Why Wisconsin is the way of the future.

Governor Scott Walker survived a recall vote this past week and is the first governor to do so.  It wasn't really a surprise that Walker was successful, seeing how much money was spent and how much energy and enthusiasm the recall brought.  Frankly I would have been more surprised had Walker lost.

Many Republicans are hailing this as a significant victory and a sign of things to come.  Democrats, on the other hand, are lamenting their perceived poor efforts. Suggestions that this represents a surge in conservatism or conversely a sagging liberal spirit are incorrect.  Walker's victory is a precursor of things to come in this post-Citizens United World. 

Like it or not (and it should be not), this is the way elections will go from this point forward.  The "freedom" of corporations to give vast sums of money will be the defining force in American politics.  From here on out, it won't be about who has the best policies or solutions, it will be about who has the most money to spend.  Democrats are hardly innocent in this matter, for after promising to only use public funds in his presidential run, Obama abandoned that commitment in order to access additional cash. Yet it's hard to blame him, for in this instance taking the high road would almost surely mean leaving the Oval Office for good.

It may not seem like much now, but it's only going to get worse. As politicians continue to craft legislation that cuts taxes for wealthy citizens and corporations alike, the steady flow of money and resources upward will turn into a rushing river. Which means more and more money to finance elections for politicians that do their bidding.  It's a cyclical process really.

Wisconsin really is then is a sign of things to come, and things are going to get a lot worse before they get any better so if you're for freedom and democracy in America, you can hardly be a fan of the way this is headed. After all, America is about freedom and liberty for ALL, not just the rich and powerful.

Blessed are the peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Matthew 5:9

This Sunday, Christian congregations across the country celebrated the lives lost during the wars this country has participated in; it’s too bad they weren’t celebrating those who have dedicated their lives working for peace, so that soldiers do not have to fight and pay the ultimate price of their lives. 

I heard such a poem read at a religious gathering, “It’s the Soldier.” In respect to copyright, I’m not re-printing the words here, but I invite you to read it in whole for yourself here.  The poem declares that it is the soldier who has given us freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial, and the right to vote as opposed to the minister, the reporter, the poet, or the lawyer.

I mean no disrespect to soldiers, absolutely none; especially those who have died and whose families grieve their loss.  War is a horrible, awful thing and why we continue to glorify those who we put through it and honor their sacrifice as some kind of Christological/Soteriological act is beyond me. Perhaps churches should spend Memorial Weekend Sundays mourning the precious loss of millions of lives, both soldiers and civilians, and decrying that our country continues to be willing to send young, vibrant men and women off to their death.

Our nation spends roughly the same on “Defense” (i.e. weapons of death and destruction) as ALL the other nations COMBINED. And if that weren’t enough, Republican Paul Ryan has presented a budget that seeks to increase our death and destruction budget by 20%.  America has also doubled its death and destruction spending since 2000.

I don’t want to see any lives lost, something I’d think my “pro-life” friends could agree on; yet members of the same churches that commemorate the lives of the millions of soldiers killed in war (and the innumerable civilians) oddly enough continue to support politicians and policies that are far too eager to send off young lives to be maimed and killed.  Strange indeed.

What if instead of training women and men to be killing machines we trained them to be peacemakers? To feed the poor, heal the sick, ease the brokenhearted; you know, be like Jesus? What if instead of spending $1 Trillion on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, America instead dedicated some of that money to ending hunger globally? It’s estimated the global hunger could be eliminated for only $13 Billion.

Do I respect and appreciate the soldiers? Absolutely YES, so much so that I don’t want to see a single one put through the horrors of war to suffer and die.

Me and David Barton, "America's Historian" (Who knew!?)

“One of the nation’s most distinguished scholars” – Pastor Jeff Redlin in his opening introduction to David Barton at the “Founding Fathers, Faith, and Limited Government” event Friday the 25^th in Ft. Collins, CO.  Umm, according to whom????

