"Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout"

RIC MASTEN--Remembering UU Poet, Preacher, Troubadour

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:50:25 GMT

I never met the man. I read some of his poems and remember being impressed by an outstanding article in the UU World . But no blog alleging to discuss Unitarian Universalism, poetry, andsocial activism could fail to note the passing of this remarkable man and voice. As a UU layman who occasionally occupies a pulpit despite a lack of a degree or credentials of anykind, a poet and an activist, I especially am impressed by how Ric Masten, by force of personality, energy, dedication and talent battered down the privileged gates that reserved the Unitarian Universalist ministry to the learned graduates of seminary and college. He was admitted to that closed club and then given an extraordinary charge to become a minister at large. It is said that in his wide travels he spoke at more than 500 UU churches, fellowships and societies. Of course as soon as he was let through, the gates were firmly nailed shut behind him and the very category of his ministry was abolished so that no other misfit could ever sully the pure and pristine Fellowship. I am sure that the Unitarian Congregational Polity purists still gnash their teeth that such an outrage was ever possible. Our Universalist forbearers, on the other hand would have welcomed this inheritor of the saddle-bag missionary tradition writ large. The following obituary was posted on the UUA-L e-mail list. Unitarian Universalist minister, troubadour, and author Ric Masten died on May 9, 2008 at his mountain home near Carmel, California of prostrate cancer. He was 78. Masten performed his music and poetry before congregations throughout the United States over a career spanning five decades. He authored 23 books, a dozen song albums, and the popular hymn "Let It Be a Dance." Masten was born in Carmel on June 20, 1929. He graduated from Montezuma High School in Los Gatos, California in 1946, and attended several colleges, but never received a degree, due in part to undiagnosed dyslexia and a severe hearing impairment. He is perhaps the only fellowshipped Unitarian Universalist minister never to have graduated from seminary or college. A promising artist, Masten studied briefly with Millard Sheets and Millford Zorn at Pomona College, and with famed cubist Fernand Léger at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris in 1949. He also wrote and produced musical comedies in Carmel, and became a contract writer for Warner Brothers, ultimately having seventy-eight of his songs recorded in the 1950s and early 1960s. Rev. Masten began his ministry in 1968, offering guest services in California churches with the backing of Rev. Howard and Rosemary Matson, culminating in an impressive performance at the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly in Cleveland. The UUA then awarded Masten a Frank Billings Lectureship with the express aim of "taking the spirit of liberal religion to college campuses and churches around the country." Many of his poems explored how race, religion, women's liberation, alcohol abuse, aging, and other social issues impact the most intimate personal relationships. Masten was ordained in 1972 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington, Virginia as part of an effort of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee to address the need for non-parish ministers engaged in social action. The first of these so-called Specialized Ministers was Howard Matson, who began workingfull-time with Caesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in 1969. The category of Specialized Ministerswas terminated in 1974, but Masten received his Final Fellowship in 1975. Over the years, Rev. Masten, usually accompanied by his wife, Billie Barbara Masten, toured the country in their Toyota camper, The Homesick Snail, giving concerts and staying at the homes of the ministers and parishioners they befriended along the way. Masten thus earned the distinction of preaching in more Unitarian Universalist churches - over five hundred in 49 states - than any other minister in history. Ric Masten presented his poetry in a variety of other venues as well, including schools, prisons, and civic clubs. He had a regular call-in spot on a talk radio station in Denver in the 1980s and produced a weekly newspaper column, Words and One-Liners for the Monterey Herald in the 1990s. These columns became the inspiration for three illustrated volumes of poetry. Masten was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999 and chronicled his battle with the disease in a series of poems and blog entries, which expanded his ministry to a new community, cancer survivor groups. He published six books since his diagnosis, including Words and One-Liners: Take Three (Sun-Ink Presentations, 2008) and the upcoming Going Out Dancing (UUA/Skinner House Books, 2008). Masten's other titles include Who's Wavin'? A Thin Body of Work (1970); Sunflowers (1971); Speaking Poems (1977); Voice of the Hive (1978); His & Hers: A Voyage Through the Middle Age Crazies, with Billie Barbara Masten (1978); Stark Naked (1980); Even As We Speak (1982); The Deserted Rooster (1982); They Are All Gone Now (1985); Notice Me! (1986);Looking for Georgia O'Keeffe (1987); Ric Masten Speaking (1990); I Know It Isn't Funny But I Love to Make You Laugh (1996); Pacific Light: Images of the Monterey Peninsula, with Douglas Steakley (2000); and Parallel Journeys, with Dr. Larry Lachman (2003). In addition to his own books, Masten is the subject of Troubadour and Poet: The Magical Ministry of Ric Masten (Trafford Publishing, 2007), by Rev. Stephen Edington. Largely ignored by literary critics throughout his career, Ric Masten received numerous honors towardthe end of his life. He was named Troubadour and People's Poet of Carmel in 2003, Poet Laureateof Prostate Cancer by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition in 2005, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by California State University, Monterey Bay in 2007, and Champion of theArts - Luminary by the Arts Council of Monterey County in 2008. "All you have to do is catch a fatal disease and the awards just fall out of the trees like apples," he joked. Ric. Masten is survived by his wife of 56 years, Billie Barbara; their four children, Jerri Masten Hansen, Dr. April F. Masten, Ellen Masten, and Stuart Masten; and five grandchildren, nearly all of whom were with him at the end, singing. A memorial service will be held June 20, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 4590 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, CA 93923. Memorial donations in honor of Masten may be sent to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, 1154 Fifteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. LIKE RACCOONS (diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer) like raccoons trapped suddenly in headlight glare we freeze — petrified ultrasound and biopsy results leaving us scared stiff — eyes wide — jaw slack but think about it folks — think about it we’re born — we live — we die so what’s different now? Not a thing! except being blessed with a constant reminder to never let another unexplored moment slip by my condolences to those who fall prey to the fatal surprise the unexpected cardiac arrest the sudden traffic casualty forced to depart short of a conclusion short of the all important “good byes.” --Ric Masten

