Our community conversation at church last night went in many directions, about the past, about the present, about the future.  Among other things, several people commented on the hope that CUC friends and members would find more ways to reach out to the local community and to the UUA.  An occasional visit to www.uua.org would be a good idea for all of us.

And I urge you to visit that website now.  Visit specifically the "Standing on the Side of Love" project.  Under that banner, a lot of UUs have gone to Arizona this week to protest the new immigration law.  Word is in that about twenty UU ministers have been arrested for acts of civil disobedience.  Among them is our Association president, the Rev. Peter Morales.  Also on the list are Ian White Maher (minister of our congregation in Flushing), Annette Marquis (a friend of mine from Michigan), and Colin Bossen (who served on a committee with me for the last two years).  I've lighted a candle at home for them, and for others who are standing on the front line of civil protest on this matter.

I know that Immigration is one area where we are not in complete agreement at CUC, but I hope that we can have more discussion about this issue in weeks and months to come.  In my opinion, the measures that Arizona tried to put into effect went too far -- particularly the idea that legal aliens needed to carry their papers at all times.  One of the most odiious elements of South African Apartheid was the requirement for all blacks to carry papers at all times.  Obviously not everyone will "carry papers," and not everyone will be asked to produce them.  White people in particular will not be asked to produce their papers.  This measure will inevitably be directed at people color.  This law would set us on a rocky road.