Sunday, December 31, 2006

End of Year Round-Up

As 2006 ebbs and we prepare to celebrate the New Year, I have just a few things I’d like to bring to your attention.

First: Medea Benjamin has written an inspiring article in which she reminds us that 2006 “was a year of many positive gains for the progressive movement.” Her article, entitled “Let’s Toast to Ten Good Things About 2006,” can be found
here.

Second: Of the many worthwhile blogsites I discovered this year (see “Recommended Blogsites” in sidebar),
Box Turtle Bulletin would have to be the one I’d most recommend.

Established and maintained by Jim Burroway, Box Turtle Bulletin
aims to provide “well documented and accurate information” with regards to the “many issues facing gays, lesbians, their families and friends.”

In addition, the site endeavors to “refute as much misinformation as possible” as disseminated by reactionary organizations such as
Focus on the Family. Box Turtle Bulletin also has a great “Useful Links” section, which can be found here.

Oh, and if you’re wondering how the site came to be named “Box Turtle Bulletin,” click
here.

Third: A significant event that has taken place in the last days of 2006 has been the execution of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. The editorial board of the
World Socialist Web Site has posted an insightful commentary on this event – one which provides indepth analysis on the rise of Hussein and the role played by successive US governments in supporting his brutal regime and its crimes. Such honest analysis is sorely lacking in the U.S. corporate media’s coverage of Saddam Hussein’s demise.

Also, if you visit the World Socialist Web Site be sure to check out it’s extensive selection of film reviews. You won’t be disappointed.

And finally: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have offered support and feedback regarding my efforts to document via The Wild Reed, “one man’s progressive, gay, Catholic perspective on spirituality, politics and culture.”

Of course, no one’s perspective is ever totally their own. After all, each one of us is influenced and shaped by the insights and experiences of others as well as our own. One of the many positive things to come out of “planting and nurturing” the Wild Reed has been the ongoing challenge to practice and hone my writing skills. Through such skills I have endeavored to share the perspectives of gay people (myself included) who seek to be true to both the gift of our sexuality and our Catholic faith.

Such activity has been a welcome creative outlet during these past seven months that I’ve been in Australia awaiting the completion of the much longer-than-expected application process for green card status. The gaining of such status is thankfully within sight, and will allow me to return to the U.S. at the end of January so as to continue my work with the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities.

Of the many commentaries I’ve posted since launching The Wild Reed on May 5, 2006, the ones listed below are those I’ve most enjoyed researching and writing. I guess you could call them my personal “2006 Wild Reed highlights.” If you’ve yet to read them I hope you will take the time to do so, and that the experiences and insights they convey will resonate with you, and encourage and inspire you on your journey.

Peace and Happy New Year,

Michael


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Celebrating Our Sanctifying Truth
The Sexuality of Jesus
Casanova-inspired Reflections on Papal Power at 30,000 Ft.
Reflections on the Primacy of Conscience
Reflections on The Da Vinci Code Controversy
What the Vatican Can Learn from the X-Men
The New Superman: Not Necessarily Gay, but Definitely Queer
One of These Boys Is Not Like the Others
A Lesson from Play School
Blast from the Past
Alexander’s Great Love
Revisiting a Groovy Jesus (and a Dysfunctional Theology)
The Question of an “Informed” Catholic Conscience
Remnants of a Past Life
When “Guidelines” Lack Guidance
Be Not Afraid: You Can Be Happy and Gay
Authentic Catholicism: The Antidote to Clericalism
The Onward Call

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