REACHING ACROSS THE ABYSS--Uniting Obamaniacs and Clintonistas

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:49:18 GMT

Regular readers of this blog (if any) may have wondered at the absence of regular commentary on the Democratic Presidential Race of late. As a matter of fact I have not posted a detailed article on the contest since “The Tonya Harding Option—Will Clinton Take it?” way back on March 26th and touched on it tangentially in only three or four other posts.

This is not because the campaign has not been heated—it has raged at blast furnace intensity—or because it is uninteresting—it has had all of the high drama, intricate plot twists, a cast of vivid characters of the most sizzling blockbuster. Nor has it been because my candidate, Barack Obama has taken some lumps and ridden out some rough patches as the Hillary Clinton, channeling the Bozo Bop Bag has kept on popping back up. I stand by Obama and I have a grudging admiration for Clinton’s amazing resilience.

While I have not posted here, I have added comments here and there across the blog-o-sphere. What those comments have consistently said is basically this: “Look, like it or not Barack Obama is the likely nominee of the party. Great form me. Painful for Clinton’s staunch and adoring supporters. But no matter what happens—even if deus ex machina Hillary is magically delivered the nomination—the stakes are far too high for the people of this nation and the peace and security of the world for Democrats to fail to rally enthusiasitycally around our candidate. I personally pledge to do so if Hillary becomes the nominee. Nothing is more worisome to me than polling data that indicates that very significant numbers of each candidates supporters will vote for John McCain or sit on their hands in Novemeber if their favorite looses the nomination. We must recognize that beyond personal bitterness, far more unites us a Democrats and Americans than divides us. Pick your favorite hobby horse issues—the war, the ecconomy, the envirornment, women’s rights, civil liberties, health care, education—and either Democrat outshines the tarnished and disgraced re-tread of the Bush maladministration offered by the Republicans.”

