I just found this blog (via BoingBoing) that represents something of a synthesis of left and right. Maybe this is the way out of the dichotomous thinking that's been happening on OlyBlog. Check it out.

Right after the 2004 elections, a cynical map made the rounds of progressives’ inboxes everywhere, separating “Jesusland” from the “United States of Canada.” Several other self-righteous riffs followed.

The image was a hit because it expressed a sinking feeling in the hearts of many progressives that America had been taken over by an incomprehensible cult of ignorance, intolerance and hate—a cult they knew as “evangelical” or “born again” Christianity.

Most secular progressives are comfortable with mainline liberal Christianity. But when it comes to evangelicals, many can only think of anti-gay ballot initiatives, clinic bombers, street preachers with megaphones and corrupt televangelists. And they tend to be confused and disturbed by a movement that reads the Bible “literally” as the “inerrant word of God.”

This blog is a plea to the progressive movement, to take another look and get to know the diverse and complex world of evangelical Christianity in its own terms. Here you’ll find interviews, commentary, analysis and other dispatches from all over “Jesusland.” This tour will explore everything from the workings of the local church, to the evangelicals’ vibrant, decentralized national leadership training infrastructure to theological questions such as, “How in the world DO they read the Bible literally?” and “Do they really think I’m going to hell?”

There are two really big reasons to come along on this tour:

First, progressives will never achieve their goals as long as they are hostile toward and ignorant about the faith of 100 million of their own people who are born again Christians.

Second (and we know how difficult this is to believe) there is an incredibly large and beautiful social movement exploding among evangelicals right now that stands for nearly all of the same causes and goals that secular progressives do. Those goals include: eliminating poverty, saving the environment, promoting justice and equality along racial, gender and class lines and for immigrants—and even separation of church and state.

This meeting has been called as a result of the dispute between the OFS Board of Directors and members who are concerned about the Board’s recent actions. A growing number of members feel that the Board acted extremely unethically in their decision to fire a long-standing staff member. The process used to vote on the action was heavily flawed and cause for great unease about the Board’s intentions. This action has left OFS with no Operations Manager, no plan for his replacement, and with a large group of volunteers alienated and questioning their own commitments to the organization.

Attempts have been made in recent weeks to hold the Board accountable for their actions, including a weeklong volunteer walkout and several open meetings in which concerns were voiced. In all cases, the Board has rejected the outcry of its members and volunteers. They have consistently tried to play down the problem and have defended their decision as necessary without addressing the core issue: the corrupt misuse of OFS bylaws and consensus process.

At the upcoming meeting, members will be asked for their vote on whether to make the position of Board member an elected one and whether to hold elections immediately in the hope of resolving this issue. Having an open election process would allow the membership to ask questions of anyone wanting continue on the Board and approve or deny their candidacy based on the answers. It will give those with differing viewpoints a chance to join the Board. It will ensure that the diverse OFS membership is adequately represented in future decisions and that the Board has accountability for their official actions. This will be a strong move toward restoring confidence in the organization and healing the rift that has torn through it.

Please make time to attend this very important meeting. Make your voice heard and help us to secure OFS’s continued presence within the Olympia community.

For information on recent events, including full copies of correspondence with the Board, Details on how the termination vote was flawed, and how the upcoming meeting will affect OFS, go to: www.ofsvolunteers.com

Since the start of our project in 2003, the Oly Express Dodge Charger has gone a long way. What was at first a crazy idea of Olympia's Dick Pierson and Frenchman Christophe Schwartz has become the re-brewed Oly Express, one of two NASCAR race cars ever to compete in the famous 24 hours of Le Mans. That car has now become an icon within the vintage racing community, carrying the Olympia name overseas. More is to be found here on the Olympia Charger Blog. We do of course celebrate with Olympia Beer after every race!