Crass...tasteless...reprehensible

How dare they take in vain the names and images of individuals who were killed in the tragedy of 9/11. Tonight's Republican Convention featured a video of the Twin Towers on fire and falling, photos and fliers of people missing or lost, and tearful rescuers and families. I lived through 9/11 in Washington, DC while the man I loved was in New York City. Like so many others, we were cut off without phone service and I had no way of contacting him as he made his way to lend a hand a ground zero. Thank God that he was safe but along with so many New Yorkers, he will never forget that day and neither will I. How dare Republicans use these tragic images to gain hollow support for their candidate.

I want to be kept safe too. I dare say that there is no American that wants to see the kind of devastation happened on September 11, 2001. But I want to hear substance, a plan, not tearful remembrances. Not a year goes by that I don't say a prayer for those who lost their lives and their families on 9/11. This year will be no different, but the next President of the United States will have to show me more if he expects my vote.

Theologians prepare for E.T.

Square peg, round hole...

It is in the nature of journalists to dig for the story behind the obvious (read the article) and in the case of religion, they seem to like pitting religion against all of the great unknown quantities in the universe - literally. In recent months, there has been a focus on religion and politics, and not long ago it was religion and science concerning evolution. Now it seems religion is to go toe-to-toe with E.T.

It seems to me that what many journalists miss about Christianity is that it is more than just a rationalization for things we cannot understand. It is a fundamental framework for understanding and when unable to understand, appreciation of creation.

Pastor John Robinson around 1620 wrote, "That which is commonly called schism ariseth from the conceit of faith or want of love." "We seek enlightenment from others who see further into the matter, for we are always prepared to give way modestly to those who teach better things." (Admonitio ad Lectorem, preface to Robert Parker, De Politeia). Funny that he should have the answers to such curious questions of the future, so long ago.

Robison's sermon to pilgrims leaving for the new world is the inspiration for the hymn entitled We Limit Not the Truth of God by George Rawson (1807-1889).

We limit not the truth of God to our poor reach of mind --
By notions of our day and sect -- crude partial and confined
No, let a new and better hope within our hearts be stirred
For God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.

Who dares to bind to one's own sense the oracles of heaven
For all the nations, tongues, and climes and all the ages given?
That universe, how much unknown! that ocean unexplored
For God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.

Eternal God, Incarnate Word, Spirit of flame and dove,
enlarge expand all living souls to comprehend your love;
and help us all to seek your will with wiser powers conferred
O God, grant yet more light and truth to break forth from the Word.

************

Christian Theologians Prepare for Extraterrestrial Life

By Brandon Keim 10 hours ago

Little green men might shock the secular public. But the Catholic Church would welcome them as brothers.

(http://www.wired.com/print/science/space/news/2008/06/alien_religion#)

That's what Vatican chief astronomer and papal science adviser Gabriel Funes explained in a recent article in L'Osservatore Romano, the newsletter of the Vatican Observatory (translated here). His conclusion might surprise nonbelievers. After all, isn't this the same church that imprisoned Galileo for saying that the Earth revolves around the sun? Doesn't the Bible say that God created man -- not little green men -- in his image?

Indeed, many observers assert that aliens would be bad for believers. Jill Tarter, director of the Center for SETI Research, once wrote that finding intelligent other-worldly life "will be inconsistent with the existence of God or at least organized religions." But such predictions tend to come from outside Christianity. From within, theologians have debated the implications of alien contact for centuries. And if one already believes in angels, no great leap of faith is required to accept the possibility of other extraterrestrial intelligences.

Since God created the universe, theologians say, he would have created aliens, too. And far from being weakened by contact, Christianity would adapt. Its doctrines would be interpreted anew, the aliens greeted with open -- and not necessarily Bible-bearing -- arms.

"The main question is, 'Would religion survive this contact?'" said NASA chief historian Steven J. Dick, author of The Biological Universe. "Religion hasn't gone away after Copernican theory, after Darwin. They've found ways to adapt, and they'll find a way if this happens, too," Dick says.

The central conundrum posed to Christianity by alien contact would involve the Incarnation -- the arrival of Jesus Christ as God's representative on Earth, his crucifixion and the absolution of humanity's sins through his forgiveness.

"It would still be true -- but if there are other races and intelligences, then what is the meaning of this visit to our race at that time?" asked Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno, who in 2005 penned the booklet Intelligent Life in the Universe?

Some propose that the Earthly incarnation of Jesus some 2,000 years ago redeemed all intelligent creatures, in all places and -- since a space-faring race is likely older than us -- in all times. Others have suggested that Jesus could take multiple forms.

"Just as Jesus is human like you and I, you would find an alien-specific Jesus," said Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary professor Ted Peters.

But Peters and others also say that aliens may not have fallen into sin, instead existing in a state of grace, neither having nor needing Jesus. In that case, missionaries would have no call to convert them.

