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Laughter the best medicine

I don't know how to talk about things lately. It seems like conversations with friends and coworkers either leave me feeling like I'm preaching to the choir or like it's totally hopeless. During the election there was a fun spirit of debate and discussion. Now, it seems everyone has retreated to their corners and you either totally agree, which makes for boring, lackluster discussion, or you're unwilling to engage in open minded discussion. There is a terrible, quasi religious zealotry from those who support Obama that creates a hostile environment for any who disagree. It's anti-American lately to disagree with him. You can still do it, but you have to be willing to live with the consequences and that is the scary part. We all seem more divided than ever right now. I don't feel bi-partisan and I don't get the feeling the other side does either...

I hate to say it, but I sort of miss the campaigning... It's all just depressing now.

I got nothin'

I guess it's obvious that I don't feel like blogging lately. All the news is boring me lately and nothing's really happening as we all wait for Obama to take over. I am curious to see what he'll do, especially in light of his cabinet selections and policy decisions thus far...

Anyway, I'm getting complaints about the picture of Charles, so I'll post something new just to move it down the line. I do think it's ironic that I said I liked him and wrote complimentary things, just before he was arrested for drunk driving while on the prowl for a hooker. Call me naive I guess...

Anyway, my brother Spencer took these pictures on our canoe trip last summer. I thought it was intriguing... It's a cicada coming out of its shell on a pair of shorts hanging from a clothes line. That sounds like a line from a Beck song, but I digress...

It's all in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

Black Liberation: Final Thoughts

I read most of James Cohn's book A Black Theology of Liberation. I say most of his book because the chapter headings changed, but the content started to repeat, so I didn't finish it. After reading about two-thirds, it became clear that the basic tenets of thought had been expressed. It has provided insight into why some in this community feel the way they do.

With out editorial of any kind, here are some of the basic principles:

• Liberation of blacks is God's work. It's not that His work is harmonious with, or consistent with black liberation--it is black liberation.
• God is black. (see above...)
• Overcoming oppression is justified by any means as it is God's work.
• Sin has not led to oppression; however, not doing your part to abolish oppression is sin.
• God is not the God of all--He is the God of the oppressed (blacks). If He is the God of all, He is a God of racism. Black liberationists cannot accept a God who allows the oppression of blacks, therefore He is not the God of all.
• America is a racist country. Its very foundation is racist. The founding fathers were racists--they are not revered or held in high regard. They are viewed as oppressors who founded an oppressive country. As such, the national structure should be challenged and changed.
• Liberation is the essence of divine activity. God's liberating of the oppressed is viewed as revelation. In other words, He makes himself known through his activities--liberating blacks.
• Blacks should never be told to accept their circumstances. They should never feel they should bear their afflictions with patience and long suffering. To the black liberationist, this breeds complacency. The docile black person is not doing his part to liberate the oppressed. There is no thought that challenges and trials are for our growth and perfection. They should be met with vigorous resistance, even violence if need be.

So, what do you think? Any thoughts on recent comments heard during the election in light of this theology? After all, it was preached to the Obamas by Rev. Wright for 20 yrs. What about Obama's comments about the restrictions of the constitution? What about Michelle Obama's comment that she'd never been proud of her country? It's no wonder change was the word of the year. I'm beginning to wonder what kind of change is really on the horizon...

*By the way, the picture is of Charles Barkley. It was taken for a Sports Illustrated cover years ago. Barkley discusses his feelings on race and breaking free from convention. He's a very candid, interesting, and conservative guy. Believe it or not.

Prop 8

Proposition 8 has not captured my attention. I was quite pleased to see that it passed and very grateful for all those who sacrificed their time and resources, but that was pretty much the extent of it.

Fighting against gay marriage is starting to feel like the war on drugs. Most of the people I know and associate with feel they are both wrong (drugs and gay marriage, that is...), but the energy to "fight the good fight" seems to be waning. How many states have confronted the issue now? How many more are on the horizon? How long will it be before the courts find a way to overturn what voters have already decided?

