Invitation to Civil Discourse: the Flag

Of course one young man with one gun made the decision to kill nine people at Mother Emanuel. He is responsible for that action and will suffer the consequences of his decision.

BUT if we stop there, we are in denial and perpetuate the lies BECAUSE:

1)      It is about the flag. That flag is a symbol, and symbols are powerful. Think cross for Christians, Star of David for Jews, and crescent moon for Muslims. That flag is a symbol of racial prejudice, hatred, and treason. It was raised on the grounds of the capitol in defiance of Brown vs the Board of Education. To claim it is about culture and heritage is delusional. What “heritage” are we proud of? Enslavement of human beings? Hundreds of lynchings of Black people? One in five children going to bed hungry at night? One in four children suffering abuse each day? Secession and treason? This flag belongs in a museum and in history books that accurately explain its purpose.

2)      It is about fundamentalist Christianity, ignorant of the cultural context in which the Bible was written. Holy war and the book of Revelation are some of the most violent literature ever written. Fundamentalists use it for their anti-scientific tirades, anti-feminist prejudice, homophobia, anti-intellectual denials of scientific progress, racial prejudice, opposition to marriage equality, and denial of our responsibility for social justice. They focus on ego-centric, individual salvation and ignore the clear moral admonitions of Micah, Jesus, and James. It cannot be said more clearly: love mercy, do justice, walk humbly with God, love your neighbor, faith without works is dead. These are active verbs, not weak suggestions. Abraham Heschel, the great American Jewish scholar said that if there is a future for the Judaeo-Christian tradition in this country, it rests within the Black church.

3)      It is about the lies perpetrated in the South about the Civil War. Yes, the causes were multiple, but at its heart was the question of slavery. “States rights” is code for racial prejudice and the desire to enslave people of color. It was treason to separate from a Union forged in blood and intended to be a beacon of light and hope, under the motto that “all men (humankind) are created equal.” The founders were not perfect, but they had a vision and a dream that challenges us everyday. The South tried to deny that, and thankfully, with Lincoln’s change of heart and vision for this country, it was not successful.

This nation needs healing. Mother Emanuel is leading the way. Removing the flag is one step. SANE gun laws and accurate history are others. Let’s all rededicate ourselves to being part of the solution, carefully guarding our words and deeds.

Love your enemies

Over the weekend a dear friend asked a hard question. Noting that Jesus is quoted in Matthew 5 as saying that we are to love our neighbor, he went on to note that Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” Really?  How and why am I supposed to love my enemies? All they want is to do me harm? My friend’s question challenged me to rethink some easy assumptions.

The quote comes from the “Sermon on the Mount” and requires careful reading. Jesus begins by saying, “You have heard it said you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” We need to stop here and acknowledge that (1) Jesus is not quoting Jewish scripture with “hate your enemy.” (2)That phrase/command is NOT in the Tanak. Neither do the Rabbis ever teach hatred of enemies. The origin of the statement has puzzled scholars for years. Whatever the source and for whatever reason the author of Matthew included the phrase, it is important to acknowledge the significance and impact of the next statement. “But I say to you, love your enemy.”

To begin to understand what it means to love our enemies, we must wrestle with who is our neighbor and what it means to love them. It sounds easy but Jesus was sneaky! Read the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in Luke 10: 29-37. I’ll spare you the details, but the one hurt was a Jew and the one who showed mercy was the despised Samaritan [think black/white, Christian/Muslim, Fox/ABC].  Who was the neighbor? Not the privileged, smug, well off who walked by on the other side. It was the one who showed mercy. How do I love my neighbor today? By showing mercy---feeding the hungry [anybody can give a bag of food], providing medical care to the sick [getting a little harder], working for social justice in the face of homophobia and excessive, unwarranted police brutality, refusing to carry a gun to the mall, church, or school [now I’ve gone to meddling, but at least think about it]. Loving the neighbor, the one in need, isn’t always easy.

But what about loving the enemy? The ugly, dirty, vulgar, rude, angry, violent, “different”? In today’s language the enemy is the “other.” Sometimes that enemy wants to harm me, but I don’t think I’m just supposed to throw up my hands in surrender. I think loving and responding to the enemy begins with intentional love and concern for the “other,” recognizing that they are human [even ISIS, rogue cops, moneyed manipulators, fill in the blanks[  with shared dreams, desires, and needs. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, but it does mean that we do not demonize one another. Responsible, restrained defense—yes. Generous, aggressive, nonviolent engagement—yes.

Jesus, quoting his scripture, said to love God, neighbor, self, and added enemy. He didn’t say to pick and choose. I take his words as categorical imperatives, not suggestions if it’s convenient.

Love your enemies

Over the weekend a dear friend asked a hard question. Noting that Jesus is quoted in Matthew 5 as saying that we are to love our neighbor, he went on to note that Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” Really?  How and why am I supposed to love my enemies? All they want is to do me harm? My friend’s question challenged me to rethink some easy assumptions.