One of the big reasons I have not posted here is to keep from falling into the temptation of joining the tit-for-tat bashing, name calling, and whining that has for the last several weeks been the hallmark of the struggle, at least as it is played out with passion in pundit columns, cable trash talk, and endless blogs. I choose not to help bitterness fester. As for me, I may take issue with Clinton and her campaign about how and what they have done since realizing that the pre-ordained nomination was slipping from their her hands. But I love and admire those who love her. I would hope in the reverse circumstances they would love and admire me. We need each other. Honestly. We have to go beyond mouthing vague platitudes to each other all the while muttering under our breaths. We must not now make empty gestures of reconciliation based on convenience, but must reconcile out of principle and respect.

McHENRY COUNTY YOUNG DEMS PUT UP GREAT WEB SITE

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:05:13 GMT

The McHenry County Young Democrats have put up a great web site that should be useful to anyone interested in politics, even a decrepit geezer like me. While the site is short on all of the bells and whistles and pyrotechnics you can find at some web addresses, it is chocked full of useful features and links.

The Issues page, for instance, lists 13 broad issue areas. Click on any one of them and you will be taken to a page with loads of links and resources relating to that issue. The Our Government page not only includes links to all levels of Federal, state and local government, but also provides a basic civics primer with not only copies of all the basic documents, but an explanation of how government works. It’s not just young folks that often need to brush up on these basics.

But my favorite feature is Events, which features a calendar which not only highlights local Democratic events but, thanks to the New York Times includes a virtual hour-by-hour break down of campaign events as the Presidential Primary campaign continues. Where will Barack Obama be at 4 PM on Wednesday? Answer—on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN. Neat.

Thanks to the Young Dems for providing this resource. A tip-o-the-hat to Chair Katie Siebert and Vice Chair and webmaster Bryan McTague.

KAEMPFE PROPOSES FIX FOR STATE OFFICIAL PAY BOOST SYSTEM

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:11:02 GMT

Bob Kaempfe (left) with Senator Dick Durbin.

The Illinois Compensation Review Board has once again recommended hefty pay boosts for state legislators and other elected official that will go into effect automatically unless the Legislature takes action to overrule the Board. Robert Kaempfe, Democratic candidate for State Representative from the 64^th District believes the system is broken and needs to be fixed.

While the Review Board is doing their job of drafting recommendations on pay levels, Kaempfe maintains that the problem lies in the law which allows legislators to receive pay raises without taking responsibility for them. “The pay raises can be stopped only if legislators vote to reject them. If they do nothing the raises go into effective,” Kaempfe said. “This gives your state legislatures an out by letting them be able to say, “I didn’t vote myself a pay raise.’”

Kaempfe pointed out that the current recommendation for legislators is an 11.7% raise. “While the price of gasoline is nuts, food prices soaring, and homes being foreclosed, citizens are not seeing nearly 12% boosts in their pay checks,” Kaempfe said. “The legislature can’t even come to grips with a budget, but they want the people to give them a pass on an automatic pay raise.”

“I will introduce legislation to require that both the Illinois House and Senate vote positively to affirm recommendations by the Compensation Review Board.,” Kaempfe vowed.

In addition, the current law makes the proposed pay raises all or nothing. Kaempfe’s proposed legislation would allow the legislature to revise recommended pay raises down, but not up. If the Board recommends 11.7% but the legislators do not believe the full amount is justified, affordable, or reflective of the wishes of the citizens, they could lower the increase by any amount rather than just rejecting in total.

“What ever the case,” Kaempfe said, “the legislator must vote to approve it. This would give the public an idea who was voting for unrealistic or undeserved pay raises.”

Kaempfe invites comment on his proposal by e-mail at robert.kaempfe@yahoo.com.

