Disqus - Latest Comments for EileenF

Re: A pediatrician's view: What will proposed GOP cuts do to Philly's most vulnerable?

Eileen Flanagan — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:27:14 -0000

I appreciate this thoughtful explanation of the hurdles poor people face and how the policy change now under consideration could make those hurdles higher. I'm saddened that so many people on this thread seem eager to attack the messenger (who I happen to know to be an extremely generous person who is clearly not motivated by his own reimbursement or he wouldn't have chosen this type of practice), as well as attacking the people he serves, who were actually the people most helped by Obamacare. The prejudice on display here reveals exactly why so many people seem eager to repeal the ACA, even if they are not the people who will get the big tax break in the end. Vilifying the "underserving poor" is a great way of distracting everyone while the ultra rich stick their hands in the collective kitty.

Re: Peco proposes solar programs; activists unimpressed.

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 06:11:49 -0000

That's definitely part of the problem. The thing is that PECO is a powerful lobbing force in Harrisburg, and if they feel enough public pressure to really pursue solar, they could be part of closing the state and making other improvements to our laws. We need ordinary people to help build that pressure.

Re: Protesters demand that Peco support solar development in N. Philadelphia

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:14:50 -0000

It seems that PECO implied that, but it is not true. One of the guest speakers is leading a solar initiative in North Philly, but Earth Quaker Action Team and POWER are mostly volunteer organizations that are working for a just (and sustainable) economy. EQAT certainly does not expect to receive money from PECO.

Re: Donor McClendon, Trinity '81, dies in car crash day after indictment

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:45:49 -0000

I appreciate Duke sending sympathy to his family--whose grief I do not want to exacerbate--but I urge you not to "celebrate his legacy at Duke and beyond." Whether or not McClendon would have been found guilty by the grand jury, it is clear that he helped to build an industry that has caused untold environmental harm, physical suffering, and extended our dependence on fossil fuels, contributing to global warming. My best professors at Duke encouraged me to think deeply about how issues are connected. It dishonors the educational values of Duke to turn a blind eye to how his money was made.

Re: Why Am I Moving Left?

Eileen Flanagan — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 06:25:41 -0000

I'm 51 and I've been radicalized by the realization that the 1% are poisoning communities and selling out my children's future in order to get the last dollar of profit from fossil fuels. I've gotten arrested twice since turning 50 protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline and have found that there are many, many others of my generation or older who are willing to do the same.

Re: Why Poor Schools Can’t Win at Standardized Testing

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:41:42 -0000

Excellent article! This is so outrageous, but it's just one example of how uneven the playing field really is.

Re: The Climate Crisis, in 3 News Stories

Eileen Flanagan — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 10:02:32 -0000

Our lifestyles in the U.S. are literally killing people in other parts of the world, and still the trolls cry "Chicken Little." I've researched climate change in Africa, where it is the same unjust dynamic. In Botswana I spoke to so many farmers who have seen their weather change, and not one of them read the New York Times; they read the land. We need ordinary people of conscience to stand up to the reckless greed of the fossil fuel industry.

Re: 20+ Arrested Protesting Keystone XL at Philly Federal Building

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:04:49 -0000

Two clarifications: 29 were arrested for civil disobedience. Sierra Club pa and Food and Water Watch were not official sponsors, though there were individuals associated with those groups who showed us tremendous support.

Re: Pipeline protesters converge on Center City federal building

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:09:31 -0000

Just to set the record straight on a few things:

1. The claims that the pipeline will create jobs have been grossly exaggerated by the 1% who will profit from its construction. Most jobs that would be created would be temporary.

2. Most of the oil would likely go to export after processing in Gulf refineries. If you want to be free of foreign oil, conserve and invest in solar and wind.

3. There were 150-200 people at this action. Almost 50 committed civil disobedience, including clergy, small business owners, grandparents, economic justice activists, and students, among others. We are proud to stand together because we all depend on the same earth to sustain us. Vilifying and stereotyping people will never help us make the kinds of shifts we need as a society.

Speaking for myself, I was one of those arrested, and it wasn't because I don't have anything else to do with my time. I am a working mother who took this action because I am convinced that our politicians will never stand up to Big Oil unless people demand it.

Re: What were the biggest publishing stories of 2013?

Eileen Flanagan — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:28:03 -0000

I haven't heard the term hybrid authors and find that label really helpful. I would love to hear your thoughts about when an author should pitch a big publisher first vs. when they should self publish first. I've had two books published with large trade publishers and done alright, but not fabulously. My next book doesn't fit into traditional categories easily. I know there is a market for it, but I suspect that publishers won't know what to do with it (which was my agents gut reaction). I also feel some time urgency since it is partly about climate change. The only editor I've shown it to runs a small press. He liked it and definitely wants to publish it, but they have a split profit model and don't discount to bookstores at all. The manuscript is almost done, so I'm wondering if I should just self publish first and market my butt off, rather than writing a proposal and pitching big presses or going with the small press. Any thoughts?

Re: Climate Walkout: Big Green Groups Bail on COP 19

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 12:56:57 -0000

Activists not at COP need to be exerting pressure on their respective governments, which would increase the effectiveness of this protest. Unfortunately most of us are focused on specific campaigns and leave the international negotiations to delegates from "big greens." We need to develop the capacity to fight locally and globally.

