tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81214621066660569392024-02-18T21:36:23.888-08:00the oddest notions.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-33888348753856000792022-08-05T17:22:00.006-07:002023-09-26T17:25:07.375-07:00Price of Sugar movie discussion guide<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULSiZPgxHFDZfA7RY03VXectYWpWp5F1ZtWydwwF14E6slES9cjudXNh1h0djdpTz0AVysH7hItJI8-udIMJtdbQo__eqMOhT65FgfseuxBloog5oW5NVBrOvLVvmhtfKnyBuzpisPBM2X5oWuj2HoEqrChzTSF021hazIyqQDmhIDYVTBckvH79jxw/s500/price%20of%20sugar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULSiZPgxHFDZfA7RY03VXectYWpWp5F1ZtWydwwF14E6slES9cjudXNh1h0djdpTz0AVysH7hItJI8-udIMJtdbQo__eqMOhT65FgfseuxBloog5oW5NVBrOvLVvmhtfKnyBuzpisPBM2X5oWuj2HoEqrChzTSF021hazIyqQDmhIDYVTBckvH79jxw/s320/price%20of%20sugar.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">printable discussion guide <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XtrCgs7jB0z6itNtmNsgmOviBAV9yqOpdXIjZhRc0dg/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Location</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Los Llanos, Dominican Republic, and the nearby plantations. (Capital city is Santa Domingo.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The DR shares an island with the country of Haiti.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hartley served as priest 1997-2006; documentary was filmed 2004-2006.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2YXZuWKPwdNjx7o9U5wRp--0MwbOLg-ATCQiz39ztrADWSWyDE1OqjXeQV_kzLP9Bai7GjMlMd7DDMKf5y-C19zyAoU05nvH0YjJkFpsnFT2R-c4_Yi1YmsoDd8vnYUWSnECPRsiGBv5JmLYlFHlJBYXLuvFLc3MlGhrIaNBQ4EQ9CTgHNJlHzSgvw/s347/domican.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="347" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2YXZuWKPwdNjx7o9U5wRp--0MwbOLg-ATCQiz39ztrADWSWyDE1OqjXeQV_kzLP9Bai7GjMlMd7DDMKf5y-C19zyAoU05nvH0YjJkFpsnFT2R-c4_Yi1YmsoDd8vnYUWSnECPRsiGBv5JmLYlFHlJBYXLuvFLc3MlGhrIaNBQ4EQ9CTgHNJlHzSgvw/s320/domican.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Word Bank</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Bateyes</b>: sugar plantation</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Buscones</b>: slave merchant, recruiter, human trafficking, lured, steal documents or ID, 20,000 new crossings a year</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Parish</b>: a Catholic division of land and responsibility. Priests are assigned to a parish, parishioners attend services at their location parish church. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Mass</b>: Catholic worship service</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Characters</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Father Christopher Hartley</b> : Catholic priest. wealthy, powerful Spanish/British family 20 years working for Mother Theresa, learned to love the poor, solidarity. (Unfortunately, by the time the documentary was produced, Hartley’s bishop asked him to leave. He has continued to advocate for the bateyes)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Vicini Family:</b> own sugar plantations, banks. Large political control</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Father Pedro Ruquoy:</b> Belgium priest helped 30 years, assaulted </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Mr. Merité:</b> head guard </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>History of Slavery and Sugar</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1492: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Christopher Columbus claims Haiti for Spain.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1600s: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Haiti is the center of the slave trade: importing 40,000 slaves per year. Produces most </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of the world’s coffee and sugar. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1665: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Haiti ceded to France</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1793:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Slavery (legally) ends in Haiti after 13 year revolution.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1804: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Haiti declares independence (but spends 100 years paying off reparations to France.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1844: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Dominican Republic declares itself independent from Haiti.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1916-24:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>US occupation of the DR. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1930s:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Haitians worked cutting cane in the DR as a temporary, seasonal job.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1990s:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>international attention of poor working conditions leads DR government to begin </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>expelling Haitian workers.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Current Sugar Production</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world, marked by violence and government corruption.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Haiti has a 40% unemployment rate. Buscones tell Haitians they can move to the DR, get good jobs, and send money home to their families. (These are lies.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In 2006, there were approximately 1 million Haitians in the DR, with possibly hundreds of thousands living on bateyes. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The United States buys most of the sugar cane, due to a trade agreement with the DR.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Plantation Conditions</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Can’t afford shoes or education</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$0.90 a day, paid in voucher for company store</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Not enough food, worker and children chew cane for calories</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Unsanitary, water, parasites</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Armed guards, can’t leave plantations</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Overcrowding </li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Child labor</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Company has absolute authority (not state or police)</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rampant AIDS and <span id="docs-internal-guid-bae7a75e-7fff-b15d-fb30-8e16e686c1db"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tuberculosis</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">High maternal mortality</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Treatable, preventable diseases</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No care provided for work accidents</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Activism</b></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Inclusiveness</b>: Went somewhere he shouldn’t go - first visit to bateyes, part of the parish</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Documentation</b>: photography, recording bad conditions</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Service</b>: Brought American doctors (taboo)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Investigated: </b>trafficking, recruitment tactics in Haiti</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Speaking</b>: Gave public speech at presidential ceremony (January 2000), preaches at church.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Fundraising</b>: money from Spain to make a compound and serve meals on Batey Paloma, later the DR government gave money to build new homes.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Strike</b>: getting worker to all agree not to work until demands are met. </p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">education, religious background (2nd Vatican Council says workers have right to strike)</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">23 batteys strike: demands met, wages told in advance and small raise</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Retaliation: field burned, workers blamed </li>
</ul>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Changes</b>: stop beatings, stop carrying guns, built more houses, Workers are allowed to leave batey, but risk arrest (no papers), locals don’t like them. Borders closed to human trafficking</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Discussion Questions</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Father Christopher said that the owner of a plantation “would be my best friend if all I did was celebrate mass.” Why did he bother doing more? How did his faith lead him to do more?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many Dominicans are supportive and worked for justice. However, the loudest voices were Dominicans who treated their neighbors, the Haitians, poorly. What beliefs or teachings led them to this? In what ways do Americans act similarly to refugees and undocumented immigrants?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How did colonization harm Haiti and the Dominican Republic? Why has there not been healing even after 200 years of independence? </li></ul></div><br /><p></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-60881870716663396112022-05-07T13:01:00.007-07:002022-05-07T16:20:29.827-07:00Cesar Chavez Movie Guide<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwX8K5wiRkHkXTPyhpxsQlNAMKMfmYHqwHyKcIMZFsQX1wMkj2leHGCNc2qVPAWgumwPoYrh9aArSHrxgeBpIpWZVGs3vMa3-WzlXTwzd2uHdA5eYdWN3ISW4VdgWeALik87z82g_cchV81GTxirhKLTaGtkewG9JDGN3rYwFAoAWnDD5bXp-gbumow/s400/chavez.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwX8K5wiRkHkXTPyhpxsQlNAMKMfmYHqwHyKcIMZFsQX1wMkj2leHGCNc2qVPAWgumwPoYrh9aArSHrxgeBpIpWZVGs3vMa3-WzlXTwzd2uHdA5eYdWN3ISW4VdgWeALik87z82g_cchV81GTxirhKLTaGtkewG9JDGN3rYwFAoAWnDD5bXp-gbumow/w270-h400/chavez.jpg" width="270" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Printable version <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/17FrKxyUAoN0fP5fgxiBVQgxMrYje6V53rdgAXgV0nHg/edit?usp=sharing">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Locations </h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Los Angeles, CA</b>: Community Service Organization (CSO) offices</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Delano, CA</b>: 40 Acres Union office</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Sacramento</b>: capital of California</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ9MT0O_omjr1HQFDnPghJ94c8MXShwgza8Ukb8xqb4uXq1zquagd5LuIKqdtbmqbrtUOCz0zdQAQOkwNCc_eBR5XLXqH8iVKCec1bD9gbW-eRbn4uXoUddUEx_Dt9DUp3KEhIRs1UXBxl5VMYdR45ZX3PcgHf8lMo9GDypaNxSsKyqNE-ef9m-qCxA/s828/california%20map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ9MT0O_omjr1HQFDnPghJ94c8MXShwgza8Ukb8xqb4uXq1zquagd5LuIKqdtbmqbrtUOCz0zdQAQOkwNCc_eBR5XLXqH8iVKCec1bD9gbW-eRbn4uXoUddUEx_Dt9DUp3KEhIRs1UXBxl5VMYdR45ZX3PcgHf8lMo9GDypaNxSsKyqNE-ef9m-qCxA/s320/california%20map.png" width="306" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Characters</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Cesar Chavez:</b> civil rights leader and labor organizer. His Catholic faith inspired much of his non-violent work. Founded United Farm Workers (UFW) with his wife, Helen. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Delores Huerta:</b> labor organizer, lead negotiator in the workers' contract after the strike</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Larry Itliong</b>: Filipino organizer of AWOC, later combined with UFW.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Fred Ross</b>: had worked for Saul Alinsky, Chicago community organizer, founded CSO in LA in 1948</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Jerry Cohen</b>: UFW lawyer, protested Vietnam</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Robert Kennedy</b>: New York Senator, Attorney General to President John F Kennedy. Supported the Civil Rights Movement. Assassinated in 1968.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Mr. Bogdanovich</b>: Fictional farm owner. Immigrant who built his own business</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Governor Ronald Reagan:</b> of California. Didn’t support strikes or workers, later a US President</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>President Richard Nixon</b>: makes deals to support farm owners to break boycott</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Dates</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1834<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Mill Girls” textile workers protest wage cuts</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1867<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chinese immigrant railroad workers strike, owners starve them out</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1877<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Irish immigrant coal miners protest, 19 hanged </i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1911<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 150 workers</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1935 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>National Labor Relations Act: gives workers the right to unionize. (Doesn’t include <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span>farm workers.)</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1938: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span>Fair Labor Standards Act: Child Labor Laws</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1950s <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span>Chavez does training with CSO, registers laborers to vote</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1962 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chavez moves family from LA to Delano, starts United Farm Workers</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1965 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Filipino work camp strike, the two movements join together</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1966<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pilgrimage 340 miles to state capital, Sacramento</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1968<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chavez fasts 25 day for nonviolence</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1970 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>growers sign agreements to end boycott and five year strike</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>1975<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Agriculture Labor Relations Act gives farm workers right to organize</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Farm Labor Injustices</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">no minimum wage, no bathrooms, paying for water. child labor, goal: keep people uneducated</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">hard labor hurts the body, no health insurance or disability pay. life expectancy: 49 years, no safety protections. Many big farms are dependent on undocumented labor: owners don’t have to provide the same human rights as to US Citizens. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Spanish</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Si se puede! </b>Yes, we can!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Huelga</b>: strike </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>La Causa:</b> the Cause </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhjKRr7hP6h08P2uB6MDI3bM1FKFWbChW8iGjLi6-W638FZWhC7cXxB-HboreC9qp2qo7r7vKza5U5trbF1B_6QEtAzRwlVkKtWUIxPzB3_RIVHhfquRpPoH-0bE-MoI3MFRfnlPHB76CjygX8Nbl38OHjaA7hecTxND4gIfcAd6govUDGLPRo-ecZQ/s494/ufwflag.gif" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="494" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhjKRr7hP6h08P2uB6MDI3bM1FKFWbChW8iGjLi6-W638FZWhC7cXxB-HboreC9qp2qo7r7vKza5U5trbF1B_6QEtAzRwlVkKtWUIxPzB3_RIVHhfquRpPoH-0bE-MoI3MFRfnlPHB76CjygX8Nbl38OHjaA7hecTxND4gIfcAd6govUDGLPRo-ecZQ/w200-h122/ufwflag.gif" width="200" /></a></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Non-Violence Strategies</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Unions</b>: bringing people together empowers them. fights for safety, reasonable hours and wages</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Credit Union:</b> Many poor people don’t have bank accounts, opportunity for small loans. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Union Newspaper</b>: educating people, helping them know their rights, sending info about events and strikes. Cartoons help people who can’t read see new ideas.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Strike</b>: Workers refuse to work. Historically, the police have helped owners by arresting workers</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Boycott</b>: getting the large community to refuse to buy a product.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Fasting</b>: like Jesus and Gandhi, Chavez fasted from food. He did it mostly to inspire his own followers to commit to non-violence. Got national attention. He broke his fast with communion (Catholic/Christian ritual of bread and wine to remember Jesus’ body and blood)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Pilgrimage</b>: Chavez utilized his religious tradition to make their march a pilgrimage. Historically, Catholics would walk hundreds of miles to visit a holy site and seek God. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">US Justice System</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Police overlooked owners or locals harming strikers, favored the rich and powerful. Intimidation, violence, arresting without a crime. Judges and lawyers make rules against workers’ rights. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Slurs</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>beaner</b>: anti-Mexican slur insulting a main type of food.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>greaser</b>: 1950s insult, maybe referred to the job of greasing axels. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>wetback</b>: slur for immigrants who recently swam across the Rio Grande</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>spic</b>: uncertain origins, overlaps with anti-Italian insults.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>brown n*****:</b> compares Latinx to another despised people group</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>illegals</b>: undocumented immigrants, dehumanizes people to focus on a minor crime</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Discussion Questions</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A rich farm owner says, “The farm workers chose this life. If it wasn’t good enough, they could go get a different job.” What hurdles did the farm workers face that made this untrue? Can minimum wage workers today easily get better jobs?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Farm and other US industries still run on undocumented labor today to maximize profits. Many people blame the immigrants for crossing the border and for working for low wages. How can we solve these problems?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cesar Chavez incorporated his faith in his activism. How can your work be inspired by faith?</li></ol></div><p></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-59740173211699377462022-05-02T07:10:00.003-07:002022-05-07T16:22:38.725-07:00Selma Movie Guide<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsknjsKGK_EALNV4peVnXhdiyPwXAKaa9KTIpwFvxRIXApCRqawDu1AdVf-NquyZCH89TXKtAk38Oj19R9QKpiAtc2mopjQbIM0EGZwZn-krwPqE4WjfDluMVRUk97RgRASrM5eM6rIE8FRPzhLxMVwhjZ42YzfbhkAPYSF1j5yqHFIsHHtidC9gIbg/s400/king.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsknjsKGK_EALNV4peVnXhdiyPwXAKaa9KTIpwFvxRIXApCRqawDu1AdVf-NquyZCH89TXKtAk38Oj19R9QKpiAtc2mopjQbIM0EGZwZn-krwPqE4WjfDluMVRUk97RgRASrM5eM6rIE8FRPzhLxMVwhjZ42YzfbhkAPYSF1j5yqHFIsHHtidC9gIbg/s320/king.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">printable version <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DhZSIBhhnFGtxlNXZLYLqeB-e0u6jJNuHCNiY3yE-Hw/edit?usp=sharing">here</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Location</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Selma, Alabama</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> march to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Montgomery</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (state capital): five days, 50 miles.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Washington, DC</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: US Capital where the House and Senate vote on new laws, President rejects or approves.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 235px; overflow: hidden; width: 235px;"><img height="235" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mRxSFqjN9lnaN1TEN-tkIC4ms6HmiZGBBndU3SCblQGPlG3gxyr88d7ny_KEhbKWevXgGIsyqBpNw1A7rqTKivYjlUexKweGmX6BfUBmsH5Rq_OrNbdmq3ZzgubENbJOLOMUP3gyqFQ7tBvBGg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="235" /></span><b id="docs-internal-guid-7e48c899-7fff-286d-0660-c3e81bbc630d" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Baptist pastor and civil rights activist. Powerful speaker and strategic leader of the civil rights movement. His team of clergy and others made up the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). They selected issues and planned marches, protests, boycotts.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coretta Scott King: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin’s wife. This movie downplays her activism and role in the Civil Rights movement. Raised their four children who are all activists today. Coretta is used in this movie to show King’s imperfections, and the problems of having a single hero leader.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Lewis:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> student activist with The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). later served in the House 33 years. Passed away in 2020.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Lyndon B Johnson:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is pressured by King’s fame and growing popularity to pass civil rights laws.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malcolm X:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> radical activist, considered to be the scary alternative to King’s peaceful protest. But, they agreed more than they disagreed. Muslim minister, assassinated in 1965.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J Edgar Hoover:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ran the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Spies on King, tries to discredit him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheriff Jim Clark: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of Selma, bully. an elected county official. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Governor George Wallace:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Alabama, complains that black people always want more. Makes excuses and won’t take responsibility. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Clergy: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian pastors and Jewish rabbis, Catholic nuns and more join in support. But other white clergy ignored the issue, or even preached in churches and wrote to King telling him he needed to calm down. (King responded with “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dates</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1619 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slavery begins in the American Colonies</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1861</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">American Civil War fought over slavery </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1863 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slavery ends with the Emancipation </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proclamation, and 13th Amendment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reconstruction in the South leads to Jim Crow</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1870</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15th Amendment gives voting rights all men</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1954</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brown vs Board of Education: begins the end of segregation in schools</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1956</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Montgomery Bus Boycotts (Rosa Parks)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1961</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom Riders</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1963</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birmingham Campaign for integration</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16th Street Baptist Church bombing kills 4 little girls in Birmingham AL</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1964</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Civil Rights Act begins the end of segregation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King awarded Nobel Peace Prize</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1965</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 7: Bloody Sunday</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 21: Selma March completed</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 6: Voting Rights Act</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1968</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King assassinated</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voting Rights Act gutted</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Racial Slurs</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Negro</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is not a slur at the time. (Black or African American become preferred terms later.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">N*****, Nigra</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: the root of these words is simply “black,” but the meaning evolved and is used to remind people, “We are different. I used to own you.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pickaninny</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: refers to little slave children picking cotton</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mongrel</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: a description of dogs with mixed parentage, used to describe people of mixed race, dehumanizing. Wallace says blacks voting will cause “mongrel politics.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Confederate Flag</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: a minor symbol from the American Civil War, brought into popularity during Jim Crow. A flag shows what side you’re on.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncle Tom</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: a black person who supports oppression </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spook:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> slur for a black person, implying that they are scary and able to hide in the dark.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Trash, Cracker:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> insult to poor white people. A lot of American racism keeps poor white people fighting with poor black people instead of together standing up to the rich and powerful. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim Crow Laws</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Segregation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: keeping black and white people separate in public. schools, bathrooms, drinking fountains, restaurants, buses, building entrances.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voting</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, doxxing, voting vouchers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Legal injustices</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: lynching, police brutality, execution, unfair prison sentences, slavery continues in prison. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nonviolent Resistance and Civil Disobedience</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> suggests peaceful resistance in Matthew 5:38-42. He was later executed by the state. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Henry David Thoreau</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> wrote “Civil Disobedience” in 1849. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gandhi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was an early practitioner of nonviolent resistance as he spoke out against England’s colonial occupation of India in the 1940s. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nelson Mandela</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> modeled the same practices against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s.. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-acf193a7-7fff-ddfd-b630-6c7557336a61" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategies</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: collective action, marches, protests, boycotts, sit-ins, civil action, hunger strikes, refusal to obey unjust laws, labor strikes, placing one's body in the way of being harmed, imprisoned, or killed. </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discussion</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many indirect strategies stopped black people from their legal right to vote. What strategies are used today to limit voting rights? How can we ensure the right to vote? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King was a widely hated figure at the time. He was called violent and provocative. He broke the law and was jailed 29 times. Many Christians told him to obey the law. What do you think?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7985d937-7fff-9ef3-7b24-87b1c69a8427"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The civil rights leaders used peaceful resistance as a strategy. Why was it successful? In what ways was it not successful? Why are people still critical of peaceful protests today?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-75610406061705317782022-04-26T06:46:00.012-07:002022-05-02T06:58:48.558-07:00Fiddler on the Roof: Notes and Discussion Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8V8rLW7CTW-36mR6j5Sp5D-kPo1nZbJdWHNzLMne2XCCHu11JfMXPZnkautb81Alna8JsFcF5mzyObkpLL6CNIRUQnUxHYnSMvkBq2Ck51ZariTnGt83KU0tIA9XnWyeVDdV2jokHSfuJsMVE11H5iFWdRhiBz_j3zqT9xCQCsWCgZ_5B3ogV5gvJw/s400/fiddler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8V8rLW7CTW-36mR6j5Sp5D-kPo1nZbJdWHNzLMne2XCCHu11JfMXPZnkautb81Alna8JsFcF5mzyObkpLL6CNIRUQnUxHYnSMvkBq2Ck51ZariTnGt83KU0tIA9XnWyeVDdV2jokHSfuJsMVE11H5iFWdRhiBz_j3zqT9xCQCsWCgZ_5B3ogV5gvJw/w266-h400/fiddler.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">printable version <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12qoZWwwLN6cMSAPd7f0nDx1fyV1x5siCQCLVRFJON7U/edit?usp=sharing">here</a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Location</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Anatevka, Russia, in 1905: a small Jewish fictional village, located somewhere in the Pale of Settlement. (Jews weren’t allowed past those borders.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Russia is ruled by Czar Nicholas II (Romanov dynasty) </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwPXiaYrmAJgveTcp3g3OqWUogXmyCPGfD9TzYUfN9wt7ZSmhUOjSbV7dgznxIgX3z8GkCOsXhDoYZp__IjfgYoli0W-NRtKUjZlPoKAep_a06g_QeqlBbbnaEMedUVedGxrUf3LF_cvQz7v1Hoj2HxMdGlS2yC92yIR2RDtqPgbJ0lQkmCME2IDSyw/s731/Fiddler%20map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="731" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwPXiaYrmAJgveTcp3g3OqWUogXmyCPGfD9TzYUfN9wt7ZSmhUOjSbV7dgznxIgX3z8GkCOsXhDoYZp__IjfgYoli0W-NRtKUjZlPoKAep_a06g_QeqlBbbnaEMedUVedGxrUf3LF_cvQz7v1Hoj2HxMdGlS2yC92yIR2RDtqPgbJ0lQkmCME2IDSyw/s320/Fiddler%20map.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<h3>Characters<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></h3><h3><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">All the characters in this story are fictional but based on stories of the time. </span></i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tevye:</b> father, patriarch, milkman. He has a chatty and open relationship with God. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Golde:</b> his wife. Golde wants her daughters not to live in poverty. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tzeitel</b>: oldest daughter, has arranged marriage to rich butcher Lazar, but chooses the poor tailor Motel instead</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hodel</b>: second daughter, marries revolutionary radical Perchik</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chava</b>: third daughter, marries Fyedka, a Christian man, so she is considered dead to family</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Constable</b>: Gentile law enforcement of town. He is friendly to Tevye but still looks down on Jews. He follows orders to terrorize and eventually evict the entire Jewish population of their small town. </span></p></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Judaism</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Over 4,000 year old religion, culture, and people group.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Rabbi</b>: faith leader of a community</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Synagogue</b>: meeting house for religious practice</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Sabbath</b>: Holy Day of rest. Begins Friday night at sundown and lasts until Saturday night at sundown.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Torah</b>: Holy Book</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In this story, there are many traditional gender roles, and community roles like arranged marriage and matchmakers. Touching the opposite gender was inappropriate, and touching gentiles (non-Jews) made you unclean. Some traditional communities still follow these practices.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Anti-semitism</b>: hostility and prejudice against Jews. Russia (and other countries) at this time (and many other times) made anti-Jewish propaganda, and they enacted evictions and pogroms (organized killing of a minority). The pogroms in Russia and around the world culminated in the Holocaust (1941-1945) where 6 million Jews were murdered. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Eastern Orthodox Christianity</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">11th Century: Schism with Roman Catholics (doesn’t follow the Catholic Pope.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Common faith in Eastern Europe and Russia. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Although they live in the same town as the Jewish characters, the movie shows different music and dance styles as an example of different cultures living side by side. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Marxism</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1848: Karl Marx writes “The Communist Manifesto” about class conflict between workers and business owners. The relationship is inherently exploitative, because the goal of capitalism is to make a profit. Marxism aims for fairness when the workers own the means of production and get rid of class differences. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The character Perchik went to university in Kiev, where he probably learned these new ideas. He teaches his young students the Rachel and Leah story, and says the moral is “never trust an employer.” Perchik returns to Kiev to protest. He gets arrested Bloody Sunday Massacre, in which the Czar’s troops killed hundreds of unarmed protestors. He is sent to Siberia (central/east Russia, very cold and rural). </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Czar Nicholas made temporary parliament in response to allow changes. He abdicated in 1917 after the February Revolution. In <br />the same year, after the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks took power. They executed the Czar and his family in 1918. They formed the Soviet Union which lasted from 1922 - 1991. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Discussion</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you practice special family or cultural traditions? What are they?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How do you decide which traditions are worth keeping and which should go?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is the Constable a friend to Tevye? What should people in power do to help the oppressed?