The recent issue of Geez Magazine was one I was really looking forward to. Geez is a fresh perspective on faith and each issue has challenged me to consider a different perspective and a new way of thinking. The latest issue: Let’s Get Evangelical, was exciting for me because I was hoping to see an articulate take on Christianity and “Evangelicalism” that would help me put some of my own thoughts into words.
Overall the articles were good, but they weren’t quite what I was looking for. Geez seems a little more on the skeptic fringe then I thought they would be. However, I was just reading the last article in the magazine, and I got through the first paragraph and realized it deserved a post.
Here’s Bill McKibben on How a Faithful Nation Gets Jesus Wrong:
Only 40 percent of Americans can name more than four of the Ten Commandments, and a scant half can cite any of the four authors of the Gospels. Twelve percent believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. This failure to recall the specifics of our Christian heritage may be further evidence of our nation’s educational decline, but it probably doesn’t matter all that much in spiritual or political terms. Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in Holy Scripture. The thing is, not only is Franklin’s wisdom not biblical; it’s counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message, with its radical summons to love of neighbor. On this essential matter, most Americans–most American Christians–are simply wrong, as if 75 percent of American scientists believed that Newton proved gravity causes apples to fly up. Asking Christians what Christ taught isn’t a trick. When we say we are a Christian nation–and, overwhelmingly, we do–it means something. People who go to church absorb lessons there and make real decisions based on those lessons; increasingly, these lessons inform their politics. (One poll found that 11 percent of U.S. churchgoers were urged by their clergy to vote in a particular way in the 2004 election, up from 6 percent in 2000.) When George Bush says that Jesus Christ is his favorite philosopher, he may or may not be sincere, but he is reflecting the sincere beliefs of the vast majority of Americans. And therein is the paradox. America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior. That paradox–more important, perhaps, than the much touted ability of French women to stay thin on a diet of chocolate and cheese–illuminates the hollow at the core of our boastful, careening culture.
I know this is an old video but I find it disturbing nonetheless.
Bush’s fear-mongering tactics are troublesome. It’s even more troublesome that he actually believes in what he’s doing, regardless of what countless polls and voices are telling him.
There is a lot to be said for this video: from the standing up interview full of intimidating fingerprinting to the avoiding of accusations of water boarding (torture). I just watched Road to Guantanamo the other night and seeing this sure lends evidence to how we got ourselves in this human rights violating state.
I’ve posted here and there about racism in the past on this blog, venturing the thought that we need to be intentionally anti-racist if we are to keep from supporting the racist structures that exist within our society. Zach and I went to an MLK Rally last Monday and heard a speech from the new TN NAACP President. Her brief speech was about a Report Card the NAACP put together on a number of companies consumers frequent.
After a decade of tracking and observing how some of the nation’s largest companies and industries treat consumers of color, the NAACP reports that while positive change is occurring, companies across all industries need to commit to continuous improvements in order to break through to the next level of performance.
“African Americans pump roughly $650 billion into the American economy annually,” said NAACP President & CEO Bruce S. Gordon. “We should spend wisely and have readily available information to be assured that those we do business with are reinvesting in our community, employing a diverse work force, utilizing minority vendors and supporting our causes. Those not practicing such measures should not benefit from the economic power we provide. There continues to be opportunities for major corporations to improve their performance.”
I definitly think this report should have authority and validity beyond the African American community. In order to move from our racist structures, people of all races need to be concerned about the well-being of others. Therefore, this report should influence my purchasing power as well as yours. Here’s a glimpse at the section on lodging:
Tonight, Mindy and I co-lead our community group in a discussion about Jesus’ Third Way. We talked about non-violence, and read Walter Wink’s informative break down of the passage in Matthew:
“You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also. And if anyone takes you to court and sues you for your outer garment, give your undergarment as well. If one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two.”
Our common perception is Jesus’ seemingly condoning a cowardly, get trampled on form of submission, but when you really understand what he’s saying with in it’s cultural context you realize it’s brilliantly creative resistance. I’ll give you just a taste so you get the idea:
Jesus’ third example is “If one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two.” Now these packs weighed 65 to 85 pounds, not counting weapons. These soldiers had to move quickly to get to the borders where trouble had broken out. The military law made it permissible for a soldier to grab a civilian and force the civilian to carry the pack, but only one mile. There were mile markers on every Roman road. If — and this is the part we have left out — the civilian were forced to carry the pack more than one mile, the soldier was in infraction of military code, and military code was always more strictly enforced than civilian. So Jesus is saying, “All right. The next time the soldier forces you to carry his pack, cooperate. Carry it and then when you come to the mile marker, keep going.”