So that’s how it began, in a packed gym, filled to the rafter with people sporting American flag ties and red, white, and blue apparel.   Any suspicions I had as to what the event would be were confirmed when I walked in the door and saw a book for sale with President Obama on a black cover and the book title in red letters with Glenn Beck as a contributor.  It was very unsettling, it had the feel of a cult gathering, with a huge flag hanging from the center, participants raising their hands in worship during The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and prayer interspersed throughout.  I had to wonder, who or what are we really worshipping here?

The main event was of course the presentation of David Barton, known as “America’s historian” (when did America give him that title??).  Barton began rattling off different quotes of early Americans and how many biblical idioms they referenced in such sayings, for example noting that Benjamin Franklin referenced 13 verses in just a few sentences; it reminded me of the “Bible Code” mumbo jumbo.

For being a “noted historian,” he seemed to be fast and loose with a lot of “facts.”  He strictly asserted that the Indiana “Hoosier” came from an African-American Evangelist with the last name of Hoosier; the Indiana Historical Bureau doesn’t agree.  Then he spoke of how Declaration signer Benjamin Rush helped start the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  The church’s website lists no such thing; neither does Fortress Introduction of Black Church History by Anne H. Pinn and Anthony B. Pinn.  He then declared that those at or below the poverty line in the U.S. were more likely to have a car, phone, TV, and AC then middle-class Europeans.  Even a perfunctory understanding of European culture notes how flawed such logic is; public transportation is widely accessible and there is not nearly as much urban sprawl, limiting greatly the need for a car.  Does free health care and post-secondary education not count for anything?  I found it comical when Barton disparaged scholars he didn’t agree with that “credentials don’t mean anything unless they line up with the truth.”  That’s very convenient for Barton to say, since he doesn’t have any credentials himself.

If that had been the whole presentation, I wouldn’t have cared so much; it was when he “applied” the principles of these Founding Fathers to the role of government, specifically limited government that his real agenda came out.  I think many make the mistake of writing off Barton and others like him as non-intellectuals; Barton may be narrow minded or perhaps blinded by his own ideology, but he ain’t stupid.  He made three brilliant points in his speech, and I mean brilliant as in evil mastermind brilliant. 

1.       He referenced an alleged quote from George Washington which basically said that one is not a patriot if they subvert the great pillars of Christianity.  What’s the big deal?  He’s not-so-subtly implying that one is not a “real” American or “true patriot” if one doesn’t hold to the tenets of Christianity (as he interprets them mind you).

2.       He stressed that if someone votes “wrong” on life issues, there are going to be wrong on every other issue; “If they won’t protect your life, they won’t protect your money” he said.  It’s a brilliant strategical move by Barton, for it would be easy to suggest that even if one is pro-life, Roe v. Wade is very unlikely to be overturned and one should not attempt to legislate morality; therefore one should base their political decisions on other issues. Yet by assuring people that basing voting decisions on a politician’s pro-life stance promises correct decisions in other policy issues, Barton ideologically mandates a pro-life vote and correspondingly a Republican vote.

3.       He asserted that a secular government can’t be limited because it doesn’t rely on God for rules and laws.  Translation, if you want a limited government, you have to vote Republican because Democrats are such a godless, secular bunch who must over-regulate by their very definition. 

It’s time to start paying attention to folks like David Barton and others like him.  Whether it be his proof-texing and ignoring of context, his poor biblical exegesis, or even his obvious blind loyalty to conservative ideology, the influence he holds over conservatives in this country is nothing to shake a stick at.  Anyone interested in the future of America, and not wanting to see this country be taken backwards into a revisionist historical view of America needs to be aware of what’s going on and be educated enough to point out the many flaws in such logic and “history.” 

Is America exceptional?

I was listening to a conservative talk radio host on my way home this evening and as usual, he was complaining about President Obama.  He wasn’t discussing recent policy decisions by the President or even offering reasons why Romney was a better choice in the upcoming election, he was criticizing Obama the man. It seems like a popular thing to do, discredit Obama as a person; he’s called a socialist, a liberal, a “metrosexual Abe Lincoln, even “un-American.”  (Personally, I think it’s telling that rather than trying to refute the substance of his policies, conservatives simply try to discredit the source…) Tonight, the radio host was upset with the President because Mr. Obama supposedly did not believe in “American exceptionalism.” So I began to wonder myself, is America exceptional?