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Anti-semitism is at the root of most conspiracy theories. How should Christians fight against this? </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-70d42b3d-7fff-ecee-a49c-dceb6caf73fa"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tevye wishes he could be a rich man; Golde wants her daughters out of poverty. Marxist Perchik thinks the rich are oppressors. How do these ideas conflict, and how could they agree?</span></span></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-1136751445707617142022-04-15T14:57:00.006-07:002022-04-29T07:49:52.562-07:00Moloka'i: The Story of Father Damien, movie discussion guide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XGiUaMnngxGeMrKyVug8H0a-jqhYaizyKP45sftqR5Y8Fir7s7YYV73cHB5p-q25Nuq6KRX_wg_TrZKWya7xssPQCcw_LiNi64_eS4H-JTY8XSUI6v6ofUCdJKMsdybIeo-24-G7LWPpsr4CNGveLq9HSVtCQwlnqzd93N1yZ8j4eLKY_F3FBGhCvg/s400/damien.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XGiUaMnngxGeMrKyVug8H0a-jqhYaizyKP45sftqR5Y8Fir7s7YYV73cHB5p-q25Nuq6KRX_wg_TrZKWya7xssPQCcw_LiNi64_eS4H-JTY8XSUI6v6ofUCdJKMsdybIeo-24-G7LWPpsr4CNGveLq9HSVtCQwlnqzd93N1yZ8j4eLKY_F3FBGhCvg/w400-h225/damien.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NyvUnN8aDcnQDBxy__VRI9nL6_WNmC2wRYheMnlYYJc/edit?usp=sharing">printable version </a>of this guide</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Locations</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Kalaupapa</b>: small inaccessible part of island, a peninsula with high <i>pali </i>(cliffs).</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Honolulu</b>: the modern capital city of the sovereign Kingdom of Hawaii. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kebARLOz_GiIvFW7bs4ltCQg4Z4LPS0B04rqcvb26ggBG2LZChTp2TnAtmruui9Mq6eRBz12QubmfQw346Fl3KSW2MQ26dQ5jTahwfAAXAm0eFsNV168MNdT7hA9WW9L0nBc3_g5QYAVVXeCzhoIG5tOGFCqbOSNExp8glGc6-LakWPeipFBpekZSw/s1303/Hawaii%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1303" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kebARLOz_GiIvFW7bs4ltCQg4Z4LPS0B04rqcvb26ggBG2LZChTp2TnAtmruui9Mq6eRBz12QubmfQw346Fl3KSW2MQ26dQ5jTahwfAAXAm0eFsNV168MNdT7hA9WW9L0nBc3_g5QYAVVXeCzhoIG5tOGFCqbOSNExp8glGc6-LakWPeipFBpekZSw/s320/Hawaii%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Characters</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Father Damien:</b> missionary from Belgium called to serve lepers. Broke rules to show love. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Rudolf Meyer:</b> commissioner, supply agent. (Lives topside: walk or ride on a steep path up the cliff face)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Father Leonor:</b> assisted kind Bishop Kockerman and later Bishop Maigret. Didn’t want to help Father Damien and claimed that he exaggerated. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Clayton Strawn: </b>new manager of rations. Unethical, but repented later after he went blind.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>William Williamson: </b>British Protestant medical assistant who contracted leprosy from patients. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Prime Minister Gibson</b>: served Hawaiian government under King Kalakaua. angry about finances of Molokai. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Dr. Kalewis:</b> brought experimental medicine. Couldn’t commit to stay</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Princess Lili’uokalani:</b> visited lepers, wrote Aloha Oe which she sings in this movie</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Mother Marianne:</b> worked at New York hospital, called to Hawaii. Worked at Kalaupapa until she died age 80. None of her nuns were ever infected (they focused on cleanliness).</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Historical Events</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1778: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Captain Cook and Western world come to Hawaii, bringing many diseases. More </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>than half of the native population dies in the following decades. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1830s: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>first suspected cases of leprosy in Hawaii. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Christianity has become main religion of Hawaiians.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1866: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> leper </span>colony established by King Kamehameha V.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1873: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>mission begins, Damien is 33.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1877: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Princess Lili’uokalani visits Kalaupapa </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1883: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mother Marianne and six nuns travel to Honolulu</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1884: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Father Damien contracts leprosy</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1888: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nuns allowed to come to Molokai</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1889: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Father Damien dies, age 49</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1940: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a cure is developed</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1969: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>isolation law repealed</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">2009: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Damien sainted</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Medical notes on Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy):</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">caused by a bacteria, damages skin, nerves, and eyes. Patients get rashes and lose feeling in their extremities. Lose fingers, toes, noses, ears, or more. Blindness, damaged skin</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Misunderstanding: Contagiousness is actually very low, and not everyone is vulnerable to it. Spread by coughing and mucus, but historically, people thought, don’t touch and don’t share food. Not an STI.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Emotional: forgotten by family, children raised by strangers, prison-like. Judged for their poverty, unclean, untrustworthy, and morally corrupt. Spreads more in poor areas, still exists in poor countries today. In leper colonies, “Boredom is worst punishment”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hawaii banished more than 8,000 lepers to Molokai over the years. Around 1,000 on island at a time during Damien’s service years</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Biblical references: Leviticus 14:54–57: A wide range of skin conditions were called leprosy in ancient times. Jesus heals lepers in Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-16. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Catholicism</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Sacraments</b>: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (communion), Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony (Marriage), and Holy Orders (becoming a priest or nun.). </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Last Rites</b> is a ritual performed for the dying. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Confession</b> is when you tell your sins to a priest, then he gives you absolution (forgiveness.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Saints</b>: The Catholic church designates some people as saints, in honor of their work on earth, and identified by miracles after their death.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Vows</b>: Priests and nuns take vows of celibacy (lifelong abstinence from sex) and poverty. If they break the rules, they can be unfrocked (authority removed, special clothes taken.) In this story, we meet a Brother who has taken a vow of Penitence. He has committed a sin, and part of his remorse includes some challenge or manual labor to make up for the harm he caused. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>No divorce and remarriage</b>: without special permission. (another rule Father Damien breaks)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Protestants</b>: Christians who aren’t Catholic. Protestants protested corruption in the church in the 1500s. They broke off to become a new group, which splintered into many groups, called </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Protestant</b> D<b>enominations:</b> Lutherans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and more. Many Christians today called themselves “non-denominational.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Cultural Notes</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mourning in Polynesian cultures is loud, public, and communal. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hiding a leper was a crime: you were arrested, possibly sent away without saying bye. However, there were times on Molokai where family members could choose to come along as helpers.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Discussion Questions</h3>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Malulani tells Father Damien she’s entitled to the good life when he finds her at the mad house, where lepers drink and party. Damien disagrees on what a good life entails.What is The Good Life? </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lepers struggled not just due to illness, but how they were treated by their society. Some people believe that those who are sick or poor must be getting what they deserve. Where do we see this in our world today? What is God’s heart for the sick and poor?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Father Damien did so much work alone. Sometimes he got state support and sometimes church support. Who should fix the problems of the world? Church? State? Individuals? </p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-67170210620874477552022-04-12T16:02:00.007-07:002022-05-03T14:53:12.420-07:00Princess Ka'iulani Movie Discussion Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EGAWMMZjwTnUVh5mmxkEIFRyxD3OxJ6_dpVMtNFF7XNCV40zECfVVz8nrnBlsHsJQ7dkd899BQwGmLPZwlzqLs3p-vXImhWGQQCWL-Sb5OG8QD8zBp6CWC-XmKtU2Q_-noLW-_kAiPri63WNLQKt6GwAzOl9bh0cwNLSrGq8On2r52VKIKwRaViYxQ/s400/kaiulani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EGAWMMZjwTnUVh5mmxkEIFRyxD3OxJ6_dpVMtNFF7XNCV40zECfVVz8nrnBlsHsJQ7dkd899BQwGmLPZwlzqLs3p-vXImhWGQQCWL-Sb5OG8QD8zBp6CWC-XmKtU2Q_-noLW-_kAiPri63WNLQKt6GwAzOl9bh0cwNLSrGq8On2r52VKIKwRaViYxQ/s320/kaiulani.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>This page is available to print from <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b_wZetGsproXPgGA-NFJg_5vOCduJTI7NcZSfepafH8/edit?usp=sharing">google docs</a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Location</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">:</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Story starts at ‘Iolani Palace, Honolulu in the sovereign nation of Hawaii. Ka’iulani spends her teen years in England, then visits America before returning home.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8wA3Mdy1P7IFeoltYCaO8OrD38R6kaThnl6MDYtrPOvAQM4GY-KIbzQ2smXpp_TivqfYej1Hagvi2Mlgm_GEZ1Cgv1pfSCYXrwVnKlZKsksTj6sBYdO4geyP1IsUWFvQSfR7mgDE-6re6S0PySoG87v69_Dc5FXcQfmJ_bedIiTuRgaLHn-oCGdWlw/s2076/kaiulani%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2076" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8wA3Mdy1P7IFeoltYCaO8OrD38R6kaThnl6MDYtrPOvAQM4GY-KIbzQ2smXpp_TivqfYej1Hagvi2Mlgm_GEZ1Cgv1pfSCYXrwVnKlZKsksTj6sBYdO4geyP1IsUWFvQSfR7mgDE-6re6S0PySoG87v69_Dc5FXcQfmJ_bedIiTuRgaLHn-oCGdWlw/w400-h216/kaiulani%20map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Princess Ka’iulani:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> niece of the king. Scottish father, Hawaiian mother. English family calls her Victoria, a middle name.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King David Kalakaua:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> educated, traveled, modern King. Built palace. wife Queen Kapiolani. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Princess/Queen Lili’uokalani</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Sister of King David Kalakaua. (Ka’iulani also calls her Aunt Lydia.) Educated, musician, singer, composer. Devoted Christian</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Archibald Cleghorn</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Ka’iulani’s father. Scottish. late wife: Princess Mariam Likelike. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lorrin Thurston</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: son of American missionaries to Hawaii. Leader of the anti-monarchy movement. Lawyer, member of legislature. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sanford Dole</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: cousin of James Dole, who started Dole Pineapple Plantation. Became President of Hawaii during the overthrow, then Governor after annexation. Dole is portrayed positively in this movie, but he goes along with everything Thurston does and personally benefits from it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theo Davies</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Ka’iulani lives with this family friend in England. He owns HI sugar plantations.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fictional characters</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: the Hawaiian twins, Clive the boyfriend.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Major events:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1778 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Western world comes to Hawaii: Captain James Cook comes to Hawaii</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1820</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian missionaries come to Hawaii.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1886 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Palace electrified</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1887 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bayonet constitution (King David Kalakaua forced to sign at gunpoint.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1888 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honolulu streets electrified, Kaiulani throws the switch (age 12)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1889 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ka’iulani sent to England for education</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1891 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">King David died age 54, sister Lili’uokalani becomes Queen, writes a new </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">constitution.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1893 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">overthrow begins, Queen Lili’uokalani placed under house arrest. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1985 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebellion. Queen Lili’uokalani put on trial and convicted of treason. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ka’iulani visits US President Cleveland (age 17)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1897 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Natives petition against annexation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1898 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President McKinley: US annexes HI</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1899 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ka’iulani dies, age 23</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1900 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hawaii becomes a territory, Dole is governor </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1917 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Queen Lili’uokalani dies, age 79</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1941 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, spurring US to join WWII</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1959 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hawaii becomes 50th state</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1993 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">US President Clinton gives formal apology for the annexation</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultural notes:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Victorian time period (named for British Monarch, Queen Victoria.) Full-coverage dresses, and ankles are scandalous! The Hawaiian royal family dresses like westerners despite the tropical climate. Ka’iulani goes over the top with manners, decor etc. to prove that she’s just as “civilized” as the westerners. King David Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani travel the world, exchange gifts with other royalty, build a modern palace, and pursue education and refinement. Yet, it’s not enough for America to respect their independence and stop pursuing greed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biracial Ka’iulani is valued for being pretty according to white beauty standards (Queen Lili’uokalani doesn’t get same respect)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Queen Kapiolani and Princess Lili’uokalani attended Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">England: often sent children away to boarding school. England once overthrew Hawaii: but they stopped and apologized. As an act of friendship, Hawaii incorporated the British flag.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeYffnLBjURYYUqdMOzqIr2b8IVfsaA6yf8Jzq1eS0qUfCQi22L2mMEHZTJsl_ooqLMLzsKtTnQIMQHYNuLaAF6PjlGlW_SH_ZwX3kVzEkHHed9JNFmjAd5nw4lUTFzyiTqHoH9js9b9dYvWFib5kndmqVirjh992H_4B4WRf-fqDns-y8OY2J_mdhQ/s280/HI%20flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="280" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeYffnLBjURYYUqdMOzqIr2b8IVfsaA6yf8Jzq1eS0qUfCQi22L2mMEHZTJsl_ooqLMLzsKtTnQIMQHYNuLaAF6PjlGlW_SH_ZwX3kVzEkHHed9JNFmjAd5nw4lUTFzyiTqHoH9js9b9dYvWFib5kndmqVirjh992H_4B4WRf-fqDns-y8OY2J_mdhQ/s1600/HI%20flag.png" width="280" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hawaii: had nearly a100% literacy rate: the best in the world! In this movie, the commoner twin writing a letter to the Princess makes sense. Hawaii chose to have electrical energy before Buckingham Palace and Washington DC. King David Kalakaua was a world traveler who befriended Thomas Edison. Before the western world came to Hawaii, land was divided by community, not private ownership. White land-owners had sugar and pineapple plantations; the natives don’t own their ancestral land. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hawaiian Words: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ali’i</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: chiefs, leaders, royalty </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ola</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: life, sometimes health</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kanaka</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: native people</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">poi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: ground up taro (kalo) root - a purple paste </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: May the life of the land be perpetuated in righteousness. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discussion Guide</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thurston says only white men with property should vote, but “I look forward to other races being able to govern someday.” Sometimes we don’t recognize racism. How can we learn to see more clearly?</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When missionaries came to Hawaii, they didn’t just bring Jesus. They brought modern Western culture. This included some good things, like a written language. But they also got rid of Hawaiian dancing, clothing, and many cultural practices. Is there a right way for missionaries to interact with a different culture? </span></p></li></ol>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-17563866859665070002021-06-05T15:12:00.004-07:002021-06-23T12:31:15.147-07:00A Conversation about Reforming the Police<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Rob” is a white man in his 70s. I’m a white woman in her 30s. We have both worked in Christian ministry. Rob kindly reached out to me after a disagreement on Facebook. I have greatly shortened this conversation. I have bolded some sentences and added short notes in brackets. Conversation lasted from October 2020 through February 2021. Conversation shared with permission. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Summary: Rob is my only conservative friend who has told me that the police need to be reformed. But he insists that other conservatives agree with him and would be happy to work with liberals to find solutions. I am skeptical: I provide quotes from a powerful political leader and people I know who support the police no matter what. Rob seems to place the blame on activists who aren’t using good slogans and make good cops feel bad. My insistence that America has a problem with police-worship is considered offensive and eventually kills the conversation. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/2000/usa/Rcedrg00.htm">https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/2000/usa/Rcedrg00.htm</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">This seems to me to be a logical way to correct the sentencing problem. Article also included info on how drug enforcement is mostly done in black neighborhoods causing a greater number of black people to be arrested. We know they are not the only ones in this business.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">[Article questions the war on drugs, seeks to eliminate mandatory minimums, increase alternatives to prison, increase treatment and prevention. “Eliminate racial profiling and require police to keep and make public statistics on the reason for all stops and searches and the race of the persons targeted.” Good stuff.]</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Those are good points! Why do you think it is that America doesn't enact them?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">My first year at [community college where I do ministry], I met a student in the criminal justice program. He also worked as a mall cop. He told me that at mall cop training, they were advised to check black and brown folks for stealing, because "they're the ones who do it the most," and the trainer also said, angrily, "The police aren't allowed to profile! But we [mall cops] aren't restricted by those (dumb) rules."</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I was so shocked, I unfortunately wasn't able to give a coherent response. This student later unfriended me when I joined Black Lives Matter, so I don't know how he's doing now. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Just heard on the Radio about Ice, the rapper, meeting with Trump. He (Ice) has a plan for making changes in how the government and black people can relate. No much more than that, but look this up on Google. I think they said it has to do with police and jail time.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I disagree that taking profiling away hampers police. They have found it successful, but never mention the failures<b>. I have said that if I wanted to traffic drugs, it would be in a new car, obeying traffic laws, with my white arm hanging out the window. </b>Dressed really nice, not thug, etc. Seems to be the best way to beat profiling. Get an older white woman to do it!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ice said, In his “<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ice-cube-demands-politicians-sign-contract-with-black-america-before-getting-support-of-black-vote-301116710.html">Contract with Black America</a>,” Ice Cube asks politicians for banking, police and prison reform, elimination of all Confederate statues, federal funding of “baby bonds” starting with $1,000 at birth, among other reforms to support the Black community in order to earn the “support of the Black vote.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">“Descendants of slaves, the ones who built this country are being kind of forgotten in the fray,” the rapper told Wallace.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> After a fan accused Ice Cube of working with the “Darkside,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/icecube/status/1316483389663244288">responded</a>, “Every side is the Darkside for us here in America. They’re all the same until something changes for us. They all lie and they all cheat but we can’t afford not to negotiate with whoever is in power or our condition in this country will never change. Our justice is bipartisan.” </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I appreciate you having this perspective! What do you think it would take for Americans to be willing to change?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">“Bob” [Rob’s relative] for example, thinks the police are doing a great job and shouldn’t be criticized. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Hard question to answer. It will have to take an approach as <b>not so much as condemning</b>, but of reform. Lots to unload there. But the point is, <b>most of us have either experienced first hand or know about abuse</b>. I think the union has gone too far in protecting. The union needs to understand that they will serve their members best when it is possible to discipline or fire the bad apples. It will have to be a multi perspective of both rooting out and making things better for the good cops. It will not be perfect, but with all political questions there is finesse needed. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">John Kennedy could not advance a civil rights bill. When Johnson became president, he was a much more experienced man and willing to work with others rather than insist on getting his way. He knew how to get people on board. His work with Everett Dirkson, Senate Minority leader, Republican, ended the impasse. Dirkson convinced Republican senators to vote for the bill. Dirson said at a meeting , "It is time to get on this train, it is the way of the future. Otherwise, the train will run over us." Southern democrats would not get on board even though they were the minority. Politics! </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>If pressed, Bob will admit that there is a problem.</b> But he is too defensive. In seminary, I had the advice that <b>I ought not try to make people change, but present changes in such a way as they wanted them and thought it was their idea to begin with</b>. This was very effective for me. No, I did not win all the time. But, I made few enemies along the way. If I befriended opponents and asked for their help, they were willing more often than not to see the idea as not a threat, but an improvement. It is hard work.<b> It isn't about tricking people, it is about helping them see a better way without saying the current way was bad.</b> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Defunding is not the answer. It is too scary.</b> Yes, finding new ways to police is a good idea. Cops do not like having to make calls for domestic violence. It is dangerous. But a community based program that calls for intervention by the neighborhood may work After all, not having to work with someone who will send you to jail is better for your ego and you might see that working through a problem with neighbors has merit. Who knows until we try. There are good ideas. But we must follow through and quit making it a political issue every few years with nothing happening in between. That is the point Ice was making. Stop talking and promising and start doing. His plan is not perfect, but it is a starting point. If it begins, the final product may look much different, but hopefully it will be better. The best thing that could happen for America right now is for people, especially leaders, to stop looking for enemies and start making friends. Move it beyond Politics. It cannot be a Republican or Democrat plan. It has to be an American plan. In the old days it was calling for a "Blue Ribbon Committee" (The "blue-ribbon" aspect comes from the presentation of the committee as the "best and brightest" for the task, and the appointment of such a committee, ad hoc, is meant to signal its perspective as outsiders of the usual process for study and decisions.).</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I don't know that Bob would back down. Maybe if you asked him to. I did see him concede to “Dan” once, but I think it was just because Dan is louder. I have no reason to believe he changed his mind. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I understand your point about befriending opponents and working together. But you can't apply that to every situation. The issue is oppression. <b>Abolitionists didn't make friends and try to work together with slave owners. </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Yes, defunding the police is scary. <b>So is every big societal change.</b> America has been trying to reform the police for years. This usually involves giving them more money. (I think we made a mistake back in 2015 advocating for body cams.) Police typically have the largest portion of a city's budget. Can you <b>imagine if even half of that was given to social services focused on preventing crime rather than punishing people for crime? </b>Amazing! <b>This should be inspiring, not scary. But America worships authority and violence. </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say, "Making it a political issue." Of course it's political. It's about the policies that guide our communities. And Black Lives Matter started in 2014, not an election year. <span style="color: #fb0207;">Maybe you mean partisan?</span> I wish it wasn't partisan, but I don't blame activists for that. They try to change something, and the GOP leadership opposes them. (And the Democrats pay lip service to the cause, but aren't really all that helpful.) <b>It's divided across party lines, but we don't want it that way.</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">It's fine that a rapper is trying to work with Trump. Anything is worth a try. (Black Lives Matter has worked with, and made <a href="https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/black-lives-matter-protests-whats-been-achieved-so-far">many changes</a> on different governmental levels.) Personally, <b>I don't spend my time discussing violence with someone who encourages violence against protesters.</b> In the "good old days" (pre-civil rights?) when the police would have to "carry protestors out on a stretcher." "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." [Those are Trump quotes.] <span style="color: #fb0207;">Why would civility win over the most uncivil president? </span>The best I can hope for is to vote him out. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">(I recognize that several prominent conservative Christians have been effective in manipulating Trump by flattering him. I assume that's not what you're suggesting.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm generally confused about your arguments, and am having a hard time understanding, because I don't share (what I perceive to be) your optimism. You think if both sides sat down at a table together they could work something out? I don't see that. <b>I am glad -- really, really, genuinely happy -- that you have issues with the police and see a need for reform.</b> But I would need to hear that from a lot more conservatives before I could feel hopeful about bipartisan work. Because I hear people defending the police no matter what. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Either: "They should have just obeyed orders" or "the police were scared for their lives" or "they committed a crime." <b>There's always an excuse, always a justification for police brutality. </b>I had a student tell me- just after telling me that she definitely would have marched with King -- then a teen girl getting beat by a school cop on video must have done something to deserve it. After all, we didn't see what happened before the video started.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">And if you want to go dark, police violence is celebrated. There are photos of white people kneeling on each other's necks after the George Floyd murder, laughing and smiling and showing us how it's no big deal. The cop who murdered Mike Brown got hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for him. The comments section said things like, "Thanks for being the thin blue line that protects us from the animals." I think about that every time I see that police blue line American flag.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">When I was in ———- a few years ago, we visited ——— working at the [law enforcement] office. They eagerly showed off the new tank their department received. Because small towns need tanks to wage war against their own citizens. [The kids] had fun climbing all over the tank and pretending to shoot. I think the [law enforcement officers] do the same thing, have fun playing war. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Politicians didn't make changes in the 60's because the time had come. Protestors forced them into it. "You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored... <b>We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.</b> “-Martin Luther Kings Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">First, you did not think that working with those who opposed your view would always work. I did say that while I tried to work with others, it did not always succeed. That is reality. <b>But if I assumed that everyone would reject me, why do anything? </b>We can be quite surprised by other people. I do not think it was always my arguments that won them over. But I give credit that they were open to and led by the Spirit to consider what I had to say.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Second, “Abolitionists didn't make friends and try to work together with slave owners.” They did however, flood the South with anti-slavery literature. <b>They were politically active and ran for offices. </b>There were many in the South that opposed slavery, and some gave their life for it. <b>They sought to change hearts.</b> No, I doubt that they buddied up and tried to be friends with slave owners. Yet somehow many slave owners began to see the light. Benjamin Franklin was a slave owner who late in life saw the light and became a leading advocate for freedom. Do we not understand that someone got to him? Thomas Jefferson is a strange case. Even after he became an advocate for the end of slavery, he kept slaves. Not a perfect guy. <a href="https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=231">A slow learner?</a> <b>We cannot know his heart.</b> I cannot condemn someone who is on the right road.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Third, “I don't share (what I perceive to be) your optimism”. If I am not optimistic, what do I have except a negative attitude that paralyzes me? History tells me that while things can change suddenly, in reality, many years have gone into the change. History tells me that people can be stubborn and need to lead in love and grace. The truth is always before them. Watch “Amazing Grace” the story of William Wilberforce, the English abolitionist.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I just watched a video about “Barachah Home for Girls in Arlington”. <a href="https://youtu.be/FXCufQiPiNk?t=32">https://youtu.be/FXCufQiPiNk?t=32</a> An atheist young man accepted Christ and became a Methodist minister. He soon found that in Waco, Texas, there were many young women who were thrown out of their homes for becoming pregnant. Also, Waco had many young prostitutes who were basically slaves. .. This sort of thing makes me an optimist. <b>Optimism makes it possible to believe that all sorts of people can be changed in spirit and mind.</b> It helps me believe in the transformation of people. I think <b>that comes from relationships, not politics.</b> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Old laws are not made better by being replaced by new laws. It is a matter of heart.</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I still don't think police need tanks. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I also attached a "defund the police" cartoon that some folks seem to like. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzDz3DcqA1uYhdt6AJ0w5mwphQABOr_DLgtpjwPG9VRGw0eHe53KmLpnBnUutWgdLq8hpKfdb6ig5ioEeZmoKS0NfqUiGiRn8Ua0cXDoXzG6w-cs8Cu0FfHhYCwFU1e3b_-y7b48NZ7mD/s958/b4c.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzDz3DcqA1uYhdt6AJ0w5mwphQABOr_DLgtpjwPG9VRGw0eHe53KmLpnBnUutWgdLq8hpKfdb6ig5ioEeZmoKS0NfqUiGiRn8Ua0cXDoXzG6w-cs8Cu0FfHhYCwFU1e3b_-y7b48NZ7mD/w454-h640/b4c.jpg" width="454" /></a></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Regarding optimism. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I do believe people are capable of change. Where your argument confuses me is that <b>you imply that conservatives already know there is a problem with the police, and that all that remains is negotiating the best way to solve that problem. </b><span style="color: #fb0207;">Am I interpreting you correctly?</span> Because I constantly feel like I'm always on page one, having to explain things like why executing someone in the street without evidence or trial isn't the world we want.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm not a pessimist and I haven't given up. I think I'm a little frustrated because I work hard, and I want you to see that it's hard. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I do talk to people about these things. I do work with people who disagree with me. I support people running for office. I write and educate. I teach Bible studies. I educate myself, read and share thoughtful informative articles. Students have been receptive. Conservatives, particularly ones I'm related to, have been deeply offended. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm curious to know how your community would respond if you posted, thoughtfully, on facebook about how the police (and prison system) need to be reformed. I don't think you would get a good reaction, but I would be happy to be proven wrong. (I have been surprised by the way the South Baptist convention has been positive toward Black Lives Matter.) I understand facebook isn't the ideal media for these conversations. <span style="color: #fb0207;">Are you having these conversations with family, or at church? </span>Let me know.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">But yes, I also sometimes choose not to engage. I'm trying to have discernment about what conversations are a waste of time and effort. I'm refraining from commenting on a "prophecy" about Trump right now. Maybe I should, to save people from a cult. But I'm feeling like I don't have enough trust built up for my voice to be heard in that group. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Or sometimes it feels like the odds are too heavily stacked against me. [When I last visited] “Amy” was listening to the Christian radio station with a conservative news report. They criticized a priest for speaking at a Democratic rally of some sort, and used the phrase "the godless left" several times. Where's my starting point to talk to Amy when this is her news? </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Laws vs. Heart:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">You and I also aren't one the same page because you seem to be focusing on individuals. I'm focused on systems. Yes, I spend a lot of time talking to individuals. I'm a minister. But I support activists and teach about the importance of changing systems.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>I do agree about the importance of changing hearts, but that's not a reason to neglect the law. </b>William Wilberforce is an obvious example. And King always has a poignant thought: "Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me but it can keep him from lynching me and I think that is pretty important, also." -Martin Luther King Jr.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Thank you for the Arlington pastor story. It was very good. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Words fail often to communicate. Also, our ideas may make sense to us but are read differently than others. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The cartoon: It makes a valid point, but without the image, <b>defund carries only the meaning of doing away with it does not indicate that find a new way to do things.</b> That is partly where anger enters. One image I disagree with totally involves prostitution. Decriminalize and regulate is out of touch with reality. Yes, there are women who choose to do this. But there are far more women involved who do not want to be there. Criminals rule over thousands of women. Yes, go after the pimps, but with the power of what they are doing is criminal, It is also slavery. The cartoon would also have one believe that these things do not already exist. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">For example, if you think any government program will get people into mental health care, you are very wrong. I have been involved with that for many years. You cannot force people to take their medicine. This is one of the big problems for health care workers. So, you see, even a great little cartoon can lead to misunderstanding. Do use it. It helps explain that there are good alternatives.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>I am confused as to why you assume average people approve of people being gunned down in the street.</b> Are you listening to those who support the police who say why are we so quick to condemn any shooting without having time to investigate? There are bad people out there who would kill a cop, we need to find out facts. You disagree with body cams. I can not understand that. Cost too much? I know lots of folks you call conservative, let's just call them people, who have firsthand knowledge of bad cops. But they do not like the implication that these bad ones represent all.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I know that you work hard and that you are passionate in loving ways about this issue. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Sometimes I am offended by the word offended. </b>I know people will disagree with me. I just wish they did not get angry. One of my best friends in seminary disagreed with me on about half of what I said and vice versa. We loved to talk about those issues and then go off and have fun together, that is the sort of world I wish existed everywhere. Perhaps if it did our culture would have more time to work together to solve problems instead of calling each other names. Do not think that you cannot talk to Amy. She has been following this discussion and has stated. “We may disagree, but we love her and do not want anything to come before that and divide us.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I hope that Biden will take these issues as a matter of importance. I want him to at least try to get a bipartisan task force to get onto this. It must be seen as a national priority and not just another way that people can pick on each other.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I think it was John Adams who insisted that there only be one party. Two or more would only lead to division and hatred. I do not know how one party could be possible, we always seem to break into fractions.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">So, follow your heart. It is impossible to please all people. But take time to ask; “What do you think? Please do not think I am trashing you or your beliefs. Talk to me!”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I do not like to post much on Facebook. Seems like it is not a place of real discussion and people too easily get “offended.” It is a medium for you, but maybe add more humor, I really don’t know.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">"why you assume average people approve of people being gunned down in the street."</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">“Jan” has told me several times that Mike Brown "was up to no good" and that ends the conversation for her. My friend “Jason” from high school posted a t-shirt after Eric Garner's death that said, "I breathe just fine, because I follow the Law." (Mocking Garner's dying words of "I can't breathe.") When two of my students were watching a video of a tiny teen girl being forcefully thrown to the ground by a school cop (I don't remember the name), one student said that the video was wrongly edited, because we didn't get to see what the girl did to "deserve" that treatment. My friend “Ed” was baffled when I said police need to de-escalate bad situations, and he asked why that should be their responsibility. Portland recently had secret police throwing people in unmarked vans. People are fundraising millions for the teen who shot up a protest. Trump bragged this week about Marshalls killing an Antifa suspect: “They knew who he was, they didn’t want to arrest him, and 15 minutes, that ended.” <span style="color: #fb0207;">Does any of that concern you? </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I don't think most people will admit to holding this belief in the blunt terms I've used here. I'd like to think it's the sort of question I could ask that would help us find a common understanding: We both agree police shouldn't execute people! Yet I worry we don't share that core belief. Just like Trump says, "I could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Ave and not lose a single vote," people who love the police aren't swayed by how many people the police kill, every day, in many different circumstances. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I wrote about hateful memes during the first wave of Black Lives Matter a couple years ago. Here's some that promoted violence. <a href="http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2016/07/terrible-memes-about-black-lives-matter.html">http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2016/07/terrible-memes-about-black-lives-matter.html</a></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Re: the comic</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Just to be clear- yes, we want to take budget money away from the police. This also includes taking away some of their duties. But “Defend the Police” is not “Abolish the Police.” </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I won't be posting the cartoon, no. Yes, the prostitution part seems like it will ruffle feathers and distract from the point. But, the cartoon seems like a helpful tool in a small conversation like this.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The other reason I don't love this cartoon enough to share as a main argument is that it doesn't address police brutality. Yes, the police are overburdened, but that's not the main/only problem. A "defund the police" comic needs <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%205&version=NIV"><i>mene mene tekel upharsin</i>!</a></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Lastly, I feel like you are giving me well-intentioned advice. But, it feels like a double standard. I've never seen you write, "What do you think? Please do not think I am trashing you or your beliefs. Talk to me!”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">My most recent Black Lives Matter post is about a black man with mental problems (Walter Wallace Jr) who was shot instead of given the medical/ psychological care he needed. I would feel inappropriate saying, "What do you think? Should the police shoot folks having mental breaks? If you think so, don't worry, we're still friends!" </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I know I'm being harsh. But it's a harsh subject. So I feel frustrated that the people trying to fix it get criticized. You hope Biden will make a team to address it. Will your conservative friends support what they decide? Is there a moderate, bipartisan reforms that they'll like? Because my conservative friends "support the police." <b>So reformers can't try to make everyone happy. </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I think you and I have a level one agreement: </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">1. Police brutality is a problem. (and the whole justice and prison system is a problem.)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'd like to progress to higher levels- 2. WHY is it a problem (long history of brutality, current bad training), and 3. WHAT can we do about it (defund the police? switch to a new system? hold police accountable, etc.) - but it's been my experience that I don't have a level one agreement with a lot of folks. I need that basic agreement. I feel like I'm stuck in a level one conversation because people are so protective of the police. It's hard to admit there's a problem with a trusted institution that represents American law and order. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">This is a messy conversation. I keep trying to reorganize it into something cohesive, but I can't yet. One last random note: I appreciate Amy wanting to be a peacemaker. But I am still extremely concerned about this Christian radio news source. <a href="https://townhall.com/">https://townhall.com </a> <span style="color: #fb0207;">Do you think this is a reliable news source? And should it be the news source for a Christian radio station? I</span>t doesn't make sense to me that someone who likes peace and unity would support this news source. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Rob</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">However, about my not asking, "what do you think" is partly because I am answering something about what you think. <b>I am interested in what you think. </b>In general many people are weary of social activists There has been so much PC in recent years, accompanied by <b>if you do not agree, you are a hater. </b>Don't make too much of that statement. It is just that some many needed reforms accompanied by, you are evil if you don't agree. Again, this is just as much about what people hear and not just what was said. Any good psychologist will tell you that there is danger when we think we are clear and the hearer is reading between the lines.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">One of the major problems in America is in the police forces, and not just here, it has been world wide. Reform movements never seem to get much done. Back in the old west, it was, hang the first one you see, even if he didn't do it. Small town "speed traps" are another type of abuse that tick people off. but it goes on. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Reform is going to have an incredible well thought out plan that people can all get on board with. <b>We cannot "sound like" all cops are bad, if we want reform. </b>It is simply not true, anymore than all priests are child molesters. The rhetoric has to focus on solutions, not name calling. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Well, enough for now. I do not understand why people get so upset with one another, except that they are defending themselves when they "think" they are being attacked. Civil discourse is a lost art; if it ever really existed. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ginger</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">A couple thoughts. You said; "this is just as much about what people hear and not just what was said." I don't think this is something I can take responsibility for. You've mentioned being annoyed with people who are easily offended- but this sounds like people who are easily offended to me. If I say, "Racism is a problem in America," and they say, "Stop calling me a racist! You hate America!" the communication problem is on their end. (And I think some of that misunderstanding is intentional.) </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">You also have mentioned several times that everyone needs to agree and work together. This is a nice ideal, but as I've reflected on it more, it seems like a way of slowing reform. <b>Why do we have to wait on Bull Conner and Jim Clark? Why let them impede civil rights? </b>Having everyone agree sets a very high standard. <span style="color: #fb0207;">Can you give me an example of that happening? </span>Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I'm having a hard time envisioning this. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">It's not that I don't want the Bull Conners of the world to be redeemed- of course I do! Nelson Mandela said, "The oppressor and the oppressed must both be liberated." But I don't see any reason to prioritize Bull and let him go first. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Rob</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I think that a lot of what we have been talking about revolves around that question of “Why do we have to wait on Bull Conner and Jim Clark?” We do not wait on them or other who would impede any progress. But what does it mean to wait?<b> If waiting means doing nothing, then that is evil.</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Yet waiting can be opposed to rushing ahead and creating more enemies that we already have. There is something in-between that is important. Waiting can simply be a realization that for the best possible outcome, one must take time to create friends and develop a strategy that will win not just a battle, but the “war.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Take the issue with the police. What is the best path to reform? I am not sure, but certainly it is not to wait for them to reform themselves. The history of police around the world is one of bad police; police who are brutal, on the take, faking evidence, etc. We have already discussed the path of defunding. Given that your ideas are valid, still the details are not discussed. All many hear is “defund”. That sounds atrocious to them.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Reform can come from one of at least three places: Federal government, local government, and the police union. Until and unless the union is involved and required to cooperate, little will be accomplished. Public opinion drives these three forces. And all three must be involved.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I would point out that of all the issues that I am hearing the new administration discuss, police reform is not there. It may be there, but it is not in the news. For some reason they are still venting their hate for Trump and wasting not only time on him but are keeping him in the news which will do little to help them move on.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">My point is simply that <b>groups like Black Lives Matter, Black Political groups, other concerned activists, and news media have to say</b>, “This is more important than Trump, politically correct language, and minimum wages. The senate is in a battle over power sharing. It seems that they have forgotten why people are still occupying many cities in protest of this issue. Even the city councils seem unable to move forward with their own police departments. The protests have come and mostly gone and still we Wait.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ok, I just read that Biden has said, "A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us," Biden said. "The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer." We will wait to see what that means. We can hope.</p>
<p style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Still, will it be something substantial or just another law? It is already against the law for cops to kill people. The institution has to be changed. I believe many police officers will welcome it.</p>
<p style="color: #4d5055; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #4d5055; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ginger</p>
<p style="color: #343434; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I think we can expect politicians to be capable of addressing multiple issues. I don't need them to set aside other issues and only focus on the police. Also, most issues overlap. <b>If we can reduce poverty, we'll reduce crime. If we can hold wicked leaders accountable for lying and spreading conspiracy theories and trying to overthrow democracy, maybe we can figure out how to hold bad cops accountable too. </b></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Here's Biden's platform from the election: <a href="https://joebiden.com/justice/"><span style="color: #103cc0;">https://joebiden.com/justice/</span></a> (I agree with you that it isn't getting a lot of publicity.) </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">It's fine. I think most activists would like more, but Biden is, I think, attempting to be reaching across the aisle. He's already doing all those things you say you want. But Trump-followers think he's a communist instead of a moderate. Trump said: “Biden has made a corrupt bargain in exchange for his party’s nomination. He has handed control to the socialists and Marxists and left-wing extremists like his vice-presidential candidate.” And the election was “a choice between a socialist nightmare and the American dream.”<span style="color: #fb0207;"> How do I have a productive conversation with someone who believes lies? Are you honestly sure it's worth the time and effort?</span></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I don't think changing the laws is enough. I want to change culture. I'm a teacher -- I want everyone to have access to good information, and have the skills to know how to interpret it. And I am always happy to explain my perspective. But, it's hard to battle willful misinformation. I try to take a hint and move on. (If someone thinks I'm a godless leftist, they won't have an honest conversation with me anyway.)</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Only 6% of white police officers think reform is a good idea. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53159496"><span style="color: #103cc0;">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53159496</span></a> </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Which brings me back to an earlier question: What do you think of <a href="http://townhall.com/"><span style="color: #103cc0;">townhall.com</span></a>? <span style="color: #fb0207;">Is this a news source you approve of? Should Christian radio be promoting it? </span>Here's some <a href="https://townhall.com/tags/election-fraud/"><span style="color: #103cc0;">articles promoting the election fraud idea</span></a>. This <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2020/11/09/three-reasons-to-remain-hopeful-about-trumps-2020-vote-count-challenges-n2579763"><span style="color: #103cc0;">one </span></a>especially, which states that <i>of course</i> there is fraud, because democrats are inherently untrustworthy. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ann Coulter is a contributor there. How do you feel about having her as a voice for American conservative Christianity? If you're not familiar with her, here's some favorite quotes: "There's nothing good about diversity, other than the food, and we don't need 128 million Mexicans for the restaurants." "I think there should be a literacy test and a poll tax for people to vote." "Perhaps, someday, blacks will win the right to be treated like volitional human beings. But not yet." </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #4d5055; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">—————————————————————————————————————</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">another facebook conversation about this article:</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denver-health-professionals-replaced-cops-in-handling-hundreds-of-low-level-incidents-for-6-months-and-successfully-did-so-with-no-arrests/?fbclid=IwAR0gEfc8ISadC9mZ6wUfeLUtClFp5POQKDMZ8_jrUrnXxHCZ_CS8vh_4Qj0">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denver-health-professionals-replaced-cops-in-handling-hundreds-of-low-level-incidents-for-6-months-and-successfully-did-so-with-no-arrests/?fbclid=IwAR0gEfc8ISadC9mZ6wUfeLUtClFp5POQKDMZ8_jrUrnXxHCZ_CS8vh_4Qj0</a></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">We discussed my disagreement with “Jane.”</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I think that the biggest problem is the lack of "Concrete proposals" to debate.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="color: #4d5055; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Jane thinks no money should be taken from the police. There shouldn't be a single less police officer. Even though she agrees that STAR is a good program. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm happy for Jane that all of her personal experiences with the police have been good. I'm glad that they've helped her. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Conservatives love the police. (Maybe you're the exception.) But no occupation should be beyond criticism. I wish every pastor was a good person! I wish every public school teacher was a good person! But of course we know both bad or lazy people get both those jobs and cause harm.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I am offering a clear "concrete proposal" of the programs our governments should spend money on. STAR in Denver and CAHOOTS in Oregon. And I have long and specific lists about police brutality. But the police are a golden calf. That's the problem here.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i> </p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">And yet you continue to demand defunding the police. Can you not see that it is a “trigger"?</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Neither program will involve an arrest that is progress that goes sour, for whatever reason. If a STAR worker gets in the middle of a dangerous situation and needs help, can the police be called? Do not sugar coat the situation. GO AFTER the bad cops. Do not say that they cannot be removed. The big battle will be with the unions. Get behind that battle while you promote the good programs. Police are..., pastors are... teachers are... are losers in the battle. <b>The good cops hear themselves as villains. </b>Get with a better way of wording your request. Good cops hate bad cops; but they cannot do anything about it. "Defund the Police" was a cry heard as an attack, not a reform. When a slogan goes bad, get a new one. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Ginger</i></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I didn't demand anything. I gently explained the meaning behind a controversial and maligned catchphrase.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I understand that the catchphrase makes people mad. But Jane isn't truly upset about the phrase; it's about the idea. She isn't willing to take any money away from the police department at all. She was very clear about it. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I've been making people mad for years by saying, "Black Lives Matter." But it's not my fault they are mad. This is a simple and Godly concept. People are CHOOSING to be offended. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>There is no slogan that will make people who worship cops happy</b>. If it were easy, activists would have done it already. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">If you want to disprove this to me, you need to model it. Talk to Jane or Bob or someone about police reform and<span style="color: #fb0207;"> let me know the words to use for an effective slogan.</span> Or walk them through the document you showed me at the beginning of the conversation. <b>I'm sure it will sound better coming from someone they consider to be on their team. </b></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Rob</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Yesterday you sent a letter to me that was offensive. No, I am not choosing to be offended. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Forget slogans and catchphrases. I simply am stating that there is no need to connect your programs with defunding. It is a losing tactic. You have no data that can indicate or much less prove that defunding is necessary. Go with the reforms you have stated. Go after bad cops. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Defunding will not eliminate them. I do not need to model anything. I stand by my ideas and do not need to convert anyone. Your comments about "worshipping cops" is uncalled for and untrue.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ginger</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I apologize for getting upset.</p>
<p style="color: #4d5055; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I was unaware you were part of the group who considers “Black Lives Matter” to be an offensive phrase. You had not mentioned it. If I had known, I would have attempted to be kinder rather than venting my frustration and hurt about that group. I'm sorry for being offensive. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I feel the need to summarize: probably just for the sake of my own vanity, as I dislike the idea that you may consider me foolish. After this summary, I will cease to bother you on the subject. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I have not suggested that STAR employees attempt to solve murders. As we discussed in the police mouse comic, the police retain the job of keeping the peace. As I told Jane, no one is trying to fire good cops.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ultimately, I believe that social programs will be more effective in preventing murders and other violent crime. This will reduce a need for police. Like I told Jane- prevention is more important. Perhaps we disagree about this, but I simply want to be clear. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">You are, of course, allowed to believe that the police budget should never be reduced in any amount, if that is what you believe. It is not offensive for any of us to disagree about policy. I only focused on it because I thought we were approaching some agreement. I should not have made assumptions. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Again, I apologize for responding in anger.</p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Rob</i></p>
<p style="color: #18191b; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Yes, perhaps it is best that we seek other things to talk about. I will say, I am not against "Black Lives Matter" I am saying it is much more than this one issue. I think more support can be found in the reform mode. <b>Police reform ought to be no more offensive than a corporate downsizing</b>. It has to be done, but again I think it is a bigger problem than city councils can take on. Your previous suggestions like Star make great sense, but putting them into place is easier than restructuring a vast bureaucracy like the police department. </p>
<p style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #031017; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">So. I just want it done by experts, not politicians. To quote President Obama, </span>“'Year after year, decade after decade, we have seen problems papered over and tough choices kicked down the road,” said a clearly frustrated Obama.' But he also acknowledged Washington had been part of the problem." </p>
<p style="color: #031017; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="color: #031017; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Tough choices do not come from quick actions, ok my opinion. In short we are closer than you might imagine in theory, but differ in how to get it done. Nothing wrong with that. I apologize for anger and frustration, mostly from feeling misunderstood. Someone said it is not good to communicate on paper. Sounds weird, but the point was that it misses human communication skills that come in one to one verbal discussion. </p></div><p></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-79247189305881414842021-01-04T10:05:00.014-08:002021-07-19T15:09:26.910-07:00Critical of Racism Criticism <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">A response to “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgqzPAKqG7Y">Critical Race Theory and Christianity</a>”</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Speakers Monique Duson and Krista Bontrager</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first time I remember hearing the phrase “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) was a month ago. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve been hearing it constantly since then. (I thought it was just</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> the </span><a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/baader-meinhof-phenomenon.htm" style="font-family: georgia;">Baader-Meinhoff phenonmenon</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but apparently this is the new hot topic.)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">According to Duson and Bontrager, it’s the core of the justice work I’ve been doing the last six years. That may be true- I don’t work in the vaunted halls of academia just because I hang out with college students- so if CRT is what I’ve been doing all these years, I should probably learn about it. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But that already puts me in a sticky situation for writing this blog post. I need to research before I can give a true response to this talk. I’m happy to admit that I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’d like to read an actual book from a CRT scholar. And that may take me awhile. So for now, consider this post more of a “huh, what?” response rather than a deep dive. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Because I do still have a response. I have concerns about the material presented here. If I’ve been unknowingly involved in CRT all these years, I see two options. </span></span></p>