GENTES WINS KEY ENDORSEMENT IN ILLINOIS 26TH SENATE DISTRICT

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:36:02 GMT

The Progressive Action Project which is the State PAC of the Citizen Action for Illinois endorsed Bill Gentes for the Illinois Senate 26^th Distirict (Portions of Lake, McHenry and Cook Counties)! Citizen Action is the state's largest public interest organization. Building on over a decade of experience, Citizen Action/Illinois is a key player in the fight for social and economic justice at the state and national levels.

Citizen Action/Illinois has led campaigns for lower utility rates, fair taxes, affordable and quality health care, insurance and campaign finance reform, and stronger environmental and food safety protections.

This organization recognized Gentes’s values for providing positive improvements to the lives of people all over the state and in the 26th District.

Some of the things Citizen Action has championed are:

· Electric Rate Relief- Helped lead the effort to win $1 Billion in electric rate relief for Illinois customers of both Ameren and ComEd. The reforms also set up the Illinois Power Agency to make sure that consumers get the best price for electricity.

· Green Cleaning in Schools-Won passage of a new law which requires schools to purchase environmentally sensitive cleaning products - a victory for Illinois children, teachers, school nurses and families.

· Economic Development- new law that makes Illinois the first state to intentionally use economic development subsidies to link jobs with public transit and/or affordable housing.

· Payday Loan Reform- regulate the payday loan industry in Illinois. Key consumer protections in the bill include; a fee cap to reduce the cost of using payday loans, an industry wide cap on borrowing to prevent over borrowing, a recovery period to break the cycle of debt created by back-to-back loans, a repayment plan to help borrowers in over their head made good on their debts, special protections for military personnel, and a statewide consumer reporting service for enforcement.

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Gentes has already put together an impressive and sophisticated ground game campaign and pledges to out work his opponent in the precincts. But this will be an expensive campaign. Gentes would like to raise $100,000 before the next required state financial report to send a clear signal that this is a serious campaign. If you can help click here.

HACKING DEMOCRACY--Documentary on Electronic Voting on Tap at Congregational Unitarian Church

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:53:19 GMT

The Peace and Justice Committee of the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean Street will show the documentary HACKING DEMOCRACY at 7 PM, Tuesday, May 13.

“We are in the middle of another Presidential election and many of the scandalous problems exposed by this film are unsolved,” according to committee chair Ray Eberhardt.

The documentary, broadcast on HBO throughout November & December 2006, exposes the dangers of voting machines used during America's mid term and presidential elections. Electronic voting machines count approximately 90% of America's votes in county, state and federal elections. The technology is also increasingly being used across the world, including in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America. Filmed over three years this exposé follows the investigations of a team of citizen activists and hackers as they take on the electronic voting industry, targeting the Diebold corporation

HACKING DEMOCRACY uncovers incendiary evidence from the trash cans of Texas to the ballot boxes of Ohio, exposing secrecy, votes in the trash, hackable software and election officials rigging the presidential recount.

Ultimately proving votes can be stolen without a trace "Hacking Democracy" culminates in the famous 'Hursti Hack'; a duel between the Diebold voting machines and a computer hacker from Finland - with America's democracy at stake.

HACKING DEMOCRACY was Executive Produced by Sarah Teale & Sian Edwards of Teale-Edwards Productions LLC.

The program is free and open to the public. There will be time for discussion following the showing.

MAUREEN AND EVAN PART II--The Wedding Party

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Sat, 03 May 2008 07:48:18 GMT

Mr. and Mrs. Evan Buchanan—Evan and Maureen—had their delayed wedding reception on Friday at the Congregational Unitarian Church. A good time was had by all. Here is the evidence.

Grandma Pat Sorensen shares her new digital camera with her Daughter- in-Law and Maureen’s aunt, Jan Larsen. (Photo by Evan’s mom. Laurie Buchanan)

Maureen’s old high school friend Brandon Stolz, his wife Paula with the newlyweds.

