Category Archives: Social Justice

Taking care of those who need it more than most of the rest of us.

Know Your Religion

Posted on September 30, 2010 by bjeppson

Americans wave the religion banner every time they want to justify their opinions on practically anything nowadays, especially when condemning the political or religious beliefs of others. But the truth is that as a group they are largely illiterate when … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Social Justice | Tagged | 1 Comment

New Budget Approach

Posted on September 27, 2010 by bjeppson

I like the approach taken by The Oregonian, Portland’s daily newspaper, in an article published yesterday. In an effort to gain public opinions on how the state should close its $3.2 billion budget shortfall, the newspaper published a menu for … Continue reading →

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Scapegoats

Posted on September 21, 2010 by bjeppson

**Latest News: As expected, Republicans in the Senate successfully blocked repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell today. As one Republican told the BBC on a broadcast I heard, “Sure, it may be the right thing to do, but we aren’t … Continue reading →

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September 11, Take Two

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Mike Kessler

It’s an interesting 9/11. For me, today is Shabbat, the sabbath. Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, has just ended, and Yom Kippur is approaching. This ten day period is called the Days of Awe or the High Holy Days. … Continue reading →

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September 11

Posted on September 11, 2010 by bjeppson

“In the part of this universe that we know, there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying.” — Bertrand Russell

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Ground Zero Tolerance

Posted on August 22, 2010 by bjeppson

I have listened to many, many arguments about whether an Islamic group should be allowed to build on a site they already own and have used as a school for over two years. The fact that the site is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Miscellaneous, Mormonism, Politics, Social Justice | Tagged | 16 Comments

Boycott Target?

Posted on August 19, 2010 by bjeppson

Unless you have been in a coma recently, you probably know that retail company Target just gave over $150,000 to buy ads supporting ultra-conservative Republican candidate Tom Emmer in his run for governor in Minnesota. Emmer has some weird views; … Continue reading →

Posted in Marriage Equality, Politics, Social Justice | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Drash: Shoftim

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Mike Kessler

The entire Torah (Five Books of Moses) is read from beginning to end each year in synagogues around the world. In order to do so, the Torah is divided up into portions. On virtually every Jewish calendar, you will see a notation on … Continue reading →

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Prison Blues

Posted on August 12, 2010 by bjeppson

“Made on the Inside to be worn on the Outside.” Are these jeans hot or what? They are Prison Blues®, made by inmates at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. Mike got a pair and, as you can see, they are … Continue reading →

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Boycott Red Lobster

Posted on August 11, 2010 by bjeppson

As a society we have been very lax in the way we view the laws clearly spelled out in the Old Testament. We have selectively chosen to ignore those that are inconvenient by telling ourselves, “that was then, this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Justice | Tagged , | 2 Comments