Dear fellow EUU Members and Friends,

The summer Olympics 2024 recently resulted in a joyous “party” in Paris, France. Seeing so many people sharing the experience of effort, competition, and emotions has been a fabulous experience, hopefully felt by those who watched as well as those who were in the city at the time. At the closing ceremony, Thomas Bach (president of the IOC) thanked all who participated for “making us dream, …making us believe in a better world for everyone” and encouraged us all to “live this culture of peace every single day.”

EUU feels this way to me – when we gather together for a retreat weekend or work together on a project, we create and live a special “culture” of our own, sharing and living our varying spiritual, philosophical and religious identities, perspectives and goals in our lives.

We are not all Europeans, though some of us are. We are not all “UUs,” though some of us are. Most of us are European residents, but not all of us are. We are not all “American expats,” though some of us are. And despite – or perhaps thanks to – our diversity, we keep coming back together again and again. Our diversity is one of our great strengths and joys.

In this edition of the Unifier, several of the officers (including myself) speak out to those of a particular nationality, regarding upcoming national elections. We hope that all readers will hear our opinion in the spirit it is meant – out of our concern for the respect of human rights and the democratic process worldwide, grounded in what we see as our shared UU principles.

In warm gratitude for your presence in our shared community,

Karen Kyker