Re: Why I’m fasting with @eqat against mountaintop mining

Eileen Flanagan — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:48:02 -0000

Thanks for your witness, Martin! Your beautiful recollections are a reminder that we are all connected to these issues in various ways.

Re: “Being White in Philly,” A Story of Fear

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:29:03 -0000

Thanks, Lori. Yours is the best response to the article that I've read. And the line in your title "a story of fear" is apt. I do think that an exploration of white fear would be a legitimate (if dangerous) topic for a journalist, but as you point out, it would need to be put in an historical context with an acknowledgement of the political purpose that fear serves. Thanks for adding your wise voice to the conversation.

Re: Love all the children: Disarming our hearts after the shootings at Sandy Hook School

Eileen Flanagan — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 07:24:18 -0000

Thanks, Lucy. I've been particularly aware this week of all the children in the world lost to violence who do not get so much news coverage. I appreciate your putting this event in that context, and I appreciate Amy's call for concrete ways of moving forward in the work of opening our hearts.

Re: Midwives of transformation: an excerpt from the 2012 Weed Lecture

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:04:42 -0000

Thanks for sharing, Lucy. This brought me back! Yes, I think midwifery is a wonderful metaphor, except that we might experience more of the pain ourselves than a midwife usually does since we are transitioning along with the world. Still, the image of hands playing different roles is a potent one.

Re: Plain like Barack

Eileen Flanagan — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:50:35 -0000

I have repeated the story about the suits several times since hearing the article's author on Fresh Air. It reminds me of a very well-written and interesting book called The Art of Choosing, which also suggested that our minds need to pair down choices. After buying a new house that needed a lot of work several months ago, I find I am just worn out from choosing which home improvement project to do first, when and who to hire, what kind of windows to get, what color to paint the trim, etc. I'm wanting to go on a choice fast or at least a choice diet so that my mind can center on things that are really important. Thanks for the encouragement!

Re: Why I Abominate the Prosperity Gospel

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:36:00 -0000

Thanks for this clear rebuttal to a theology that I do believe is harmful. Let me add one more objection: Our materialism is destroying the environment, so a theology that encourages people to have the biggest home possible or the biggest car is actually at odds with the Biblical instruction to be good stewards of creation.

That said, there is a part of me that sees the speck of truth in the pile of nonsense. Sometimes I think I was taught a "scarcity gospel" growing up, the idea that if you are doing God's work you must be paid poorly, under-valued, and over worked. After many years working for non-profits where this was true, I'm trying to assert the value of my work, trusting in God's abundance, but not swinging the other way into an arrogant assumption of privilege. To me, abundance is different from prosperity, which has a more specifically monetary connotation. I trust that in following my calling I will have enough to care for my family, though that doesn't mean I will necessarily have designer clothes or a BMW. Finding the right balance in our attitudes toward money can be tricky.

Re: Looking forward to visit from Eileen Flanagan to talk web mojo

Eileen Flanagan — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:18:29 -0000

Thanks, Martin! Our meeting was very helpful.

Re: On the Eve

Eileen Flanagan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:11:36 -0000

I'm sorry. I meant http://www.imperfectserenit...

Re: On the Eve

Eileen Flanagan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:10:06 -0000

Thanks for reprinting King's words. I find reading them engages me in a different way than hearing them (thinking as well as feeling).

By the way, you have now been blogrolled by http://www.imperfectserenity

Re: So a change of heart

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:19:54 -0000

I agree with you about the meaningless of most of the displays. We do put a few lights on a tree, but this year they were LED lights that only used 3 kw per hour. One of our struggles is when to decorate. The shopping season comes before Christmas, but in the religious Christian tradition, the lights are supposed to come after the big day, which puts us way out of sync with our neighbors (as usual).

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Re: SOF Observed

Eileen Flanagan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:39 -0000

Thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate your honesty and the reminder of how people can change.

My perspective on poverty was shaped by two and a half years in the Peace Corps in Africa where I learned two things: 1) Not having much stuff doesn't necessarily make you poor (In fact, I came home more alert to the spiritual poverty in the US); and 2) much of the world's poverty is not the result of laziness or poor individual choices. It's clear to me that I got much more out of that experience than I gave anyone else.

Re: A President who looks like us - The Quaker Ranter

Eileen Flanagan — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:12:07 -0000

Amen, Martin. Although my genes do match my last name, I have a half sister I didn't know about until I was well into my twenties. (Dad's first wife was the wrong religion and so wasn't talked about.) We also have enough skeletons in the family closet that I felt for Obama when people tried to pin his aunt's illegal residency on him. Good thing I'm not running for office, I thought, or I might suddenly become responsible for my cousin's illegal activity, not to mention my mother's IRA ties.

Re: Our Christian Disciplines tweet the Debate

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:15:04 -0000

Sorry, I don't seem to be registered here, so my link isn't showing up. The post is at http://www.imperfectserenit...

Re: Our Christian Disciplines tweet the Debate

Eileen Flanagan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:10:31 -0000

This and your previous post inspired me to write one of my own. Thanks, Eileen