<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">All of the teachers, writers, and activists I’ve been learning from are dramatically changing the teachings of CRT and not staying true to its core at all.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Duson and Bontrager are representing an untrue version of CRT. </span></span></li></ol>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So let’s walk through that and see if we can find some contradictions.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">First, here is Duson & Bontrager’s evidence that I’m practicing CRT. I have used the following terms: white privilege, inclusive, racial reconciliation, systemic injustice, reparations, diversity, equity, and white fragility.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They keep saying CRT is complicated and confusing. But when they define it, I find the definition simplistic.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“White people are oppressors. Black people are oppressed.”</span></span></p></blockquote>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This may be generalized and unhelpful, but I wouldn’t call it complicated. If this were true, it would be easy to dump folks into categories. Of course, those categories would be nonsense, but that’s what makes a <a href="https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawman">strawman</a>. A strawman serves the purpose of making your enemies look bad, not of understanding them. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The <a href="http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2021/01/unity-or-overturned-tables.html?m=1">last Maven talk</a> left me feeling confused, but in this talk, the ladies are organized. They made it quite clear what they believe CRT is, and why they believe it’s bad:</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">White culture is wicked. Western European culture is wicked. Being born white is bad. If we could just get rid of whiteness, we could get rid of society’s fundamental problems. People of color can’t commit the sin of racism. Today’s generation is responsible for the sins of previous generations. You need to divest yourself from whiteness. We must retrain white people to think differently. We associate privilege purely with skin color. You’re a racist. You’re responsible for 250 years of economic disadvantage. People of color don’t need to look inward- they aren’t racist and don’t need to do any self-examination. The goal is to hand over all power structures to people of color.</span></span></p></blockquote>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve never been taught these things, and I don’t believe these things. (I could re-interpret some of them: “Aspects of Western European culture are wicked.”) I understand why hearing these things makes their audience mad. I feel a bit emotional myself. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1.</span></span></h4>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Duson and Bontrager did not provide quotes from scholars or activists for these statements. (Instead, their slides are peppered with exhausting scare quotes centered on all the words they don’t like.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It leaves me floundering to try and understand where these extreme beliefs came from. Duson hints a bit at her conversion story: she was a black Democrat, living in Africa, doing activism work, and a passionate believer in CRT. Perhaps these were once her beliefs? Yet she changed her mind when she came home to the US and moved in with the Bontragers, a family of white Republicans. It sounds like they had many interesting conversations.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yet, I’m questioning my theory already. If Duson thought white people are evil, she wouldn’t have moved in with them or had conversations with them. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There were some good parts to this talk. Even after Civil Rights passed, things weren’t equitable. Bontrager says, “It makes sense” that the rise of Critical Legal Theory (a precursor to CRT) grew out of this. She calls out the “awkward silence” of Christians during these bad parts of history, and explains that this is what activists are talking about when they talk about complicity.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’m grateful they recognize America’s history of racism, and how racism does still exist. I’m not sure how many churches believe and recognize this. I can only speak of my own experience. Duson and Bontrager have a description they consider to be an extreme belief:</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Racism is a thing of the past; racial incidents are rare and isolated.”</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2015/09/racism-101-racism-exists.html?m=0">I believed that </a>when I was a kid. And I often meet people who believe that. So, I’m genuinely glad these ladies aren’t promoting that belief. But, they set another belief at the other extremity of their scale:</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Racism permeates every system. Everything is rigged to benefit whites and marginalize People of Color.”</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is a trick to make yourself look moderate, by the way. As long as you are the one creating the scale, you can always set other’s beliefs as the extremes and place yourself in the <a href="https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/middle-ground">middle</a>. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oddly, although the ladies don’t believe that racism permeates every system, they do believe that CRT has permeated everything. Bontrager in particular has a distrust of Christian colleges, and gave a lot of advice about making sure you aren’t sending your kids somewhere that has any version of CRT beliefs. (I admit finding a college that never uses the words “diversity” or “inclusion” might be hard.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Read more on my blog about individual vs. systemic sin <a href="https://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-sins-of-fathers.html ">here </a>and <a href="http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2017/04/systemic-sin.html?m=0 ">here</a>.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2.</span></span></h4>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, not having sources is my first concern. My second concern is about intersectionality (although D&B don’t use the word). They make it clear that CRT is exclusively about black vs white and reasonably observe how that leaves a lot of people out. But, they also discuss the overlapping philosophies with CRT: Critical Legal Theory, Feminism, Disability Theory, Queer Theory, and Child Studies. This, for them is a scare tactic. “If you agree with CRT, you’ll have to believe in feminism as well.” they say, knowing feminism is a scary boogie man for their audience. Most people, including me, don’t know anything about child studies, so they give us a brief description: “It means that children are oppressed by their parents.” This baffling descriptor seems untrue to me, and when she follows it up with, “What will happen to parents’ rights?” I become worried that she’s talking about anti-vaxxers. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So. Black and white are the only categories that matter. Although gender matters too. And ableism matters too. And sexuality matters, and age matters. So perhaps CRT isn’t only about being black or white? This feels like a contradiction in our speakers’ premise. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Again, I’m not qualified to talk about this, but I want to give my limited understanding on power imbalances. I think that’s what they’re actually talking about here. Regarding children: I’m a parent. I have power over my infant. It doesn’t always feel that way: if he’s crying and screaming, it feels like he’s the one in charge. Or if he falls asleep in my lap, I am “trapped” for an hour, unable to do my own thing. But, I’ve made a choice to be attached to my child 24/7. I have the power to do things quite differently. I could leave him in the crib all day (he lacks the power to get out) and barely care for his basic needs if I wanted to. Yes, he could yell, but I could leave the room and turn up the music. I can overpower him in absolutely every way. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When you talk to a friend who lived through an abusive childhood, you don’t (I hope) ask them, “Why didn’t you do something?” We intuitively know children lack power. They may be too small to fight back, too scared to speak up, or too isolated to ask for help. Even as adults, abusive relationships can follow similar patterns (coercion, intimidation, emotional abuse- see <a href="https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/">Power and Control wheel</a>.) Gender often plays a role in this because men have historically had more power than women.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Please notice though, that I’m not saying “Men are evil. Parents are evil. Babies should be in charge.” We can understand power imbalances with room for nuance. There are situations where a basic binary isn’t true. White people usually have more power than black people. But not in every situation. (A badge or a gun can change a power imbalance immediately.)</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But we do know situations where people use their privilege and power for bad. Think about the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCSYDnhs0Ik">viral video </a>from 2020 between a black bird-watcher and a white dog walker. The white woman was the one breaking the rules (dog off leash.) But she was confident that if she called the police and lied that the man was threatening her (he wasn’t), he’d be the one arrested.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have power over a person in a wheelchair when I’m climbing stairs and there’s no ramp. I have access (to school, city hall, the library, whatever it is) that they don’t have. My family member who works in disability services is the one who taught me the word “equity.” (I thought it was only about mortgages.) A staircase is already equality: we both have the same challenge. But only a ramp creates equity. She told me that certain professors at her university have disputes with disability services. Her department will say, “Student X is allowed an extra half hour on her tests.” The professor says, “No, that isn’t fair. Everyone gets an equal time on tests.” But fortunately, we have laws that empower the disability services department to get the student the help they need. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In a different circumstance, maybe the person in a wheelchair has power over me because he’s my boss. I had a <a href="http://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-conversation-about-sexual-assault-and.html?m=0">long conversation</a> with a friend a few years ago about the power of being a boss and sexual assault. My friend had empathy for a pastor accused of sexually assault. He imagined all the attractive young women in the office throwing themselves at him for years. “If that’s true, why not fire them? Or move them to a different office?” I wondered. The boss has the power. (An employee can also choose to quit, but there’s an economic punishment for that. And in this situation, there was enormous pressure from family and community to do whatever the pastor wanted, since he was considered to be God’s Anointed.)</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the New Testament, tax collectors were empowered by the Roman government to collect money and enrich themselves. But, also all their Jewish families and neighbors hated them and thought they were traitors. They got excluded from the community. Power is complicated. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">3.</span></span></h4>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My third frustration is the way Duson and Bontrager believe they are the only ones interpreting scripture correctly. I know everyone does this a bit. I have as well. But I’d like them to reconsider saying things like, “We have a solely Biblical perspective.” Two people can read the Bible and come out with quite different perspectives. (In fact, I could argue that any time two different people read the Bible, they’ll read it differently.) I especially felt concern about this when they said things about historical Christianity like, “scripture is clear: it’s about your own personal righteousness.” Ancient Christianity and Judaism were communal, not individualistic.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I understand that having a Biblical perspective is their goal. That’s a fair thing for a Christian to want to do. But when one claims to have achieved it, I find it prideful. It feels like dubbing yourself the arbiters of Christianity when you say, “CRT is antithetical to the gospel.” “The goal of CRT is to undermine and demolish Christian worldview and culture.”</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Additionally, this turns into a purity contest. I felt there was a heavy implication that the Bible is all you need. I don’t understand the disdain for having secular sources of knowledge. Does the Bible tell us everything we need to know about medicine? About science? (I’m almost afraid to ask these questions because, again, anti-vaxxers may answer in the affirmative.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bontrager even goes so far to say that everyone is reading too many books about the Bible- they need to just read the Bible. There’s an element of truth to that, BUT— if you fully believe that, why are you standing in front of a room giving an interpretive speech? You should just be reading the Bible to us. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let’s zip through what they think the Bible says about racism. First, “There’s only one race.” I think what they mean is that everyone is related. Yes, secular folk and religious folk agree on that. But I don’t find it that helpful for most racism related issues. Yes, race is a construct (it exists in our minds more than our biology) - but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. It deeply impacts people’s lives. We don’t solve problems about race by pretending race doesn’t exist. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Next, Duson and Bontrager say that we Christians need to see each other FIRST as brothers and sisters, not as any other identity. That’s fine too- and I like the emphases on first. It leaves room for the fact that we do have other identities that matter to us as well. I’m not sure if our speakers think they matter- Duson made comments like, “I’m a women who happens to be black,” or “I live in brown skin” - which implies that being black is not important to her. That’s her choice- I’m not judging. But I hope she would allow other folks to believe their racial or ethnic group is important to them. I never thought about being white growing up. Whiteness was invisible, “normal.” I think it’s good to take some time to think about it. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They also taught that the Bible has different standards for marginalized and oppressed than our world does: only the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners count. However, Bontrager wanted to add disabled to the list. I’m not sure why she gets to add to the Bible if no one else does. Just looking at the Bible, I’d add biracial Samaritans, tax collectors, sex workers, eunuchs, lepers, second wives, hand maidens, infertile wives… (Maybe not everything in the Bible is easy to apply to contemporary society.)</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They call racism “the sin of partiality.” This feels weak to me. I’m partial to green tea over black. I’m partial to brownies over cake. Partiality doesn’t explain why America is separating immigrant families at the border and locking them up in detention centers with unlivable conditions. Partiality doesn’t describe dehumanization or genocide. Some aspects of racism could be partiality, but it does not describe all.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lastly, Duson and Bontrager stated that Jesus has already accomplished all that’s needed. They scorned CRT activists who want us to lament and repent, to perform acts of contrition, or who want to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. They said that trying to do racial reconciliation doesn’t work because it’s never enough. Activists always want more from you, they say. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I find this version of Christianity off-putting. Yes, Jesus has accomplished the great task they we never could - sacrificing himself, defeating death, forgiving sins. But I feel like they are saying that next time I’m a jerk to my husband, I don’t have to apologize. That is not good relationship advice.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At this point, I feel like I’ve answered my question. Why build such an elaborate strawman of CRT? Yes, building a strawman lets a one “win” an argument, but if you are being honest with yourself, you know you aren’t being truthful. And I do think that our speakers want to be honest people. So I suspect (I can’t know for sure) that this core belief about the Bible is the problem. If the Bible is the only source of truth and understanding, CRT must be bad. So starting with the belief that CRT is bad, they may slowly distort and misinterpret each principal until it becomes unrecognizable, yet suitable for their purposes. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We can toss Bible verses at each other all day, but I can’t change another's heart. I’ll pray for the Spirit to work. I’ll try to teach a clear understanding about what different beliefs are, and to be critical when they don’t line up with God’s heart. I’m sure CRT has flaws, and I know the social justice movement has flaws. That is something we can have a conversation about. But making up these distortions about the other side only sows confusion and disunity. Let’s be humble and see what we can learn from each other when we’re being honest. We can also learn from people who are different than both of us. God spoke to Gentiles, Magi, and Roman Centurions. I want to hear what God has to say. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />God has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” -Micah 6:8</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1tMuBxevsiaM6Tt5HkpqSLaswc7xIfwM2S5Xl32RHFFqkZEgnYC0klly1c0XRmNHygQerrHk9rwmkE2VnHinOB_07OGA66ODyyI2i-_HrxBSOIg5gRvChnuNGoj-0KZA60wvfp5qIU44/s1080/phil.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1tMuBxevsiaM6Tt5HkpqSLaswc7xIfwM2S5Xl32RHFFqkZEgnYC0klly1c0XRmNHygQerrHk9rwmkE2VnHinOB_07OGA66ODyyI2i-_HrxBSOIg5gRvChnuNGoj-0KZA60wvfp5qIU44/s320/phil.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">text: a twitter quote from Phil Vischer @philvischer<br />If only we had fought racism with the same passion <br />we are now bringing to the fight against anti-racism. <br />Would there have been a need for an anti-racist movement?<br />The church allowed racism to flourish. <br />Now we're mad about secular solutions to a problem we wouldn't solve. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Updates:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blog.emergingscholars.org/2021/02/critical-race-theory-an-overview-and-appraisal/">Critical Race Theory: An Overview and Appraisal</a> from Emerging Scholars Network </span></div><div><br /></div><div>A debate between Neil Shenvi (Duson and Bontrager reference him) and Rasool Berry <a href="https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Is-Critical-Race-Theory-compatible-with-Christianity-Neil-Shenvi-Rasool-Berry?fbclid=IwAR3ztjFDVE8ehY-IL64zORiqJCnSG1UQ-my60hp-Yqfbn3nx2GHUUiLFrc4">Unbelievable? Is Critical Race Theory Compatible with Christianity?</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://sojo.net/articles/why-nathan-cartagena-teaches-critical-race-theory-evangelicals ">Why Nathan Cartagena Teaches Critical Race Theory to Evangelicals</a> from Sojourners</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://faithfullymagazine.com/critical-race-theory-christians/?fbclid=IwAR28R_EEcpEfKcJz6PlwbW4hKKx-Yiu-Zd0UeuXio8ZsGS2TDnbUAMezaTw">What Christians get Wrong about Critical Race Theory</a> from Faithfully Magazine</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2021/march/framing-critical-race-theory-intro.html?fbclid=IwAR2-QE8SOOGQxdWlKvo9-KH5YDHPY79CV-n5K6CuhLUxf9qOOqCVbc8r9zA">Framing Critical Race Theory </a>from Christianity Today</div><br /><a href="https://aaccreclaimpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-9-jeff-liou-on-justice-and-critical-race-theory?fbclid=IwAR21h3dwCXvm0-saCv68R9k7cP5uBCGey4TzArdzpPFpKhd2_zT8x4EFGPo">Jeff Liou on Justice and Critical Race Theory</a> from The Reclaim Podcast<div><br /></div><a href="https://www.missioalliance.org/understanding-critical-race-theory-part-1/?fbclid=IwAR0VNenWnXIZlITAIfSYRCcNGxSAfuSMYofbCyoJICoc5VsJLoKu5UK0AVI">Understanding Critical Race Theory: Part 1</a> from Missio Alliance</div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-83579672258550633182021-01-04T09:32:00.009-08:002021-05-28T11:55:17.735-07:00Unity or Overturned Tables?<p><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">A response to: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_skCWjnFB-g ">“Unity or Uproar? A Biblical Vision of Justice for a Divided Age” </a></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Speaker:</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Dr. Thaddeus Williams</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I feel like I need to confess that I start this review from a place of distrust and confusion. I know that the speaker and I disagree, but I’m distracted by his style of argument more than the essence of his arguments. I’m trying my best to understand, but frankly, he tends to </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">be</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> so vague and leave so much up to assumptions, that I am probably not representing his true thoughts or beliefs here. He’s a professor and a doctor, but I want to go over this talk with a red pen, slashing out the tangents and asking for citations in the margins. I suspect that he is not arguing in good faith, and that’s a bad place to start a discussion. I’ll try anyway. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Social Justice Warriors</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">We open on an antagonistic note, because he’s talking about me. Not actually me, of course; he doesn’t know me. But a caricature that’s meant to be me. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Dr. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Williams explains:</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> Before social justice got to people like me, I was “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the Gospel, excited for missions, shouting the good news of salvation. Grace alone, faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone.”</span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">But after, some ideologue convinced me that my “primary mission was to fight systemic injustice. The fruits of the spirit were replaced by resentment, rage, suspicion, assuming the worst of other’s motives, and a quickness to be offended.” </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">And what’s worse? I’m not even just the “after” — I’m the ideologue who’s duping young people into believing these things. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Okay, now that we’ve painted a picture of our divisions, let’s slow down. I want to start with compassion. When he describes these people, he makes it sound like they are personal friends of his. I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, I’m sorry that he’s lost friendships. I feel the same way. Divisions among family in the faith are very painful. I stand with you in wanting unity. But, I want us to have true unity through justice and restoration: not to pretend that our issues can be ignored. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.” -Jeremiah 6:14</span></i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">"I’m offended"</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">This relates to the big issue about taking offense. Dr. Williams say</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">s</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">, “In our day, it’s a virtue to be quick to take offense.” I find this to be an extraordinary claim. I would like him to provide examples: what teachers are saying this? I feel like he is saying this to <a href=" https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Poisoning-the-Well">poison the well</a>. Now when I respond to him, no matter what I say, he can respond, “See? I told you. She takes offense to everything.” As if there aren’t things we need to speak up about. As if there aren’t injustices for us to fight. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">So I’m going to argue anyway. You can call it taking offense if you like. I don’t think it makes my arguments untrue. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">"Social Justice Work was Better in the Past"</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Dr. Williams appeals to past glories when he talks about doing social justice work “the right way.” He brings up the examples of William Wilberforce and John Newton, whose abolitionist and political work ended slavery in the UK. A wonderful example, although I want to point out that the only protests that meet today’s approval are seated firmly in the past. If we lived then, are you quite sure </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">you’d want their uproar over unity?</span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Later he makes an argument I find startling. (He may be quoting economist Thomas Sowell here.) “Conservative religious activists ended slavery.” “If they were alive today, we’d call them the Religious Right.” I don’t know who gets to claim Wilberforce (or the American abolitionists). I find it prideful to be so sure that they would be proud of you and everything you do. I’m not sure these historical figures fit that neatly into a conservative/liberal dichotomy. (I’m sure Wilberforce and I wouldn’t see eye to eye on many issues.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">And Dr. Williams must have a very different definition of conservat</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">ism</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> than I do. (I know some people who think </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">to be</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> conservative just means </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">to be</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> Christian, and perhaps that’s the whole argument here.) I think an important aspect of conservatism is about looking to the past: finding good things and maintaining (conserving) them. But that isn’t something we want to do with slavery. Wilberforce and his team looked toward the future. On this issue, the past was not something we want to keep. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. -Hebrews 12:1b-2a</span></i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I think he is attempting to make a valid point that Christians, throughout history, have done good things for the cause of justice. I agree. (If you’d like to read more about Wilberforce or other historical Christians who’ve done social justice work, here are </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/search/label/Hope%20Bios">links</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://oddestnotions.blogspot.com/search/label/Hope%20Bios"> </a>on this blog.) However, this history is not an excuse to ignore the oppression and injustice caused by Christians. American abolitionists were not called “Bible-believing Christians” in their day, like he suggests. They were the heretics. Slave-owners were the ones who took the Bible “literally.” There are still pastors today who will <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2006/idaho-pastor-hard-liner-exception-or-two ">defend slavery. </a></span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">"I’m suspicious"</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">But enough about conservatives vs. liberals. Dr. Williams wants to stop such divisions. (Or he wants </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">all</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> Christians to join him on the </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">correct</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> side of the political spectrum. I’m not sure.) A main point of his social justice work is that we shouldn’t have group identities. (Or perhaps that our group identities shouldn’t be very important. Again, it’s hard to tell what he’s saying.)</span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">I was raised to be “colorblind,” a simplistic interpretation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream that “people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” In my education, this meant ignoring people’s color and ethnicity. (I would argue this was not King’s intention.) Thus, things like “Black Pride” or “Native Pride” seem offensive to colorblind white folk, who are steadfastly pretending that we have no differences. Colorblindness also helps us ignore injustice: someone recently told me that the first thing I should do to solve the disproportionate incarceration of black and brown people would be to stop talking about it. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Maybe that is part of Dr. William’s argument. When he describes it in more detail, it seems further and further from the reality I know. He describes a table where modern social justice divides people. “You can’t sit by Bob. Bob isn’t your brother in Christ. He’s a Roman oppressor.” </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Again, if Dr. Williams has had this experience, I’m sorry for it. But no one has ever told me, “You’re a white oppressor. We can’t sit together.” And even if they did, I don’t understand why this would be interpreted as a core teaching of modern social justice. I would interpret it as a hurt person trying to protect them</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">selves</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">. It’s not the aim of social justice </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">–</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> but one of the steps along the way is that, as a white person, if I need to give somebody space to do their healing, I’m going to give them space. I don’t need to force them to have a relationship with me. I hope for a relationship in the future. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Also… if you have had this experience, it may be a good time to ask yourself where you tried to sit at the table. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” -Luke 14:8-11</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">If you have the opportunity to spend time with people who are different than you, come as a learner and a servant, not as a leader or preacher. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Gender is a useful comparison here. As a woman, there are times and situations where I feel unsafe around men. This doesn’t mean I hate men, or think all men are out to get me</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">But if I’m walking along at night, and a man starts following me, will you really begrudge me for being a bit fearful?</span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">This may relate to Dr. William’s multiple references to suspicion. I think he’s saying that modern social justice teaches us to be suspicious of anyone outside our race. As I’m mulling this over, two examples come to mind. First, “Stop and Frisk.” This contentious police policy allowed officers to stop anyone they thought was suspicious, and search them for a weapon. Not surprisingly, the police primarily found people of color to be inherently suspicious, and stopped them at much greater rates. (This did not create a good relationship between the police and the people they were meant to serve.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The second example of suspicion goes the other way around, when someone </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">who has been stopped by</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> police </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">are</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> afraid for their life. They are suspicious that the cops aren’t going to treat them well. This goes against my upbringing: I was always told that the police were my friends, and I could go to them if I needed help. I didn’t know other groups of people were teaching their children how to be extra careful around the police, because they had the power to harm them. I was startled when I heard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-ckDJ3xTaE ">this report</a> from LeVar Burton, one of my childhood heroes, whose race I never considered, because his interactions with the police were so much more cautious and fearful than mine. </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Yes, we dream of a future where both kinds of suspicion are gone. But this is a situation where the people in power have to surrender their suspicion first. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">"I’m aggrieved"</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Dr. William’s complains about a “game of historical grievances” as if this isn’t people’s reality in the present. He provides some articles as evidence. I read, “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/11/opinion/sunday/interracial-friendship-donald-trump.html ">Can My Children Be Friends with White People?</a>” It’s a poignant article. Of course there is hurt, but not only does the author admit that he does still have white friends, he also says the real problem is the actions or inactions of white friends, more so than their ethnicity. (The article is framed around Trump supporters. Dr. Williams does not address this topic in this talk.) “White People are Cowards” is also a thoughtful article. “Why Can’t We Hate Men?” was weaker; she makes good points with a bad conclusion. (I wouldn’t call these articles “mainstream” like he does. Opinion pieces are meant to be provocative.) Dr. Williams doesn’t actually address any of the points from these articles (which would have been interesting.) I think he was mostly using the titles to stir up offense in his audience.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">“<i>All</i> have sinned and fallen short,” Dr. Williams quotes Romans 3:23. “Not ‘white people,’ not ‘economically privileged,’ not ‘straight people,’ not ‘capitalists,’ not ‘cops.’ <i>All</i> have sinned.” This is the point where I start banging my head. It deeply shows how he and I read the Bible differently. Yes, all have sinned. (<i>Yes</i>, white people, rich people, etc…) But I won’t pretend the Bible doesn’t put people in categories. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Have you read the Beattitudes? “Jesus said: Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…” from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt+5%3A3-10&version=NIV">Matthew 5 </a></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Or maybe read the Magnificat? Mary said: “God has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1%3A52-53&version=NIV">Luke 1:52-53</a>) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Scorning the idea that “White people have sinned and fallen short” has the taste of entitlement to me. It feels like reading the scripture and rather than saying, “Wow, I’ve fallen short too.” turning and looking at your neighbor and saying, “You’ve fallen short. You’re no better than me.” Why does Dr. Williams feel a need to reassure his audience? Why inoculate them from feeling shame? It’s a comforting talk that makes you feel better about yourself, sure, but I don’t see it leading to unity. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Fruits</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Dr. Williams makes a good point about the Fruits of the Spirit. I agree, social justice work should be full of fruit.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” -Galatians 5:22-23a</span></i></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">I recently heard a progressive Christian share a talk that was such a beautiful, bright picture of the future that it actually brought me to tears. I praised Jesus for giving hope in divided times. I prayed for true unity.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">If you haven’t seen the fruits of the Spirit in my social justice work, I apologize. That genuinely gives me a lot of remorse. But if you don’t see Fruit in the movement… you aren’t looking. I’ve heard from so many inspiring teachers. I’m not a part of this because I’m driven by anger (even though anger can be healthy and important). I’m driven by a vision of a better future. I have hope in Jesus that the whole world is redeemable. “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God… the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth.. -see<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A19-27&version=NIV"> Romans 8:19-27 </a></span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">Yes, my view on the Gospel has changed. My faith is no longer an other-worldly construct where praying the prayer of salvation, and getting others to pray it, is my only task as a believer. I take Jesus at his word when he says his mission statement:</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;">“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” -Luke 4:18-19</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">We actually want good news for the poor: an end to poverty. We actually want freedom for the prisoners: ending America’s bloated incarceration system. We actually want sight for the blind: healthcare for all people. Peace, patience, kindness, self-control are all deeply wrapped up in the dream for a better world. It can’t be done without love</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">,</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> joy</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">,</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> and faithfulness. But change will take some uproar too. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: font-family: georgia; font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” -<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A12-13&version=NIV">Matthew 21:12-13</a></span></span></span></p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-75376414057725591442020-07-30T17:38:00.005-07:002021-05-27T08:00:05.534-07:00Mammon, Greed, & God<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">A response to the youtube video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iFxn3fxos&t=2571s" target="_blank">“Money, Greed, and God” by Jay Richards</a> (which is summation of his book by the same title.)</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Richards says he wrote his book out of frustration. Frustration is a normal human emotion, and can be a useful tool. However, I don’t want it to be the prime motivator for my essay, so I took a few days to reflect. I am writing this essay out of Hope instead.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Before addressing Richards’ specific arguments, I have some big picture concerns. It’s easy to win a debate when you only share the best parts of your side, and make a weak <a href="https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawman" target="_blank">straw man</a> argument for your opponent’s side. Richards does this when he says things like, <i>they want to raise the minimum wage to $100 per hour</i>, or <i>they think 99% of Americans live in squalor</i>. (I understand there’s room for humorous exaggeration, but I don’t see any laughs here. He seems mad about the argument he invented.)</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">My other primary problem with Richards’ premise is that he is working within a world of <a href="https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/black-or-white" target="_blank">binary </a>options. There’s Bolshevik-style socialism/communism, or the most rosy version of Free Enterprise. (He does not like the term capitalism.) He’s not open to a combination of the two, or a third better option so far unimagined. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">This brings us to our theological differences quite quickly. As long as we fallen human beings are on “this side of the Kingdom of God,” the free market is our best option, Richards says. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I disagree.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you. -<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17%3A20-21&version=NLT" target="_blank">Luke 17:20-21 (NLT) </a></span></p></blockquote>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">As a Christian, I’m not sitting around waiting for heaven after I die. I pray, “[God’s] will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Matthew 6:10</a>) I believe we should be making earth more and more heavenly all the time. Justice and equality are godly pursuits. Shalom is universal flourishing. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">This bothers me from a secular standpoint as well. It’s a failure of the imagination to think that we’ve arrived at a perfect system, that we can’t always be dreaming up new and better ways to run our society. A hundred years ago, people wouldn’t believe where we are now. And so on, further and further. My husband has a joke about this- saying that folks who don’t like change are like the 1899 patent officer commissioner who said, “Everything that can be invented has already been invented.”</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Richards makes some good points when he tells a sad story about how well-intentioned action in the US to stop child labor in foreign countries resulted in children losing their jobs in the garment industry and moving on to worse jobs (stone crushing, street hustling, and prostitution). I looked up the <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/pub_sowc97_en.pdf " target="_blank">1997 Unicef report</a> he mentioned. (see page 60)</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">This a a dreadful story, and we do need to learn from it. I fully agree with Richards that our good intentions and personal piety don’t matter one bit when we don’t make an effort to assure that the practical outcomes are also good. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">But suddenly, we disagree again. The way I understand the rest of his argument (and I rather hope I’m wrong) is that he believes that child labor is a normal and natural part of a country’s development. Rich countries went through it already, evolved, and moved on. We can’t force countries in earlier stages to advance too fast. Richards dismissively suggests that progress will come “in the right time.”</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">In the US and Europe. we did not naturally progress out of child labor. People fought for it. Just like they fought for safe working conditions, healthier working hours, and fair wages. None of this happened naturally. The free market did not solve these problems. (And we don’t have time to get into the ways America helped cause the initial problems in that story.) </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The UNICEF report, by the way, ends more optimistically. They tracked the children, sent them to school, gave them healthcare, and a stipend to compensate for their missing wages. (I wonder if Richards considers that a happy ending or not.)</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The next issue that stood out to me was more theoretical. Richards quotes the famous economist Adam Smith.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages. -Wealth of Nations, 1776</span></p></blockquote>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Richards draws from this that the free market system actually filters out bad intentions. He states, “the market economy channels people’s legitimate self-interest, and even their vices to some degree, into socially beneficial outcomes. Or at least more than the alternatives.” (I listened to this line again to make sure I didn’t misquote him. It strikes me, on this second listen, how weaselly he is with his words. It’s almost impossible to argue with someone who will wiggle out of a full commitment to their own argument.)</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">I felt he stumbled in his argument here by trying to consider the opposing side. <i>If the butcher is greedy, he may give you rotten meat- but there’s laws against that! Or a bad Yelp review would stop him from doing it again</i>, Richards joked. Other than being anachronistic to Smith’s time, I frankly wasn’t sure what Richards was saying. Does he approve of laws that prevent butchers from selling rotten meat? To what extent does he think the state should regulate businesses? (I understand free market to be anti-regulation.) </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The Yelp example feels more free market orientated, but it also doesn’t feel true. There’s 100 reasons why businesses get away with selling terrible products, with ripping people off, or pricing products unfairly. I’m curious to know what Richards thinks about the absurd <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-11-07/why-are-insulin-prices-still-so-high-for-us-patients" target="_blank">rising cost of insulin</a>. How does the free market solve monopolies? What about slavery? Factories polluting rivers? Sweatshops, check-cashing businesses, televangelists, MLMs?</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">We may be not-fully-sanctified humans beings, but that’s no reason to settle. Richards upholds the status quo and urges contentment with with human greed. He says,<i> It will sort itself out!</i> (<i>Maybe, mostly, don’t hold me accountable for the times that is does not.</i>) </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">We don’t have to be perfect humans to say we can do better than children working in factories. I write in hope that we've learned a lot from the good and the bad of political and economical situations of the past, and we are pointed toward a more heavenly system on earth. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">read more: <a href="https://sojo.net/articles/why-democratic-socialism-isn-t-anti-christian">Why Democratic Socialism isn't Anti-Christian</a> from Sojourners</span></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-84821804288261757982019-01-06T09:25:00.007-08:002021-12-25T07:34:24.342-08:00An Epiphany Story<p> <span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baby Jesús was born in Texas, after his parents María and José crossed the border on a donkey. Then, the government separated and incarcerated them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilpSJ1Q0kDTQGKp2s3IYbUSoIWkRjU5XbbScnMyz9-FLQt-Z2UTQmdxxZrGEEprcvuF2NO5zbegBwjfVatratV4J2NvLfHlupX9s7E2ZQMxc7zQjCtgc32LdIhjPJjgJimtB3_u0GBkH6yZaLh9_KFjqjMT1Z7uLL9E0kSoGF4e3n5nKCFFczoAsKtLg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilpSJ1Q0kDTQGKp2s3IYbUSoIWkRjU5XbbScnMyz9-FLQt-Z2UTQmdxxZrGEEprcvuF2NO5zbegBwjfVatratV4J2NvLfHlupX9s7E2ZQMxc7zQjCtgc32LdIhjPJjgJimtB3_u0GBkH6yZaLh9_KFjqjMT1Z7uLL9E0kSoGF4e3n5nKCFFczoAsKtLg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=kelly%20latimore%20icons">Kelly Latimore Icons</a>. A modern Latino man and women walk in the desert at night. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The women carries a child in a baby wrap. All three have glowing halos like old religious icons.</span></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-fbbfccc6-7fff-d665-e44b-233a6a5ce447"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States, with all of those benefits,” President Herod said. “It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several young college students came to President Herod and said, “Where is the one who was born to be King? We saw videos of his family suffering on YouTube, and we want to help.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fake news!” said Herod. “I don’t want children taken away from their parents… but when you prosecute the parents for coming in illegally, which should happen, you have to take the children away.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Herod heard that young Jesús was meant to be King, he was disturbed, and all Washington with him. He called together all his favorite pastors and lawyers and asked them if the little Mexican boy could actually grow up to be president. He told them, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“First off, he’s Guatemalan, not Mexican,” said a lawyer. “Second, I haven’t seen his birth certificate, so I couldn’t say.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod said, “A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate. His mother was not in the hospital. An extremely credible source has called my office and told me that his birth certificate is a fraud.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod’s favorite pastors reassured him that he was the chosen one and the King of Israel, so President Herod felt better. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it,” Herod bragged. “Nobody is stronger than me. Nobody has better toys than I do. Nobody builds walls better than I do. Nobody has done more for equality than I have. Nobody respects women more than I do.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, Herod was still insecure. So he sent the college students to the border to find baby Jesús.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lawyer asked Herod, “Why do you care if this kid grows up to be president? Your term ends soon.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“China’s president is now ‘President for Life,’” Herod explained. “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll want to give that a shot someday.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The students found baby Jesús, and they brought the gifts of compassion, time and service to reunite the family. They helped María and José apply for refugee status, even though the US decided to quarter the number of refugees accepted. Still, the students were dismayed by the number of families who had no legal representation and were waiting indefinitely in jail. They decided not to return home to Washington. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod was furious when the news showed videos about the students and the things they’d seen and done. He sent his own lawyers to explain why some people and children don’t need soap, toothbrushes, or bathrooms. He also switched the blame to his opponents. “Democrats are the problem. They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our country, like MS-13.” Closer to his own heart, he added, “In addition to winning the electoral college in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people that voted illegally.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod had little respect for the people he represented. “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot people, and I still wouldn’t lose voters.” He felt confident that the next scandal would distract everyone, so no new students would help the immigrants. And he planned to cut down the refugee numbers again for next year. </span></p></span>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-29197650751234297312018-04-09T18:52:00.002-07:002021-01-04T10:19:32.049-08:00A conversation about sexual assault and churchesA conversation about systemic sin, sexual abuse, rape, and consent, especially in churches. <br /><br /><div>
I’m a married woman in my early 30s, R is an unmarried man in his 30s. I volunteer minister to college students; R works full time and ministers to refugees and immigrants several hours a week.</div>
<div>
Content note: reading this may be upsetting for some people, discussing rape, sexual assault, victim blaming, and more. </div>
<div>
<br />This conversation has been heavily cut down from the original. I’ve added bold to significant statements. I’m sharing this conversation with permission. </div>
<div>
<br />Ginger<br />Here's another systemic church example that is upsetting- women who've experienced sexual harassment or assault from leaders being told- "Don't tell anyone cause you'll harm his ministry and he's doing the Lord's work!" Both the leader and the advice-giver are sinning, but there's a deeper cultural church problem where that would be a common or acceptable answer</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Yea, it’s a sin and very systemic, one of the big ones. I bet you could find 1000 examples of it in history, but to leave a church because of it seems even worse. Remember when King David did this? The whole nation was outraged. David’s own son took power from him and it took a civil war to restore David to power. Leaders sin, they are human, so a path to reconciliation must exist. If not, God’s appointed might get rejected by the people and be unable to use his gifts. We shouldn't tolerate sin, but neither should we demand perfection. Rebuke and correct, then forgive but don't forget. I would welcome the chance to meet King David, but if I was married I wouldn't let him spend time alone with my wife. I wouldn't reject someone because I knew they had sinned. I work with adulterers and murders, and I will help them be as good and successful as possible. Imagine the world we would live in if the whole church closed its doors to those who sinned or had bad theology. Fight the sin, fight the ideology, but don't reject humans because they sin, only if they propagate sin. If in the above example once it was exposed everyone apologized and repented I would stay and help clean up the mess. If they declared their actions justified, or denied that they occurred I might leave or force him out, but I would respond if they repented in the future and needed help.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I see what you are saying- I do believe in forgiveness and reconciliation. But Christian culture loves to forgive people in power and stigmatize the marginalized. You make a good example with David, but if you can't trust him with your wife, why would you believe that he repented? A man who can't be trusted with a woman shouldn't be trusted with leadership.<br />Look up Bill Gothard for a good (aka bad) example of this</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />My mom loved his preaching, so I actually grew up going to Bill Gothard conferences, watching his chalk talks and reading his stuff. Haven't heard the name in 20 years and it looks like the scandal is recent.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />Yeah, my [extended family] knew about him back in the day too.<br />The worst part for me was reading this worksheet for counseling sexual abuse victims <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.recoveringgrace.org%2Fmedia%2FCounseling_Sexual_Abuse.jpeg&h=ATPIC2Ad6leCjgf4Q7medv14mtL8WB7jG4MVOzPMuPWe50RsFh-7BAgt9BXsPiUtIda78WPtxXv4ZrtfUqoDX7s-3D0_0XIB3-BYPBPFb_03rknSVQsaJO5M2cPe_0sZQ59KXLU">http://www.recoveringgrace.org/media/Counseling_Sexual_Abuse.jpeg</a></div>
<div>
<br />R<br />What did you not like about the worksheet? Some weird stuff like bringing eunuchs into the picture. That's a bit outdated of an example. But it does have a good focus on reporting and confessing which most sex abuse things sweep under the rug.<br />Wow, I cannot believe that girl [one of Gothard’s accusers] didn't see anything wrong with him giving her money to buy sexy bras. If your boss asked you this, would you comply? Not to justify his request, but you can't just comply with requests like that. Anyway rant aside and back to your main point, women do sometimes comply when men make outrageous demands. Why they do doesn't matter. So what do you think should happen to women who are taken advantage of? I assume you think the laws are too weak. That article indicated that she would be unable to win her case in a court of law thought it incorrectly stated the reason was the statute of limitations. (If she is underage there is no statue of limitations) I assume you think she should win her case, what should she be awarded. If you were the judge of the case what would your verdict be? Related question, what should happen if a slut deliberately seduces, or inappropriately touches a powerful man? Does the direction of affection matter? Is the man just as guilty as if he seduced the woman?</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />The direction matters because of power imbalances. If an employee is inappropriate with a boss, the boss can fire them, or distance themselves from them with some ease. If a boss is inappropriate with an employee, that person isn't sure how to respond. Do I report them? What if it was just something small, (like Gothard playing footsie?) Maybe she can't afford to lose this job. Maybe people will be angry with her if she says anything bad about the boss. Maybe people won't believe her. Seduction is about lust- abuse is about fear. Do you know much about the dynamics of abuse? I can send some links- I think it's something everyone should know about. A key aspect of abuse in the Gothard story is grooming: he would do small inappropriate things, mixed with kindness, to tear down confidence and defenses. The first time he caresses her, she draws away. She tells herself it was a mistake and didn't mean anything. The second time, she feels bad for not speaking up the first time, and that paralyzes her. By the time he's telling a girl to buy a sexy bra, she's already scared and ashamed. She realizes she should tell someone, but after months of footsie and hair touching, she feels guilty, just like he wants her to feel. The abuser also grooms everyone around him to think he's an upstanding man- when they do hear an accusation, they don't believe it. And they do, they blame the scared 15 year old girl rather than the conniving 60 year old man, who people revere.<br />(I should have also said abuse is about control, not lust)<br />Here's a page about grooming, better than my explanation<br /><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abuseandrelationships.org%2FContent%2FBehaviors%2Fgrooming.html&h=ATNy2m41niHKSmiazgXjKbk7tPOxTRpX9xt-sZkMT7HeP5QxiAUas3FGWlOGDGZdOagbyDaGkQiynNogAGLjGt3ZTBm0pyjHULuZIlObkMMHhStHaK5p3_5adQUX1o-7J4coGUc">https://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/Behaviors/grooming.html</a></div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Grooming for abuse sounds A LOT like dating. For example I bet your husband held your hand before kissing you. I bet he didn't walk up and say, hey you look nice; let’s have sex. The differences between grooming for abuse and grooming for friendship or romance seem almost trivial, until the abuse occurs. If you outlaw these "grooming" items would you be married today? To me more of the problem is putting a guy in a room with dozens of attractive women who fawn over him for 30 years without any real oversight. It’s like giving one man unrestricted and unmonitored access to the company bank account for 30 years, its just a bad idea.<br />What did you not like about the worksheet?</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I feel there is a strong implication that sexual abuse damages the body, not the soul. (Saying the offender only damaged the body, but the victim damages her soul with guilt and bitterness.) Abuse damages every part of you. The mental, psychological, and spiritual abuse can be MUCH worse than punching or than intercourse. <br />I'm saying the pain of assault goes really deep and hurts you in ways that don't show on the outside. Bruises and cuts heal- but fear, shame, and other trauma change the way your mind works, the choices you make, the way you value yourself, your trust in God. <br />Next, there's a lot of work to blame the victim. No one is raped because of immodest dress or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A rapist makes the choice to rape. The clothing didn't make him do it. Yes, there is danger in certain situations, like being drunk at a party. However, if Girl A wasn't drunk at the party, the rapist would have simply raped Girl B instead. In the Gothard case, it's distressing because the girls were working a job in a Christian setting. They dressed very modestly, like the Duggar girls. They thought they were under the "umbrella of protection." [a Gothard teaching] They didn't realize that the person everyone trusted to protect them was the one mostly likely to hurt them. (That's usually the case- most women are raped by someone they know and trust, not a stranger in a dark alley.)</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />I highly disagree your statement. "No one is raped because of immodest dress or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” A rapist makes a choice, because of this women are raped for all manner of reasons, including their clothing and their location, all the time. I can show the counter point most clearly by taking the issue to an extreme, if no woman was ever present at the location a rape occurs, none would ever occur. Clothing and location does not cause rape, but certain clothing choices and locations make it much more likely. It is like wandering dark alleys proclaiming you have $1,000 on you. It does not cause robbery, and it does not excuse the robbers, but it’s just a stupid thing to do. If you’re at a party where lots of sex is happening and a guy can see your breasts and up your blouse, you’re being stupid, especially if you wander off with him to a room alone. Remember it doesn’t take a conscious choice to rape someone. Even animals, and mindless beasts rape. Not raping someone when you want to takes a conscious choice, trust me sometimes it is a VERY conscious choice. Women use this all the time to hook men who otherwise wouldn't be interested in them.<br />…But you are correct, women are often abused by people they trust. I wouldn't say they are the one most likely to hurt them but it does happen a lot. This is usually men being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his sin hurting another. This is often caused by male pride, saying I can handle a little temptation, and perhaps the first few times they can, then one day they just don't. I have lines I won't cross, like sleeping alone in the same room as an attractive woman. I have bought hotel rooms and slept on concrete floors to avoid it. I am sure I could resist the temptation but I also wouldn't be surprised if I didn't. If you notice it was Bill Gothard being alone with a woman that got him sacked. Not the belief that he actually abused a woman but the knowledge that he could have and was tempted to do so. Every guy should know not to be in that situation. I would give myself no chance of lasting 30 years in an office full of beautiful women fawning over me without doing something wrong.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I know this is a complicated point to make- I think about it really differently than the way I used to, or the way churches taught me. If "modest" woman get raped, doesn't that prove that rape isn't about clothes? Woman is burkas get raped. Children in carefree kid's clothes get raped. <br />Yet, women in nudist colonies aren’t constantly getting raped. Women wearing bikinis on the beach aren't constantly getting raped. <br />You brought yourself into these examples- do you think there is any situation where you'd have sex with a woman who said she didn't want to have sex with you? Do you consider yourself a mindless beast, operating on instinct? I have a high opinion of men. I think they are fully capable of refraining. <br />I think you might be considering your doubts about yourself with what you might be tempted to do with a willing partner. If a woman in your office was really fawning over you, and you invited her into something sexual, it would still be fornication, but it wouldn't be rape. <br />I realize most rapists aren't walking around thinking, "I wonder who I should rape tonight?" Once you use that word, it sounds wrong. But they are thinking, "I'm having sex with her," and not considering whether or not she also wants to have sex with him. <br />How does the church deal with it? Unfortunately, most churches have no plan for dealing with this sort of thing. I think they should encourage and support the victim if she choses to report to authorities. I think they should find her good counseling. They should make sure she is safe and protected from her abuser- whether that's a change in living situation, job, etc. If the offender is a leader in the church, he should be removed from his position of power. Often, I would remove him from church membership entirely. I would encourage him to seek help- counseling, or whatever, but prioritizing helping the one who has been hurt is more important than saving the abuser. (Especially since abusers are very skillful at false repentance.)</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />You say they should support the victim, who is that? Most of the time its a “he said / she said” case, like with Bill Gothard. You have to pick the one you believe without evidence. Recall the story of Potiphar's wife, if a woman is angry she will do anything to hurt a man. Plus this relies on memory, which is not very accurate. If you doubt this ask two kids who got in a fight who started it, even if they both believe they are telling the truth they are probably both wrong. Plus it gets worse as time passes a skilled advertiser can change someone memory, most famously in 16% of people exposed to adds about meeting Bugs Bunny at Disney World believed they had met him there as a kid. (Bugs is Loony Tunes not Disney) <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwebfiles.uci.edu%2Feloftus%2FBraunPsychMarket02.pdf&h=ATMXZ5YHV7AWfEzbwOWpchPgWoY1ugeimfz38ki3z3xi8ovOHj1mEOA4GEOKX2YsxPSw2iqxWepJJo3NP9K_c7SxzAk7KY_242bMn8LgE0B1sh19BxAMEoVrWLjXcTWcySIT1SQ">https://webfiles.uci.edu/eloftus/BraunPsychMarket02.pdf</a><br />If you can prove rape the problem is easy, and your solution sounds reasonable, but what if you cannot? Just because you cannot prove it doesn't mean it didn't happen, but by the same token just because rape is claimed doesn't mean it occurred. What do you do in this case? Personally I would not condemn anyone, either the man or the woman.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />Responding to your comment: ”Grooming for abuse sounds A LOT like dating."<br />This really distresses me, so I hope I'm not too incoherent here. The difference- a huge, key, obvious different, that everyone should know about but doesn't- is CONSENT. Holding hands with someone you like is delightful. Holding hands with someone you don't want to be with is scary. The easiest way to find out the difference is to ASK. Use your words. If I could give every guy this advice, I'd say the best thing is say, "I like you. I'm interested in you. Can we go out? Would you be my girlfriend? Can I hold your hand? Can I kiss you?" </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />This is not the cultural norm. This is no where close to the cultural norm. It might be better than the norm but its not the norm. You can’t judge people based of how you would do it. I would also change the system if I could. I think everyone has their idea on the way it “should be.” Sadly they are all different systems.<br /></div>
<div>
G<br />Isn't it weird that communication isn't the cultural norm? It’s “normal” to force someone to do what you want and then see how they react? We should be sad about this. <br />I was pleasantly surprised when I was re-watching "Hitch" recently- Will's character was teaching a man how to get a woman, and one piece of advice was about kissing. He said, "You go 90% and let her go 10%" as he leans into a kiss. Although he didn't use words, it seemed like a good way to communicate the desire for a kiss without forcing one on someone else. They have an opportunity to turn away or to close the gap. <br />There's probably other good ways to do it- I'm not saying every single person has to say "Can I kiss you?" But everyone should make a system based on communication and consent. <br />I know that all our movies and sexy stories make it seem like people just fall into bed together- and even worse, we have tons of stories about one person pressuring and manipulating the other to date them and it all works out- but it's also very like that the person being coerced is scared feels guilty and doubtful.<br />This does sound like the bad side of dating to me- I had guys slide their hands up my legs, push my boundaries, expose themselves, and more. Without asking, communicating, and considering that I'd already been clear about what I wanted. But because I didn't understand consent then, I always ended up thinking it was MY fault- and I treated other women the same way with their similar problems. That's what I regret. <br />Yes, there is a progression of physical intimacy in most dating relationships. But some people want it and others don't. In the Gothard example, we're dealing with teen girls. Even if they were "fawning over him" (which I doubt, given the age difference) - they are legally unable to consent. The power imbalance is too great, and teens and children are easier to manipulate. Yes, Gothard should have had better oversight, but it also seems like many people knew and did nothing about it. <br />Grooming is about coercion and deception. Dating should be about communication and respect.</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Yes dating SHOULD be about communication and respect, but let’s be honest its sometimes not. And many women like it that way. You were offended that guys slid their hands up your legs, well other girls are turned on by that kind of thing. Who is right? In America everyone decides for themselves. Was the guy who slid his hand up your leg a creep because he slid his hand up a woman's leg or because he slid his hand up YOUR leg? America has no standards and rules are flexible based on who is involved. You say you think verbal agreements should be made, what if the guy’s last girlfriend hated those? You must judge by society’s standard, and what kind of madness is that standard? It’s “free sex.” <br />Let me say this clearly, in a world with “Free sex” where anyone can have sex with anyone at any time things like “rape” get very vague. What is consent? Who decides it? Ultimately it is the guy. If he thinks the girl has given him consent he can have sex with her. If he guesses right its romantic, if he guesses wrong it’s rape. Its a judgment call. Most of the time it depends on the attractiveness of the man if the action is creepy or romantic. Let me say that again to be clear, if two men do the exact same thing to a woman one can be rape and the other romantic based on how nice his hair looks. This is acceptable to society. What practical impact does this have, the more drinks a guy has had the more likely it is that you have given him your consent. It is very important for women to realize this. Many women love this system, in fact the current rules were developed by feminists, and they just think some guys are born rapists. Much of the time this isn't true, some guys are just uglier than they think, or stupid or drunk and think they are following the rules. Plus women have different tastes. This is why you hear guys say things like “she wanted it” and they are believed. Many people have met a woman who would have “wanted it” in similar circumstance. This upsets people who haven't met such people. Classic example is 50 Shades of Gray. It horrifies some people, but lots of women think it romantic.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I agree that many women like having a man slide his hand up her skirt- but that doesn't mean she doesn't like communication and respect. She has different rules for her body than my rules. She wants her rules to be respected just like I want my rules to be respected. Can you provide an example of a woman who doesn't like communication and respect? (In real life. Like I said before, our fiction world does a terrible job of this.)<br />Don't guess! Ask! I feel like you are saying that an attractive man can get away with raping more women than an unattractive man. Yes, women have different tastes. Communicate about it. It's not an excuse for sex.<br />50 Shades of Gray is a great example- I'm glad you brought it up. I am sad that many women think that book is romantic. (I think if many of them were living it rather than reading it, they might be more aware of how abusive it is.) Interestingly, the BDSM community has done a great job speaking out against that book- they were pretty angry to be represented that way. People who get off on pain and things like that take boundaries very seriously. <br />Even if someone does love 50 Shades, they could still communicate by telling their partner they love that book and would like to act it out. But any guy who say, "Women love that book- I'm going to treat a woman that way" is headed down a bad path.<br />Lastly, don't think of sex as something a man does to a woman. It should be something they do together. <br /></div>
<div>
R<br />I consider rape to be sex without authority to do so.<br />Generally we discuss it in the context of society, so legal authority. This is because the legal authority is the agreed upon standards which society has agreed to uphold. Note: much immorality is not covered by the term "rape." What is your definition.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />Both people have authority over their own bodies and need to agree to have sex. <br />Yes, ultimately God has authority over our bodies, but God gave us stewardship and free will. <br />There are situations where consent isn't able to be given: children can't give consent to sex, adults can't have sex with teens, mentally handicapped to caregivers, prisoners to guards, etc. A unconscious person can't consent to sex. A person who is drugged or drunk can't consent. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />What do you believe consent to be, and who gives it? Can a good man ever think he has consent but doesn’t?<br /></div>
<div>
G<br />I do think men have thought they had consent, or that they didn't need it. Because we have bad teaching on this subject- like we've said before about "romantic" stories where men keep pressuring women to love them until they do. <br /></div>
<div>
R<br />The clearest case is the issue of dress. To me its super easy to say don't wear revealing clothing that turns guys on.<br /></div>
<div>
G<br />What kind of clothing turns guys on? It's different for everyone. Trying to not turn on men with one's clothing is an impossible goal. One person says don't show any cleavage. Another says that yoga pants are wicked. Another says modest women only wear skirts. Trying to be modest and please everyone is an impossible standard. Here's a good list of how impossible these rules are: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkateschell.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F02%2F04%2Fip-rules%2F&h=ATN2fPTrQ1AtHLm7fG3WFfrTyltnpu31zxo1aask0Uvj3HeZZH9Dl5sJ1BIftyQO_DJkIDxflB3kS_N5P5wBsTB5Ym1f3PJkiCgDVRaWUsNRO__p8kFvbQUPCvg63fOrNnvz4-E">https://kateschell.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/ip-rules/</a> </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />That link is clearly a joke, your case would be stronger if you found some draconian dress code, which I am sure exists. But I will agree it is funny because it is based on truth. I will point out that dressing like a nun seems to cover all these points, so if you want to be a super Christian in the eyes of all it’s easy to follow all those restrictions. But on a practical point, most women actually seek out clothing that turns guys on, because it turns guys on. Ask a woman if her outfit is sexy. If she says yes, she is intentionally encouraging guys to try to have sex with her. If a woman thinks she is dressed modestly and is not sexy, I would accept that she is properly dressed. Again women dressing sexy does not cause guy to act sexy, but I do believe a correlation exists.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />No, it's not easy to follow all these restrictions, because everyone disagrees about where the line should be drawn. You could dress like a nun, but some men have a nun fetish. Bill Gothard's girls dressed like that- all long skirts.<br />I see you are switching to focus on intentions- if a women is trying to arouse a man. I think it's not good to make assumptions. For many years, I haven't worn shorts (outside of gym). I was told when I was a teen that my long legs were too sexy and needed to be covered up. I was mortified. Now that I'm living in Hawaii, I finally bought some shorts. It's hot outside! and inside my house! Although I don't wear shorts to work because I don't think it's office professional, I'm wearing shorts a lot. I love it! Both because it's cooler, and because I feel freedom from being ashamed of my legs and fearing that I was being sinful. But that's not all. I do like the way my legs look. I don't think my body is sinful anymore. It feels nice to like my body, but it has nothing to do with encouraging men to have sex with me. My body isn't public property. <br />Even for women who are trying to get attention from men, that doesn't meant they want every single man to feel entitled to her. A women might be looking for sex, but men still have to ask permission, not just start raping her. <br />There's NO reason to assume a stranger wants to have sex with you unless you've had a conversation about it. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />I question this, so you really believe that everyone who has consensual sex has a conversation about it ahead of time? Watch the TV that teens emulate and tell me if this is true. Especially chick flicks violate this rule. Women should expect guys to act the way society says normal guys should be. I am not saying society’s rules are good, but that they should be expected and planned for.<br /></div>
