fighting the power 20 years ago today with Spike Lee

While reminiscing about previous July 4ths, Kristi and I found huge holes in our memories regarding the holiday. Not being particularly patriotic people and not having a great love of fireworks, we have had so many quiet Independence Days that we have forgotten most. Sure, I remember the Esplanade in Boston or the crappy Tomb Raider flick, even Mexican food with friends and a couple of parties, but that is about it, except for a couple of distinct memories, one from exactly 10 years ago and another from exactly 20.

I mentioned our July 4^th plans for 1999 in my last blog, spending time in Boston both in the city and in Schaumberg with our Arab friends. However, 20 years ago I remember the music I was listening to and the movie I saw on July 4. Why? Because this week they released the 20^th anniversary DVD of a life changing movie moment for me.

On July 4, 1989 I was a 20 year old college Junior living in the Theta Chi fraternity house in Tallahassee, FL. I had plans for later in the day to watch fireworks with my old roommate (shout out to Mike Houghton) and his friends and I had just bought Don Henley’s End of the Innocence (89 was a good music year with Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, The Replacements, Depeche Mode, De la Soul, King’s X and The Pixies releasing great albums). In fact, I would be attending a seminal show in 3 days, on my 21^st birthday.* Henley's (along with Browne's and Niel Young's) album was a late 80s Liberal college student dream work.

But, on this day before heading out to a patriotic event, I journeyed to the local cinema by my lonesome for a matinee showing of the 2^nd most controversial movie of the year** which had just opened in Tallahassee, Do the Right Thing. As became a common occurrence, I found no friends to watch a Spike Lee movie with me and was the only or near only white guy in the theater. Watching that movie is probably the single most patriotic thing I have ever done on July 4.

It blew my mind, re-oriented my world view, cemented my ideas about race and disturbed the peace-nick in me. I had always walked in between 2 worlds… frat guy but tee totaling Jesus freak that danced til 2 AM and got up early for church, Southern Baptist/ Campus Crusader but political Liberal (by the day’s standard) that sucked at packaged evangelism, member of a closeted racist organization (my fraternity) advocating racial equality in the Greek system, a poor kid masquerading as something else. This film shook up both of those worlds.

From the opening bombast of Public Enemy’s Fight The Power to the uncomfortable hilarity of the racist stereotyping scene from every ethnicity to the closing moments of racial tensions setting off a powder keg of riots and the ending quotes by Malcom X and MLK, I sat there in stunned silence, tears in my eyes and stomach churning. I remember being noticeably downbeat at the fireworks presentation that evening.

The DVD has just been released on its 20^th anniversary. Bush I has given way to Obama, but I think the power of the film has not wavered. It is simply one of the best films ever made and the gutsiest I can think of. All of my white friends judged it when it came out, but none saw it. Of course, life imitated art a few years later with the Rodney King verdict in LA, with much defamation of Spike Lee and his film. It was blamed for the riots with no understanding of what the film was trying to say (honestly, it reminds me of Fight Club in the total misunderstanding people have of the movie). See it again or for the first time on its 20^th birthday… and remember to Fight the Power.

*I saw The Replacements, one of the greatest bands to ever grace a stage in America. I was given backstage passes, sharing words and food with a noticeably drunk Paul Westerberg, strangely turning down his offer of a beer opting instead for a signed drumstick, backstage pass and t-shirt (proclaiming “I was ripped off for $18 bucks by The Replacements”).

**#1 most controversial? The Last Temptation of Christ. Proving that talking about race is only trumped by talking about religion for controversy. Looking back, that movie was pretty lame.

things to make you think and get angry

There are some good things I would like to share today, in case you have not seen them. All of these are slightly controversial and have something to bother or piss off everyone, at least a little.

1. Here is an interesting article in Sojourners on Starbucks and why they may not be as stellar as we want them to be (my mantra for too long). Link

2. Why both sides are wrong about America as a Christian or Secular nation. Link

3. Christianity Today on The Gospel and The Gosselins. The gist of this article is how Christians prop up anything that looks "Christian" in the media and quickly tear it down, if it screws up, never looking in the mirror at how an immature Evangelical faith is part of the problem (see Mel Gibson, Miss California, etc.). Link

4. And something to piss off most people. Will Saletan of Slate magazine, America's foremost writer and journalist on abortion (one with conflicted feelings- pro-choice but abhors abortion) asks if it is wrong to murder an Abortionist, declaring the similarities between George Tiller and his probable murderer, both of whom are men that believed in something so strongly that they would do things that no one else would for that cause. Link

I like risky writing, especially in a mainstream publication.

obligatory earth day blog post

If you are a happy idealist, please don't read this.

