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<p>Ted and et al; I need to respond to Ted's latest email because
it reached in and grabbed my heart. Before anyone responds to me
I hope you will take time to consider my thoughts. I'm not
attempting to summarize anything but am eager to address Ted's
concerns. They are important to how we proceed.</p>
<p>At the congregational meeting I was so deeply distressed at what
I heard that it made me sick at my stomach. Learning of the
pattern of behavior that many of us have experienced individually
(not just one person) was unnerving. From the beginning of my
connection to FUUSM there has been the question (in my mind) Ted
posed in his email; "<font size="4">Why do we find it easier to
talk about somebody behind their back than face to face?" <br>
</font></p>
<p> I don't believe it is embarrassment that has caused people to
talk behind other's backs, or look the other way - it is often
fear of being identified when they tell "their" truth One time
when I was speaking with someone to understand how a FUUSM's
committee's process worked the person was a bit combative at my
inability to understand what they were explaining. After I
continued to try to drill down to understand the process, the
person leaned forward and "whispered" that the last part of the
process required another person to contact certain people and that
person did not follow through. That is fear speaking. <br>
</p>
<p>It is clear that we heard "fear" repeatedly on Wednesday. My
hope is that we continue to put that fear on the table so we can
learn from it and move on to making some decisions that heal us,
but also create a system that does not allow the types of
consistent behavior we are learning about to continue. Also, I am
hoping that the people who have heard the stories of heartache and
real fear do not look away from the truths being shared. It takes
great courage to stand up in front of our peers, and people we
care about, let alone to share stories that describe abuse, and a
sense of being unsafe.<br>
</p>
<p>Didn't the information sent out originally state we would be on
Zoom?. Zoom is possible and can be done easily, as Ted pointed
out. If there are objections then let's hear (email?) them so we
can move forward. Annie<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 7/28/2023 7:51 AM, Ted Goertzel
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAHHViYrPBjLMRo8A70j955w_ZaFiwZ0NaOk0CBc9xo5VOuAT_A@mail.gmail.com"><font
size="4">Why do we find it easier to talk about somebody behind
their back than face to face? </font></blockquote>
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