The quote comes from the “Sermon on the Mount” and requires careful reading. Jesus begins by saying, “You have heard it said you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” We need to stop here and acknowledge that (1) Jesus is not quoting Jewish scripture with “hate your enemy.” (2)That phrase/command is NOT in the Tanak. Neither do the Rabbis ever teach hatred of enemies. The origin of the statement has puzzled scholars for years. Whatever the source and for whatever reason the author of Matthew included the phrase, it is important to acknowledge the significance and impact of the next statement. “But I say to you, love your enemy.”

To begin to understand what it means to love our enemies, we must wrestle with who is our neighbor and what it means to love them. It sounds easy but Jesus was sneaky! Read the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in Luke 10: 29-37. I’ll spare you the details, but the one hurt was a Jew and the one who showed mercy was the despised Samaritan [think black/white, Christian/Muslim, Fox/ABC].  Who was the neighbor? Not the privileged, smug, well off who walked by on the other side. It was the one who showed mercy. How do I love my neighbor today? By showing mercy---feeding the hungry [anybody can give a bag of food], providing medical care to the sick [getting a little harder], working for social justice in the face of homophobia and excessive, unwarranted police brutality, refusing to carry a gun to the mall, church, or school [now I’ve gone to meddling, but at least think about it]. Loving the neighbor, the one in need, isn’t always easy.

But what about loving the enemy? The ugly, dirty, vulgar, rude, angry, violent, “different”? In today’s language the enemy is the “other.” Sometimes that enemy wants to harm me, but I don’t think I’m just supposed to throw up my hands in surrender. I think loving and responding to the enemy begins with intentional love and concern for the “other,” recognizing that they are human [even ISIS, rogue cops, moneyed manipulators, fill in the blanks[  with shared dreams, desires, and needs. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, but it does mean that we do not demonize one another. Responsible, restrained defense—yes. Generous, aggressive, nonviolent engagement—yes.

Jesus, quoting his scripture, said to love God, neighbor, self, and added enemy. He didn’t say to pick and choose. I take his words as categorical imperatives, not suggestions if it’s convenient.

Invitation to civil discourse

How do we live an authentic life in an unauthentic world?

Merriam Webster’s Deluxe Dictionary defines “authentic” as (1) worthy of acceptance, (2) not false or imitation, (3) true to one’s own character.

Our world is full of double-speak, perverted values, and upside down ideals. The Buddha recognized this 2500 years ago when he warned us that our world is based on delusion caused by greed, hatred, and lust. We pursue “things” that are an illusion and are consumed with ego and individuality. We have forgotten true humility and concern for others. Freedom, properly understood and exercised, has at its core responsibility and recognition of the validity and integrity of others. Today freedom is redefined as license and “others” are ignored and forgotten in our myopic pursuit of self-gratification. Ayn Rand, the philosophical fountainhead (pun intended) of libertarianism insisted that selfishness is a virtue and spawned a generation of contemporary politicians.

In 1935, one year before one of the most infamous Olympics, Hitler held a Rally for Freedom at the same time Germany passed a series of the most restrictive laws affecting Jews. In 2015, Indiana (joining several other states) passed a Religious Freedom Act, claiming to protect people of conscience from having to do what their “faith” would not allow. We all know the intention of that law was to discriminate against gays and lesbians, giving so-called Christians the legal cover to exercise their prejudice. There is no war on Christianity despite O’Reilly’s, Kelly’s, F. Graham’s, and Fox’s fabricated mantra. Fundamental Christianity is waging war against other faiths in their failure to recognize the inclusiveness wonder of humanity.

To paraphrase MLK, the best life is one lived in service to others. Only in losing our lives do we truly find them. Daniel Brown (not Dan!), in Boys in the Boat, articulates beautifully how rowing requires giving yourself to others, trusting others completely, forgetting personal individual glory, getting “lost” in the group to find wholeness, meaning, and purpose.

Saint Francis said it beyond improvement: seek to bring peace, to love, to pardon, to understand, to give, to hope. Then, maybe, our lives might be authentic

I had never been to Chicago.

