Mr. Crankypants has been watching with interest and amusement as some Unitarian Universalists demand that the 2012 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Assocaition be moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to — somewhere else. Because, you see, those who are politically naive believe that if the Unitarian Universalists don’t meet in Phoenix in June of 2012, Arizona politicians will actually notice their absence.<\/p>\n
Mr. Crankypants agrees that Arizona SB 1070 is a silly, stupid, racist law, enacted by political demagogues who are more interested in pandering to the baser side of the electorate than in actually providing humane and just leadership. But why on earth will those politicians, or any part of the electorate, pay the least bit attention to a small, little-known religious group which doesn’t show up<\/em> in their state? And then there’s the media attention, or lack thereof:– of the following two scenarios, pick the one which you think could possibly wind up on television news shows in Phoenix: (1) Unitarian Universalists don’t show up<\/em>; (2) Unitarian Universalists show up and participate in a well-organized and colorful demonstration in front of the Arizona capitol building.<\/p>\n Mr. Crankypants rests his case. However, given that the cancelation fees for moving General Assembly will amount to $650,000, given that other costs could mean that moving General Assembly in 2012 cost upwards of one million dollars, Mr. Crankypants makes the following offer:– if you still support moving General Assembly out of Phoenix, he will not mock you for your political naivete, provided you write a personal check for ten thousand dollars to the Unitarian Universalist Association to help pay for the move. (Strident and stubborn people should double that amount.)<\/p>\n