So, its Earth Day and everyone is wearing green. Businesses are telling us how to buy their products through greenwashing hoping that we will give them the green they actually care about. Networks are touting green initiatives they ignore every other day of the year. Products using too much packaging are telling us how environmental they are and everyone is using this as an excuse to show off their green cred, earth piety or once a year conviction.

It is kinda like Easter and Christmas for nominal Christians, a time to think about something we will forget about until the next time it is all over the media. While I should appreciate Earth Day and the sudden emphasis, it is hard to get myself excited. It is the same reason I don't get excited about Black History Month and MLK Day, relegating something so important to a day, week or month, so we can appease our guilty conscience for the rest of their year. Yes, it is a start. Yes, it is better than nothing. Yes, we have come a long way. But, I am more concerned with what people do and talk about on the Monday after Earth Day than I am on Earth Day.

I am cynical because I think you either care about your impact upon the earth and take it into consideration when making decisions or you do not. You either think about how your decisions and lifestyle effect other people, animals and the environment or you do not. No Earth Day emphasis is going to change the minds of those that do not care. It will only guilt them into silence for a day.. or they will act like it matters to them because they want others to think they are with it (see most corporations and many churches).

I am also a bit cynical because I attended my first Earth Day Celebration 20 years ago, convinced it would change things. I took the whole thing seriously and put my money where my mouth was. I was considered a freak by most of my fraternity brothers and my Christian friends. Luckily, we have come a long way, not because of earth day celebrations, but because of people like Al Gore making movies and churches finally getting on board.

However, what was an emphasis a couple of years ago, probably due to gas prices and scare tactics has become familiar and even uninteresting to many in light of recession, good gas prices and someone that may actually kinda like the earth in the White House.

So, do something for your planet today (of course, if we did what our planet really wanted, we would cease to exist). Or don't. Just don't act like you care unless you really do.

3 random things (torture, Carnival and "Christian Rock")

I have come across 3 things to make you aware of:

1. rant warning- Did you see this? The New York Times reports that 2 of the terrorism suspects were waterboarded 266 times. One of them was waterboarded 83 times, while the other (a bad man I do admit- but punishment is for the courts to decide) was waterboarded an astounding 183 times. I have a hard time believing each of those times were to get info, and none were for other reasons. But, however we feel about these individuals, how can one not believe that waterboarding someone 183 constitutes anything but torture? Seriously, how blind to your own nationalism or belief system does one have to be to think this is acceptable behavior, especially if one believes in the concept of American Exceptionalism (if you believe in this, you must see that what makes American "great" is its "values"- and the values expressed by this, are not particularly exceptional). And if you are a Christian and feel this is justified, you need to reexamine your belief system, because something besides Jesus and Scripture are guiding you.

Un-freakin-believable.

Rant over

2. Did you check out Bono's latest op-ed in the New York Times? While disjointed it is worth reading, covering Carnival, Christianity, lent and Easter for believers and non-believers. There are lots of great little quotes, including:

I come to lowly church halls and lofty cathedrals for what purpose? I search the Scriptures to what end? To check my head? My heart? No, my soul. For me these meditations are like a plumb line dropped by a master builder — to see if the walls are straight or crooked. I check my emotional life with music, my intellectual life with writing, but religion is where I soul-search.

and

So much of the discussion today is about value, not values. Aid well spent can be an example of both, values and value for money. Providing AIDS medication to just under four million people, putting in place modest measures to improve maternal health, eradicating killer pests like malaria and rotoviruses — all these provide a leg up on the climb to self-sufficiency, all these can help us make friends in a world quick to enmity. It’s not alms, it’s investment. It’s not charity, it’s justice.

3. Manchester Orchestra's second album dropped today. It is phenomenal, seriously. Wow. I was writing a review and then saw Paste's. It literally said everything I was going to say, only better. Imagine a bunch of young emo influenced Christians that showed serious potential their first time around, realizing they wanted to make a big rock-n-roll album while channeling everything good about Nirvana and not sounding derivative. This band could be a future Emergent Idol band if they continue on this trajectory. The lyrics are for anyone except those with sensitive Christian ears, easily offended by doubt. The opening line of this album is, “I am the only son of a pastor I know who does the things I do."