The soldier suddenly finds himself in a position he has never been in before. He has always known before exactly what you would do. You would mutter and you would complain, but you would carry it. As soon as the mile marker came, you would drop it. Suddenly, this person is carrying the pack on. The soldier doesn’t know why, but he also knows that he is in infraction of military law and if his centurion finds out about this, he is in deep trouble. Jesus is teaching these people how to take the initiative away from their oppressors and within the situation of that old order, find a new way of being.
Make sure to read the whole thing, to enjoy a very enlightening study of Jesus’ words.
Our discussion went really well. We discussed 5 basic questions after reading:
Do you think Christ was Non-Violent?
Express some of the negative feelings that this advice about nonviolence stirs up in you.
Can you recall a time when you or someone you know used nonviolent direct action creatively?
What major social struggles have used nonviolence? Did it “work”? Does that matter?
What implications does a Non-Violent Christianity have for your day to day living and faith?
It was fun to discuss some of the stories of creative nonviolent action that we had heard of. It was also good to hear of some of the negative feelings this stirred up. I expressed my feeling already of protecting my child and the anger I might feel of anyone who would want to harm my baby (who isn’t even born yet). Then I acknowledge that if I have that much love for my child, how much more so does the Creator love it’s creation, enemies and violent people included.
I concluded by pointing out that as Christians (since the folks in that group all consider themselves Christians) we are called to be faithful to God, regardless of our personal logic on the given task. That is to say, if Christ was non-violent and we are to be imitators of Christ, then we should be non-violent regardless of whether or not we think non-violence “works.”
Zach sent me this video the other day, which we both found very disturbing.
I understand the police reasoning is maybe, possibly, within the law, but it is laws that should be questioned then. These folks had homes until the police destroyed them. Can you imagine being homeless in a country like this? So much wealth and resources and yet, for one reason or another, you can’t make ends meet. Now your just trying to survive on the streets and the police, supposedly there to protect citizens, are destroying your homes, kicking you out of places you’ve found rest and safety in, and leaving you to wander.
Welcome to the January 20, 2007 edition of the erase racism carnival. I’m extremely excited to have the honor of hosting the Carnival here at Trying to Follow. We have a great line up this month. As the carnival continues to grow and as the audience expands esremember to reflect and acknowledge the fact that we really are taking steps to Erase Racism.
Hakim Abdullah presents An Occidental-Muslim’s Criticism of Empires and Orthodoxies posted at Hakim Abdullah, saying, “This article compares the criticisms of orthodoxies to that of empires and as a result we discover that they are not dissimilar.” And if that description was too confusing for you, check out this brief quote:
That fact is that, the United States of America is by every stretch of the word, an empire. It has within its control a number of territories by which it influences either economically, socio-politically or by way of aesthetics.
Hakim also wrote a blurb about “Hard-Times” & the Human Soul. Kai Chang brings us the “The Unapologetic Mexican” in a series of excerpts entitled: The Colored Lens. It’s a great history lesson as well, so bring your thinking caps.
Karen Lynch reflects on the famous blue eyes/brown eyes experiment in Allowing Others and Practicing Non-judgement (the video of the experiment is below and here):
And the CARNIVAL Continues! Don’t lose interest yet, we’ve got a great series of posts to follow that your really going to enjoy. For your brief intermission here is a carnival joke: Why won’t cannibals eat clowns? Because they taste funny. (Stay tuned for one more at the end!)
Asking for conflict-free certificates is not enough. In April 2006 after a scathing report by Partnership Africa Canada about activities in Brazil, an internal review showed that 49 of 147 Kimberley Process certificates were fraudulent. Besides these fraudulent certificates, real certificates could still be issued if conflict diamonds were smuggled and mixed with legally traded ones before being certified.
Children in conflict zones are being used as soldiers. The images in Blood Diamond with child soldiers are very real. They are drugged and brainwashed to handle the manslaughter they are forced to do.
Jennifer Connelly says in the movie Blood Diamond, “People back home would not buy a diamond if they knew it cost someone their hand.” Now you know.
Be sure to read more of Amy’s telling post at nd just in case you need more convincing at Wisebread. And just in case you needed more convincing and proof.
It’s just marketing. The whole “A Diamond is Forever” and the idea of a diamond engagement ring is not an ancient tradition to be revered and followed. It is Sprite’s “Obey Your Thirst.” It is Nike’s “Just Do It.” It is Gary Dahl’s “Pet Rock.”
