Community Conversation: A New Path   

by Kristy Milligan

Community. It's not an us or them issue: black or white, gay or straight, Democrat or Republican, religious or non-religious. Community transcends all the lines that divide us, and pervades every aspect of our lives; from our safety on the streets to the natural beauty of our parks.

Community is the conversation we have about ourselves. Community is the way we relate to one another and our surroundings. Community is our shared sense of belonging, purpose, and vision.

This shared vision is infinitely more important than the paths we pursue to achieve it.  As a community, we can agree on many shared goals: we want healthy families, excellent schools, low crime rates, high employment rates, beautiful parks, strong infrastructure, and the freedom to be accepted, even honored, exactly as we are. We want a climate that attracts and retains new talent and supports the businesses already here. We may hold different beliefs about the journey to these things, but we converge on these shared values. And our strength as a community hinges on our ability to recognize these shared goals and stand together, even in times of duress.

Last week, two U.S. soldiers were assaulted in an apparently bias-motivated crime. While violence of any kind poses a threat to the safety of all our community's members, there is also a more imminent danger presented. Because accounts of the incident report the soldiers were gay and the perpetrators were African American, we may be tempted to engage in divisive and destructive conversations about the nature of hate crime, the morality of the gay community, the cause of the tremendous injustice that our service members suffered. We may be enticed to follow ideological, religious, and philosophical paths that divide us.

But we've been here before, Colorado Springs. We know where those fractured paths lead. At this critical moment, we must put down our pointing fingers and remember that we belong to each other. We belong to this community.

We cannot wait for any one resolution or event to change our community, and we cannot rely on anyone else to lead us to that change.  We are our own best advocates, and we are the directors of our destiny. We must stand for something altogether different, and say not in our community. Starting today, not in our community.

Read the whole column on Citizens Project's website , or at the Colorado Springs Business Journal's Young Professional Connection .

When Words Mean the Opposite: The Story of My Awakening

 

By David Trillo, guest writer

 

If a psychic or a Tarot reader had told me in 1985 that, within the next seven years, I would become a gay rights activist, I would have laughed in his face - if he had caught me in a good mood.

 

I was more than just anti-gay. I was vehemently anti-abortion. The only reason why I didn't join Operation Rescue or a similar group was youthful ignorance - I didn't know where to contact them.

I was still an evangelical Christian when I joined as one of Citizens Project's earliest supporters in 1992. The idea of gay marriage was still hard for me to take, but as I listened to Christian radio and conservative talk beginning around 1990, I began noticing a pattern that disturbed me much more deeply than guys marrying guys.

I began noticing a very systematic, repetitive attack on the concept of church/state separation, and an orchestrated re-introduction of the antiquated idea of "legislating morality." Not only did that run counter to my core beliefs in Christian free will, but I knew that if I had doctrinal differences with the "Christian authorities" - and I did -- it took no rocket science to see that these aspiring theocrats would impose their moral doctrines by legislation, with no regard for my Christian theological disagreement.

I became, on that fateful 1992 day, the most unlikely gay rights activist. As distasteful as I found my admittedly distorted visions of the "gay lifestyle" to be at that time, I knew, deep down, that to protect my rights as a dissenter, I must likewise protect theirs.

It didn't take long to see that, in the world of far right politics, words aren't always what they seem.

 

Read the entire post on CP's blog

 

Get Involved

 

Volunteers needed to serve on the PPLD Board

Responsibilities of Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees members, as defined by both law and practice, include setting Library policies, setting the Library's budget, and hiring an Executive Director to oversee the operation of the Library district.

 

Any questions concerning typical meeting commitments, times, or general trustee responsibilities may be directed to the Library's Executive Director, Paula Miller, at 531-6333 (x2010). 

 

Please complete the information using the link below, and please also feel free to attach a resume. Applications should be mailed to: Pikes Peak Library District; Attention: Board Applications; PO Box 1579; Colorado Springs, CO 80901.The deadline for receipt of applications is 12 p.m. on August 12, 2011. 

  

http://www.springsgov.com/units/communications/PPLDapp.pdf

 

Breaking Bread, Building Bridges

NEW FRIENDS... NEW FOOD... NEW PERSPECTIVES

 

Join a small group of people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences for shared conversation over dinner - five times over six months! 

 

Be a part of a forum for understanding with an emphasis on learning and listening. 

 

Civil discourse: respectful, curious conversation without judgment. 

 

Discuss topics which tend to generate a variety of opinions with the support of ground rules and a neutral facilitator. 

 

Get to know each other, rather than to change each other.

Anyone genuinely interested in other people's opinions, beliefs, experiences, and stories is invited.

 

The program begins with a required meeting slated for:

Wednesday, July 28^th 5:30-7:30p.m. Learn more at the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum's website.

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Upcoming Events

  

Colorado Springs 

Pridefest 2011

Springs Graffiti: An iconic revival of the fierce and fabulous 50s

July 16-17

10am-6pm (both days)

Acacia Park

more information

 

The Gospel Explosion

Sunday, July 24, 5pm

City Auditorium

A performance to educate, recreate and elevate youth in our community. 

More information

 

Sexual Health Educator Institute

July 26-28

Colorado Springs, CO

Planned Parenthood presents a three-day intensive training course aimed at giving youth serving professionals the information and skills useful in providing high quality,effective, medically accurate and comprehensive sexuality education. 

 For more Information or to register, please contact Lauren at 719.574.1905 or Lauren.Cikara@pprm.org

 

Everybody Welcome: A Celebration of Culture and Diversity

Activities all week, beginning with the Everybody Welcome festival

August 7, 10am-4pm

America the Beautiful Park

More information

 

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