Anyway, here is the review by Paste. I really needed this album after so much navel gazing post-rock and folky stuff. I needed something smart and rowdy. It is the perfect combo of the holy grail- intelligence, melody and noise.

Mean Everything to Nothing is only $7.99 on Amazon (Cd or MP3) and iTunes.

remembering the forgotten

As we move towards Martin Luther King Day, January 19 (the day before the inauguration), I am reminded of the lost stories of the struggle for Civil Rights in America. Sadly, before MLK and Emmit Till there were a number of martyrs, victims of unspeakable violence that go unremembered. Before Rosa Parks there were brave African Americans standing for rights those of my race have taken for granted for a millennium whose stories go untold.

Yesterday was the 85th Anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre in North Florida. It is, sadly, one of the dark stains on the racial history of my home state, as well as the nation. Somehow, it has not gotten much press throughout the years, even the film version made little cultural impact.

Over the course of a week or so many blacks were killed or injured by a mob of whites from the region surrounding Cedar Key. In fact, the historically black village of Rosewood was destroyed, never to become more than a marker on the side of the road. It is a story that needs to be remembered, especially by those of us from Florida.

Yet another story I was reminded of yesterday upon hearing it was the anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre was the death of Willie James Howard, which also happened in early January. I first heard of this tragic story a couple of years ago while reading about it in the Tampa paper. Very seldom do I see stories about my home town 3 hours from Tampa in the bend of Florida as the Panhandle begins in the big city paper.

The story I read about a young black man whose only crime was sending a Christmas card to the daughter of an influential white man in Live Oak in 1944. He was kidnapped, along with his dad, tied up and taken to the Suwanee River, which I grew up on. He was killed in front of his father, who was driven back to work to finish his shift. 

As I read the story, I became aware of names that I knew. Those 3 white men involved in death of this young man were prominent in my community. In fact, I was friends with grandchildren or nephews of 2 of the names. According to mom, one of the families is related to us (but everyone is related in my home town). They were on the list of deacons from my home church and their names still carry weight around Live Oak.

I called my mom, who was born there in 1930 and she confirmed the story. She had long heard the rumors and stories, seen the men at church and knew their past. She told me that people used to talk about it quietly, but the gossip had ended decades before. In fact, she had forgotten about the story of the murder of a young man her age until I reminded her of it.

For days I, as a big city guy with Liberal tendencies was aghast at how close such violence was to me and my heritage. I was sure that people I had grown up in the homes of, celebrated holidays with, been taught Sunday School by and respected were involved in such atrocities. However, I realized that I would never know. I would not go home and ask people about their connections, knowing they would not be honest and those my age had never been told the truth. I was (and still am) haunted by this.

As we think about our first black President and the heritage of MLK and the Civil Rights struggle, we should investigate our own towns, whether South Boston, Queens, North Georgia or Virginia. Sadly, I am sure there are people in every place that need to be remembered and celebrated, their stories told and retold at this time of year.

follow the links from the blog title, along with those in the story to find out more about these 2 events.

Memorial Day redux

To those on all sides of this war and war in general I offer this quote from Wendell Berry today;

"I think we must be careful about too easily accepting, or being too easily grateful for, sacrifices made by others, especially if we have made none ourselves. "

As I remember the losses of American soldiers today (and yes, today I focus on those lives apart from the losses of all others, which I see as equally tragic), I am reminded of a blog posting of mine from 3 years ago. I will reprint it below. I am also reminded of some of the Pacifist Mafia (I like this better than Tony Jones' term) and their disrespect for those fighting in a war they (we) disagree with and practicing a faith they (we) disagree with while serving an Empire they (we) disagree with.

There is a fine line which I am seeing people step over lately on the pacifist side. It is an arrogant disrespect for history and a new fundamentalism and orthodoxy that is being used as litmus test by some within the emerging church conversation. As one who lives in paradox I am bored by their arguments and frightened by their new systematic theology that bears more in common with the Ultra-reformed folks than I would like. To fail their litmus test is to be lumped in with the worst aspects of Empire, Consumerism and Modernity.

