The Cardinal Anthology: Vol. 1 2022

By Ellerslie Books

The Cardinal Anthology is a collection of social, reproductive, environmental, and economic justice themed essays, poetry, and short stories written by West Virginia authors. Contributors include Stewart Acuff, Kayla Daniels, Donna Joy, Jim Koenig, Leah Moran Rampy, Josh Oster, and Leslie Williams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellerslie Books
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088082324

Book preview

The Cardinal Anthology

The Cardinal Anthology

The Cardinal Anthology

Vol. 1 2022

H.S. Leigh Koonce Katharine Curley Morgan Pearson

Ellerslie Books

Foreword

H.S. Leigh Koonce

            I first heard the term social justice during my sophomore year at my high school, St. Maria Goretti.  While the phrase was new to me, the central thrust of the concept was not. 

I grew up in what I like to call a secular religious household.  My mother, Mary Everhart Koonce, was raised in the Presbyterian faith and taught Sunday school at the former Kearneysville Presbyterian Church.  My father, Stafford H. Koonce, was Episcopalian and served as an altar boy and regularly attended services.  Both of my parents held deep faith, but their celebration and adherence to that faith was a very private practice.  We didn’t pray prior to meals, I wasn’t forced to attend church or read a religious text, and it wasn’t their habit to assess practices or people in relation to religion.  However, both of my parents had a commitment to equality and the hope to see a just society.  I believe much of this was formed by their faith, but they expressed it in a purely secular manner.

Both parents encouraged me to think of what I, as one person, can do to help others.  Often the gestures I was urged to do as a child were small, always speak to someone in greeting, put a dollar bill in the Relay for Life collection can, learn about other cultures and religious practices, but those can be meaningful.  While I didn’t realize it when I was younger, their urgings helped me to embrace ideas of social justice as I grew older.

I am fortunate to report that Goretti was a very free-thinking Catholic prep school during my time there.  As students we were encouraged to learn about the Catholic faith but were not forced to embrace it.  We were taught critical thinking skills, took a course in cultures of the world, and another in various religions of the world.  Inherent, too, in some of the course work and general teachings, was the previously mentioned social justice.  A requirement of 100 hours of community service had to be fulfilled to be considered for graduation.  Various charitable efforts were held throughout the school year.  As students, we were taught we are a community and we must help our neighbors.

Launching a publication that focuses on social, environmental, reproductive, and economic justice, I hope will encourage others to not simply preach about justice, but also to work toward it.  Volunteer an afternoon a month with a civic organization, make a financial donation to a local charity (even if it’s only $5), examine your own entitlement and privilege and then ask yourself if everyone enjoys those same factors.  I worry my generation, especially, is long on ideas but short on actions. Perhaps reading these outstanding writers will spur us all to  practice what we preach.

Definitions

social justice: (noun) justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

environmental justice: (noun) the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

reproductive justice: (noun) the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

economic justice: (noun) a set of moral and ethical principles for building economic institutions.

Xenia

Josh Oster

Stonecrest tumbleweed rumbles

Down a cul de sac

Littered with sidewalk chalk

Graffiti by four-year-old memory

Serves its rightful place on the asphalt.

It is a Wonder how many

Elderly people

Who walk across this same street are the

same who will

Walk into a phone store

And are not Seen As innocent bystanders

To a predatory shark

But a commission

Of free gifts to a cell tower God

Renounce Racism and Hate

Stewart Acuff

Picketing and carrying signs against militia violence,