Frankly, those who lose interest in the church because of our position on gay marriage make me wonder how interested they really were anyway. There will always be something.

I read this article written by Jonah Goldberg in the National Review Online. He comments on the lack of outrage in the face of quite conspicuous attacks on the church due to their support of Prop 8. He makes this very insightful comment: "...it’s just that Mormons are the most vulnerable of the culturally conservative religious denominations and therefore the easiest targets for an organized campaign against religious freedom of conscience." What a thought--we're the most vulnerable of the conservative churches. Does anyone think this isn't true? Aside from the really out-there, wacky churches, what other organization would this apply to? It does seem that all other conservative denominations are quite happy to put aside their differences in order to bash the Mormon Church, does it not? Are we not, therefore, culturally vulnerable? It's an interesting commentary. The article is worth the read.

I have a coworker in another office who is gay. He's a totally nice, entertaining, and down-to-earth guy. He tells me that he doesn't care about gay marriage; all he wants is to be able to get information from the hospital when he's informed his partner had a heart attack and has been admitted to the emergency room. He's not family so he isn't privy to his partner's condition--he doesn't even know if he's dead or alive. How much sense does that make? Not much, in my opinion.

I support the sanctity of marriage one hundred percent. When the day comes that my state faces this issue, I will do my part in lifting the banner in support of marriage between a man and a woman. Realistically though, it's beginning to feel like it's all part of the decline of our country and the world in general and that it's bound to happen. It's a good thing there is always the vigor and zeal of the next generation because I'm feeling ambivalent towards many issues lately. We just have to raise our children to carry the right banner, I suppose.

This whole issue just seems like such a trendy boondoggle to me. What a waste of time. Aren't there still starving people in the world? Oppressed and enslaved nations? What about temperatures on the rise? OK, maybe another boondoggle there. The things people obsess over...

Love Note

I have long wanted to post about judgmental, closed minded folks--especially those found on the extreme right of the conservative party... Yes, I'm talking about evangelicals. I realize that I risk being accused of generalizing and stereotyping and am willing to accept that criticism in advance.

This should be a highly forgiving and accepting people. A group willing to accept all for who they are, in spite of what they do wrong (in the opinion of those doing the judging). A group willing and anxious to restrain themselves from judging those who choose to sin differently than do they. Unfortunately, all too often this is not the case. This gives people of faith consistent with conservative values a bad name.

My case in point:

Without going into much detail, I received this personal note in the mail today along with official work correspondence. It relates to an individual I recently spoke with regarding an incident occurring two years ago. This person's mini-van was rear ended at a very low speed. The damage to the rear plastic bumper cover is so minor that you can't see it in the photos. Let me repeat--you can't see the damage in the photos. And yes, it was inspected, and no, there was not hidden damage. The driver claimed a cracked tooth (no other injuries) requiring a cap--8 months after the accident. My job is to ask for help understanding how such an unexpected thing resulted from this impact. I was given no explanation. I then found myself on the receiving end of the most ridiculous, irrational, incomprehensive, illogical, emotional chastisement/rant I've heard in years. Considering this type of thing happens on a fairly regular basis (to varying degrees) I didn't think much of it. A couple of mutual laughs among friends, and moving on to the next one. Then I get this in the mail (redacted for privacy):

It speaks to the presumptuous nature of the folks I'm discussing. Not only is it completely unfounded, it's also highly judgmental and presumptuous. While I feel the values shared by many conservatives are beneficial to our society, the implementation on a personal level leaves much to be desired in many instances.

I know, it's a judgmental thing to say.

P.S. Don't you just love the hearts? What a nice touch!

P.S.S. The same closed-minded, judgmental types are also found on the far left as well--they wear open-toed sandals all year, don't cut their hair or use deodorant, and talk about stuff like global warming all the time. How's that for judgmental?

LET THE SEASON BEGIN!!!

'Tis the Season!

Found at mdewtree.com