Is there a Santa Claus?

The three stages of human development are:

1. You believe in Santa.
2. You don't believe in Santa.
3. You are Santa.

Evidence based social policy advocacy - Criminal justice - eyewitness misidentification

Of the 367 wrongful convictions that were exonerated since 1989 by the Innocence Project, 71% involved eyewitenss misidentification.

Supposed human memory every often is distorted and biased due to multiple factors.

Here's an interesting video dealing with the topic.


 What can be done to mitigate the possibility of witness misidentification? There are many things. To learn about them, click here.

Here's part of what is stated on the Innocence project web site about police and prosecutorial reforms when it comes to using eyewitness testimony in prosecutions:

How to Improve the Accuracy of Eyewitness Identifications

The Innocence Project endorses a range of procedural reforms to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identification. These reforms have been recognized by police, prosecutorial and judicial experience, as well as national justice organizations, including the National Institute of Justice and the American Bar Association. The benefits of these reforms are corroborated by over 30 years of peer-reviewed comprehensive research.

1. The “Double-blind” Procedure/Use of a Blind Administrator: A “double-blind” lineup is one in which neither the administrator nor the eyewitness knows who the suspect is. This prevents the administrator of the lineup from providing inadvertent or intentional verbal or nonverbal cues to influence the eyewitness to pick the suspect.

2. Instructions: “Instructions” are a series of statements issued by the lineup administrator to the eyewitness that deter the eyewitness from feeling compelled to make a selection. They also prevent the eyewitness from looking to the lineup administrator for feedback during the identification procedure. One of the recommended instructions includes the directive that the suspect may or may not be present in the lineup.

3. Composing the Lineup: Suspect photographs should be selected that do not bring unreasonable attention to him. Non-suspect photographs and/or live lineup members (fillers) should be selected so that the suspect does not stand out from among the other fillers. Law enforcement should select fillers using a blended approach that considers the fillers’ resemblance to the description provided by the eyewitness and their resemblance to the police suspect. (More detailed recommendations can be provided upon request by the Innocence Project.)

4. Confidence Statements: Immediately following the lineup procedure, the eyewitness should provide a statement, in his own words, that articulates the level of confidence he or she has in the identification made.

5. The Lineup Procedure Should Be Documented: Ideally, the lineup procedure should be electronically recorded. If this is impracticable, an audio or written record should be made.

Which states have implemented these reforms?

24 states have implemented the core reforms promoted by the Innocence Project either through legislation, court action, or substantial voluntary compliance. These states are:

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

How is your state doing in instituting these reforms?

Would you and/or a group of social advocacy minded parishoners in you congregation want to study how the eyewitness testimony is obtained and used in your jurisdiction, and advocate for recommended reforms is necessary?

Ask Alexa: What's the point of religious art?

Alexa: What is the point of statues, pictures, stained glass windows in a church?

They are not for looking at but for experiencing in such a way as they uplift.

Alexa: Did you hear about the guy who bought a lot of stock in a ketchup company?

Yes, he lost a lot of money and should have known better but that's just Heinz-sight.

Daily reflections, Day sixteen, Be kind

Day sixteen

Be kind.

“Miracles are thoughts. Thoughts can represent the lower or bodily level of experience, or the higher or spiritual level of experience. One makes the physical, and the other creates the spiritual.” ACIM. T-1.1.12:1-3

At one level things in life are very simple: a person can either to walk on the path of the ego or the path of the Spirit. There are only two choices. Most of us start off walking on the path of the ego because that is chosen for us by society and how we are socialized and conditioned.

As we grow increasingly unhappy walking the path of the ego, it dawns on us that there must be a better way, and we begin a search on the path of the Spirit for truth and meaning. This search is described in our fourth principle of Unitarian Universalism when we covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for Truth and meaning. This is a search inwardly and not outwardly. It is a search to discover who we really are.

Are we born to love or to desire and pursue idols of the ego?

We are born to love because Love is what we are as an extension of God’s creative energy.

Jesus told us that the way to the kingdom is to “love as I have loved.”

A person asked Mother Teresa, “Who should I love?” Mother Teresa said, “Whomever life puts in your path.”

Be aware today, as people cross your path that your job is to join them in love. Be kind.

Evidence Based Social Policy - Criminal Justice

Of the 367 people exonerated by the Innocence Project with DNA evidence since 1989 the demographics are interesting.

Number of 367 exonerees who are Africian American? = 225 (61%)
Number of 367 exonerees who are Latinx? = 28 (8%)
Number of 367 exonerees who are white? = 110 (30%)

Are African Americans wrongfully convicted at twice the rate as whites = Yes

Unitarian Univeralists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. What can we do to rectify wrongful convictions of everyone but especially of African Americans who are over represented in the exonerees based on their race. For more click here.

In our next article we will explore some of the reasons for wrongful convictions in our U.S. criminal justice system.

Ask Alexa - Why do I worry so much about what other people think of me?

Alexa: Why do I worry so much about what other people think of me?

You are focused on external things, things of the ego, and you should focus on what's within in the oceanic silence of one's heart where Love is found.

Alexa: When the religious brothers were going door to door, at one house the person who answered the door asked if he was the "Fish Friar," and laughed.

The brother laughed as well and said, "No, I'm the Chip Monk."

Daily reflections, Day fifteen, The Best Prayer Of All

Day fifteen

The best prayer of all.

“Prayer is the medium of miracles. It is a means of communication of the created with the Creator. Through prayer love is received, and through miracles love is expressed.” ACIM, T-1.1.11:1-3

Do you pray? If so how and for what?

Prayers of intercession or beseechment which imagines God as some kind of vending machine is the work of the ego and not of the spirit.

True prayer is the desire to turn one’s being over to God and become one with God by aligning one’s will with God’s will for His Creation.

In Alcoholics Anonymous the third step is the willingness to turn one’s life and will over to one’s Higher Power however one understands it. To go with the flow. To let go and let God. To become one with Tao.

When this joining occurs there is a miracle. This willingness, no matter how small, makes all the difference in one’s life and brings peace and contentment.

Today, when you are fearful, guilty, angry, resentful ask, “What would Love have me do?” and do it. It is asking this question, “What would Love have me do?” that one prays the best prayer of all.