<div>
G<br />Yes. I hate how click flicks portray this. <br />That's what we call rape culture. <br />That's why I'm trying to make cultural change. <br />And really- even without words- you should be able to tell if the person you are having sex with isn't enjoying it. If they are unconscious, or too drunk or drugged to be clear headed, if they are crying, if they are staring into the void, if they are fighting back, if they are only following instructions without giving any input... It's hard for me to have compassion for guys who "accidentally" rape someone. I do identify it as a systemic problem more than a personal problem, because our culture and media teaches us that "no doesn't mean no." But they should still know better.<br />The only people who enjoy having sex with someone who isn't enjoying having sex with them are rapists. They are getting off on the power and control, not love or lust. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Do you really think guys can't get self absorbed in themselves and not notice they are hurting someone? Again to the TV watch any guy action flick and you will likely see him go berserk when he gets passionate. But I do think what we have here is another clear point of disagreement, does rape involve a women not being satisfied? Your statement seems to imply that if a guy takes a women without her consent but she enjoys the experience and is pleased at the end its not rape. Now combine this thought with the belief that many men have, that they are super studs and all women love them, with a belief that if a women enjoys it, then it’s not rape.<br />FYI culture and media don't teach men that no doesn't mean no, it’s women that teach that lesson. Sadly lots of women do say no when they mean yes, I can tell you many stories. Those women exist, and they make it harder for those who say what they mean.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />If a women says no when she means yes, respect the No. Maybe she'll be sad that she didn't get to have sex, but that can start a change for her to start communicating properly in the future. <br />Yes, I think guys can get self absorbed and not notice they are hurting someone. So? It's rape, or at the very least, bad sex. Like I said before, sex is something two people do together, not something one person does to another person. <br />It really distresses me that Christian men don't take this more seriously. They should care about this. Why is it that an atheist, nudist man who practices BDSM can care about consent and will refrain from sex because his partner doesn't want it, but a Christian man will rape or at least defend rapists?</div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Lets bring back up Bill Gothard, and Bill Cosby, both men who have not yet been proven did anything wrong, but have only been accused of abuse. Is the correct action respect and acceptance for those who bring serious accusations against people, or should it be skepticism?</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />Certainly there is a healthy level of skepticism. I think Gothard and Cosby have moved far beyond that level. If you believe that many women are lying, it must be a conspiracy, and you would need a lot of evidence for that. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Far beyond a healthy level of skepticism? (That is me expressing extreme amazement, I am actually offended that you said this. This is the only thing you have said that has offended me) Correct me if I am wrong but a jury (which was approved by the prosecution) listened to the case of Bill Cosby and refused to condemn him. Normal people looked at the facts and the verdict was split. Are the jurors stupid? Why is it clear to you but not to the jurors who have reviewed the case in detail and heard both sides? Its a complex case, like they all are. Cases like this are only simple on internet blogs. Full disclosure I know almost nothing about this case but I hate trial by Facebook. People who read an article and jump to conclusions before hearing the other side of the story don't do any good. Don't make cases like Bill's turn into cases like Leo Frank's. Be a skeptic.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I'm sorry to offend you. I am confused though. I believe the testimony of dozens of women. You believe the testimony of two men. Why is my position offensive?<br />I don't think the jurors are stupid, but they live in a culture where we say that raped women are asking for it. I don't see why I need to agree with the results of every trial. Leo Frank got a bad trial- I don't agree with the decision his jury made either. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Sure, I agree I work with refugees and have to deal with the messed up system. But it is better than any other I have seen or heard of. That's why I don't want to bash it, I know what other systems exist, and what would happen if certain policies were introduced. So I have a deep fear of any system other than our own. </div>
<div>
<br />G<br />I admire the work you do. <br />I'm not discarding our whole system. <br />You also mentioned David before. I was always taught Bathsheba was a slut in that story- now I'm frustrated that adults portrayed her that way. It's victim blaming. The story is clear that she was doing a ceremonial bathing, required by law, after her period. She wasn't showing off hoping to get noticed. And if the King asks for you to come to the palace and have sex with him, you don't have any choice in the matter. It's rape, not an affair. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />Yea, I have heard the Bathsheba was a slut story before as well. I don't really believe it but I also don't believe your story that she was ceremonially washing either. The bible is unclear, it neither claims she was a slut or ceremonial washing. Truth be told her actions really are not relevant to the story so they are left out. If she was a slut, David shouldn't have slept with her. If she wasn't a slut, David shouldn't have slept with her. </div>
<div>
<br />G<br />The Bible isn't unclear on this point, it says it. 2 Samuel 11:14 "Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness."<br />It's like the article I posted above- it matters that that girl didn't chose to have sex with her pastor. She carried around guilt and was blamed by her community for something that wasn't her fault. This is so damaging. The church should care. </div>
<div>
<br />R<br />I have friends who are both rapists and those who have been raped. I know of people who have been falsely accused of rape and those who have committed rape and had no punishment. I think God has a plan for them all, even if some of them will need punishment. <br />As for the rapists I think once a prescribed punishment is complete they should be forgiven. My example is King David. After he did his raping the High Priest publicly condemned him. David repented and was punished by God. Then some of his subjects didn't forgive him and tried to overthrow him and they found themselves fighting God. Also remember this was the "Man after God's Own Heart" a Godly man and Godly leader who raped that woman. When you think of rapists remember he was one, they aren’t some vile breed of immoral men. Just men who do immoral things.</div>
<div>
<br />G<br />David repented. That's key.</div>
<div>
<br /> R<br />As for those raped I think they should be supported as we are able. Doing so its like supporting Christ, as it is written "When did we see you thirsty and give you a drink"<br />Overall I think that many “rapist” like Joseph deserve the benefit of the doubt. Even the guilty ones like King David sometimes deserve a second chance. This is not meant to excuse rape, I would support extreme penalties for extreme cases. Some men just take advantage of women, but to the counterpoint some women go out looking to be taken advantage of. Good women shouldn't emulate loose women. Women should expect men to act within the norm of society. Sadly “rape” is part of the norm, women need to be prepared for some normal guy to come on to them and avoid the normal pitfalls. Hoping it wont happen isn't much of a solution. Punishing men is a long term way to change what the normal guy is. However I would try to insure the guys like Leo Frank get a fair trial and are not convicted because people know that “those kinds of people do that kind of thing.” Social media can distort things as in The Affair of the Diamond Necklace, sometimes people are convicted in the court of public opinion solely because one side is louder and more popular. </div>
<div>
<br />G<br />Thanks for discussing it with me. It does seem like we're reaching an impasse. <br />I do think it's good to discuss- sex was a taboo subject for me growing up. </div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-74416622901972495872017-06-10T23:47:00.003-07:002019-01-17T12:34:46.909-08:00Revelation NonsenseAlthough I've done my best to write about Revelation in a historically and Biblically literate way, it's a tough subject to research. There's a lot of nonsense about Revelation on the internet. Some of it is intentional nonsense, pernicious misinterpretation to attain power and money for the purveyors of misinformation. Some of it is somewhat innocent - true believers who have a laser like focus on the nonsense and can't keep track of God's character and love anymore.<br />
<br />
Either way, it's harmful.<br />
<br />
Here's a video which exemplifies this sort of nonsense. (The first version of this video was deleted... hopefully this one will stay online? If not, just search for "revelation monster energy drink")<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TjB3dO6hVwc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TjB3dO6hVwc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
The passage of concern here is Revelation 13:18 "This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666."<br />
<br />
I realize this passage is intriguing to conspiracy theorists, because it's a secret code. How fun! Now you can feel like the hero of The Davinci Code as you figure it out.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or, you could ask yourself a better question. Why tell this story in code?<br />
<div>
Apocalyptic stories are all told like this. (It’s a lost genre.) We can’t fully understand spiritual realities, so they are told with images and metaphor. <br />
<br />
In the time period Revelation was written, it wasn't safe to speak freely. Freedom of speech was not a right for the author and audience in this story. Saying “Emperor Nero is wicked" would be a crime. But saying “The Beast is wicked” gives a little room for interpretation. Still, for people living in that time period in that area, most of these metaphors and symbols would be clear and not confusing at all. (If I wanted to talk in code about my dislike of President Trump, I might refer to him with an insult based on orange. Everyone now would now who I was talking about and why, but it 1,000 years, people might be puzzling over the symbolism of the color orange.)<br />
<br />
Six-six-six could be code for Euanthas, Lateinos, or Nero Caesar. (<a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-666-as-per-the-biblical-Book-of-Revelation">Here</a> is one such explanation._ These were wicked Roman kings who caused great harm to the people they were supposed to rule wisely. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or, 666 could be empathically short of the perfect number 7. <b>Don’t get obsessed with interpreting it.</b> Some things that were perfectly clear at the time don’t make sense now, and people will start seeing 6’s everywhere if you are looking for them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a few of the examples I've found online of people obsessing over 666:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0TGhF0iSdiIpi5qWeJJOHH9n6Ac2y4vJn8ibTZaseCkau4PXbgyw0YdtkYAn1lkoEGlgg7hUU8P3ogBcqDzkApfOCJG4X6acRbRTc_36nieGtGucSQJbkh8T8JyrbHzM5wgE_ahsUBcp/s1600/IMG_1447.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="491" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0TGhF0iSdiIpi5qWeJJOHH9n6Ac2y4vJn8ibTZaseCkau4PXbgyw0YdtkYAn1lkoEGlgg7hUU8P3ogBcqDzkApfOCJG4X6acRbRTc_36nieGtGucSQJbkh8T8JyrbHzM5wgE_ahsUBcp/s400/IMG_1447.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obama! He's a secret Muslim, and also the antichrist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xhk_Rz33GJP7oAW5Izd2g685PW3m7G67Kp8JfekKO0EecmqMJotkVT24dtW65QdLhd4Z-tAeikQyJXseL6K2mR8h_QH-7GYeBnqOoPu2K5P9G7Wzjk5FbjsiqS5wg51MK4GnwldRh7EO/s1600/IMG_1458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="480" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xhk_Rz33GJP7oAW5Izd2g685PW3m7G67Kp8JfekKO0EecmqMJotkVT24dtW65QdLhd4Z-tAeikQyJXseL6K2mR8h_QH-7GYeBnqOoPu2K5P9G7Wzjk5FbjsiqS5wg51MK4GnwldRh7EO/s400/IMG_1458.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Math! I've always said it's fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineA-HKgH0wPGqQLoxktUQp3H_IocR8lHn3T87iu4XhrN-5QqIDuEphhjM1aFa6ZCCp7I7Ut7iZJXk1Vh76wLFFyHTaowrpH_d8_eKzHoW_V2R1pY26Ya3BjKgYpbM0DPLb1DS63pXqqvm/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="603" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineA-HKgH0wPGqQLoxktUQp3H_IocR8lHn3T87iu4XhrN-5QqIDuEphhjM1aFa6ZCCp7I7Ut7iZJXk1Vh76wLFFyHTaowrpH_d8_eKzHoW_V2R1pY26Ya3BjKgYpbM0DPLb1DS63pXqqvm/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anything can be a 6 if you work hard at it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG60L-Ej6Hin5kSnER4ReysXnTPQYHn5i7TEMnV_fdDLFkB9n1ybcYElLTfUAk82XnDFYWximv7FOgVvVSFdVm__VU43zcGpfs1P_U5bGGxBOkmEsinPEKoQI9rftc1z0rFw0pyqBHDE55/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="550" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG60L-Ej6Hin5kSnER4ReysXnTPQYHn5i7TEMnV_fdDLFkB9n1ybcYElLTfUAk82XnDFYWximv7FOgVvVSFdVm__VU43zcGpfs1P_U5bGGxBOkmEsinPEKoQI9rftc1z0rFw0pyqBHDE55/s400/IMG_1516.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working hard to keep this updated - any "new" thing is the Mark of the Beast, but any old thing is The Good Old Days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It's sad how quickly these conspiracy theories become dated. It's not cool to say Obama is the antichrist anymore; since he's out of office and power, you really need to get over it. But young people don't know how long the <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2005/08/19/lb-the-antichrist-checklist/">antichrist game</a> has been going on. (By the way, there is NO character in Revelation called "The Antichrist")</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Pope is an ongoing favorite for accusation. Every pope has been accused- so nothing on this chart will make sense after Francis passes away. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM9-SLgzKyl0qyD0fIeBVsZlcMRaxh-ibSoW6BVCYPP6FFSRe6axrjhmqRyzQEW_Tu4CDjv7xsfJs8Uk6v7OBWBdo39lU-zgA_kbe4qw0CXKxDPjgziFIBJ_VXQh58JYBUBnFsGTfg5d1/s1600/IMG_1425.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="700" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM9-SLgzKyl0qyD0fIeBVsZlcMRaxh-ibSoW6BVCYPP6FFSRe6axrjhmqRyzQEW_Tu4CDjv7xsfJs8Uk6v7OBWBdo39lU-zgA_kbe4qw0CXKxDPjgziFIBJ_VXQh58JYBUBnFsGTfg5d1/s640/IMG_1425.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Every US president (or potential president) gets a share of accusation:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyck1ezpk1tEYuvDOF2tn6FwIorl9V7Z4fiHUbWQ35rRREjj4OcNyH-5sBoS_lKS4rbAjCM8M8-TabNMYD3EjXnLEWu_MIs0lScZW3k6dmfNIwRsSJN_xQ9K9jIf2SB6LKCSXgELccWKY/s1600/Reagan666.Gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyck1ezpk1tEYuvDOF2tn6FwIorl9V7Z4fiHUbWQ35rRREjj4OcNyH-5sBoS_lKS4rbAjCM8M8-TabNMYD3EjXnLEWu_MIs0lScZW3k6dmfNIwRsSJN_xQ9K9jIf2SB6LKCSXgELccWKY/s1600/Reagan666.Gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ronald Reagan, US President 1980s<br />
(each of his names has 6 letters)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB9sPIru4B4u7RD1Ms17jkJpPGsu3sHsvA3nDfA5e5VYMje-Tir25BBoRo4GsuQUqi5eFNLoA4Jcg75CBHEr83x2FwKTISZMbqrh6jj4VG-w0vryyI8-rnM_NfYwe4wi6KGfCmGWj3X4B/s1600/IMG_1456.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="760" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB9sPIru4B4u7RD1Ms17jkJpPGsu3sHsvA3nDfA5e5VYMje-Tir25BBoRo4GsuQUqi5eFNLoA4Jcg75CBHEr83x2FwKTISZMbqrh6jj4VG-w0vryyI8-rnM_NfYwe4wi6KGfCmGWj3X4B/s640/IMG_1456.GIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1990s: President Bill Clinton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XeDbf1ol07m3wJdlhbtxMIUXBs9WmGoT7fIRqZSuzdpM4afLKJxuz7dpNGnZcovjsHY64CH0Ik9E1K0SRCsokMBYbDwiRzqicZfh5EHzn6kbzAkUzUCthG8YitMMwJcxouR4-_Nwmiym/s1600/IMG_1437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XeDbf1ol07m3wJdlhbtxMIUXBs9WmGoT7fIRqZSuzdpM4afLKJxuz7dpNGnZcovjsHY64CH0Ik9E1K0SRCsokMBYbDwiRzqicZfh5EHzn6kbzAkUzUCthG8YitMMwJcxouR4-_Nwmiym/s640/IMG_1437.JPG" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2000-2008 George W. Bush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbYaThcszuEdSvjbA6gtsi89UokgyUIMxL0St4frwp18LCeqmJcAXcw8uOv0b4Hiin6oo5yZJ4Kg3J5i4PtHeq14KyvKq9gpbAPrIm_ZKMLhDauovcLa0ZSP9lHvNCSGFdraFA-Az2Bq3/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbYaThcszuEdSvjbA6gtsi89UokgyUIMxL0St4frwp18LCeqmJcAXcw8uOv0b4Hiin6oo5yZJ4Kg3J5i4PtHeq14KyvKq9gpbAPrIm_ZKMLhDauovcLa0ZSP9lHvNCSGFdraFA-Az2Bq3/s640/IMG_1434.JPG" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009-2016 President Barack Obama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fXhABX2VKUX3BRZOOBfGeXQ6H0Nu_N1NNDXADiOq-CLKF0v3apQfgIhw-lbVg9yuh5vyHjXGVMgZyO-469eRshpYbSHSxlSJdQIGgkZDO_E-fPpd-K0Yj-ASE4Qw3JoAR6AHgOYCXKNB/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="298" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fXhABX2VKUX3BRZOOBfGeXQ6H0Nu_N1NNDXADiOq-CLKF0v3apQfgIhw-lbVg9yuh5vyHjXGVMgZyO-469eRshpYbSHSxlSJdQIGgkZDO_E-fPpd-K0Yj-ASE4Qw3JoAR6AHgOYCXKNB/s400/IMG_1442.JPG" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidential Candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a71_KHz7MYCDbnQh7O4fc54WPEE8_fJpa6HcbpvTSOjHI6-ryvQVb1LexaAIkPis78HsheDRAGpMKZ8cgzypZUpUoUpTb_Fy65kO5exCPpMriOOcheU46du6MaK7iuZ7Si1n2rxTV0Z0/s1600/IMG_1436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1205" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a71_KHz7MYCDbnQh7O4fc54WPEE8_fJpa6HcbpvTSOjHI6-ryvQVb1LexaAIkPis78HsheDRAGpMKZ8cgzypZUpUoUpTb_Fy65kO5exCPpMriOOcheU46du6MaK7iuZ7Si1n2rxTV0Z0/s400/IMG_1436.JPG" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Donald Trump 2017 - present</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When my mom was my age, Gorbechev was a popular contender:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcgcys30dW-u9zuGaCyIwhLkiu9iGG4GfspcpP6PbX1f0RPMMGEmc1iF8tt501-TCREpInkz3nPBim4X_AVFfk9eWeWXcYhKBbN8-OoAFd7-OqoLSblqBCah6-1teurE8A3ofPx-wiae7/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1102" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcgcys30dW-u9zuGaCyIwhLkiu9iGG4GfspcpP6PbX1f0RPMMGEmc1iF8tt501-TCREpInkz3nPBim4X_AVFfk9eWeWXcYhKBbN8-OoAFd7-OqoLSblqBCah6-1teurE8A3ofPx-wiae7/s400/IMG_1457.JPG" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union<br />
1985–1991</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or contemporary Russia is a good target:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd1Q4aQpgm4Lbs6SCTSKGT4QbgtnX24yx3bnvnKJ7LCxaQRMyGoeCgoxQNTHt0aziurvmiTjbHQO73g8ExIzpuRQhVnKHK0gp2bhv3jnAJySa8FNP1Whi3Bp5VxilS_vzSbFIMQ62YOIy/s1600/IMG_2242.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="580" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd1Q4aQpgm4Lbs6SCTSKGT4QbgtnX24yx3bnvnKJ7LCxaQRMyGoeCgoxQNTHt0aziurvmiTjbHQO73g8ExIzpuRQhVnKHK0gp2bhv3jnAJySa8FNP1Whi3Bp5VxilS_vzSbFIMQ62YOIy/s400/IMG_2242.GIF" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vladimir Putin, President of Russia 2012 - Present</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Islamic leaders are also common options:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-YHGBOYL2MgRux1VzCF90dgA6rJBhlcqXnAldEXxk_jACkeS1EX93k7544JeXHixMf8lS62afUoHJZkqNm3fd_QxPcrC0-RT9q-QpPeppwaWWYuXj-VV9mMjjjK9NmRNsi8Lj-ifW0hk/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="262" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-YHGBOYL2MgRux1VzCF90dgA6rJBhlcqXnAldEXxk_jACkeS1EX93k7544JeXHixMf8lS62afUoHJZkqNm3fd_QxPcrC0-RT9q-QpPeppwaWWYuXj-VV9mMjjjK9NmRNsi8Lj-ifW0hk/s640/IMG_1439.JPG" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span>Saddam Hussein President of Iraq, 1979-2003</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or, just combine a hatred of Islam with a hatred of Catholicism and smoosh them together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8m6N1GsH6lujblCXG8wThn1_NeE-mOmWpH55Kf3kFIdlKO1Fu64BnafsJ2jA0hU6zSr7Jy6ckH10QbllrGn3ZCMd3WShKd3ReWcbAjR7bwVTZdGoX7AZdRE_pC0rCeV80U-U_FlniBaB/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8m6N1GsH6lujblCXG8wThn1_NeE-mOmWpH55Kf3kFIdlKO1Fu64BnafsJ2jA0hU6zSr7Jy6ckH10QbllrGn3ZCMd3WShKd3ReWcbAjR7bwVTZdGoX7AZdRE_pC0rCeV80U-U_FlniBaB/s640/IMG_1441.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also found two accusations which frankly shocked me:</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs1HO7f_iqFVOJTY-dwEwqXBF0JV4uH1LzvGIuOHYWTG64JKuG1yFLvTlVmhOi8zLr46BfatXfqrMFFMYXJ6gGI0sYmEseN6_mVJs-1Abe6IIXDqlStSmGb-GLeWa06_jl9bYtrsUxvN5/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs1HO7f_iqFVOJTY-dwEwqXBF0JV4uH1LzvGIuOHYWTG64JKuG1yFLvTlVmhOi8zLr46BfatXfqrMFFMYXJ6gGI0sYmEseN6_mVJs-1Abe6IIXDqlStSmGb-GLeWa06_jl9bYtrsUxvN5/s400/IMG_1444.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy Graham: world famous evangelist from 1940s to 2000s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ_cU3ljlZSQdCRHZAxsOX-MXEqfrDCp-Y46GkoogGQhvdtK3u8Ph7TFDtf9bFmqzqqIdBnh3BB00ovSLZA7Fzp58r8KjhTk__h6Y691Aya94Pq8XLJ8ReERh_gttEcvfTDIF691eLPGi/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="930" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ_cU3ljlZSQdCRHZAxsOX-MXEqfrDCp-Y46GkoogGQhvdtK3u8Ph7TFDtf9bFmqzqqIdBnh3BB00ovSLZA7Fzp58r8KjhTk__h6Y691Aya94Pq8XLJ8ReERh_gttEcvfTDIF691eLPGi/s400/IMG_1445.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Apostle Paul: major New Testament character and writer </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One could argue that all of these people have done wrong things, perhaps even things that were against (or anti-) Christ. However, calling any of them "The Antichrist" - a one singular evil person who would bring about the end of the world- is both selfish and silly. All it takes if for that person to die or to lose power for your prediction to be worthless. That's why they keep writing new books and pretending like the old ones never happened.<br />
<br />
However, if you took the time to look critically at what that person did wrong- why their beliefs, teachings or actions were contrary to God's love and God's will, you may learn something. But looking for secret symbolism only bring confusion and paranoia.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZUndl0JKg2Zh-K-gqO1z-outlXglsmlA_ZeYnn9zS6gMPqtRK3wIaKV7E1c9pNGPes3MFtNoQrNSQ7qIx5sr8dJNkbCVp-7lLhjVOHHQU6d0VcV_zMFsb7ibo2Fw8ZZQkxnx5FHnfM_e/s1600/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZUndl0JKg2Zh-K-gqO1z-outlXglsmlA_ZeYnn9zS6gMPqtRK3wIaKV7E1c9pNGPes3MFtNoQrNSQ7qIx5sr8dJNkbCVp-7lLhjVOHHQU6d0VcV_zMFsb7ibo2Fw8ZZQkxnx5FHnfM_e/s400/IMG_1423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can take anything you don't like and apply Revelation symbolism to it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let's return to the Monster energy drink video.<br />
<br />
This woman focuses on secret symbols. She imagines that someone's soul is damaged by turning a cross upside-down by accident. She suggests that satan gets some sort of benefit by a symbol that looks vaguely like a Hebrew letter. What benefit could it possibly be to satan? Here's how satan benefits: when people hurt each other. When people hate. When people misuse God's name to ignore the suffering of others.<br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, Monster Energy is not a Christian company, as she observed. There are potentially harmful things about using cursing and sexualization to market a product. There's much harm in capitalism in general: greed, false advertising, oppression of workers, promotion of unhealthy consumption, waste, lack of care for the Earth. But she doesn't focus on any of that. She's only concerned with secrets, conspiracies, and feeling proud of herself for having secret knowledge.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqDpW6hU3Hof3k1q_Z9r7oAPNNDnBuF-UoeB6TkWdQQPSLpjhJQLwpSbGE0M55MYAoccP6ZNSF3Rg1kj7t3Z8jOxvjW-YGFSK0tLBkmik4YBfpDkTh6NAioNTfNSoaW9C0Y5OSr74n7t0/s1600/IMG_1438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqDpW6hU3Hof3k1q_Z9r7oAPNNDnBuF-UoeB6TkWdQQPSLpjhJQLwpSbGE0M55MYAoccP6ZNSF3Rg1kj7t3Z8jOxvjW-YGFSK0tLBkmik4YBfpDkTh6NAioNTfNSoaW9C0Y5OSr74n7t0/s320/IMG_1438.JPG" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Jobs, American entrepreneur and inventor, CEO of Apple until his death in 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(By the way, I do think there's a good side to American innovation- creativity, challenges, and teamwork. I'm not saying Jobs or anyone else on this page is "The Antichrist.")<br />
<br />
I can summarize this into two main problems:<br />
<ol>
<li>A nonsense interpretation of the history of Revelation- thinking John of Patmos looked into the future, saw Monster Energy Drinks or Barack Obama, and felt the need to tell his contemporaries about it.</li>
<li>A nonsense interpretation of the present: that rather than considering the good and bad deeds of world leaders, we focus our attention on secrets and conspiracies.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
The symbolism of 666 is not the most important thing. The most important thing about the Mark of the Beast is allegiance. The real question is: Is our allegiance to God, or to wicked rulers? We can use secret symbols to justify following bad leaders, or to let them distract us from having good discernment about leadership. Or we can look at the big picture, and make decisions based on following a God of Love. </div>
</div>
</div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-46314362233644229082017-05-09T18:47:00.000-07:002018-09-23T18:22:05.342-07:00What is Worship?<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holy, Holy, Holy, / Is the Lord God Almighty / Who was and is, and is to come. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all creation I sing / Praise to the King of Kings / You are my everything</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I will adore You</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-d431979c-effd-22bf-df0f-5d9a570e74cb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, we come together to worship, so let’s ask- What is worship?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christians typically think of worship like this, gathering together with a community, singing songs, and reflecting on the meaning of the lyrics. Worship is also expressed through our feelings- you may be happy, exuberant, overwhelmed, moved, sad, or all of them at once. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of you here worship God, and maybe some of you aren’t sure if you consider yourself a person who worships. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But actually, we all worship!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all dedicate ourselves to something. We all spend our time and our money in some focused way. We all honor whatever it is that we consider to be valuable. </span></div>
<h2>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">How do we worship?</span></span></h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Money</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Focus </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rejoicing </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mourning </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Energy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Art</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Songs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Writing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prayer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Movement (dance, exercise, prayer postures)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love/devotion/adoration</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trust, Obedience/submission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Protecting/defending</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Taking action</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Refraining from action</span></li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of this worship is personal, and some of it is communal. Today we’re worshipping communally- everyone together. We worship because our family or our community said we should, or sometimes we worship something we’ve chosen for ourselves. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Either way, we worship because we’ve decided that something is worthy of worship. In fact, “worth” is the root of the word worship.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Worship = Worth-ship</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
<br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We worship what has value. We worship what we think is deserving.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the book of Revelation, we see many scenes of worship. This may surprise you because the book is more famous for stories of destruction and death- but that’s not the point of Revelation. In contrast to despair, we witness this scene alongside our narrator John. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Revelation 4:6b-11, 5:1-6b, 9-12</span></span></h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“‘Holy, holy, holy</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">is the Lord God Almighty,’</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">who was, and is, and is to come.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are worthy, our Lord and God,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">to receive glory and honor and power,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">for you created all things,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and by your will they were created</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and have their being.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And they sang a new song, saying:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are worthy to take the scroll</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and to open its seals,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">because you were slain,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and with your blood you purchased for God</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and they will reign on the earth.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and honor and glory and praise!”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know this is an overwhelming vision, and we don’t have time to break down every part of it right now. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it is overwhelming on purpose. Imagine standing in front of this heavenly throne with this cast of characters: four creatures with wings and strange faces, twenty-four elders, and 100 million angels. This contrasts the destruction elsewhere in the story. John was writing this as a letter to a persecuted people- those who were dying for their faith in a time when Rome had conquered most of the known world. Romans worshiped a goddess of victory and built statues and altars to her. Roman kings also demanded worship. They said, “I’m worthy of worship, because I’m the strongest and the smartest, and I have the biggest army.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of the things Rome worshipped, we still worship today. Maybe we don’t build a statue to them, but we spend our time, money and energy focused on these things.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">What We Worship</span></span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Athletes, sports teams, movie stars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Politicians or policies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Church and religious leaders</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Success and accomplishments</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Independence and self-reliance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grades, degrees, titles, prestige</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coolness or uniqueness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sex and sexual attractiveness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dating, romance, romantic partners</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Marriage and family</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Western beauty standards (certain skin tones, face shapes, body shapes)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thinness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good health and able bodies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strength and security</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Patriotism and nationalism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Money and materialism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Authority figures</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Winning/victory</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Comfort, convenience</span></li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These things aren’t all inherently bad: but are they worthy of worship? I mentioned things like marriage and family because they can be good and life-giving, but worshipping them can also mess up our priorities and cause harm. I see that in dating too- many think they are incomplete without a significant other, that their life isn’t worthwhile unless a boyfriend or girlfriend affirms them. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, grades and achievements were a major focus when I was a student. I built my identity around my report card. Jesus was important to me too, but there was a wall around part of my heart where Jesus had no place. When I was 18, for the first time I decided to give my whole heart to Jesus, instead of just the places where it was easy and convenient. It’s still hard to keep giving up that part of myself. I don’t get grades anymore, thankfully, but I tend to worship being right, winning arguments, or being perceived as being right. It can be hard to let go of these things, and it’s still a long journey with Jesus for me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next hard step in my journey again started with expanding my heart. I hadn’t noticed how my faith was exclusively personal. I thought, as long as I have a personal relationship with Jesus, it doesn’t matter if my family, my church, my people group, or my country have a broken relationship with God. But in Revelation, we see that it matters to God when our communities worship things which aren’t worthy. Most of the stuff on this worship list are things our culture ingrains in us- how many times do you see media for thinness and certain beauty standards? How often do we see leaders escape consequences for their wicked actions because we worship their power? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Rome, we have leaders who say - “I’m the strongest and the smartest. I have the power. I’m worthy of your devotion and obedience.” We live in a world where we are encouraged to worship leaders and power, or seek the victories of our group at the expense of others.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So when John says that God alone is worthy of worship, he’s promoting a revolutionary act. In the midst of wicked rulers, he tells us to disobey their commands and give allegiance to God instead. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John is writing this from prison, and others who follow this act of allegiance could end up there too, or die as martyrs. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This worship is not fun or casual. These early Christians took worship seriously. They were serious because it was worthwhile. So why is God worthy of worship?</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day and night they never stop saying:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“‘Holy, holy, holy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">is the Lord God Almighty,’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">who was, and is, and is to come.