Therefore, how often does the southern Black vote truly count (obviously this goes for other minority groups as well and while race doesn’t always equal voting preference it obviously matters some)? It’s institutionalized racism at its best. I kind of digress; the real question is do I think America is open enough to elect a Black man to our highest office? Sadly, I kind of doubt it…
It is now the time for Black Men to become Fathers and role models for their children, the educated to become more selfless and greater mentors for those new to the game and our spiritual leaders (pastors, elders) to show more of an interest in their surrounding community than how much is in the collection plate.
And now, For White Folks: How To Be An Ally (Part 3), Changeseeker continues here popular series at Why Am I Not Surprised (If you missed the beginning here is part 1, 1b, and 2). This post is fairly long, but it has lot’s of practical examples and application. Well worth your time if your one of the White Folk wondering what to do:
Then, you can validate the truth you hear by accepting its legitimacy, no matter now difficult it is to face, no matter how sad it is to look at, no matter how formidable the wall it seems to illumine, no matter how deep the chasm it seems to produce. You can say, “Yes. I hear you. Yes. It must be painful. Yes. It is immoral. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” And finally, you can sit beside the wounded. I saw a quote years ago by a woman back in the sixties, a SNCC-member, I think, who said something about, “What it all comes down to in the end is one person saying ‘I will sit next to you.'” A commitment so simple it can be made by anyone. Without training. Without education. Without planning. Without agenda. “I will sit next to you.” When the tempers blaze and the tears come. “I will sit next to you.” In the rain. In the sun. In the darkness of night. “I will sit next to you.” We can share a sandwich. We can pass the dipper down the row. We can breathe the air of a planet that has waited five hundred years for these words: “I will sit next to you.”
Origins of Prejudice posted by Sage, has an excellent personal story to discuss “why we develop prejudices and how to override this tendency”:
I passed him then, and he continued on his merry way right behind me. After a block, I began to feel wary of his intentions, so I spun around and asked, “Do you have the time?” As he politely answered, I memorized his face, his clothes, his watch, everything about him. I was preparing for the inevitable on this dark, deserted street. He gave me the time, then we continued walking, quickly, with him so close behind me I could feel his breath on my neck.
A disproportionate number of poor black people indeed don’t want to work, but their reasons for feeling that way aren’t unreasonable. Whatever the reasons were that older generations of young black people stopped wanting to work (Greatest Generation social policy, jobs moving away from the city, discrimination by employers, etc.), young black people today don’t think about their predecessors’ motivators & demotivators consciously. They just grow up observing it and imitating it, like all humans do. Dr. McWhorter’s example of this was a child born to Chinese parents in Brooklyn. That kid’s going to grow up speaking English because he/she observed it and that’s what humans do.
Yes, the n-word is “just a word”: a word that has historically led to scenes such as these. If you’re cool with such scenes, by all means continue supporting this word’s use by “edgy” white folks (you say “edgy”, I say “coward hiding in a mob”). You know why black folks “are allowed” to use the n-word (though it remains deeply controversial in the black community)? Here’s a hint: look at the pictures and see if you spot any black folks among the living. Okay I’ll fill you in: they’re the ones being murdered; white folks are the ones doing the murdering. Get it? In the context of the n-word’s countless unpunished crimes, black folks are not the accused. “Just a word”: what a moronic defense. I suppose “war” is “just a word” as well — unless you happen to be among those getting bombed and shot. “I intend to kill you and your family” are just words too, but if someone were to say those words to me, my response would be very unwordy.
Kai really lays it out in this post, spurred on by the disgusting display by Michael Richards, a hint of just the tip of the iceberg of underlying racism in our country.
Finally, Eric Stoller presents Goode isn’t good featuring the OPPRESSIONATOR 3000:
The primary theme surrounding Virgil Goode is that everyone who is on his oppression-list is a person of color. Latino’s, Muslim’s of Color, and “anchor babies” (apparently brown babies are also a threat to Goode “the Oppressionator 3000″.
Goode informed Fox news that he wants to limit legal immigration and put a stop to “diversity visas,” which he said let in people “not from European countries” and “some terrorist states.”
Note: I found several online newspapers that were
covering this story. None of them had anything in their story titles about racism or islamophobia. Goode’s comments were labeled as “criticism.” Newspapers dilute racism by labeling it as something less oppressive. It helps to maintain the dominant paradigm and marginalizes those who are oppressed.
Check out the rest of more of Stoller’s review of the Oppressionator 3000 at Stoller’s Blog.