"Would sin be the same on another planet as we conceive of it here? Would there even be sin, or would God be present to that species in a completely different way?" says Richard Randolph, a Kansas City University ethicist.

All this, however, assumes that humanity not only encounters new forms of life but also understands them. Other intelligences may be incomprehensible to us, thus intensifying another doctrinal question: What does it mean to be made, as the Bible proclaims, in God's image?

Many astrotheologians argue that God's image refers to our spiritual nature, with our physical forms being irrelevant. Not everyone, however, agrees.

"If there are aliens, the Bible specifically does not say that they were created in his image," said Mark Conn, pastor of the Noble Hill Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. "God created many other intelligent beings on this planet, and they were not created in His image."

Conn's church recently met to discuss the issues posed by extraterrestrial contact, ultimately deciding that "if they're there, they're there. It doesn't change a whole lot."

Unlike Peters, Conn suggested that missionary work may be required, something the aliens may not welcome -- especially if, as many postulate, they are technologically superior to humanity and do not have religions of their own.

"Maybe they'll say that they used to need religion but have outgrown it. Some people say that would be a great blow to religion, because if an advanced civilization doesn't need it, why do we?" said Douglas Vakoch, director of interstellar message composition at SETI.

"I don't buy it, though. I think religion meets very human needs, and unless extraterrestrials can provide a replacement for it, I don't think religion is going to go away," he continued. "And if there are incredibly advanced civilizations with a belief in God, I don't think Richard Dawkins will start believing."

Of Duty and Integrity

Daily Kos reports that Congressman Dennis Kucinich yesterday offered a resolution to impeach George W. Bush. It was an important effort to document the many charges and concerns that Americans have about the integrity of President George W. Bush. While the resolution itself is unlikely to have much affect on the conduct of the President, it will remain as a record of the legitimate concerns, some under investigation by other means, that warrant attention from Congress and the American people.

Moments like these should be recorded and remembered for their value to future generations of citizens. It is instructive to recall the words and actions of Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, who in 1991 introduced H520-21, a resolution Impeaching George Herbert Walker Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Representative Gonzalez considered the introduction of this resolution to be nothing less than his sacred duty to the people of the United States and in support of his oath of office wherein he swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Gonzalez charged that the President violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution by committing a military force, disproportionately comprised of “poor white, black, and Mexican-American or Hispanic-American” people to war."

Article II charged that the President bribed, intimidated and threatened member states of the U. N. Security Council to support war against Iraq and cited payments, loans, debt forgiveness and threats to withhold aid, as examples of U.S. manipulation of a United Nations process.

Article III charged that the President conspired to war against Iraq employing the use of weapons of mass destruction that would take the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.

Article IV states that the President “embarked on a course of action that systematically eliminated every option for peaceful resolution of the Persian Gulf crisis.”

Finally, Article V charged that the President (George H.W. Bush) “conspired to commit crimes against the peace by leading the United States into aggressive war against Iraq, in violation of article 24 of the U.N. Charter, the Nuremberg Charter, other international instruments and treaties, and the Constitution of the United States.”

Congressman Gonzalez concluded his remarks that day, calling for an opportunity to argue the case before the appropriate committee and in an appropriate manner for the members to decide in their own judgment. He argued that day, as Congressman Kucinich did yesterday, for the rule of law and the preservation of the Constitution of the United States. He argued not out of vanity or for want of power, but for the sake of duty and integrity.

What does the Lord require of me?

Crosshairs of History

Medal of Honor winner ‘thought of himself as just a plain soldier who did what he had to do to save his fellow soldiers and defend his country.'





The Brownsville Herald ran an article featuring the life of Jose Lopez, who received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. (See story below.) I'm not sure why my mother decided to send this story to me, perhaps because we once lived in Brownsville, Texas. I had the honor of sitting at a dinner with two Medal of Honor winners a couple of years ago and it is possible that I mentioned this to her.

It was difficult to read this account of his heroism, despite the humility with which Mr. Lopez led his life. I suppose it was difficult because being Memorial Day weekend, there were war movies on every channel and I spent more time in front of the T.V. than I had intended. But, it was more than this. It was also the enormity of war - the pain, suffering, sacrifice - even the joy of surviving war seemed too much to comprehend. I think maybe this is why Mr. Lopez chose a humble life of hard work and family. These are things that a man can appreciate as meaningful and his accomplishments in peace have lived on well beyond his own life.

May God bless him and may he be at peace.

Crosshairs of History

May 25, 2008 - 11:49PM

By STEVE SINCLAIR/Valley Morning Star

Sgt. Jose Lopez stood only 5-feet-4 and weighed 135 pounds. But on Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was a giant of a man for Company K.

