Reflection by Vivien Hao
APIC Annual Meeting 2005 in Oakland, CA

A note of appreciation and love to the API UU community:

Weeks after the third APIC annual meeting in Oakland, I am still on a spiritual high from the wonderful fellowship and extraordinary insights I gained from being in the presence of MY faith community. I'd like to share with you why the API UU community means so much to me. As a UU for more than a decade and a leader and former member of two congregations, I now find it impossible to sign the membership book at any congregation in the Los Angeles area (there are eight or more!) because in one of the most diverse communities in the United States, there is not a single congregation that has made a commitment to being truly inclusive of UUs of color like me. In the last ten years, I have actually seen the number of UUs of color here shrink-- and despite sporadic attempts to bring anti-racism/anti-oppression issues in front of congregations and ministers, I see fewer and fewer UUs willing to do the work and "walk the talk."

Contrast this to our burgeoning API UU community-- maybe not growing by leaps and bounds in number, but certainly in self-identity, empowerment, and voice. Feeling your power, seeing your faces, and hearing your voices heals my wounds and gives me renewed hope for our larger UU faith community. Although we come from different parts of the world, and have extremely diverse backgrounds and beliefs, I sense a deep connectedness and kind of "knowing" with you that I have rarely felt in other UU circles. My soul was moved by the love in the intimacies we shared. My hunger for community was fed simply by the presence of others who had shared my experiences of feeling marginalized in our chosen faith. I took comfort and found hope in understanding that I am truly not alone.

So I brought back with me from Oakland a deeper appreciation for the bond we share and a deeper commitment to the struggle we face together. My hope and my prayer is that one day, there will no longer be a need for DRUUMM or APIC. I dream of a day when I won't have to check my "Chinese-ness" at the door when I enter my church. My vision is that we will one day become a truly inclusive UU faith community where we all may live out the UU principles of affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person and justice, equity and compassion in human relations.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being you-- my brothers and sister in faith.

Vivien Hao