UPDATE: I can’t believe I almost missed including Vegankid’s Great post about the NRA’s graphic Novel, Whitey Arm Yourself, you absolutely have to check this out:
it is unarguable that fear and race have been involved in a very happy marriage for quite some time. just look at some of the stereotypes to get a good idea of racialized fear: men of color are rapists, young Black and Latino men are gang members, Arabs are terrorists, etc. you can also look at how the media frames things: Affirmative Action is taking jobs from better qualified White workers, Latino immigrants are stealing jobs, Black people trying to get food after Hurricane Katrina were looters, and so forth.
The rest of the post reviews the character’s in the NRA’s Graphic Novel, you’ll find it absolutely shocking.
And as you so patiently waited here is your final Carnival joke: What is the gooey red stuff between an elephant’s toes?
Slow clowns.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of erase racism carnival using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
This Morning I received an email asking for advice:
Hello! You and your wife bought some cloth diapers from me through Craig’s List. I recognized your name when you were hosting at Nashville Is Talking, then found your personal blog. Small world, right?
I’ve been reading for a couple of weeks now. You’ve definitely pricked my suburban conscience. My family’s not image conscious to begin with, and we do all the comfortable “crunchy” practices like driving an old Volvo, wearing only secondhand clothes, breastfeeding, etc. Yet I’m aware that I’m lacking in the person-to-person expression of Christ’s love. I hurry my children past the homeless at the downtown library. My childlike response to help has been squashed by a parental need to protect my children, to teach them wariness with strange men. I know you feel fearless now, but there’s a vulnerability you feel when you are a mom out alone with small children.
So I’m asking you for advice! Can you suggest a safe way for a mom and kids to help the homeless we encounter? Small bags of portable food?
With thanks,
Eager to Help
Dear Eager to Help,
First of all, let me say thanks for the diapers. We are about six months from being ready to use them, but excited as the time approaches. I’ll also say I’m anything but fearless right now. As I think about raising a child in this world, I definitly feel a desire to protect and yet teach my children to engage in this world, “in it, but not of it.” I’m honored that you felt compelled to ask me for advice, so without further ado, here it is. Let’s talk about the fear for a minute. I wrote a little while ago about Guestrooms for Jesus, where I said fear and protecting your family was a lame excuse. I meant it was a lame excuse for inaction, not that protecting your family wasn’t an okay thing to do. In other words, don’t feel guilt about your desire to protect your children, I’m sure that is a God given desire in your heart. We are called to “Love our neighbors,” and I can think of no closer neighbor then family. As you’ve begun to realize though, if this is keeping you from loving other neighbors, particularly those Jesus talks specifically about, the poor, hungry and thirsty, then you probably have room to grow. I know I certainly do. So, what are some practical ideas for you to do to help those in need around you? Let’s start with your first idea.
Gift Bags are a great idea. The Homeless Guy (Nashville’s very own blogger, who you should definitly subscribe to), wrote a wonderful post about what he would suggest you put together for Homeless Gift Bags. I added my two cents about Gift Bags, with an additional note about money (I really break down the money idea here). Stick a bunch of the bags in the car behind the passenger seat and let your kids help and see that the homeless are not to be feared or shunned, but to be joyously acknowledged as part of your community.
The next idea I have is to start educating yourself a little more on the homeless, particularly in Nashville. The Homeless Guy blog is a good place to start. The other group I would Highly recommend is the Nashville Homeless Power Project, probably the coolest group in Nashville right now. If your Wednesday afternoon’s (1pm at the Downtown Presbyterian Church) are free, check out the Living Room, a discussion group among homeless and “homies.” You can also volunteer with them, but at the least Join their Mailing List. Another great group that isn’t working specifically with homeless, but definitly those on the edge is the YW. They are also a great organization and work specifically with women in need. They’d be great for you to volunteer with. Also, I have helped out with a group called Food Not Bombs, who serve potluck meals every Sunday. If you want to come up on a Sunday and hang out and eat a meal with us about 1:30pm at the Veteran’s Memorial, that would also be a good chance to just meet some folks in a safe environment.
Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. I think far too often we create a dichotomy or a tension where it doesn’t need to be. I think you hinted at one that many of us are quite guilt of: parenting/children – interacting with those in need. Our perception is probably more accurately: Safety of Children – Getting near Dangerous Crazies (does that sound a little more honest?). The truth is I don’t think these things need to be in tension. I think first of all we need to recognize that “safety” needs to not be our first concern. God doesn’t call us to safe living. I know lot’s of C.S. Lewis fan’s like to quote this passage from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe referring to Aslan, The Lion:
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
God calls us to be faithful, just like he did to Abraham (almost sacrificed his son and then took his family on a unknown journey to new land), Daniel (remember the lions den?), Paul (went through all sort’s of trouble to share the good news), and even Jesus (they killed the dude). Now, we aren’t talking about dangling your kids off balconies or anything like that, but we are talking about being faithful to God’s call to care for those in need, and to do it with your children in tow. And this is where I think we really get to the important part. Too many kids are being raised in “christian” homes where the Christianity that is being modeled is nothing like what we see in the stories of the Bible, but a safe religious practice, that holds personal protection and well being and satisfaction above all other callings in Scripture (which by the way I don’t really see the former in scripture at all). So, we have whole generations that grow up assuming there is no conflict between their suburban living and the scripture that they read. The Christianity we see modeled today is not the same as that we see lived out in Scripture. I really care about protecting my children. But the protection I’m thinking of is a little different. I’m not too scared of scrapped knees, dirty hands, or the stinky breath of someone we’re talking too. I do want to protect my children from the “patterns of this world” and worldly treasure that moth and rust destroy. I want to protect my children from believing in a Christianity that has sold it’s soul to the materialistic, money-hungry, image driven, and earthly-focused society that we live in.
Protect your children, by all means. Just make sure your protecting them from the right things.
I’m still a little confused how folks like this get to have any position of authority at all. From the Associated Press:
A state legislator said black people “should get over” slavery and questioned whether Jews should apologize “for killing Christ,” drawing denunciations Tuesday from stunned colleagues.
Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, who is white and Christian, made his remarks in opposition to a measure that would apologize on the state’s behalf to the descendants of slaves.
In an interview published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Hargrove, 79, said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added that “our black citizens should get over it.”
We interrupt are regularly schedule thought bubble for an attempt at blogosphere interaction. I was tagged by Vegankid to write a story in six words. Seeing as I’m hosting a blog carnival* on Saturday I figured I better give in to this “tagging” concept and try my hand at a six word story…
Met Homeless, Sold Hummer. Now Happy.
There you have it folks, my Six Word Story!
Now it’s my turn to tag away…
Looks like the next 6 words are going to be coming from Indie, Zach, Richard, Lori, Jamie, and Patrick (token new guy).
*The Blog Carnival on Saturday will basically be one blog post were I highlight a bunch of Blog post from other bloggers concerning the topic of racism. It should be a really interesting post so hopefully you’ll find it useful.
I’ve been meaning to talk about this issue for quite a while. One of the main hesitations I have in discussing the issues of non-violence and pacifism, is people’s immediate disgust with the idea that I don’t “Support Our Troops.” We actually used to have one of those yellow ribbons on the back of our car; along side a bumper sticker that said, “War is Not the Answer.” I’m very much a believer in the support and love of “our troops,” in the same way I’m in support of loving our enemies, children and soldiers. You see, Supporting Our Troops isn’t just a bumper sticker bandwagon, it’s something that requires a bit more of us.
Did you know that Veterans account for nearly 25% of the Homeless population in the United States? Where is the Support of our troops after they come home? I don’t believe in supporting our troops by giving them more bombs, bullets and tanks with which to kill more, but I believe strongly in providing the care and human dignity they should expect as citizens of this supposed great nation we live in.
NPR did a segment recently about current soldiers coming back from Iraq who have been experiencing PTSD and have not received the support and treatment they should in our own cities.
Alex Orum’s medical records showed that he had PTSD, but his officers
expelled him from the Army earlier this year for “patterns of
misconduct,” repeatedly citing him on disciplinary grounds. In Orum’s
case, he was cited for such infractions as showing up late to
formation, coming to work unwashed, mishandling his personal finances
and lying to supervisors — behaviors which psychiatrists say are
consistent with PTSD.
I support our Troops. Many Sunday’s I hang out with them near the Nashville War Memorial. We eat lunch together and talk about life. Some support this war, others don’t. They all, though most are too respectful to admit it, have been terribly mistreated by a country that used their very lives, and then tossed them to the curb. If your gonna drive around with a yellow ribbon on your bumper, please be ready to do more then just send a postcard around Christmas.
The recent issue of Geez Magazine was one I was really looking forward to. Geez is a fresh perspective on faith and each issue has challenged me to consider a different perspective and a new way of thinking. The latest issue: Let’s Get Evangelical, was exciting for me because I was hoping to see an articulate take on Christianity and “Evangelicalism” that would help me put some of my own thoughts into words.
I’ve posted here and there about racism in the past on this blog, venturing the thought that we need to be intentionally anti-racist if we are to keep from supporting the racist structures that exist within our society. Zach and I went to an MLK Rally last Monday and heard a speech from the new TN NAACP President. Her brief speech was about 
Finally, Eric Stoller presents 
UPDATE: I can’t believe I almost missed including Vegankid’s Great post about the NRA’s graphic Novel, 
