It was so contrary to the slow but steady progress in GLBT acceptance in TEC that it offended me and many other affected Episcopalians.

In the intervening three years there has been a systematic, orchestrated undermining of the Episcopal Church. GLBTs and their families and friends have pulled back. Conservatives opposed to any acceptance of GLBTs have withdrawn individual congregations and even whole dioceses from TEC. There has been a continuous painful rumble of discontent over this issue from both polarized sides.

I have stood to the side, unwilling to support a church that won't support me. Some others have left altogether in disgust. Many courageous faithful GLBTs have stayed and worked within the framework of the church to bring about a change of policies. PB Jefferts Schori indicates that she does not want B033 rescinded. So will we have a resolution favoring my 'manner of life?' I cannot envision what, if any, solution will be adopted.

Meanwhile much of the life of the church has been drained by emotional and spiritual torment. We forget we are to be about our Father's business: feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, healing the sick, teaching the little ones, and preaching the Good News. This upheaval has had financial and legal impacts as well. Yes, we are paying lawyers to resolve property disputes. Is it little wonder TEC may not be able to fulfill its previous commitments to the Millenium Development Goals?

So, now is a time of waiting. I am waiting for the advent of justice and acceptance. I'd like to be like everybody else and still be myself--exactly as God created me.

Someday. Who knows? Maybe Tuesday. Maybe in July.

Thanks be to God.

Hail and Farewell, Tipper!

Tipper Parker, light and lively, waiting for his walk with Pat each evening. If I can't have my own fine canine, my neighbor's will be the delight of my heart.

For almost two years, I'd get a little exercise with my neighbor buddy, Tipper. Tipper went to the Rainbow Bridge this week. I'm going to miss him as will Tipper's real Mom, Marilyn.

Hasta la vista, when we get there, little buddy!

Republicans vs. Democrats

Republicans = fear based motivation.

Democrats = reconciliation based motivation

Which would you prefer?

I'll take solutions over fear any day.

Her Honor, The Mayor

I've been looking for a reason to post. And here she is, the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario:



May we all be as hale and hearty as she is at...88! Thanks to Karen J, who finds the most fascinating internet media!

What would Jesus' Facebook Page Look Like?

This is unabashedly swiped from the blog of my favorite Blogging Bishop, the Right Reverend Kirk Stevan Smith.

I got so wrapped up in it, I tried to write on His wall, 'friend' Him, and look at His picture albums.

For those of us who want to know Jesus, this is pretty right on!

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Policy Changes Making Ya Crazy?

So does this mean it is hard for old men to keep up with young ideas? If so, count me as a young 'un!

New to Me: Why Is This Not Widely Known?

Apparently America has been given the gift of another monument.

And this monument has been placed opposite an earlier monument given us by France, just across the water from the Statue of Liberty.

We said thanks to France. But have we given thanks to Russia for the Teardrop monument erected in Bayonne New Jersey in.....2006? Where has our press been? Why is this largely unknown?

This beautiful monument memorializes the loss of nearly 3,000 people who died when hijackers on four flights downed the World Trade Center Towers, a segment of the Pentagon, and the heroic people of United Flight 93 who downed their plane rather than allow it to be used for more deaths and destruction.

By the way, the next time I think contemptuous thoughts about suicide bombers, let me remember the heroism of our suicide squad on Flight 93. They surely knew they would not survive.

For more information about the Teardrop monument, click here. I thank the people of Russia for their kindness and sympathy.

To get an idea of the press' skepticism when the memorial was being proposed and offered, read this New York Times opinion piece by Peter Applebome. "...thanks but no thanks[?]" Not a nice way to behave when a gift is offered. Later the Times reported with an absence of gratitude that there were 40 names too many inscribed on the monument.

Hat tip to Jim Goodwine for educating me about this.

From "I Can Has Cheezburger"

Respiration

Breathe in....
Breathe out....

Inspire....
Expire....

All living beings breathe. People do, animals do, plants do, and even each cell of our being ‘breathes’. We take in what we need. We let out what we don't need.

When I watch a sleeping child or pet, I look for the rising and falling that demonstrates respiration. In that regular motion, I see life.

Waves in....
Waves out....

Is the ocean the respiration of the earth? Probably not in a scientific sense, but it is a vision of life in our planet for me.

In....
Out....

Does the whole universe breathe?
What an awesome creation we are!

Good News and Not-So-Good News

From Episcopal Cafe's The Lead comes this update about a tutoring program that's raising reading levels and reducing (we hope) dropouts in the future:

LAST WEEK The Lead mentioned a children's circus performance. Looking more deeply into the program behind the event, we find that the Diocese of NY and Trinity Wall Street have funded a program called All Our Children. The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, bishop suffragan, and Joyce Coppin Mondesire, who is on the faculty of the City College of New York and a member of Trinity Wall Street’s vestry, created the program. All Our Children asks that parishes commit 40 hours per year for five years to public education by becoming tutors, advocates, etc. Parishes are already making a difference in partnership with local public schools. Bishop Roskam says of the children, "Since participating in [these programs] their overall grade average has sky rocketed."

Roskam continues, "On a visitation to St. Ann's in the South Bronx in 2005, I was given a a copy of Jonothan Kozol's book, The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. I was shocked to learn that not only are American schools as segregated as at the time of Brown vs. the Board of Education, but that the worst offenders are not in the south, but in the North, including New York, Michigan, Illinois and California. Schools in poor areas often operate without the basics, without adequate classrooms, no textbooks, inexperienced teachers. It is no wonder that minority students fare so poorly compared with their white counterparts. And most insidious is the school to prison pipeline, by which some states build prisons based on projections from third grade reading scores. As a society we seem reluctant to spend the $15,000 per year to support a child adequately in school but are more willing to to spend the $150,000 per year to keep that same child in prison when the schools fail him.
[Emphasis mine; this applies in Arizona as well.]

"It seemed to me that all the anti-racism training we were doing in the church was meaningless if we could face this level of racial inequity and do nothing. So All Our Children was born."
More information here and here.