I will blog more on this later... anyway, here is the reprint:

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

What are we celebrating on Monday?

Memorial Day.

I am sure it is your favorite holiday of the year. The day we head out to National Cemeteries, American Legion Halls and retirement homes to listen to tales of innocence lost and lives cut down in their primes. The day we become grateful we can fight an extended war with no mandatory draft. The day we realize we can spend inordinate amounts of money on that war and still cut taxes.

Ahhhh, it's beginning to look a lot like Memorial Day.

Actually for most of us, it means nothing more than a Monday off from work, the beginning of summer and an excuse to fire up the old grill with friends and cheap beer. Memorial Day means nothing more to most of us (who did not lose a loved one) than a moment of guilt in the morning when we read the front page of the paper (like MLK Day) or watch the news and see the President laying flowers on the tomb of a man who died too soon.

As we prepare for this Memorial Day, please remember those who have died in war. They leave families grieving and expectations unfulfilled. As a believer in the Christian duty to practice the spiritual discipline of nonviolence, I still take time to remember those who have died and those returning to a home that has changed. As the child of a veteran of 3 wars, I have a daily reminder of the men and women who fought and returned. Some of those returning find themselves with no job, no spouse, no parents, no limbs, no support system and no home. It is tragic that these men and women must pay such a price for American security while we pay nothing (besides $.50 more at the pump).*

Link to Sojo's Action Alert to Support Returning War vets. You can find out how the present administration and Pentagon are lagging in their actual support and how we can help.

Link to Mark Shield's excellent Memorial Day commentary on how this is the first time in US history that Americans are not asked to sacrifice during a war, except for the soldiers who must make extra sacrifices during this time. It is a needed read for all War and Military supporters along with those against the war, as well as anyone with plans on Memorial Day.

*it is funny to think about gas rising $.50 cents by memorial day 2005. oh, for the good ole days.

random

• Focus on the family sent out a newsletter to remind its constituents why they need to not be swayed by Obama's rhetorical skills, hope and serious discussions of his own faith. Here is March's newsletter.

• It may be shocking to learn, but apparently some of those "facts" in their newsletter are a bit lacking in truth or context, but that has never stopped any of these groups before. The excellent site, Politifact has done some digging and found these mistruths- here is the 1st, the 2nd , the 3rd (this is about context, which FOTF leaves out) and the 4th. As a "Christian" organization, FOTF should share its disagreement with Obama while still telling the truth and representing the words of any politician in the proper context.
  

• Aaron Graham, who helped us start our church in Boston (and was a student in my youth ministry), is the National Organizer for Sojourner's Justice Revivals. Watch his youtube video explaining the revivals here.

• Jordon Cooper mentioned it first. But, here is a great article on what we can do to help the earth by Michael Pollan quoting Wendell Berry.

• I have an interview with a great organization on Tuesday. Be mindful of that.
  

No I Can't... express the frivolity of this blog

To My Dearest Readers (those still with me),

You may have noticed the frivolity on my blog lately and lost interest due to the lack of depth, whether personal, spiritual or political. While I may consider music, film and sports deep on a number of levels, I understand I am in the minority unless at a sporting event, independent record store or (God forbid) a comic book convention (but, I will never set foot upon the ground of a Renaissance Festival- there is an important distinction between comic fans and those that cross over to the Dark Side of Renaissance Festivals and Sci Fi/ Trek Conventions).

Lately I have not had the blogger energy for such endeavors. For 1 thing, I have been working on an important project I hope to make public in the near future. It is a non-profit that focuses on systemic issues and I am very excited. I have put so much serious energy on that, I have found little such energy to blog about the same issues I am hoping to deal with with this NGO.

Also, I have forced myself away from the political blogs for a few weeks due to the fact that they conjure up strong emotions. My feelings for unnamed candidates and their surrogates are better left in the dark recesses of my mind. My feelings for another candidate must be tempered by my training as a political scientist and theological ethicist (I focused upon ethics rather the theology, Biblical scholarship or philosophy).

I have had a hard time not joining the movement of the masses and find myself fighting against my very nature as he rises in the polls. I am more drawn to him than any other candidate for higher office during my lifetime and think he could change the world for good. Yet, I still think he has too much confidence in the empire building which I oppose and question the cultish rapture he engenders from many of his followers. I am weary of religious language from politicians, even though he uses it better than most. The dangers of America as "City upon a Hill" or "redeemer of the world" do not change because of political affiliation.