Looking back in America’s history, there are frankly many parts that are anything but exceptional.  I think of the horrific treatment and brutalization of the original inhabitants of this land we call America, that horrors of slavery, the that women have only been able to vote for some 90 years, the terrible discriminatory policies towards African-Americans in the south, the 45million people today struggling with hunger… Do I need to continue?

Is America exceptional? Perhaps the better questions would be, “are we on our way to being exceptional?”  Looking back at our history America has done some very good things, but also some very bad.  And far too often, the leaders of our nation have been more than willing to screw over countries for our own gain.  For a country that often is purported to be a “Christian nation,” such selfish, greedy behavior doesn’t seem very godly to me.

If I had the opportunity to ask President Obama in person if American is on its way to being exceptional, I think he would say yes.  I think he would talk about all the good America has done and all the right political decisions that have been made—but I also think he would point out the enormous income inequality, the millions who still struggle with hunger, the vast amount of people who don’t have access to healthcare, and yes, the bigoted policies towards those of a differing sexual orientation.  So would the President say America is exceptional? I think not, but I do think he would point out that he is working with and on behalf of the American people to make sure we continue on that path towards such a vision.

“As seen on TV” voter ID laws.

If you spend a lot of time watching late night TV, you likely see a lot of info-mercials trying to sell anything from juicers to button makers.  To effectively market an unnecessary product to a potential buyer, a seller must effectively create a need for their product in the mind of the potentisl buyer.   Last night I saw one commercial trying to sell a device that would punch holes in belts—because we all know how often our waistline fluctuates! So, for example, I put on a pair up pants but because I’m so darn fat I can no longer tighten my belt—here comes the belt hole puncher to the rescue! No longer must I worry about having to buy bigger belts or get frustrated when I can’t tighten my current belts, I can just punch another hole.  Heck, as a “pleased customer” says on the commercial, “it’s something we all need.” Riiiiiggggghhhttt.

Late night TV commercials trying to sell their random and unnecessary goods and wares got me thinking about the many Voter ID laws being passed in various states around the country, Wisconsin being a notable example.  Wisconsin’s law was recently ruled unconstitutional and Governor Scott Walker thinks that’s a shame.  Funny thing though, when he was asked on Fox News about proof regarding voter fraud, Walker simply dodged the question and suggested that the law will be worthwhile if it prevented even just one case of voter fraud.  Walker and others like him are trying to sell unneeded crap to the American people, their trying to sell you a “punch and snap” or a “pocket chair” (because who doesn’t need a chair they can fit in their pocket?!).  Basically, Walker and other folks endorsing these laws are just inventing problems (like any good marketer trying to sell you their random piece of crap that you don’t really need and will be a waste of your money).

Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas and current Fox News  TV host suggests, like many others, that since we need an ID to cash a check or fly on a plane, requiring an ID to be shown before voting makes perfect sense but here’s  the problem—cashing a check or flying on a plane are not constitutionally protected rights!  It’s disingenuous to on one hand cry the that constitution is being ignored and disrespected by liberals yet then on the other hand compare constitutionally protected rights to checking out a library book. It’s NOT the same thing!

Republicans are quick to say this isn’t a discriminatory practice, but I’m sure those who enacted “poll taxes” in the early years of America and those who constantly created ridiculous obstacles for African-Americans in the south didn’t consider their practices discriminatory either.  Heck, Scott Walker gleefully relayed a story about a teenager who described anyone who was unable to get a state ID as “incompetent.”  Really?  That kid has no freakin’ idea, and Walker is showing his foolishness even restating those words.