Laurie and Evan Buchanan. (Photo by Len Buchanan)

Kathy Brady Murfin and Maureen chat with Michael, Arlene Brenenen, and Ira Murfin.

Arlene Brennen listens to Patrick Murfin lie..

My boss, Bob Jackson, Erin, Ira Murfin, Arlene, and Michael Brenann

David MacKinley, Jan Kaiser, Janice Kolberg, and daughter Maureen.

Evan, Paula and Brandon Stolz.

Maureen's cousin Shannon, Uncle Al, Buddha (in rear) and Aunt Benitta.

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Sister Maureen and Heather Pearson dance.

The Cake. (Photo by Laurie Buchanan.)

Cutting the Cake. (Picture by Laurie Buchanan.

Scott Larsen, Maureen, Pat Sorenson, Jan Larsen, Len Buchannan.

Maureen and Evan open presents at home.

EMPORER NORTON I--A Famous Unitarian?

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:52:03 GMT

\
Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico

I am a regular participant in the UUHistory Chat list serve. Today we received the following post, I thought might be of interest here.

In doing research for my sermon this Sunday I have discovered that Joshua Abraham Norton, otherwise known as Norton I, the Emperor of the United States, frequently attended the First Unitarian Society in San Francisco. Apparently he was very fond of D. Horatio Stebbins Two of the Emperor's decrees deal with religious subjects and both call for religious unity and/or the establishment of a Universal Religion. Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever written about Norton's Unitarian connection? I realize that he is not much of subject for serious scholarship but he is one of the better loved eccentrics in U.S. history and a patron saint of the Discordians. --Colin Bossen

The Emperor Norton is one of those eccentric figures who cannot help but bring a smile to the lips. An absurd figure, he became beloved by his adopted San Franciso which honored his eccentricities , and even honored his self-produced scrip. After his death in 1880 one observer noted that his story would only be possible in San Fransisco, "the most sentemental city in the world." In the '60's he was resurected as a popular counter cultural hero. He was incorporated as in saint in the faux religion, the Discordian Society, propounded by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shay in their cult classic Illuminatus Trilogy. I believe Wilson--an old aquaintance from my days as a Chicago Wobbly and anarchist--who died last year, had some UU connections. Sounds like a Unitarian Jihad kind of guy

 --Brother Broadsword of Enlightenment

Cross Posted to Unitarian Jihad

PREACHING POETRY IN ROCKTON

pmurfin@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:11:02 GMT

Reading in Rockton.

This past Sunday the nice folks at the Unitatrian Universalsit Congregegation of Rock Valley in Rockton, Illinois let me come and do an abbreviated version of my service Don’t Be Alarmed, Ma’am, He’s Only Committing Poetry. It was good to see old friends from my home church, the Congregational Unitarian Church in Woodstock. Jerry Paulsen is the president of 48 member congregation. Ray Empereur, a former CUC moderator, invited me and drove all the way to Crystal Lake to pick me up in his red VW convertible. Unfortunately it was too cool that morning, though the sun was shining on Midwestern countryside, to let our freak flags fly.

The congregation, which calved from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockford a few years ago, has been meeting for four years in an old school building in downtown Rockton. The school was original built in the 1920’s and a classroom wing added in the early ’60’s. They are in the process of buying the building and planning for the future.

It’s a lay let congregation that is currently served part-time by a student from Meadville/Lombard. It will be a while before they can call a minister, but they fill the pulpit frequently with guests like me.

The congregation was attentive and appreciative. They even talked about inviting me back to share some of the poems that I had to cut from the service due to time limitations. I’d certainly like to come back.

Here is the little poem with which I closed the service.

AN HONOR TO BE ALIVE

This happenstance assemblage of atoms,

this collection of random stardust

echoing an explosive moment of creation,

this unlikely bag of seawater, carbon and stone,

oddly and inexplicably ambulatory,

miraculously sees and recognizes you,

the very you seeing and recognizing.

It is an honor to be alive.

--Patrick Murfin