[UUPoly-L] GA 2009

[P O <wild_card@sbcglobal.net>]

  Well, given the recent news about the arrest of the
head of the FLDS, I'd say that by 2009 polygamy is
going to be an even larger issue in Salt Lake City.  I
think another issue to consider is that there will
likely be more then just the local UUs that will be
interested in our position on polygamy.  In fact, I
think that when GA shows up in Salt Lake City, the
local media outlets will be interested in our opinion
on the subject.  After all, UUs are known for their
liberal opinions, especially with being one of the
most visable religious groups backing the same-sex
marriage  issue.  

  Actually, I have been wondering if the UUA may have
stepped into a mess it had been hoping to avoid.  It
is possible that the local media in Salt Lake City may
be interested in getting an offical position on
polygamy from the Association as well as just the
UUPA.  It's possible that the UUA may not be able to
dodge the poly issue past 2009.  

  My only suggestion at this point is that UUPA should
be planning to have an official position, including
prepared 'sound bite' replies and 'elevator speech'
replies ready before hand.  Anything that might need
to be voted on would probably have to be prepared by
the 2008 meeting, since waiting utnil we get to Salt
Lake City would be too late.  So, I feel that the
dialogue on this within the UUPA should be started
soon.  Also, I think the Association in general needs
to be made aware of what they're likely to be walking
into as well.  

    Personally, I am planning to talk to the people
who run our adult Forum program and see if I can get a
slot to present on polyamory and the UUPA.  Probably
not until after the first of the year, since the slots
are filling up fast, at least for the social issues. 
I was able to get one for a spiritual topic in late
November still.  Anyway, I figure it's my way of
bringing the topic out into the open and getting
people to discuss it.    

Pat

   (Wow, I really need to learn to pare down my
replies.  I guess that's why I don't post much here.)


 JasmineGld@aol.com wrote:  In a message dated
 8/22/2006 11:24:24 A.M.
 Eastern Daylight Time,
 lykinsg@aol.com writes:

 > A UU minister from Utah told me about encountering
a UU whose polygamous childhood was happy, and who
felt she couldn't talk about it publicly due to the
common perception that all polygamists are child
abusers.

 I hope this UU finds UUPoly and UUPA. Her voice is
one that's not being heard. But we need to hear it, we
need to learn from it, and we need to have
conversations.

 During GA this year, a UU minister spoke with me
about GA going to Salt Lake City in 2009. He pointed
out that polygamy has much higher visibility among
Utah UUs than among UUs in most other parts of the US.
He said UUPA had better be ready, before we get to
Utah, to talk about how FLDS polygamy does or does not
relate to polyamory.

 A conversation with the UU who grew up in a happy
polygamous home would be a good starting place.

 Jasmine