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54 Beachwood Buzz
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August 2016
Hundreds of "Angels" Blocked the Westboro Baptist
Church from Spreading Hate in Orlando
Hundreds of "Angels" gathered to disrupt the Westboro Baptist Church
picketers who traveled to spread their message of intolerance and hate
outside the funeral of one of the Orlando shooting victims. My heart was
full as I read how the "Angels" embraced mourners by singing Amazing
Grace, drowning out the hate-filled chants, sending the message of love,
compassion and support to the victim's family, friends and the world.
Love is more powerful than hate. Isn't this the space in which we should
all live and promote acceptance, peace, and compassion?
Imagine the hearts of those who would protest at the funeral of a
32-year-old man who was shot down in cold blood because he loved.
What exactly is being protested? Love? Imagine a church whose
message is intolerance, hatred and hostility in response
to the tragic loss of someone's son, brother, friend.
How do we, in our community, choose to act as
"Angels?" How do we teach our children to have the
strength of character, an open heart, courage and
grace to step forward as an "Angel?"
· From an early age, discuss injustice and
compassion for others. Start when children are
playing on the playground or are in a preschool
classroom, with context growing as they do.
· Model empathy.
· Create a home where tolerance and acceptance are family values.
· Volunteer in the community with your children from an early age.
· Engage children in age-appropriate conversations about news
events and model discussions that are not rigid, black or white.
Provide space for respectful disagreement.
· Promote critical thinking over group-think.
· Role play, standing up for yourself and others. Context should
grow as children do.
· Read stories about those who stood for others, like Martin Luther
King, Jr., Rosa Parks and/or people in our community.
It is never too late to act as an "Angel" ­ for yourself and others.
Choose decency so that our hearts and minds can overcome
judgment and connect us to compassion in one another.
It is never too late to act as an "Angel" ­ for yourself
and others. Choose decency so that our hearts and
minds can overcome judgment and connect us to
compassion in one another.
From The Gathering Place
For Men Newly Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Sandy Weinberg, a former
Beachwood resident, was diag-
nosed with prostate cancer in
2014. He had a lot of questions
for his doctor but also wanted
to hear from someone who had
been on the prostate cancer
journey. Weinberg got connected
with The Gathering Place, a local
cancer support center, and began
participating in Prostate Partners,
a group for men diagnosed with
prostate cancer. Weinberg notes
that he had a lot of support from
family and friends, but the sup-
port he received from the group
was uniquely beneficial.
"Prostate Partners provided a
space for sharing with people on
a similar path. Various physicians
presented updates on prostate
cancer and other topics related
to coping with cancer. Having the
opportunity to talk with prostate
cancer survivors was extremely
helpful. People who haven't been
there can't understand in the
same way," shares Weinberg. "Not
only did I learn a lot, but I made
new friends," he said.
Weinberg is looking forward
to taking what he has learned
through his cancer experience
and Prostate Partners and sharing
it with other men who are newly
diagnosed. Starting in Septem-
ber, he will co-facilitate a program
with one of the clinical staff from
The Gathering Place, Mary Fisher
Bornstein, LISW-S, called Prostate
Cancer Information Sessions. The
program, offered monthly at The
Gathering Place in Beachwood
and in Westlake for men newly
diagnosed with prostate cancer,
will address topics such as how to
make treatment decisions, coping
with the impact of the cancer
diagnosis, tools for working
through treatment side effects
and how to access resource
information.
According to Weinberg, "When
you get diagnosed, you have a
lot of questions, many of which
healthcare professionals or a
medical librarian can answer. But
for some things, answers are bet-
ter presented by someone who
has been on the journey.
The first Prostate Cancer Infor-
mation Session will be offered at
The Gathering Place's Beachwood
location on Thursday, September
8, from 5:30-6:15 pm. The pro-
gram is specifically designed for
men who were diagnosed within
the past six months and is open
to men only. The information
sessions will provide great op-
portunity to learn from and share
with prostate cancer survivors.
The session at the Westlake lo-
cation is scheduled for Thursday,
September 20 from 5:30-6:15 pm.
Like all programs and services
at The Gathering Place, there is
no charge to attend. Advance
registration is not required. For
questions about the program
or for additional information, con-
tact Mary Fisher Bornstein, LISW-S
at bornstein@touchedbycancer.
org or 216.455.1506.
The first Prostate Cancer
Information Session
will be offered at
The Gathering Place's
Beachwood location on
Thursday, September 8,
from 5:30-6:15 pm.