I had never been to Chicago. So in early June we decided to take a short vacation and "do" the windy city. What a marvelous, fabulous city!
It was an interesting trip because of the variety and diversity of places and people. It began with a targeted destination of the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, KY. KY was not high on my list of places to visit, but it is one beautiful state. From lush, green mountains to rolling hills, real bluegrass, and bewitching limestone formations, it was a visual feast. The limestone base creates a unique filtering system for the water that is unbelievably delicious and the best in the world for building strong bones for race horses! I say "targeted" because somehow I took a detour and ended up at the Woodford Reserve Distillery--one of the best bourbons KY has to offer!
The Village is a monument to the religious creativity and imagination of Americans. At their height they had over 3000 "communities" around the nation, focused on simple living, expressive spirituality, and common care for one another. The food, raised on the farm and produced from its own herds, was delicious beyond experience. There are only two of these communities remaining, preserved by non-Shakers. Since sexual abstinence was promoted, they didn't grow by leaps and bounds----and that practice is not in favor today, so you see the problem.
The high light of the route from Pleasant Hill to Chicago was the miles and miles of gigantic wind turbines producing renewable, non-cancer causing, inexpensive energy! They looked like something from outer space.
Entering Chicago on an afternoon as the traffic from a Cubs home game is unleashed on congested infra-structure is daunting to a small town boy! There is more to relate than time to read; here is my summary:
1. a rainbow population, each person with their own story and human dignity
2. the challenge and enjoyment of public transportation and the challenge to master the maps and schedules
3. breathtaking architecture, jaw dropping, eye popping architecture---do NOT miss the 90 minute boat tour
4. the Willis Tower and the ability to "step out" into space (clear platform) where you can see forever on a clear day
5. the parks, so many parks. They value public land and access for ALL people.
6. Millennial Park and the Bean
7. The Art Institute of Chicago. The collection is out of the world, and you can walk right up to the master pieces you have only seen in books!
8. Chicago deep dish REALLY is different and the beef, Midwestern beef melts in your mouth.
This doesn't scratch the surface---universities, sports arenas, clean river (now!),friendly people everywhere who came from everywhere to build a city and a nation of opportunity.
The spirit is alive in Chicago-----and well worth another visit!

My America

We have just celebrated another Memorial Day. The concert on the Mall was entertaining and inspiring. I am grateful every day for those who sacrificed for the cause of honor, freedom, and responsible global citizenship. And for those who went and returned wounded in body and spirit, we owe them care, support, and respect. June 6, D-Day, will be another occasion to remember---those who served in combat AND support roles.
It is a time to reflect on what they fought for, what values are worth fighting for, the integrity of our motives, and the kind of world (and nation) we want for ourselves, our children, and all future generations.
My America will be a nation of equal opportunity for ALL people. We are created equal under the law, with different talents, gifts, and strength. Class, race, gender, faith should not discriminate or divide.
My America will be a nation filled with love and compassion enough to insist on and provide adequate health care for everyone, and the sick (physically and mentally) are not denied required care because of excessive costs and mismanaged service.
My America will be a nation that puts human beings and quality of life before money and profit, a nation that recognizes the necessity of clean air and clean water and a healthy earth. Limited natural resources require responsible use and distribution. I want a clean world for my and your children and grandchildren. We are stewards, not owners, of this magnificent creation. This is not a complex concept. We do not have to choose between a healthy future and jobs now. There is a solution to the challenge. American ingenuity is up to the task.
My America will be a nation that honors a rational exercise of the Second Amendment while limiting and restricting irrational, excessive, abusive license of violence. For God's sake and ours, do we really need to carry guns to church like Georgia politicians think they do?
My America will be a nation that understands and preserves the First Amendment separation of church and state. There is no place, NO place for sectarian prayer in the public arena. Please pray at home, in your places of worship, in your hearts, but more importantly, why don't we all try LIVING the values we think are so necessary. The heart of every world religious tradition is the recognition of "something" greater than myself AND the admonition to love and honor others. It has been said by others in many ways, but its truth rings clear: the life worth living is the one lived in service to others.
The choice is ours, personally AND as a nation; we can live a Self-centered OR Other-centered life. The consequences and benefits are unlimited.

Yet again.......

Yet again violence rears its ugly head. Be patient; give it enough time , and we will forget and move on. But will you please take a minute with me and put yourself/myself in the shoes of mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters. Will you listen to the heart beat and feel the heart ache of those who have lost children to gun violence in this country? Some of you have probably already said, "there he goes again, that damn bleeding heart liberal." Some of you have probably said, "what good does it do to keep talking about it? There's nothing we can do" And that's the point! Many clichés come to mind, but the one that keeps ringing in my head is, "Silence is complicity."
If your first response is to answer violence with greater violence, you are part of the problem.
If your god is the NRA, you are part of the problem.
If your first response is the priority of "MY" second amendment right, you are part of the problem.
I refuse to surrender to the Tea Party/Sarah Palin/Phil Robertson/fundamentalists who have no clue as to the meaning of separation of church and state.
I refuse to surrender to the Bundy/tax evasion/eco-terrorist darlings of the FOX, ultra-right ideologues.
I refuse to surrender to the Rubio/Paul/Santorum closed minds who deny the integrity and potential of those (immigrants) who see the hope and dream of a better life that can be realized in this great nation.
I refuse to surrender to the militaristic/homophobic/racist/ignorant (anti-education and science) voices screaming across this landscape.
I invite you, urge you, plead with you to be the force and presence of love, compassion, understanding, Other-centered caring, and together let's show the world there is a better way, a just way, a loving way.