Comments on: The Committee On New Quaker Cliches http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/ Independent Quaker Journalism & Commentary. By Chuck Fager. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:46:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: PW http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-486 PW Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:41:31 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-486 It's funny. I don't have a problem with the cleches. My problem is the plain-dress fetishism that seems to pass for simplicity when in reality you could wear a ball-gown to Worship and if your heart is in the right place, you've got more going for you than someone who dresses in Quaker Drag and speaks in perfect thees and thous. A while back a Canadian Friend wrote me a note ending her statement with "eh?" Sure it's a cleche but it's beautiful. And it made me smile because she was being true to herself, and the way she addresses the world. Some get hung up on language and dress as if these are the distinctives of what it means to be a Friend yet in my mind that is a scared kind of spirituality that majors in the minors to avoid real issues in their lives. It’s funny. I don’t have a problem with the cleches. My problem is the plain-dress fetishism that seems to pass for simplicity when in reality you could wear a ball-gown to Worship and if your heart is in the right place, you’ve got more going for you than someone who dresses in Quaker Drag and speaks in perfect thees and thous.
A while back a Canadian Friend wrote me a note ending her statement with “eh?” Sure it’s a cleche but it’s beautiful. And it made me smile because she was being true to herself, and the way she addresses the world.
Some get hung up on language and dress as if these are the distinctives of what it means to be a Friend yet in my mind that is a scared kind of spirituality that majors in the minors to avoid real issues in their lives.

]]> By: Spirit Walker http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-475 Spirit Walker Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:33:33 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-475 Thank you for the great post as always, can't wait to your next one! Thank you for the great post as always, can’t wait to your next one!

]]> By: Cyndy http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-411 Cyndy Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:36:11 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-411 I was searching for a copyright free photo of Hopewell MM for a family history when I was directed to your site. Still have not found a photo but I really enjoyed your blog. It is good to learn that some people are still thinking and (this is much more remarkable) are capable of expressing those thoughts in a way that is both direct and humorous. I was searching for a copyright free photo of Hopewell MM for a family history when I was directed to your site. Still have not found a photo but I really enjoyed your blog. It is good to learn that some people are still thinking and (this is much more remarkable) are capable of expressing those thoughts in a way that is both direct and humorous.

]]> By: Barbara Smith http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-359 Barbara Smith Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:49:30 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-359 Garsh...you make me so proud to be a Quaker. Quaker is actually a cliche too. How about 'The Religious Society of Friends of the Truth, whatever that may be at the time, you know, what ever feels good, do it ! And I am OK and you are OK and We are OK together..." It takes a village. Perhaps in Haiti to jolt us from our comfortable cocoons. Thanks for your ever insightful lampoons and wake up calls. It's good to know that there's still life out there. Garsh…you make me so proud to be a Quaker. Quaker is actually a cliche too. How about ‘The Religious Society of Friends of the Truth, whatever that may be at the time, you know, what ever feels good, do it ! And I am OK and you are OK and We are OK together…” It takes a village. Perhaps in Haiti to jolt us from our comfortable cocoons. Thanks for your ever insightful lampoons and wake up calls. It’s good to know that there’s still life out there.

]]> By: John Stephens http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-357 John Stephens Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:10:37 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-357 I try to stick with the Advices, Queries & Voices of William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White, especially this one: "Use definite, specific, concrete language." That directive hardly ever applies to jargon. I try to stick with the Advices, Queries & Voices of William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White, especially this one:

“Use definite, specific, concrete language.”

That directive hardly ever applies to jargon.

]]> By: Phil Anthony http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-356 Phil Anthony Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:56:29 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-356 Today I realized which word I'd most like to see banned in (liberal, unprogrammed) Quakerism for the foreseeable future: Love. Not that it's unimportant, or nonessential; but most often when I hear it, the context is Pollyanna-ish warm fuzziness, with no recognition that dammit, love demands discipline, commitment, humility, and hard work. On the other hand, I'm not sure my comment should be restricted to Quakerism, either. Today I realized which word I’d most like to see banned in (liberal, unprogrammed) Quakerism for the foreseeable future: Love. Not that it’s unimportant, or nonessential; but most often when I hear it, the context is Pollyanna-ish warm fuzziness, with no recognition that dammit, love demands discipline, commitment, humility, and hard work.

On the other hand, I’m not sure my comment should be restricted to Quakerism, either.

]]> By: Rich Accetta-Evans http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-355 Rich Accetta-Evans Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:26:00 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-355 I'm personally fond of "that Friend speaks my mind" even if it is a cliche. Nevertheless, I also appreciate the suggestion of my son that Friends could make even better use, during long-winded business meetings, of the phrase "That Friend wastes my time". I’m personally fond of “that Friend speaks my mind” even if it is a cliche. Nevertheless, I also appreciate the suggestion of my son that Friends could make even better use, during long-winded business meetings, of the phrase “That Friend wastes my time”.

]]> By: Timothy Travis http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-354 Timothy Travis Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:22:33 +0000 http://www.afriendlyletter.com/index.php/hard-core-quaker/the-committee-on-new-quaker-cliches-2/#comment-354 I know. "Spirit led" is a personal non-favorite of mine. It sometimes sounds just like "my take on this, not yours" and also evokes for the image of a drum major, for me. No term stays fresh forever and we go through them pretty quickly. Maybe if I didn't give in to the compulsion to chatter so much they would stay fresher, longer, or maybe I would be able to come up with simpler ways to speak if I waited before giving the world the benefit of my take on every topic that floats by. (Maybe if I waited more before speaking it wouldn't be my take, at all, that came out of my mouth). I think I have a button around here somewhere with a query about whether what I am going to say will improve the silence. Can't think of where I got it, at the moment, but I think I'll try to find it and display it prominently for a while. Oh, and as for a committee on cliches, I often test my participation on a committee with some words from Barclay: "The present condition of the nations offers sufficient proof of the unfruitfulness of such customary worship." Let my words be few... <em>Chuck Fager responds: Well said -- Rock on, Brother Tim!</em> I know.

“Spirit led” is a personal non-favorite of mine. It sometimes sounds just like “my take on this, not yours” and also evokes for the image of a drum major, for me.

No term stays fresh forever and we go through them pretty quickly. Maybe if I didn’t give in to the compulsion to chatter so much they would stay fresher, longer, or maybe I would be able to come up with simpler ways to speak if I waited before giving the world the benefit of my take on every topic that floats by. (Maybe if I waited more before speaking it wouldn’t be my take, at all, that came out of my mouth).

I think I have a button around here somewhere with a query about whether what I am going to say will improve the silence. Can’t think of where I got it, at the moment, but I think I’ll try to find it and display it prominently for a while.

Oh, and as for a committee on cliches, I often test my participation on a committee with some words from Barclay: “The present condition of the nations offers sufficient proof of the unfruitfulness of such customary worship.”

Let my words be few…

Chuck Fager responds: Well said — Rock on, Brother Tim!

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