I have always been skeptical (like Wendell Berry) of movements and the Cult of Personality (I say this as a U2 fan). I may blog on this issue in more depth in the coming weeks or months, depending upon how the campaigns go and what the political landscape looks like in the near future. That said, my vote stays the same. Yet, I will just continue to stay aways from campaign contributions, signs, bumper stickers and full on endorsements , so as not to "contaminate" myself.*

At a time such as this, I am drawn back to the seminal book Coercion, Why We Listen to What "They" Say by Douglas Rushkoff and its cautions. Also, I have been reading Shane Claiborne's and Chris Haw's Jesus for President, which may have as much to teach the Christian left as it does the Christian right as we find our own Ronald Reagan/ George W. Bush to follow (oh the irony on so many levels).

Anyway, I will try to stay away from rock star/ lent jokes (although I still have many) and move towards the things you come here for (you who are left).

peace,

Rick

*;)

A Sustainable Faith

If you live within a few hundred miles, don't forget to attend the Sustainable Faith Event (snappy title, huh) this weekend in St. Pete. I am the emcee, which is the best thing about the conference I am sure. However, for only $25 you get more than just my wonderfully snide sense of humor on display (plus wardrobe changes, oh yes)...

Shane Claiborne will be leading 2 plenaries, while Tim Keel and Frank Viola will lead others. A panel discussion will have such luminaries as Danielle Shroyer, Chris Haw, Tim, Frank and Troy Bronsink. Breakout sessions will be lead by everyone previously mentioned and other local legends. Oh, and the one-and-only Spencer Burke will be our guest teaching everyone how to publish their books.

There will be great music, great fellowship, a Super bowl Party, lots of promotion of great sustainable ideas for your church, life, shopping and faith, as well as time to spend in St. Pete getting in touch with their vibe and eating their great food.

take a small step (away from plastic)

My favorite 2 Christmas presents were not really Christmas presents, just things I wanted or needed and the holiday coincided with the purchase of something.

First of all, I got a couple of new water bottles (the metal canteen kind that do not leach). Kristi bought them at the local Organic Food store.

Secondly, due to simple attrition and use elsewhere we were down to 3 canvas bags for use at the grocery store (instead of using those forbidden plastic bags). Since they are too expensive at farmer's markets and stores, we were going to buy them online. However, we had not gotten around to it.

Imagine my surprise when our friend Jen had as her facebook status that she was checking out www.smallsteps.in. I headed over to the site and found a great nonprofit that is making and selling bags to use instead of paper or plastic (and providing much needed jobs in India). The bags are free (you pay shipping), but they need donations to survive.

So, make a resolution to give up plastic and paper (which you should have done eons ago). Then take the simple action of going to this site and making a small donation. Then ask for some bags. Then use those bags and spread the word.

Doing the right thing has never been so easy. Plus, the bags come in cool colors, fold into a tiny carrying case with lanyard and come in different designs.

apparently someone besides Michael Moore sees something wrong with Health Care

Just in case you did not believe Michael Moore's Sicko when he decried the Health Insurance Industry and its lack of compassion (also its desire to make money while dropping patients that had paid for coverage), here is a story on a Health Insurer (and I use that term loosely) tying bonuses to the dropping of sick patients.

Yes, and remember the Free Market polices itself well and it is in the best interest of businesses to give the best services to customers, thereby insuring higher returns by acting in the public's best interest. The government should have no role in the business of its people, except for stopping illegals from entering our nation by defending our borders, starting wars on the soil of sovereign nations and encouraging us to buy more. It should stop evil, unless it is perpetrated by business interests with large pockets and good lobbyists. Then evil can continue unabated in perpetuity, because the market will regulate itself and greed is good.

enough of my rant. Read this yellow journalism by Commies with agendas at the LA Times (why can they not tell the stories of all the people the Health Insurance Industry hasn't screwed or ruined the lives of?).

the plight of Christians in the Middle East continues

In a number of areas* I have found some more excellent articles on the plight of Christians in Iraq and Palestine, two areas the Evangelical Church in North America routinely ignores while we support any policy to further Israeli or American interests, often at the expense of Christian brothers and sisters.