</span>”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are <span style="background-color: cyan;">worthy</span>, our Lord and God,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">to receive glory and honor and power,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">for <span style="background-color: yellow;">you created all things,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and by your will they were created</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and have their being.”</span></blockquote>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Holy means to be complete, whole. There's nothing incomplete about God. God was, is, and is to come because God is eternal and lives forever. God is the creator- what power could be greater?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can see why God is worthy- someone so big and so powerful must be greater than any conquering King, right?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there’s another aspect to this worthiness. In chapter 5 verse 2, we meet a mighty angel. We have a cultural view of angels looking sweet and human, but this being probably looks as terrifying as the four living creatures by the throne. And it is mighty: maybe it’s the biggest of all the angels, it has forearms this big around- it could lift John up like a dumbbell. But for some reason, even this mighty angel can’t open this scroll.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdskcyvEEaVV9pakzetG8sl3uphRdTJQxjFBf5a3dplSvFLGp4OhsHMIytNFRyourPkutIxQObY6T0pM4ODNL9g4zWzIb8ylMkB4mfb3Fwy33vGqC4VMFRCSEYisv9U49aJ_rGGJ2OpYkO/s1600/papyrus-sealed-with-seven-seals_1246685_inl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdskcyvEEaVV9pakzetG8sl3uphRdTJQxjFBf5a3dplSvFLGp4OhsHMIytNFRyourPkutIxQObY6T0pM4ODNL9g4zWzIb8ylMkB4mfb3Fwy33vGqC4VMFRCSEYisv9U49aJ_rGGJ2OpYkO/s320/papyrus-sealed-with-seven-seals_1246685_inl.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scrolls aren’t usually hard to open- it's just paper sealed with wax.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strength isn’t enough- power isn’t enough. What is needed to open this scroll? An elder says: Don’t worry, we have someone who can do it. Look- it’s the Lion!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John looks. But he doesn’t see a lion- he sees a lamb. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzoYN_LLxT4H4XggpDuTcpsdCXfwtaaBnjgtN-HtrCuibYWQrlaRSUBa-YkR8RyEmbGmYHRsqcL_HyBoQ0P5RIYj9GvGcO5_DIVZvvrDdLFI51XHzRPHjLcHeP5OngyxNKUJ3r1pf5yAR/s1600/Lamb-slain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzoYN_LLxT4H4XggpDuTcpsdCXfwtaaBnjgtN-HtrCuibYWQrlaRSUBa-YkR8RyEmbGmYHRsqcL_HyBoQ0P5RIYj9GvGcO5_DIVZvvrDdLFI51XHzRPHjLcHeP5OngyxNKUJ3r1pf5yAR/s400/Lamb-slain.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is this? A lamb isn’t a lion. It isn’t strong or powerful. It’s a baby, vulnerable. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why would a lamb be worthy? How could a lamb have triumphed?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear why this lamb is worthy in a new song. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And they sang a new song, saying:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are <span style="background-color: cyan;">worthy</span> to take the scroll</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and to open its seals,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">because<span style="background-color: yellow;"> you were slain,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and<span style="background-color: yellow;"> with your blood you purchased</span> for God</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You have <span style="background-color: yellow;">made them to be a kingdom</span> and priests to serve our God,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and they will reign on the earth.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<span style="background-color: cyan;">Worthy</span> is the Lamb, who was slain,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and honor and glory and praise!”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We saw before that the lamb looked like it had been killed. Many ancient cultures sacrificed lambs and other animals for forgiveness or for seeking favor. It’s a strange image for God to become the sacrifice rather than the one receiving the sacrifice. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Surprise: worthiness comes through sacrifice, not strength. Worthy is the one who loves, not the one with power. Worthy is he who made a Kingdom, not he who conquered kingdoms. Worthy is he who makes people priests and rulers, not he who makes people slaves and martyrs. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The name of the lamb who was slain is Jesus. Jesus sacrificed himself and died out of love. His enemies though they’d won, but his sacrifice was the victory. Because of Jesus’ love, we get to gather here today- this campus represents people from many tribes and languages and peoples and nations- we get to be part of God’s Kingdom. We get to serve and we get to reign. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would our world look like if we valued sacrifice over strength? Maybe we wouldn’t treat the poor and the refugee and the disabled and the sick as a burden, but as beloved brothers and sisters who have something good to contribute. How would we treat people if we believed that love was greater than power? Maybe we wouldn’t care about saying that our country was #1 and stop trying to put ourselves first. And what would our campus look like if we were a kingdom of people from every nation serving God? College students could model love and sacrifice for the whole world to see. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want that? Do you want to be part of that?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is worth learning about- let Jesus show you why he is worthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Worthy is the Lamb who was slain / Holy Holy is He</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sing a new song / To Him who sits on / Heaven’s mercy seat</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holy, Holy, Holy, / Is the Lord God Almighty / Who was and is, and is to come. </span></div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-88859426365476905342017-05-09T10:12:00.000-07:002018-04-09T19:18:39.774-07:00Wedding of the Lamb: Cake Color Symbolism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0">Wedding of the Lamb - Revelation Potluck party! You can have a slice of you tell me what the colors represent</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Wsex7BjSiPchGnxCPCyISWwMr8-IN_nXLrzrMZtOvVUsTvYCxHqrcFuqD-MmQCBgcKONwf1XJYnRCTmnz6OJQzoans7AzAoHw9PHsl5YomY-dioFyCv1sHczf2F8qx22B8A5VjxGV8Xc/s1600/18198398_10105299772540308_4297626953143638615_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Wsex7BjSiPchGnxCPCyISWwMr8-IN_nXLrzrMZtOvVUsTvYCxHqrcFuqD-MmQCBgcKONwf1XJYnRCTmnz6OJQzoans7AzAoHw9PHsl5YomY-dioFyCv1sHczf2F8qx22B8A5VjxGV8Xc/s320/18198398_10105299772540308_4297626953143638615_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">1. <b>Purple</b>: represents royalty (purple dye is historically expensive- only the rich could afford it. In the time Revelation was written, the known world was under the control of Rome. The kings of Rome worshipped victory and conquering; they lavishly sp</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">ent their wealth and oppressed the poor. They called themselves gods and killed anyone who wouldn’t worship them. The wicked “Babylon” wears purple and is covered in jewels, but she falls in the end. When Jesus arrives, it’s clear that he is the only true royalty, only he is worthy. Love wins over Power! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True… On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.” -Revelation 11a, 16</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">2. <b>Red</b>: represents blood and sacrifice. Babylon drinks red wine that is the blood of the martyrs- those who died because their allegiance was to Jesus rather than to the evil kings. The Lamb bleeds from a cut throat, and Jesus’ robe is dipped in blood, </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">representing his death and sacrifice for us. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” -Revelation 12:11</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <b>White</b>: represent purity, being washed/cleansed. The martyrs were given a white robe because they persevered to the end. Jesus and the heavenly army wear white, and Jesus rides a white horse. Finally, the Bride (the church) wears white for her wedding</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> day! “ I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:2-4</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">4. <b>Leaves</b>: represent healing. The curse is broken and we can eat from the Tree of Life again. Our broken world is restored, both on a personal level and a community or systemic level as all the nations come together, bringing their glory and honor into</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> the City. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>“On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” -Revelation 22:2b</i></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-67839295673783229982017-04-10T20:40:00.003-07:002021-01-04T10:20:16.085-08:00Systemic Sin<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
What's the difference between personal sin and systemic sin? Does systemic sin even matter, or should be all only worry about our own personal sin? Sometimes systems are hard to see, and we'd rather pretend they weren't there. Here's some examples to start thinking about it:</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
Individual Sin -- <b>Systemic Sin</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a teen thinks sexual thoughts about a classmate -- <b>women are objectified in movies and advertising</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a cop commits a murder -- <b>the cop is rewarded rather than penalized</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a woman is raped -- <b>the rapist goes free, media says she "asked for it"</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a pastor has an affair -- <b>church covers it up and sends family away</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a business person cheats -- <b>cheating is encouraged in the whole company</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a prison guard abuses an inmate --<b>the prison doesn't investigate</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a school bully threatens a child -- <b>both children are punished; teacher says "I don't care who started it."</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a man sexually harasses a coworker -- <b>victim is told to find a job somewhere else if she can't handle it</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a slum lord evicts a poor person -- <b>no one else will rent to her now</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a college student says a racial slur -- <b>his fraternity sings a song full of slurs about how they won't let minorities into their frat</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
an administrator tosses a resume with a "black name" -- <b>she was told to do so by her superior</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
an grandmother makes a joke about another ethnic group -- <b>everyone chuckles and doesn't speak up</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a famous athlete commits domestic violence -- <b>the sports team says his personal life is "none of our business"</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a young woman is tricked into prostitution -- <b>her religious upbringing tells her she no longer has value</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a man is given an excessive prison sentence for drug use -- <b>he never gets help for his addiction and is labeled a convict forever</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a doctor insults a person's weight/size -- <b>person doesn't get treatment for her actual </b><b>illness or injury- her weight gets blamed for everything</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a politician sleeps with prostitutes -- <b>his voters justify it because they like his policies</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
a man emotionally abuses his wife -- <b>her church tells her to submit and obey him</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
an elected official wants more power -- <b>voting restrictions stop a citizen from voting</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
I tell you my story of being hurt and you don’t believe me -- <b>and you teach others not to believe me either</b></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<i>Thoughts on words:</i></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>Systemic</b>: root word is system. Although a system can't sin, sinful people create systems which propagate sin. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>Communal</b>: root word also gives us community. Same concept as system, but could have a more personal feel. Systems can be better at hiding sin, like boxing up many people into prison. Perhaps communal sin should be easier to see. Family sins also are a very personal form of communal sin.</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b>Sin</b>: These are all sins related to Injustice, and can be explained as Systemic Injustice for a less religious take on the issue. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #e4af09; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #454545;">Required reading: "<a href="http://samanthapfield.com/2016/02/24/my-sin-is-not-just-my-own-systemic-injustice-and-communal-repentance/"><span style="color: #e4af09;">My sin is not just my own</span></a>"</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b></div>
<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-31548455903610086152017-03-21T16:34:00.003-07:002017-04-10T20:56:51.015-07:00ShalomI want to share two pictures of Shalom with you. The world doesn't always clearly reflect a God of Justice, but the Bible teaches about perfect justice in shalom. <br />
<br />
Shalom means peace, but it's not just the peace of a cease fire. Author Nicholas Wolterstorff says Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight, inner and outer harmony, whole and abundant life, humans doing what we were created to do, in right relationship with God, ourselves, others, and the environment. <br />
<br />
The first story in the Bible is about the Garden of Eden. We meet a loving God who has carefully and creatively crafted a garden. God works as a gardener, taking care of the earth and the animals. God makes people, and walks with them and talks with them like a good parents. God teaches the people how to take care of the earth and how to build a family together. (Genesis 2:8,15)<br />
<br />
I hope you have had some relationships in your life that aren full of shalom. Maybe a family member, a friend, or a partner. You know when you have a good relationship with someone- You listen to each other. You emphasize, celebrate happiness and mourn sufferings together. Your relationship makes you stronger. <br />
<br />
We see much of the world with broken relationships right now. Some of these are on an individual level, like having a hurtful relationship with a parent or an ex. Some of that brokenness is on a systemic level, when two people are treated in radically different ways by their society or government. Systems of authority can be used to help people flourish, or to hold them back.<br />
<br />
Sometimes churches hurt people. If that has been your experience, I want to apologize on the church's behalf. I'm so sorry for every time a church or a person who represented Jesus acted without love. Churches and Christians have often sought power rather than serving others, or sought to exclude rather than share. That is not what shalom is about. <br />
<br />
My second picture of Shalom is the opposite of an selfish church. At the end of time, the world is restored and redeemed. Instead of a garden, we see a city in the book of Revelation. <br />
<br />
Rev 21:3-4, 22-26, 22:2<br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
God is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”<br />
I did not see a [church] in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its [church]. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.<br />
A river runs down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.</blockquote>
<br />
We see a restored relationship with God, a God who lives with the people and takes away our tears. There are no church buildings to facilitate a relationship- it's as personal as family.<br />
<br />
We see a world united in love- nations are healed, people of every race and color come together sharing their unique cultures, art, food, music, everything!<br />
<br />
Revelation ends with a invitation- Come, let all who are thirsty come and drink from the water of life. I'm so thirsty for this- are you?<br />
<br />
We don't live in a world that looks like Revelation yet, but we can start living in the Kingdom of God now. When Jesus began his ministry, he explained what he came to do.<br />
<br />
Luke 4:16-21<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:<br />
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,<br />
because he has anointed me<br />
to proclaim good news to the poor.<br />
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners<br />
and recovery of sight for the blind,<br />
to set the oppressed free,<br />
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”<br />
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”</blockquote>
Shalom can be a mission, the actions of bringing justice, helping feed the hungry, making homes for refugee families, listening to and praying for your friend going through a hard time, educating people about mental illness through art, treating everyone fairly, pursuing careers in education, law, or politics to make the world a better place. <br />
<br />
I share these pictures of encouragement for what can be, but I also believe it starts today. I'm not waiting for God's Kingdom after I die, we are working to build it now. Do you want to be part of that? Let's do it together.</div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-85087780748125460262016-11-13T22:22:00.003-08:002016-11-13T22:26:08.948-08:00Mourn, Worship, Prophesy, Hope<span style="font-size: large;">Step one: mourning.</span><br />
<div>
<br />
<i>"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.<br />When can I go and meet with God?<br />My tears have been my food<br />day and night,<br />while people say to me all day long,<br />“Where is your God?”<br /><br />Vindicate me, my God,<br />and plead my cause<br />against an unfaithful nation.<br />Rescue me from those who are<br />deceitful and wicked.<br />You are God my stronghold.<br />Why have you rejected me?<br />Why must I go about mourning,<br />oppressed by the enemy?"</i><br />
-Psalm 42:2-3, 43:1-2<br />
<br />
It's ok to be sad. It's ok to be mad. It's ok to yell at God.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>I am a Christian.</b></div>
<div>
<br />
There have been times in my life when I thought that meant that I should always be happy, always be at peace, and focus on spiritual realities to the exclusion of physical realities. </div>
<div>
<br />
But that is not the definition of Christ-follower I see in scripture now.</div>
<div>
<br />
I can mourn (Jesus wept)<br />
I can be angry (Jesus flipped tables)<br />
I can care about injustice and marginalized people (Jesus healed and included, and criticized the powerful)</div>
<div>
<br />
I can, I should, and I will.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>I'm afraid.</b><br />
<br />
I don't want to live in fear. Actually, fearful propaganda is one of my least favorite parts of politics. I mourn how fear makes us afraid of The Other, afraid of change, afraid of losing power and privilege. People make bad decisions out of fear- preemptively harming each other rather than risking any kind of loss.<br />
<br />
Yet, I can't ignore fears.<br />
<br />
Like most woman, I have been sexually harassed.<br />
<br />
I was once walking down the street, in the middle of the day, with a group, and a man walking in the opposite direction grabbed me sexually.<br />
<br />
I didn't react. I was too shocked to respond, and no one else saw it happen. I felt so guilty for not yelling at him, for not letting him know it was unacceptable behavior. He continued on, thinking he was entitled to women's bodies, that he could get away with whatever he wanted.<br />
<br />
I'm scared when my country says it doesn't matter. I'm scared when churches says to forgive and move on. I mourn because these are real fears and they matter.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Step two: worship</span><br />
<br />
Worship is a revolutionary act. <br />
<br />
In the book of Revelation, amidst persecution and rulers who call themselves god, worship of God keeps breaking through. Angels and saints declare their allegiance to God, not the Roman Empire.<br />
<br />
<i>"Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'<br /><br />"Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:<br /><br />'“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”</i>'<br />
-Revelation 4:8b-12<br />
<br />
Many of us (including me) get tempted to worship our political parties or our heroes. But I must declare that God is King.<br />
<br />
I want to help bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, not wait for it after I die.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>We worship what is worthy</b>. Jesus, the lamb who was slain, is worthy because love wins over power. Sacrifice wins over war and violence. Mercy wins over hatred.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rGgX_oqdib4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rGgX_oqdib4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<i>"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:<br /><br />“'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'<br /><br />"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:<br /><br />“'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'”</i><br />
-Revelation 5:11-13<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Step three: prophesy</span><br />
<br />
Prophecy is not mainly about predicting the future. <br />
<br />
I don't know what our future holds. I hope that the worst things we fear won't come true. I hope Muslims and other religious minorities won't have to register. I hope people in power won't be able to sue journalists and comedians for criticizing them. I hope my friends with chronic diseases, with special needs children, won't lose their access to affordable health care. I hope my poor friends and their kids won't lose their food assistance. <br />
<br />
Prophecy mainly calls out the wrongs of the present. In our world now, a minor drug offender can get a longer prison term than a rapist. Refugees are turned away to die. Families are separated by deportation. Unarmed black men are considered more scary than armed white white men.<br />
<br />
Prophecy says, this is NOT God's will. This is not the world as it should be. Prophecy challenges the status quo, your comfort, and acceptance of wrong. Let's keep challenging.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Prophecy often describes the future</b> in terms of consequences. If you pursue justice and obedience to God, everyone blesses each other, building up the community of heaven. If you pursue selfish gain and personal privilege, inequality breaks down the community- it becomes less like heaven.<br />
<br />
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah:<br />
<i><br />Day after day Christians seek me out; <br />they seem eager to know my ways,<br />as if America were a nation that does what is right <br />and has not forsaken the commands of its God.<br />They ask me for just decisions <br />and seem eager for God to come near them.<br /><br />‘Why have we gone to church,’ they say, <br />‘and you have not seen it?<br />Why have we humbled ourselves, <br />and you have not noticed?’<br /><br />“Yet on Sundays, you do as you please <br />and exploit all your workers.<br />Your actions in God's name ends in quarreling and strife, <br />and in striking each other with wicked fists.<br />You cannot pray as you do today <br />and expect your voice to be heard on high.<br /><br />Is this the kind of church I have chosen, <br />only a day for people to humble themselves? ...<br /><br />“Is not this the kind of church I have chosen:<br />to loose the chains of injustice <br />and untie the cords of the yoke,<br />to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?<br /><br />Is it not to share your food with the hungry <br />and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—<br />when you see the naked, to clothe them, <br />and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?<br /><br />Then your light will break forth like the dawn, <br />and your healing will quickly appear;<br />then your righteousness will go before you, <br />and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.</i><br />
<br />
-Isaiah 58:2-10 (my contemporary modified version, see the original full passage at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is+58&version=NIV">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Step four: hope.</span><br />
<br />
We have hope that all bad rulers, all wicked kingdoms come to an end. <br />
<br />
Oppressed people talk in code because they lack freedom of speech to criticize their wicked rulers. They don't say, "Rome is wicked!" They say, "Remember Babylon? Babylon fell..." and Rome will too.<br />
<br />
Revelation describes the fall of Rome and likewise all earthly Kingdoms with dramatic metaphor, saying that the very injustice and luxurious self-focus will be turned against it.<br />
<br />
<i>With a mighty voice the angel shouted:<br />“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’<br />...<br />For all the nations have drunk<br />the maddening wine of her adulteries.<br />The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,<br />and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”<br />...<br />for her sins are piled up to heaven,<br />and God has remembered her crimes.<br /><br />Give back to her as she has given;<br />pay her back double for what she has done.<br />Pour her a double portion from her own cup.<br /><br />Give her as much torment and grief<br />as the glory and luxury she gave herself.<br />In her heart she boasts,<br />‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’<br /><br />Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:<br />death, mourning and famine.<br />She will be consumed by fire,<br />for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.</i><br />
<br />
-Revelation 18:2-8 excerpts</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<b>The Bible has pictures of hope</b>, pictures of the world as it should be in God's kingdom.<br />
<br />
Living in the Kingdom of Heaven means that we start living this way now; we live knowing these things are good and true. We may not get to see the full picture yet, but we see glimpses of the Kingdom.<br />
<br />
We hope for a better future, we endure with patience, and we commit to the hope that our home can look more like Heaven.<br />
<br />
<i>"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'<br />"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'<br />"He said to me: 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.'<br /><br />"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.<br /><br />"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.'"</i><br />
-Revelation 21:1-6, 22-26, 22:17</div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-59866932442682604212016-07-29T15:57:00.004-07:002021-06-05T16:15:47.639-07:00Terrible Memes about Black Lives MatterIt's hard to narrow down all the terrible memes on social media, but these stood out.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Meme 1: Doesn't understand the justice system or police</h4>
<div>
The first was shared by a supposed supporter of Blue Lives, a young women without military or law enforcement background. I would like to think that the average police officer would be horrified by this meme's implications.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke4JAX7HJ4OkStslnNXHDLfSONeAWxfqzN8CUcbh-bFWrBzMedgHa9LuTn8yNEkFNZaoAuRr1kRhD1Kc7W0NGlXXF6bbuR2PqO1HTpR6ptGPJfYr9PSSuTNq2ETC4fjF_iCWnWBSBfEiT/s1600/meme1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke4JAX7HJ4OkStslnNXHDLfSONeAWxfqzN8CUcbh-bFWrBzMedgHa9LuTn8yNEkFNZaoAuRr1kRhD1Kc7W0NGlXXF6bbuR2PqO1HTpR6ptGPJfYr9PSSuTNq2ETC4fjF_iCWnWBSBfEiT/s400/meme1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[image description: a greyed-out meme says, "hateful memes #1." There's a picture of a person in camouflage with their face cut out. They are holding an assault rifle. The text says- "Before you decide that amusing a cop might be a good idea, remember this, There is no shortage of armed American patriots that will gladly put firing pin to primer to put down some thug that tries to kill a cop."]</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
I would like to think that's an empty threat, but it goes a long way to explaining the mentality of anti-Black Lives Matter activists. First, there is a fixation with violence. It's a terrible cycle of violence begeting more violence. If the recent cop-killer based his actions on revenge for police brutality, then this meme is simply advocating for more of the same. It's wrong. It doesn't solve any problems. It does possibly explain why this poster believes that all BLM supporters are violent- she may be simply projecting the violence in her own heart. What this cop-killer did makes sense to her, and she's eager to continue the murder cycle. I wish I could say others didn't agree with her, but here's<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/18/joshua-feuerstein-if-you-threaten-a-cop-i-will-shoot-you-dead-just-like-jesus-told-me-to/"> another example</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The other aspect of this meme demonstrates a rejection of the American justice system. No arrest, no trial. Since police are a part of the justice system, they should be concerned about people who feel this way. It seems like a rejection of them and their hard work. However, in the way that police brutality has been exposed the last few years, it's hard to be surprised. Many police also have rejected the Justice system and prefer to be executioners.<br />
<br />
<b>Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. -1 Thessalonians 5:15</b><br />
<br />
Black Lives Matter isn't trying to "get revenge" on police for the bad things they have done. We are trying to change the system and make it better. In the long run, <i>no one</i> benefits from a broken, violent, vengeful system.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Meme 2: Doesn't understand freedom</h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GOXEgCaI9clp61MzW2KFUxLWd7QyEue0K_ykG33LR1CyvR64WdI_c8VocUsnL3-rLB6ZwoxjzDPi-PbsaH-xwZwHsT4AhnQbDUT3QrlHt1FHkjezfghRLCQq_96Dzkydj_EzegHu95w_/s1600/meme2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GOXEgCaI9clp61MzW2KFUxLWd7QyEue0K_ykG33LR1CyvR64WdI_c8VocUsnL3-rLB6ZwoxjzDPi-PbsaH-xwZwHsT4AhnQbDUT3QrlHt1FHkjezfghRLCQq_96Dzkydj_EzegHu95w_/s400/meme2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[image description: a greyed-out meme says, "hateful memes #2." A photo of a large green combine harvester with large spikes pointing forward. Text: "Introducing John Deere's new multi-lane protester digester."]</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
How can this meme be seeking anything other than the death of American citizens exercising their rights? Protesting is part of<a href="http://aclu-or.org/content/your-right-protest"> freedom of speech</a>- that first amendment to the constitution that conservatives claim to love.<br />
<br />
I keep my mouth shut most of the time- I know that I can't change people's minds and there are times when arguments are <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus+3%3A9&version=NIV">profitless</a>. But to not speak up at all- or to have my right to speak up and protest taken away- is terrifying and un-American.<br />
<br />
<b>But if I say, "I will not mention God's word or speak anymore in God's name," God's word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. -Jeremiah 20:9</b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="text-align: center;">Meme 3: Doesn't understand Jesus</span></h3>
The next meme changes tone dramatically and focuses on that hopeless "All Lives Matter" argument, this time with a religious overtones.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW2M_JMsNkOj4DBymzUi6haLEywoEKOrgNsVVWmn2Jm9WFb1woJPJ3yocs8-6l9Ib8GSNuN46w2DV6R_tGslsG3L4jIfDEyLaz8Q9FbsGgF8zDTIRHo8N14SUjRVb1HhdRd9xnBLTNC5i/s1600/meme3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW2M_JMsNkOj4DBymzUi6haLEywoEKOrgNsVVWmn2Jm9WFb1woJPJ3yocs8-6l9Ib8GSNuN46w2DV6R_tGslsG3L4jIfDEyLaz8Q9FbsGgF8zDTIRHo8N14SUjRVb1HhdRd9xnBLTNC5i/s320/meme3.png" width="302" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[image description: a greyed-out meme says, "hateful memes #3." Image of Jesus carrying the cross. Text: "I did this because All Lives Matter." below picture text read, "fwd: fwd: Jesus died for ALL LIVES! NOT JUST BLACK LIVES!]</blockquote>
</div>
Aside from the usual basic arguments against All Lives Matter (no one is saying <i>only</i> Black Lives Matter), the religious aspect of this meme needs to be uncovered. This isn't the sort of thing Jesus said.<br />
<br />
<b>On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Mark 2:17</b><br />
<br />
In that time, a ruling religious class called the Pharisees held power. They weren't willing to listen to Jesus, and they didn't care about the poor or anyone they considered "sinners."<br />
<br />
Jesus says, "Okay, you guys aren't 'sinners.' You've got it all together and obviously don't need me. So I'm going to spend time with the people who need me- the people who admit they are imperfect and can't do it on their own."<br />
<br />
This made the Pharisees mad. #PhariseeLivesMatter. They thought Jesus should spend his time telling them how great they are, and telling the 'sinners' how they were to blame for everything wrong in their lives.<br />
<br />
But that's not a good way to build a kingdom community. Jesus flips our world upside down. He valued the powerless and criticized the people in power. The Kingdom of Heaven is a community where the lowest are raised up.<br />
<br />
Share more stories of Jesus valuing the marginalized and the oppressed!<div><br /></div><div>Edit: a friendly tip for angry commenters: The comments on this blog are locked down and can't be published without my review. There's no need to repeat your racist jokes multiple times. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1095px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1095px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1095px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1095px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1125px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1125px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-32625807208129678722016-03-16T17:19:00.002-07:002021-06-05T16:15:58.932-07:00Breaking Bad & Police Brutality<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
TV has taught me to be very accepting of police brutality. In a fictional world, there’s a clear delineation between right and wrong. The storylines create admiration for cops who are rule-breakers, and show their violence as a form of justice. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
But instead, I’ll pick a positive example of fictional law enforcement: Hank Schrader of the DEA in Breaking Bad. Hank is introduced as an unfunny, annoying blowhard who casually makes racist jokes. But we’ll start to look at him differently as the series goes on, eventually rooting for him.</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Hank commits two violent acts in the series. First, he kills Tuco Salamanca, a violent and insane drug dealer. The scene is set up as a clear case of self-defense. Hank is calm and tries to de-escalate the situation, but when Tuco starts shooting, Hank takes the opportunity to kill him.</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Despite the fact that Hank made the right choice, the incident haunts him. As it should. He ended a human life- even though we viewers knew that this human was truly terrible. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Hank’s coworkers applause mean nothing to him. Their insensitive gift of Tuco’s teeth grill isn’t funny. Hank doesn’t want a trophy. He did what he had to do, but he still takes the correct stance: mourning. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_uLIFzX_wmW_yq_Q-GMSPx__CRrLJKHmaknTVLRzWSJabe3RX6vSirdEkGuMndM2-0mwq_CFxRJ2QgrlmHCYCaHdUTjeEJBlnIvWOc5Mv3RpVaUr8SvX6HU_kgESf0s8_LgLJr-5d_Tn/s1600/schrader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_uLIFzX_wmW_yq_Q-GMSPx__CRrLJKHmaknTVLRzWSJabe3RX6vSirdEkGuMndM2-0mwq_CFxRJ2QgrlmHCYCaHdUTjeEJBlnIvWOc5Mv3RpVaUr8SvX6HU_kgESf0s8_LgLJr-5d_Tn/s640/schrader.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