Shortly after the interview with Scott Walker, Fox News, the bastion of fair and balanced reporting, brought on “historian” Mark Steyn to critique a recent Obama speech.  Steyn was able to find several “historical inaccuracies” Obama had said yet was somehow unable to add to the voter ID topic any relevant historical information—such as poll taxes or discriminatory practices in the south (and why Fox News can only find a Canadian to be an “expert” on American history should tell you something). 

Who is most likely to be effected by these laws? Minorities and lower-income Americans, people who coincidentally tend to vote Democratic.  So, here’s the skinny, conservatives are weeding out competition while at the same time denigrating the opposition. Yet again, it’s the majority speaking for the minorities—hardly a new occurrence, yet one we should have caught on to by now.  Just because I white person says it’s not discriminatory doesn’t mean it isn’t.  It’s time to get rid of these ridiculous “As seen on TV” voter ID laws.

Ressurection...for the rest of us

Positive thinking gets a lot of play these days—and for good reason—having a positive attitude in life can be very helpful. There is a lot to be said for finding the positives in life, but for all the benefits of positive thinking, in some ways I find it shallow and lacking.  Most, if not all humans will at some time, if not multiple times in their life find themselves blindsided, punched in the gut, and knocked off their feet by a one or many life events.  Sometimes it’s something big like the death of a loved one or a broken relationship. Sometimes it’s just the accumulation of many “small” things— the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.”

All of a sudden we can find ourselves down on the mat, face down in the mud, and down for the count. It’s in these moments when positive thinking just doesn’t cut it; we know we should get back up, brush ourselves off, and get back on the horse—we know groveling in the mud isn’t going to help our situation and that the longer we stay down the harder it is to get up. But we don’t get up, whether it be that we feel we don’t have the energy—physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually—or whether it be we just realize staying down is just easier; easier than expending the energy to get up when we might get knocked down again, easier than cleaning ourselves up when we might get dirtied again, and easier than putting ourselves out there when we might get burned again.  It’s at these times all the positive thinking in the world won’t do us any good—we are in a sense beyond our human ability. For all intents and purposes we are not so much living but dying—for this “life” more resembles that of “death.”

I bet Jesus’ disciples could relate to this feeling. After the exuberant experiences of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—the person they had followed and worshipped and for whom they had given up their lives was now dead.  Though themselves physically alive, emotionally and spiritually they were anything but that;  lurking in the shadows  desperately trying to avoid recognition and holed up in a safe location—they, along with their leader, were dead and their movement no more. 

It was at this moment—when all seemed hopeless and when all seemed lost—that the miraculous occurred; Resurrection. 

Whether it was physical, spiritual, mystical—whatever—something happened, something unexplainable, something beyond mere positive thinking. The leader they thought dead of the movement they thought over came to them and said, “hey, it isn’t over yet, this is just the beginning.” Beyond rising himself, Jesus called the disciples also to rise above the doubt and discouragement, above defeat and self-pity, and above uncertainty and fear.  They did just that.  Numerous stories exist which tell of amazing acts by these men (and women).  Far beyond positive thinking—these folks were living resurrected lives.

Resurrection is ultimately a choice[i]—Jesus calls us, reaches out to us—in our deepest, darkest, and most deathly state and says “arise.” Beyond “what you can attain… lift your weary head… take my hand and we will rise above.”[ii]  This is true resurrection—this is the resurrected life—from our depths of despair, in our weakest moments and in our darkest hour Jesus calls to us and says “arise.” When I see someone who has been “to hell and back,” what I see is far more than any positive thinking. This resurrection is nothing short of miraculous.

“Rise—he’s calling you to come—just leave it all behind—and rise above.”[iii]

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[i] Thanks to friend and classmate Melanie Van Weelden for the new perspectives on resurrection which inspired this blog.

[ii] From the song “Rise” on Michael W. Smith’s album Wonder.

[iii] From the song “Rise” on Michael W. Smith’s album Wonder.

Lessons to be learned from The Hunger Games

I didn’t really understand what all the excitement was around The Hunger Games, but I decided to go with my wife and see it on the opening weekend of the movie, then I saw it again, then I read the trilogy—all within a week.  Needless to say, I caught The Hunger Games fever.