I remember one of the hardest Pastoral counseling sessions I have ever had. Like many reading this blog, I have counseled people in difficult situations, whether it was a suicidal teenager, an emotionally abused student trying to make it to 18, parents of a student shot and killed accidentally or member of our church with a terminal illness. However, a Christian teenager from Gaza I became friends with through my ministry in Boston (I worked closely with an Arab Church) was the hardest for me.

As I tried to encourage this young woman that was constantly in fear due to the bombing of her community by the Israeli government, trying to hide among a Muslim population with almost no Christian friends, I felt as useless as I ever have. She sought answers, but I had none. Platitudes, theological statements, Christian answers fell flat. The only hope for her state of mind was escape to the US or another safe haven... something she could not do until she reached 18 (she was 15 at the time).

We wonder why there are so few Christians in the Middle East, the place Christianity began. But, after hearing friend's stories of houses bombed, passports taken, friends and families kidnapped and killed (this is not just Muslim on Christian violence, especially in Palestine-where Muslims and Christians get along relatively well because they are both religious minorities), businesses stolen and constant threats, it is a wonder there are any left.

A few years ago I read Charles Sennott's The Body and the Blood about the Holy Land's Christian communities (he was Boston Globe's bureau chief for that area), an excellent book which comes to the conclusion that the only hope for the area (especially Palestine) is the presence of Christians as mediators and peacemakers. As I see the violence against Christians in the area since the Iraq War began, and the blood which stains the hands of the makers of American foreign policy, I hold out little hope for the future of this faith in the place it began.

While I am not naive enough to think there are easy answers and it is not a complex situation that bears much wisdom to navigate the maze of American political interests, stability in the region, internal politics and religious concerns, Israel's self interest, the words of Jesus and the plight of Christians in the area, I am also not naive enough to think that we must always support Israel or American interests when Christians are hurt by our inaction. We are culpable.

Here are some news links for your own research (there is much more out there on the web)

West Bank fence driving out Christians
Protection Promised for Iraqi Christians
Gaza Christians finding something scarier than Hamas
Christians that fled to Baghdad for safety
Christians flee to Northern Iraq
from earlier in the month, the murder of the owner of a Christian bookstore in Gaza
Violence makes life hard for Iraqi Christians

The Christians of Iraq website

* many of these articles are linked from Baptists Today, a newsmag bringing the plight of Middle East Christians to light.

Bead for Life Party

Last night Kristi hosted a Bead for Life Party at our home. Over 20 women attended and bought around $800 worth of beads. Unlike your conventional Pampered Chef Party (or whatever is popular among women), there is no money to be made by a host or staff member.

Bead for Life is a non profit organization supporting women in Uganda. The proceeds from the beads (which are quite beautiful and made from discarded magazines) are split between the home office, craftswomen and development (including micro-enterprise).

You can buy directly from the online store or host an event or party for neighbors, friends or your church. It is a great way to help others and get to know your neighbors (acting missionally). Plus, they will think you are very cool for doing this and getting nothing in return.

It is very easy (you get the beads in the mail, along with African recipes, music and a DVD to show).

report from D.C.

I am sure you are dying to hear about my trip to Washington, D.C. last weekend. As you sat on pins and needles wondering what in the world I was up to, I ventured to D.C. for the 3rd time in 9 months, each trip surrounding Bread for the World.

I wanted to liveblog, but was unable to. Apparently, American University (where the event was held) has something against P.C. users.

Anyway, a few highlights include...