The second incident: Hank beats up Jesse Pinkman, a young drug dealer.</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Hank’s temper and unaddressed mental health issues get him in to trouble. He is understandably furious when Jesse’s partner pulled a ruse making him fear that his wife was severely injured in a car accident. When Hank realized that he’d been tricked, he drove to Jesse’s house and beat the defenseless young man until he was unconscious. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Hank was immediately remorseful and called 911. (We do not see if Hank tries to render aid himself.)</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
As Hank is going though the agency’s internal assessment process, and preparing to deal with Jesse pressing charges against him, he sits on the bed and talks with his wife. She tries to help him make a plan. “Say that he attacked you! You had to defend yourself. Muscle memory kicked in.” </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Hank says, “I’m not going to lie.”</div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
His wife pleads with him. Please don’t destroy your career over this. You’re a good man. Jesse is a nobody. Don’t let him destroy you. But Hank is ready for the consequences. He did wrong. He knows it. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
When I talk about police brutality and Black Lives Matter with people who disagree with me, I’m trying to picture you as Hank’s wife. I know you have good intentions. I know you are fighting for police officers you love and an institution you respect. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
But here’s the thing. If Hank went along with his wife’s pleas, her words would no longer be true. He would not be a good man. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
I have very high expectations of police officers, and it confuses me when others have low expectations. </div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-7528248423195231202015-09-13T10:16:00.002-07:002015-09-13T10:16:18.935-07:00Racism 101: Racism Exists<div class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="s3" style="line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s2">I want to share my story about why I came to care about racism. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t have any special qualifications. A lot of white people don’t see racism and like to debate whether or not something was racist. They may have a similar background to me, so I hope this will be insightful on how and why my perspective has changed.</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">None of the answers I suggest here are a comprehensive solution. They are each</span><span class="s2"> just one step.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">When I was a kid, I thought racism </span><span class="s2">was over</span><span class="s2">. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I hope no adults were trying to teach me this, but it was often implied. </span><span class="s2">Martin Luther King Jr. solved racism and that everyone was equal now. </span><span class="s2">Racism storie</span><span class="s2">s were always set in the past. </span><span class="s2">From a kid’s per</span><span class="s2">spective, the far distant past.</span><span class="s2"> Nothing in those stories seemed similar to life today.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">Along with this false knowledge, I was </span><span class="s2">poorly prepared to see or understand racism in my life. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">The first problem was the definition of racism. </span><span class="s2">I knew three examples: </span><span class="s2">Slavery is racist. Segregation is racist. Saying racial slurs is racist. End of list. This </span><span class="s2">wa</span><span class="s2">s a very pleasant definition, because it mean</span><span class="s2">t</span><span class="s2"> that I </span><span class="s2">could</span><span class="s2"> never be racist. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">The main tool I was given for dealing with racism was colorblindness. Don’t notice race. Don’t talk about race. Focus on common ground. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">W</span><span class="s2">hile I grew up in my very nice, small Wyoming town, I believed in a post-racial world. I was unable to see</span><span class="s2"> any racism around me</span><span class="s2">. The first thing that helped open my eyes was </span><span class="s2">relocating</span><span class="s2">.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I went to college in Texas, and I saw something new. Almost every student and teacher was white, but everyone who served me food was black, and everyone who cleaned up after me was Latino. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I had a conflict. </span><span class="s2">Colorblindness told me I shouldn’t see it. But my definition of racism said it was segregation. I knew that no one was forcing </span><span class="s2">others</span><span class="s2"> into those jobs or forbidding them from attending school. </span><span class="s2">Yet,</span><span class="s2"> equal opportunity could</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">not </span><span class="s2">yield such color-coded results.</span><span class="s2"> I knew something was unfair, but</span><span class="s2"> I was</span><span class="s2"> too </span><span class="s2">uncomfortable</span><span class="s2"> to</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">ask </span><span class="s2">about it.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">My next challenge came from an inability to speak up. </span><span class="s2">W</span><span class="s2">hen I heard people say racist things, I didn’t argue. The </span><span class="s2">words would be too subtle,</span><span class="s2"> maybe I misunderstood, or maybe I was being too sensitive. </span><span class="s2">If someone said, </span><span class="s2">“It makes me so mad seeing Spanish on all the billboards in town.” </span><span class="s2">I didn’t like it, b</span><span class="s2">ut I couldn’t have a conversation about it.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">When my campus ministry tried to teach me about racial reconciliation, I resisted. Int</span><span class="s2">erVarsity Christian Fellowship </span><span class="s2">often has separate campus chapters for black, Latino, Asian, Native, or International students. I thought that was horrible. Segregation! </span><span class="s2">It seemed wrong to use labels. My old color-blindness tra</span><span class="s2">ining from childhood kicked in. .I</span><span class="s2">sn’t it better to pretend that everyone is the same, and have everyone get along? </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">When our new staff had </span><span class="s2">“</span><span class="s2">a heart </span><span class="s2">for Latino students,” </span><span class="s2">I </span><span class="s2">subtl</span><span class="s2">y</span><span class="s2">kept</span><span class="s2"> trying to hide it. I was in charge of the club webpage, and I couldn’t bear to </span><span class="s2">advertise</span><span class="s2"> that we’d started a Latino Bible Study. The only way I could justify the existence of such a thing was to say that it was a Bible study “in Spanish and English.” </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">But then</span><span class="s2"> our all-white Christian Club started to have Latino students involved. In fact, that year our chapter </span><span class="s2">grew more diverse across several ethnicities. The </span><span class="s2">simpl</span><span class="s2">est</span><span class="s2"> explanation from my staff worker that I could half-way understand was this: </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">S</span><span class="s2">ome Latino students would actually like to hang</span><span class="s2"> out with other Latino students,</span><span class="s2"> someone who understood their culture, family dynamics, and way of approaching faith. They’re surrounded by white culture all day long; having some time away can be nice. </span><span class="s2">White people have a problem that w</span><span class="s2">hen we invite a minority person to a group, we don’t invite them to bring their culture along. We just expect them to join </span><span class="s2">white</span><span class="s2"> culture. We think </span><span class="s2">white </span><span class="s2">culture is “normal.” </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">This was both confusing and enlightening. There’s a white culture? There’s a white way of doing things? I had always thought the way I did things was </span><span class="s5" style="font-style: italic;">normal</span><span class="s2">. Other races have “culture.” Culture means dressing up in special outfits, eating strange food, speaking a different language. Again, my education had failed me. I could not look at my own culture from an outside view. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">Still, </span><span class="s2">this</span><span class="s2"> ministry encouraged me to displace myself and my heart, and within a year of that </span><span class="s2">insight</span><span class="s2">, I was leading a Bible study for international students.</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">It was a good first step for me.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">Next, I moved to Rhode Island. It was a good time to think about culture, because New England and Texas have many differences. </span><span class="s2">Plus, we were losing college for career culture. A lot of changes challenged what I saw as normal. We joined a multi-ethnic church and got a</span><span class="s2"> taste of black culture. (T</span><span class="s2">his church </span><span class="s2">did not have a vision for </span><span class="s2">verbally</span><span class="s2"> e</span><span class="s2">ducating us about racial issues, but</span><span class="s2"> I </span><span class="s2">deeply </span><span class="s2">appreciate them for including us and </span><span class="s2">giving us opportunities for</span><span class="s2"> cross-cultural interaction.) </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I worked for a few years as a substitute teacher in a low socio-economic school district. It had a large minority population. I’d never realized how lucky I’d b</span><span class="s2">een to have the education I did with</span><span class="s2"> advanced classes, enthusiasti</span><span class="s2">c teachers, and after school clubs.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">T</span><span class="s2">eachers </span><span class="s2">at this school </span><span class="s2">were burned out, frustrated, and spent their lunch breaks complaining about the students and the parents. Many of the students were rude, noisy, and talked back over every detail. They weren’t excited about school or planning for college. No one attending this school could have anything like an “equal opportunity”</span><span class="s2"> compared</span><span class="s2"> to what I had. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I joined InterVarsity again, this time as staff. </span><span class="s2">It was the only place in my life where people talked about race, rather than viewing it as a hopeless and taboo subject. </span><span class="s2">I was challenged, like when a</span><span class="s2"> black InterVarsity staff </span><span class="s2">ask</span><span class="s2"> us, “Have you ever been ins</span><span class="s2">ide a black person’s house?”</span><span class="s2"> I hadn’t. It wasn’t intentional. </span><span class="s2">But it was a blind spot in my life.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">On campus,</span><span class="s2"> I tried to seek out minority students for the first time. The ch</span><span class="s2">apter there was already diverse</span><span class="s2"> and had some good intentions about including all people. What help</span><span class="s2">ed</span><span class="s2"> the most </span><span class="s2">was</span><span class="s2">to bring minority stud</span><span class="s2">ents into leadership positions. </span><span class="s2">They </span><span class="s2">could</span><span class="s2">reach other minority students better than I </span><span class="s2">could</span><span class="s2">, and </span><span class="s2">could</span><span class="s2"> help change the culture of the whole group. A church body looks different when a</span><span class="s2">ll ethnicities are a part of it. N</span><span class="s2">ot just in a photograph, but it worship, in conversation, and revelation. The white church is missing something when it stands alone. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">We studied diversity in scripture, and I began to appreciate other cultures by design. Why should everyone be the same? Differences are wonderful, beautiful, and a source of strength.</span><span class="s2"> A team where everyone has the same background and perspective is limited. A diverse team sees beyond the status quo.</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">This broke </span><span class="s2">apart</span><span class="s2"> another bad piece of my education, the idea that eve</span><span class="s2">rything can be earned by “merit” or good test scores</span><span class="s2">. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">This helped</span><span class="s2"> interpret another piece of racism from my youth</span><span class="s2">,</span><span class="s2"> the objection to affirmative action. Three of my high school friends had made a </span><span class="s2">humorous </span><span class="s2">video listing their grievances with affirmative action. Although their logic made sense to me at the time, I was confused about their passion for the subject, considering that all three were accepted at their first choice universities. Now, I saw greater merit in a college that was trying to correct its monochrome history.</span><span class="s2"> Affirmative action didn’t hurt any of my friends. Instead, I hope it helped them, that they were later grateful to study alongside students from other races and cultures, </span><span class="s2">and </span><span class="s2">that diversity enriched their college experience.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">During those years, </span><span class="s2">I read </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Living-Color-Embracing-Passion-Diversity/dp/0830832556"><span class="s6" style="color: blue;">Living in Color</span></a><span class="s2">. It was </span><span class="s2">difficult</span><span class="s2"> to read in some ways, because it brought up a people group whose oppression I had long ignored: American Ind</span><span class="s2">ians. The author, Randy Woodley</span><span class="s2"> is a Keetowah Cherokee. </span><span class="s2">His book was the first time I read about the “Kill the Indian, Save the Child” policy by which native children were stolen from their parents to be raised in boarding schools or with white families. The people in power saw no value in Indian culture. The goal of colonization was to replace it. </span><span class="s2">In my education, t</span><span class="s2">he wounds of this and many other assaults on native people are glossed over. I was told it was far in the past. </span><span class="s2">Indians should g</span><span class="s2">et over it. Move on. Become </span><span class="s2">normal</span><span class="s2">. </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">Today, </span><span class="s2">Native people in my home state</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s2">endure</span><span class="s2"> the same stereotyping as minorities in the large</span><span class="s2">r</span><span class="s2"> American public sphere. Lazy. Addicted to drugs. Hopeless. </span><span class="s2">And past violence </span><span class="s2">against them </span><span class="s2">was washed away</span><span class="s2"> by saying,</span><span class="s2"> “Indian</span><span class="s2">s</span><span class="s2"> massacred people too!” </span><span class="s2">My friend who works in retail in Montana is skeptical that black people are treated differently in stores. Yet she admits, “When someone comes in from the Reservation, the staff keep an eye on them.” </span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">What did I learn? What challenged me?</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">R</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">acism is more than segregation, slavery and slurs</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">C</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">olorblindness </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">hinders rather than helps</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">It’s good to have</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> space for people of color to celebrate their culture</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">It’s good to displace</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> yourself</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> to learn about other’s culture</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">D</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">iversity is a strength</span></div>
<div class="s8" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 72px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span class="s7" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">W</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">hite culture isn’t “normal”</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> or standard</span><br />
<span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s2">I still didn’t have a good definition for racism, or a good understanding of how it was still influencing my country. </span><span class="s2">All this gave me some preparation for Fall 2014, when Ferguson brought racism back into the national spotlight. Stay tuned for Racism 102: Systemic Racism</span><span class="s2">.</span><br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span class="s5" style="font-style: italic;">Final thought</span><span class="s5" style="font-style: italic;">:</span><span class="s2"> Being unaware of racism is </span><span class="s2">a</span><span class="s2"> privilege</span><span class="s2"> many people don’t have. If white people</span><span class="s2"> want, we can ignore </span><span class="s2">racism</span><span class="s2">, and it will probably have no impact on our lives. </span><span class="s2">But m</span><span class="s2">any other people are hurt by racism every day. They don’t have the option to ignore it or go on an entertaining journey of “discovering” racism like I did.</span></div>
<div class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">
<br /></div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-47051885424089581142015-08-05T08:00:00.010-07:002021-01-03T14:46:41.033-08:00Hope Bios: Cesar Chavez <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;">Cesar Chavez </b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1927 - 1993</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Change through Unity</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnlde38wKFqqdpf5_bsTwj9wmbb_NigrOzM7v7p97cK1Zq7LegQvimPHDN-6AprbEEqIxXvHCybWe_3j99kI1qd9yThD59EbvwItUyfn8EUBZnVo7RLHeEKZu672Ry1HDWeMWhjBgyya/s800/cesar-chavez_0_en.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnlde38wKFqqdpf5_bsTwj9wmbb_NigrOzM7v7p97cK1Zq7LegQvimPHDN-6AprbEEqIxXvHCybWe_3j99kI1qd9yThD59EbvwItUyfn8EUBZnVo7RLHeEKZu672Ry1HDWeMWhjBgyya/s320/cesar-chavez_0_en.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Calling</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist. Chavez </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">grew up as a migrant worker. Working on the farms was difficult, with</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">long hours, few bathrooms and little clean water to drink. Farm workers</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">they were not treated with respect or dignity. They made little money.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chavez worked in the fields until he was 25, when he became an </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO), a Latino </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">civil rights group.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Faith</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chavez was Roman Catholic. Even though his family had little money and sometimes lacked food, their mother would often cook meals for the homeless. They gave other families rides to get medical attention.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chavez undertook a number of spiritual fasts, promoting the principle of nonviolence, thanksgiving and hope, and to prepare for civil disobedience. Also in 1972, he fasted in response to Arizona’s passage of legislation that prohibited boycotts and strikes by farm workers during the harvest seasons. These fasts were influenced by the Catholic tradition of penance and by Gandhi’s fasting and nonviolence.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Legacy</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chavez urged Mexican Americans to register and vote, and he traveled throughout California and made speeches in support of workers' rights. His public-relations approach to unionism and nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1964, they ended the exploitive Bracero Program, which ensured a constant supply of cheap immigrant labor for growers. (Immigrants could not protest any infringement of their rights, lest they be fired and replaced.) In the early 1970s, the UFW organized strikes and boycotts to protest for, and later win, higher wages for those farm workers who were working for grape and lettuce growers. They gained collective bargaining rights to farm workers. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">What can I do?</span></b></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Learn more: Movie: Cesar Chavez. And, our campus library has many books. Try <i>Cesar Chavez: Autobiography of La Causa. </i></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Take a fast to prepare yourself for understanding and action. Try one day drinking only water and fruit juice. (Consult a doctor if you have special medical needs.)</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Everyday things that come from unjust labor around the world- sugar, coffee, chocolate Look for fair trade labels on these items, or fast from them.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary issues: Immigration laws continue to provide cheap undocumented labor in the U.S. but don’t protect the poor families or help them legally immigrate and receive American rights. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary US Issues: read hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #MikeBrown #Ferguson </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 20, 20); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #141414; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Interview one person this week who has a different background from your own. Ask questions, listen, rather than arguing or correcting them.</span></span></li></ul>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-59721821306283848712015-08-04T08:00:00.006-07:002021-01-03T14:46:27.548-08:00Hope Bios: Pandita Ramabai<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;">Pandita Ramabai</b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1858 – 1922</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Change through Education</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6alptnsKnBwWsS92EK32RtH71Wq9JEX-6D0et8opsOAe0a8PPFhFLp0fkm5MG81LTswABxO4hDcbhdE0C-4x34czm3kOL3shviTzhhqmq8xKjLvP8FKLKCjRyABNmYK8epkBN1y0e_Ix/s512/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="431" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6alptnsKnBwWsS92EK32RtH71Wq9JEX-6D0et8opsOAe0a8PPFhFLp0fkm5MG81LTswABxO4hDcbhdE0C-4x34czm3kOL3shviTzhhqmq8xKjLvP8FKLKCjRyABNmYK8epkBN1y0e_Ix/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Calling</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Indian social reformer, a champion for the emancipation of women, and a</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">pioneer in education. Ramabai was also a poet and scholar.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Faith</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ramabai’s father believed that women should be educated, based on his </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">study of Hindu texts. He educated his wife and daughters. Other scholars </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">did not approve, but were later amazed by Ramabai’s speaking and insight.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1883, Ramabai received a scholarship to train as a teacher in England. During her time there she converted to Christianity and joined the Anglican Church. In 1886, she was invited to America to study the kindergarten systems in America. When she returned to India, she started Christian churches, homes for the destitute and schools for girls. Ramabai combined her Christian ideals with her Indian culture to promote change in India. She also lectured across America for three years on the plight of women and child widows in India.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 23, 24); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1718; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She translated the Bible into her native language to help women read the Bible for themselves.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Legacy</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When her parents died in the 1877 famine, Ramabai and her brother decided to continue their father's work. She and her brother traveled all over India. Ramabai's fame as a lecturer grew. She spoke against the practice of child marriage and the resulting constraints on the lives of child widows. She married a man from a lower caste, a shocking act.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Later on, she traveled extensively to see for herself the plight of many young women and widows condemned to life as temple prostitutes in Northern India. In a lecture given in June 1882, she pronounced, "Men look on us women as chattels: we make every effort to deliver ourselves from this situation. But some will say that this is a rebellion against man, and that to do this is sin. To leave men's evil acts unrebuked and remain unmoved before them is a great sin.” Ramabai’s mission is still active today.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">What can I do?</span></b></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Learn More: mukti-mission.org, also <i>Pandita Ramabai's American encounter the peoples of the United States</i> is available at our campus online library.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Do you feel hesitant to share your voice, or have you been stopped by your gender, age, ability, or other reason? Journal about what you’ve learner, your story, and what you want to share with others.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Volunteer in education, perhaps a local school with underprivileged children. Teachers can use volunteers to help by reading stories or giving homework help.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary Indian issues for woman: Rape is a serious problem in India that’s been getting a lot of attention. Yet, misogyny, caste prejudice, poverty and other issues make it difficult to stop rape. Compassion and education are needed.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary US Issues: read hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #MikeBrown #Ferguson </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 20, 20); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #141414; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Interview one person this week who has a different background from your own. Ask questions, listen, rather than arguing or correcting them.</span></span></li></ul>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-18967268883149377092015-08-03T08:00:00.008-07:002021-01-03T14:46:11.497-08:00Hope Bios: Queen Liliʻuokalani<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;"> Queen Liliʻuokalani</b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1838 – 1917</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Change through Politics and Arts</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZdwlzJn2eWmIpbUykBDy7pW58cf-qq2WOQpzVZfcmZ9xyfT7EAZ5Iv3naRcW4dLvjLmVhcq3eBgIp6BF6YErPTuxkU4-XEFItzr1LJFuqFHeJdilgMt8tCPK-qRDAn39UpZGWibGogJT/s640/f85af5e00e19bc6e2750f6e8d9a779e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZdwlzJn2eWmIpbUykBDy7pW58cf-qq2WOQpzVZfcmZ9xyfT7EAZ5Iv3naRcW4dLvjLmVhcq3eBgIp6BF6YErPTuxkU4-XEFItzr1LJFuqFHeJdilgMt8tCPK-qRDAn39UpZGWibGogJT/s320/f85af5e00e19bc6e2750f6e8d9a779e2.jpg" /></a></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Calling</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The last Queen of Hawaii ruled 1891-1983. The monarchy had recently lost </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">most of its power to a cabinet of American, European, and Hawaiian elites. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Liliʻuokalani attempted to enact a new constitution to restore the veto </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">power to the monarchy and voting rights to native Hawaiians and Asians. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The U.S. invaded, occupied and overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom government in 1893. They already controlled the sugar industry and had caused financial depression in Hawaii. The Queen didn’t respond with violence, and she made sure the takeover was peaceful. Instead, Liliʻuokalani used writing to share her story with Americans and appeal for justice.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Faith</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Liliʻuokalani’s grandmother was an early convert to Christianity. She stopped sacrifices to the violent volcano god. As a child, Liliʻuokalani attended school run by Christian missionaries. She believed in a peaceful resistance to injustice, and allowed free practice of religions.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her Legacy</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Liliʻuokalani spent five years under home arrest. She used her musical compositions as a way to express her feelings for her people, her country, and what was happening in the political realm in Hawaii. She played guitar, piano, organ, ukulele and zither, and sang alto. Her writing and musical compositions pled the cause of her people and recorded their history. This included the National Anthem, <i>The Queen's Prayer</i>, her memoirs, <i>Hawaiʻi's Story by Hawaiʻi's Queen</i>, and <i>The Queen's Songbook</i>. She hoped that the history and culture of her people would never be lost.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When she was freed, she made several trips to the United States to protest against the annexation by the United States. (They were not successful; Hawaii became a state in 1959.)</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Upon her death, Liliʻuokalani dictated in her will that all of her possessions and properties be sold and the money raised would go to the Queen Liliʻuokalani Children's Trust to help orphaned and indigent children, a fund still active today.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">What can I do?</span></b></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Learn more: <i>Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen</i> is available at our campus library</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Pray The Queen’s Prayer. Reflect on seeking peace in the midst of sorrow.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">What sort of art do you love? Painting, music, writing? Make a project for social justice and share with the campus. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary Hawaiian issues: Hawaii is a vacation paradise for many Americans, but many native people live in poverty and see little of the profits. Racial tensions divide the state. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary US Issues: read hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #MikeBrown #Ferguson </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(20, 20, 20); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #141414; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Interview one person this week who has a different background from your own. Ask questions, listen, rather than arguing or correcting them.</span></span></li></ul>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121462106666056939.post-82257846739187853142015-08-02T08:00:00.006-07:002021-01-03T14:45:58.485-08:00Hope Bios: William Wilberforce<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; text-align: center;">William Wilberforce</b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1784 – 1812</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Change through Politics</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vdfZcSF_iXfkBCAv0-h0wa0Pt6qNw7CjOPVp0egkvdNWo5Mtr14f1j2QiQtYtTaFvm1hyphenhyphenLcXZkrujBDne8pNcqxWhtfatRsatLo0_5HJtlqKBI9FENyNsLvNT1LopO5AVcuGpW8oiY_Z/s791/William_wilberforce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vdfZcSF_iXfkBCAv0-h0wa0Pt6qNw7CjOPVp0egkvdNWo5Mtr14f1j2QiQtYtTaFvm1hyphenhyphenLcXZkrujBDne8pNcqxWhtfatRsatLo0_5HJtlqKBI9FENyNsLvNT1LopO5AVcuGpW8oiY_Z/s320/William_wilberforce.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Calling</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">English politician, Member of Parliament, philanthropist, and a </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Faith</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1785, Wilberforce became an evangelical Christian, which </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for reform and abolition.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">His Legacy</span></b></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wilberforce headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The society was highly successful in raising public awareness and support, pioneering techniques such as lobbying, writing pamphlets, holding public meetings, gaining press attention, organizing boycotts and even using a campaign logo, spoke at debating societies and wrote spirited letters to newspapers, periodicals and prominent figures, as well as public letters of support to campaign allies, and they collected hundreds of thousands of signatures. The campaign proved to be the world's first grassroots human rights campaign, in which men and women from different social classes and backgrounds volunteered to end the injustices suffered by others.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;">Wilberforce worked for </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">twenty-six years for the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. (This did not free current slaves, but did end the practice of shipping new slaves from Africa.) </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That campaign led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">What can I do?</span></b></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Learn more: Watch a movie with your friends: “Amazing Grace” about the abolitionists in England. Also, watch “The Price of Sugar” about modern slavery in the Dominican Republic. (available on youtube.) </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">What career do you hope to follow? What ways can you fight for justice through your career? Journal, or brainstorm with a friend or teacher on social justice issues.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Advocate to politicians, sign petitions, vote.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Contemporary world issues: Nearly 30 million people are modern day slaves. Many are children, and many are sex slaves. Visit ijm.org/theproblem to learn about slavery in the world today.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Contemporary US Issues: read hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #MikeBrown #Ferguson </span></span></li></ul>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054433007140948598noreply@blogger.com0