The first time I saw the movie, I walked out of the theater just blown away, amazed at what I had just seen—not because of the acting or the cinematography—no, it was a stirring within me, a feeling of uneasiness at the thought—or better, the realization that I was, along with all the other movie goers, a citizen of the Capital.   Yes, that Capital—as described in The Hunger Games, where the residents live in luxury, sheltered from the realities of the world, never to feel the pangs of hunger within their stomachs. 

The second time I saw the movie, as walked out of the theater, two in front of me were talking about their first impressions of the film; “I was hoping for more blood and gore” one said.   I was appalled—yet hardly surprised; we are a culture that celebrates violence—sort of like the citizens of the Capital.  Commiserating with the classmate I had seen the movie with, there was a common refrain—“we’re screwed,” one can’t help but wonder how long the rest of the world, a la the Districts, will continue to take the oppression we as residents of the Capital dish up.  There is so much to learn from The Hunger Games, yet I’m convinced few will ever give it a second thought; where shall I begin…

Poverty – The Seam vs. the Capital, polar opposites and worlds apart—if only it was just in the movies.  In reality there are millions (and likely billions) of people living in abject poverty, starving to death, while we in the Capital have food and goods in excess.  Worse, just like the Capital did to the Districts, we exploit the rest of the world so that we may maintain our high class of living and ignore the suffering that goes on.

Violence—Violence is part of our culture, it dominates our entertainment (from sports to movies), de-sensitizing us from the horrors it causes.  We are like the Capital, entertained by the murderous slaughter of other’s children.  Whether it be the self-medicating, drunken stupor of Haymitch by which he shielded himself from his violent memories or the constant nightmares of Katniss, The Hunger Games demonstrates that violence is hardly a (video) game—it has real life consequences.  Yet that is exactly what we, as the Capital, have turned it into; The Hunger Games shakes it’s head at violence, as Haymitch can only do when he sees a parent give his son a sword as a toy, and as the movie portrays the initial “bloodbath” as jarring, disorienting, and disturbing—because such violence is that and worse. 

Hope—I’m reminded of the conversation between President Snow and the Gamemaker Crane.  Snow, uncomfortable with the direction the Games were headed in with Katniss and Peeta’s love story, tells Crane that a little hope is a good thing, but a lot of hope can be dangerous.   A little hope—that’s all our society is willing to give, because too much is dangerous, and we know it.  The cultural myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a little hope, exemplifying the one who was able to ascend from the depths of poverty is a little hope—any more hope, like Snow said, would be dangerous.  So rather than address the severe socio-economic inequalities that exist in this nation and offer real hope to the less fortunate—we instead offer them something like The Games itself, one will survive yet most will not. Why? Because we know that allowing real hope is dangerous—to us, and leads to the kind of change that comes at the end of the trilogy. 

The Military—I couldn’t help but notice the vocabulary used in The Hunger Games to describe the tributes, words like courageous, brave, and daring.  In the story, citizens of the Capital praise the tributes before they enter the arena, celebrating the sacrifice they are making for their country—all the while ignoring the fact that these tributes are children who have been turned into trained killers and will likely not come back alive. 

I mean no disrespect whatsoever to those who serve within the Armed Forces. Rather I wish to point out to those who celebrate the valor and bravery of these young men and women yet are far too eager to send them into harm’s way, to remind them that we spend far more resources training these young men and women to be killers than to bring peace, and to acknowledge that we send them away knowing that many will not return.  Just like the citizens of the Capital, our young women and men must sacrifice their lives so we can continue our bloated, excessive lifestyle and maintain the status quo.  Shame on us for being so willing to disrespect young lives.

I could go on, for there are many more themes to explore—yet I hope that if you have seen or read The Hunger Games you will take a closer look at the story. Image if you truly were a resident of District 12, or your child was reaped for The Games—how would you feel about the the Capital, the powers that be, if such a thing happened to you?