[CUADPUpdate] Greetings From Asbury Park

[abe@cuadp.org]

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Greetings All!

As Field Manager for New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty,
I've been on the road for the past week on what we have called our
"Journeys Through Violence and Injustice" tour, featuring death row
survivor Juan Melendez and murder victim family member Vicki Schieber, and
assisted by Witness to Innocence Director Kurt Rosenberg.  It's been an
amazing week or targeted action.  In 9 events over 6 days, six NJ state
legislators showed up - some are already sponsors of our abolition bill,
some said they "came to learn and listen," and one came to declare that he
had changed his mind on the issue and was ready to change the death
penalty to life without parole!  It sure is different to be working in a
state where the politicians respect the abolitionists!

Read news articles about this tour and listen to an archived radio
interview with Juan, Vicki and myself on the NJADP site at
http://www.njadp.org/#news

****

ALSO, Tonight marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.  The
days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement, which
begins the evening of Sunday the 1st and ends the next night), are known
as the "Days of Awe."  Traditionally, this is less a time of celebration,
and more a time of renewal.  It is a time to renew commitments and a time
to right the wrongs.  Of course, Jews (and everyone else) should try to
correct mistakes whenever they are made or realized, but this being the
Jewish New Year, it's a special time, and again, a time of renewal.

To all those who I may have offended or wronged in the past, in word, act
or thought, I beg your forgiveness.  I will try to be more aware of how my
actions and words may be interpreted by others as I strive only to make
positive impacts upon the world as I encounter it.

To all those who have somehow done harm to me through word, act or thought,
I offer my forgiveness.  I will bear no grudges.

Please join with me in renewing a commitment to the struggle for justice
and peace through love and compassion for all.

Shalom,

--abe

Abraham J. Bonowitz
on Sabbatical from
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
<abe at cuadp.org>

PS - Enjoy!

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards
sitting in her front yard.  She did not recognize them. Upon approaching
them she said, "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry.  Please
come in and have something to eat."

"We don't go into a house together,"  they replied.

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said, pointing to
one of his friends.  Pointing to the other one, he said, "He is Success and
I am Love."  Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your family which
one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said.  Her husband was
overjoyed. "How nice!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite
Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth."

His wife disagreed,"My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She
chimed in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite
Love?  Our home would then be filled with love. "Let us heed our
daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite
Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is
Love?  Please come in and be our guest. "Love got up and started walking
toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him.  Surprised,
the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, why are you coming
in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success the
other two of us would have stayed out. But since you invited Love, wherever
he goes we go with him. Wherever there is Love there is also wealth and
success!"

***************

CUADP wishes you and yours a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous new year
fill with love and all that comes with it....

--abe