• spending most waking minutes with Will Samson and Lilly Lewin, 2 EV friends. Lilly does cool prayer rooms and leads prayer and worship experiences, while Will writes books I want to read and lives in community while getting his PhD at UK.
• seeing a former student from my youth group in Virginia (and Intern and fellow laborer in Boston) speak to the entire Gathering event about justice issues (he has led something called Boston Faith and Justice Network and just accepted a position at Sojourners).
• having drinks with Brian McLaren and Will Samson before a gathering of people interested in Emergent Village.
• the Brickskeller in DuPont Circle (2X).
• reconnecting with Chris Haw, who leads an amazing community living experiment in Camden, NJ. Meeting new friends from around the nation (some pastors, some working with Bread, some part of One Campaign, one helping immigrants cross the border in Arizona).
• having dinner with good friend Joel Vestal of ServLife fame at a great Arab owned and operated restaurant (knowing a bit of seemingly any language Joel can bring smiles to most faces). We inadvertently stumbled into the D.C. Pride event's favorite block for food leading an amusing set of text messages between my wife and I.
• helping lead an "emergent" worship service on Sunday morning with Lilly and Will, along with Tim and Saranelle Hartman.
• hanging out with one of my former students on Friday night.
• seeing that very cute Panda Cub at the zoo, along with other cool animals.
• staying blocks away from a Whole Foods, after living in Whole Foods Exile in Tampa.
• meeting Kennedy, a Zambian student for the priesthood living in San Antonio.
• listening to Senator Chuck Hagel explain why he thinks poverty relief is so important.
• understanding why the buzz was so large for Harold Ford, Jr. when he ran for Senate in 2006. Although he lost, his upside is huge (and his opponents ran a very dirty/ slightly racist ad). If he becomes Tennessee's governor, he could be the first black man to win the presidency (he is a better speaker than Obama and more charismatic- and much younger). His speech was somewhere between sermon and stump speech (very Clinton-esque). He also has a bit of a downside, but also has a very interesting, and moderate voting record.
• finding out more details on the Farm Bill and how it needs to change to help local individual farmers (instead of corporations that do not need subsidies) and our international friends.
  
• learning more about how Evangelicals and Mainliners can come together to support the Micah Challenge which works with churches in developing nations to relieve extreme poverty and make people's lives much better.
  

I am not watching Jim Wallis with Hillary, Barack and John

So, you may heard about the CNN forum in which Jim Wallis of Sojourners discusses poverty with the top 3 Democratic candidates tonight.

I am sure many people are excited to hear what presidential candidates think about issues such as poverty and faith (I am sure it will be an honest, unscripted time:). I, too, would love to hear what presidential candidates think about these issues. However, I am not interested in listening to Jim Wallis and the Media have a conversation with the 3 appointed possible nominees for one party 8 months before one vote is cast. It is even called a Presidential Forum on Faith, Poverty and Values (what values? The value of listening to those with the most money and loudest voice?).

I am not interested in Sojourners (whom I have given money to and discussed working with in the past- and respect) or any other faith based organization deciding to be part of the king making process by ignoring those that may have the best answers and focusing on those with the most money, resources, media advisers and power.

This is the same as a Focus on the Family event in which Jim Dobson interviews the Top 3 appointed Republicans on the issues of abortion and homosexuality, ignoring others that may have better answers because they have bought into the Mass Media machine and horse race instead of allowing us to decide for ourselves (it is the hey, I think 1 of these may be president and want access disease).

Even if there is a good chance I will be voting for 1 of those 3 in November 2008, I do not need to be embedded with them. I can listen to them (and everyone else). I can share prophetically with them. I cannot give them my loyalty or fawn over them.

This is very disappointing to me. VERY!*

*now I could have rushed to judgement. In fact, they could have called all 10 democrats and only those with the most money could afford to come to DC for the event. If that is the case, I am sorry.

Darfur on Google Earth

Google is using its Earth mapping software to bring light to the crisis in Darfur. It uses icons to show where atrocities have occurred. It was formally released yesterday as part of a project led by the Holocaust Museum.

Here is an older story.

Here is a posting from an important Sudan blog.

Download Google Earth here.

Who would Jesus Shoot?

I am moralizing today (sorry if you do not like that, but remember I have no job or pulpit presently from which to expound). So, you, dear readers, are subject to such whims of fancy from a particularly bothered DJ Word..

From Cynthia Tucker comes this wonderful quote on America's misguided love affair with firearms:

"This folly will continue, fueled by a perplexing cultural ethos that worships individual gun ownership. A century from now, anthropologists will look back and wonder what in the world this was all about. They'll sift through the ruins of the historical record, in much the same way anthropologists today puzzle over cannibalism and the sacrifice of virgins in long-dead civilizations. they'll wonder how a highly advanced and sophisticated culture allowed unchecked personal gun ownership, despite the carnage."

This article points out the increase in violent crime the past few years, especially gun related violence. The NRA has let us know that we would be foolish to think guns have anything to do with gun violence.

Of course, I am sure the increase since 2005 has nothing to do with daily images of Americans at war, dehumanization of our enemies, the approval of the destruction of those we disagree with and violent rhetoric from pundits and politicians (especially Cowboy Presidents)....

