Have you been caught trying to prepare or deliver a short elevator speech, that lets others know what is the problem with the current ideological focus in many of our social institutions? If this describes your experience some days, you likely will really appreciate and learn from Susan Neiman’s new book – Woke is Not Left
The book is described on Amazon as;
“If you’re woke, you’re left. If you’re left, you’re woke. We blur the terms, assuming that if you’re one you must be the other. That, Susan Neiman argues, is a dangerous mistake.
The confusion arises because woke is fuelled by traditionally leftwing emotions: the wish to stand with the oppressed and marginalized, to address historic crimes. But those emotions are undermined by widespread philosophical assumptions with reactionary sources. As a result, wokeism conflicts with ideas that have guided the left for more than 200 years: a commitment to universalism, a firm distinction between justice and power, and a belief in the possibility of progress. Without these ideas, the woke will continue to undermine their own goals and drift, inexorably and unintentionally, towards the right.”
If your reading list is too long and if you don’t get enough exercise, I suggest you download this CBC Ideas podcast that features Neiman and listen to Susan as you go for a walk!
This Issue of the Liberal Beacon introduces the Beacon’s new editor John Griffin.
It features extensive details about the upcoming NAUA Summit to be held Oct. 17-20 in Spokane and online via Zoom. Besides details of the Summit, this issue features short bios of the NAUA members who have been nominated for the Board and a draft of the proposed NAUA Bylaws to be discussed and voted upon.
Speaker Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof
When Oct. 8 2024 at 4:30 PDT (7:30 EDT).
You MUST register for the session to obtain the Zoom URL.
The presentation features a guest speaker, a question and answer and then a smart breakout group.
This monthly service includes Chalice Lighting, Hymns, guest music and an very interesting guest speaker – Julian Adorney. Julian Adorney is the founder of Heal the West, a Substack movement dedicated to preserving and repairing our liberal social contract. https://healthewest.substack.com/ . He is also a contributor to Reality’s Last Stand. On his vision, he writes, “The North Star of my life is to heal the West. I perceive 3 existential threats: left-wing illiberalism, right-wing illiberalism, and toxic polarization.”
NAUA is very pleased to announce that John Wood Jr. will be joining us as the keynote speaker for the historic first NAUA Summit in Spokane Oct 17-20th.
John Wood Jr. is a leading figure in the American depolarization movement. He is national ambassador for Braver Angels, the United States largest grassroots, bipartisan organization dedicated to political depolarization.
A nationally recognized public speaker on the subjects of political and racial reconciliation, Wood has spoken across America to a wide range of the nation’s most respected think tanks, universities, corporations, philanthropic organizations and political associations including the Aspen Institute, the Manhattan Institute, CPAC 2019, Global Philanthropy Forum, the Philanthropy Roundtable, Upswell, Target, General Mills, LucasFilm, Oregon League of Cities, Institute for Local Government, and campus audiences including Pepperdine, Duke University, USC, Purdue, UC Berkeley and many others.
Mr. Wood’s written work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Examiner, Quillette Magazine, Areo Magazine, Reflections (A Journal of the Yale School of Divinity), Real Clear Politics, Persuasion Magazine, The American Interest and many others. Wood is a cohost of the Braver Angels Podcast and host of The John Wood Jr. Show.
Prior to his work with Braver Angels, Wood was the state of California’s youngest active nominee for congress in the 2014 election cycle, challenging Maxine Waters in California’s 43rd district. His unifying campaign was covered by outlets including The National Review and The Larry Elder Show. After the election Wood was elected as 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles, the largest Republican county party in America.
In addition to his work with Braver Angels, Wood serves as an advisor to The American Project (an initiative of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy dedicated to restoring the communitarian roots of conservatism), the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, the 1776 Unites Project, is a member of the Progress Network (an initiative of the New America Foundation) and is a field-builder with the New Pluralists Collaborative (a coalitional group focused on connecting and supporting organization committed to depolarization and social justice). Wood has worked in support of educational opportunities for at risk youth in inner-city Los Angeles in the areas of tutoring and private education. He sits on the board of directors for Strive Arts and Academics, a celebrated private educational facility in South Los Angeles.
Wood was raised in a musical family. His father is noted Jazz Pianist John Wood, his mother a popular Los Angeles based R&B singer Deonda Theus. Wood’s grandfather was record industry pioneer Randy Wood, of Dot Records and Randy’s Record Shop fame. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.
There is still opportunity to register to attend the SUMMIT online or in-person in Spokane Wa.
Click to view the Summit schedule or Summit registration.