Re: [UUPoly-L] Important development

["Fehd, Ronald J. (CDC/CCHIS/NCPHI)" <rjf2@CDC.GOV>]

> Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:43:58 EDT
> From: JasmineGld@aol.com
> Subject: [UUPoly-L] Important development

> "Forum focuses on polygamy woes"
> "By Ben  Winslow
> "Deseret Morning News
> "ST. GEORGE ? A town hall meeting  brought politicians, 
> polygamists, activists and community members together here  
> to vent and share their feelings...."
> _http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660214924,00.html_
> (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660214924,00.html) 
> 
> This  article talks about efforts to really talk with each 
> other in Utah. 
> This  development is important to UUPA, because the UUA 
> General Assembly will be held  in Salt Lake City in 2009, and 
> I received advice that UUPA had better be  prepared to talk 
> about polygamy by the time we get there with an Exhibit Hall  
> booth. Further, as the Utah issues begin to make national 
> news -- which they  *will* if they make any progress -- UUs 
> who are concerned about polyamory will  take notice. 
> 
> I encourage everyone on UUPoly to read this article and  
> begin to think about how we can talk about this challenging 
> issue with our  ministers and our 
> congregations--similarities, differences, UU response to the  
> Utah situation...Especially if you think you might attend GA 
> in 2009 in Salt  Lake City

I can think of no better book to have in hand,
should I be talking w/Mormons, 
than the advise of one of their own:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=seven+habits+of+highly+effective+fa
milies

I think that for too long, 
that we have been pointing to each other's practice(s)
and saying, 
"Well, probably not exactly like they did it, ..." 

Poly seems to me, 
-- after ~20 years of thinking and much less of successful practice --
a set of (un?)attainable virtues.

On the one hand it's easy to explain away the 50% divorce rate:
* one or the other doesn't have the commitment
* one or the other doesn't have the skills to commit

Frankly, I am still aspiring to be poly.
"Coach, when will practice end?
and we get to play a real game?"

In my book, the Mormons are the best and worst of poly* examples.
best : they have a community, a society, both emotional and economic
worst: partriarchy %-Q 

What do we propose that is as good as?
let alone better?

(Uncle) Ron  ...  in Atlanta