....coupled with entertainment bent on culturally conditioning us to accept any amount of blood and gore with no questions to our own sense of humanity loss. With television and film violence unparallelled in human history, whether it is the torture fantasies of 24 and The Sopranos or the gory spectacles of dismembered teenagers with large breasts and bulging biceps of sickening "entertainment" like Saw I, II and III and the films of talent waster supreme Quentin Tarantino or the bloody genius Mel Gibson, we are on the precipice inches from acceptance of snuff films and public death. Of course, I am sure first person shooter video games have had no affect upon millions of young adults and their love affair with violence.

Sure, I am sure I am just a prudish Nanny stater foolish enough to think these things are connected (well, besides the video games- I know the right wing hates those, as long as they are not War games or Left Behind killfests).

Sadly, just like divorce, dealing with poverty, plastic surgery and materialism Christian beliefs and behavior related to violence are no different from that of our non-Christian neighbors. How can we talk of a Prince of Peace when fighting for a Gun Culture, supporting the destruction of an entire race of people (Arabs) and justifying the embrace of extreme violence in entertainment because we are "'merican Christians?"

What will it take for Christians to embrace the teachings of Jesus and take our history seriously. Will it take violence against our own kind for us to see that violent culture is more damaging to a true "Culture of Life" -our Cowboy President's words- than those issues used by Dobson, The SBC and radio pundits to increase their coffers and attendance; knowing that speaking the truth on these issues would affect their bottom line and challenge their followers in a manner that would get less Amens and more people walking out because their toes are uncomfortable.

* I am sure many of us can try to justify the violence in anything we watch by stating something about the deeper meaning or that it really shows the impact of violence. While I believe this is true in many war films or westerns such as The Proposition and The Unforgiven, we cannot have it both ways with a shows like The Sopranos and 24 which no longer give viewers a lesson in morality concerning the consequences of the actions of the main characters, as they lose their humanity due to their actions (see Crimes and Misdemeanors or Matchpoint, both by Woody Allen, for such moral fables- or V for Vendetta, a violent film with a point).

When Jack Bauer kills innocent persons for the "greater good" he has lapsed into a new territory, like that of Tony Soprano when he strangles an enemy because of the opportunity in Season 1. At this point we can no longer say it is really about workplace politics. It is insulting to say such a thing.

BTW, I am not rooting for Tony Soprano to be murdered this year. I am hoping the creators have the guts to have him pay the consequences for his actions and rot in prison for the rest of his stinking life.

ECHO

My family is heading on vacation in April to the wonderful shell filled Island of Sanibel about 3 hours south of Tampa. While I get a little frustrated by my city and state, I am usually glad to be a Floridian around vacation time, since I can find great deals to wonderful places.

While in Sanibel, I hope to visit this interesting place. it is a Global Village specializing in sustainable agriculture for the poor areas of the world, headed up by a group of Christians hoping to help indigenous poor with their own community development.

I am such a geek and I am sure no one else in the family will want to go with me.

Check out ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization).

beyond quagmire

Rolling Stone gathered a group of experts on the fiasco in the desert to discuss the best case scenario, worst case scenario and what will probably happen. Included on the panel are a former NSA, a counter terrorism czar, reporter, retired general (member JCS), chair of Senate Intelligence Committee, former Middle East ambassador, former counterterrorism lead for CIA, another former CIA chief and a Middle East professor.

Best Case Scenario: Civil War and Stronger Al Qaeda

Worst Case Scenario: World War III

Most likely Scenario: Years of Ethnic Cleansing and War with Iran

final quote from Retired General McPeak:

This is a dark chapter in our history. Whatever else happens, our country's
international standing has been frittered away by people who don't have the
foggiest understanding of how the hell the world works. America has been
conducting an experiment for the past six years, trying to validate the
proposition that it really doesn't make any difference who you elect
president. Now we know the result of that experiment [laughs]. If a guy is stupid, it makes a big difference.

It is only about 3 pages long and quite good. Read the whole thing here.

Hagel on Impeachment

This should be getting more play than it is.

Senator Chuck Hagel, decorated veteran and Republican Senator thinks impeachment is a possibility because Bush refuses to be held accountable on the War. I wish he had a fighting chance in a presidential run.

link to article and profile from Esquire

thank Think Progress for the hit