Oh, look! Check out what today’s text is from the Lectionary! Matthew 5:38-48 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and [...]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Matthew 5:38-48: Watch Those Preachers Tap Dance!
Posted: February 20, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Chicago, Christianity, hypocrisy, Jesus, militarism, nationalism, nonviolence
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On Anniversary of Marjah Push, Escalation Strategy Still Failing
Posted: February 13, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Afghanistan, Because It's Time, counterinsurgency, escalation, Gates, Marjah, McChrystal, Obama, Petraeus, Rethink Afghanistan
Exactly one year ago, on February 13, 2010, the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan launched the first major military operations enabled by President Obama’s 30,000 troop increase. President Obama and the high priests of counterinsurgency warfare, Generals David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal, made two major assertions about the escalation, that it would [...]
2010: Worst Year for Civilian Deaths of the Afghanistan War
Posted: February 2, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan Rights Monitor, Afghanistan war, civilian casualties, IEDs, ISAF, NATO, Obama, Rethink Afghanistan, war in Afghanistan
Last year was the worst year for civilian deaths in the war so far, and irregular armed groups backed by the U.S. and by the Afghan government are preying on the population while recruiting and abusing children. Go team. I’m almost numb from continually relaying reports like this, but every time I get an email [...]
Rejoice and Be Glad
Posted: January 31, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Beatitudes, Christianity, Jesus, Nicene Creed, Sermon on the Mount
I missed church today after planning to go for the first time in a while. I wish I’d gone. I would have heard these words from the Lectionary for today: Matthew 5:1-12 5When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began [...]
Blood Libel and the Sacrificial Crisis
Posted: January 12, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: blood libel, Christianity, Giffords, Rene Girard, right wing, sacrificial crisis, Sarah Palin, Tuscon shooting, violence
I’m really trying not to flip out every time the right wing says something this week, but Sarah Palin is not making it easy for me. Her latest statement on the Giffords incident is, in a word, vile. Not only does Palin miss the chance to show any contrition for drawing up maps with crosshairs [...]
Brittle
Posted: January 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, guns, Jesse Kelly, Sarah Palin, terrorism, violence
U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) was shot today at a public event outside a grocery store in her home district. Many other people were hurt or killed, including a 9-year-old child. Giffords has been the target of repeated nudge-nudge-wink-wink incitements by the right wing over the past several months, including being put on a “hit [...]
Failure, Not Progress, in Afghanistan
Posted: December 15, 2010 in UncategorizedTags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan war, Brave New Foundation, civilian casualties, counterinsurgency, December Review, Holbrooke, Obama, Petraeus, Rethink Afghanistan, troop deaths, war in Afghanistan
On Thursday, December 16, 2010, the White House will use its December review to try to spin the disastrous Afghanistan War plan by citing “progress” in the military campaign, but the available facts paint a picture of a war that’s not making us safer and that’s not worth the cost. Let’s take a look at [...]
Speaking “American,” Speaking “Christian”
Posted: December 7, 2010 in UncategorizedTags: American, Christian, Jesus, Marcus Borg, Sermon on the Mount
Theologian Marcus Borg’s interview with Sojourners included a great indictment of the designation of the U.S. as a “Christian” nation: What do you say to those who claim the United States is a “Christian” nation? The negative side of the ambiguity of faith is that religions have often endorsed extraordinary cruelty and violence. For example, [...]
Transcript from Any Negotiation Between Obama and a Republican
Posted: December 6, 2010 in UncategorizedREPUBLICAN: I want 100 for my supporters. OBAMA: I want 100 for my supporters REPUBLICAN: How about we split it 70/30 my way or I break your pretty face in? OBAMA: Done. I’m glad we could come to a–SHUT UP YOU DIRTY HIPPIES!!! Sorry about that, Republican. You know how they can be, ha ha. [...]
“Pray for the Troops, Love Your Enemies”
Posted: November 27, 2010 in UncategorizedTags: George Zabelka, Jesus, Mark Twain, militarism, nonviolence, Sermon on the Mount
This was the sign on a church we passed today in Plano, Texas: “Pray for the troops. Love your enemies.” This sign confuses me, as the reader can draw any number of conclusions about what we’re supposed to ask for on behalf of the troops. I assume the attitude behind the sign is the attitude [...]