In what was called a "seemingly suicidal" mission, Lopez killed at least 100 Germans while enduring Tiger tank cannon fire and almost singlehandedly kept his company from being overrun during the early stages of the surprise winter counteroffensive.

A few months later, Army Third Corps Commander Maj. Gen. James A. Van Fleet awarded Lopez the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for heroism on the battlefield.

Lopez died May 16, 2005, at 94 from cancer at his daughter's home in San Antonio.

He was given a hero's burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, a ceremony reserved only for Medal of Honor recipients and general officers. Gov. Rick Perry ordered flags lowered to half-staff in his honor. (Click here to read more)

Recipe for Hope: Responding to the Global Hunger Crisis

It's in the news nearly every day: Food prices are soaring worldwide (more on the crisis). More low-income people in the United States are making trips to food banks, where stocks are quickly depleting. For the world's poorest people in developing countries—who spend up to 80 percent of their income to buy food—the situation is even more devastating.

But you have the power to make a difference in this global hunger crisis. Bread for the World is launching an emergency Recipe for Hope online campaign which will run from Mother's Day through Father's Day.

Each week, an email from Bread will offer the ingredients for a:

Recipe for Despair—more information on the causes of this crisis

Recipe for Hope—specific actions you can take to help end it

It’s easy to feel helpless when you watch people around the world suffering for lack of food.
Join Bread for the World's Recipe for Hope and be part of the solution.


Resources for Churches
Prayers at Home
More on the crisis > >

Rev. Jeremiah Wright (unedited version)

I know what she meant: Why I agree with Michele Obama.

I know what she meant. I too am proud of my country in a way that cannot be compared to any pride I have heretofore experienced for the United States of America. That is not to say that I have never been proud of my country, merely that my heart swells when I think of what we as a people are now doing as we choose a president. For the first time in my life, I see us having deep and thoughtful discussions followed by careful deliberation resulting in history-making votes. We are seeing record numbers of voters turn out to vote in the presidential primaries and the greatest number of votes have gone to a woman and an African American man.

Let me share why I think this is so amazing. I was born and raised in a small, Central Texas town. Mostly German, somewhat Mexican, largely racist when I was a boy, this community has supported Barack Obama as the next Democratic Nominee for President of the United States.

My birthday is June 19, 1960something and our next door neighbor, Mrs. Coleman called me “Liberty Boy” and said to my mother “may he always know freedom” because I was a Juneteenth (emancipation day) baby. I can imagine that this was a little goading to my grandfather who had held a bias against Black people all of his life, albeit for no good reason. As the story goes, my grandfather had teased one of his close friends whose grandson, my friend Michael was to be born around the same period of time as I was and Grandpa had said that Michael would surely be born on the 19^th and would have especially dark skin. God has a funny way of leveling the playing field, and I was the one born on June 19^th. It’s a good thing too, or I might not have been prepared to handle the racism that I experienced in school, much less life as an out Gay man today.

Mrs. Coleman, my grandfather, my parents and all of our black neighbors learned to live together very happily. The racist systems and barriers that had for years pitted African Americans against Mexican Americans for jobs and opportunities fell away as neighbors became friends and alliances were forged to build a better future.

Still, its not all Bluebonnets and Yellow Roses. Rumors and lies have spread to convince some Latinos that Obama is not Christian, does not pledge allegiance to the flag, and did not take the oath on the Bible. I find it hard to believe that these tactics are coming from the Clinton campaign because I have friends that work for Senator Clinton and they are good people. No, I think they are coming from short-sighted and petty individuals who will do anything to win, or in this case to keep Sen. Obama from winning. What concerns me most is that Sen. Clinton did not do more to denounce these lies and I can’t imagine that she would be satisfied to win any vote resulting from this kind of fear mongering.

I guess I am just an idealist at heart. It sounds almost too simple to say that friendship overcomes politics. Trust overcomes racism. Hope overcomes fear. But, it rings true to me and I think to the majority of Democrats in my part of Texas. Perhaps for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my hometown and I am proud of my country.

Marco A. Grimaldo is a lifelong Democrat from Texas who has spent his professional career working at the intersection of faith and politics in Washington, DC to help overcome hunger, poverty and injustice. Please feel free to contact the author at magrimaldo@gmail.com with any comments.

Disconnected

Disconnected from reality or just from the poor?

... those of us who grew up in Texas remember what the border looked like when we were kids, and it was really poor. And you go down to that border today, it is prosperous on both sides of the river...



Today, President Bush held a press briefing to argue for a number of things that he wants from Congress including the right to spy on Americans, but in the course of answering questions from reporters, he showed how little he understands the economy. Either he is disconnected from reality and does not know that his own administration has done little to meet the requirements of NAFTA in support of a stronger Mexican economy that would support Mexican workers with jobs that offer a decent life on the Mexican side of the border or he has chosen to lie to us in hopes that we will think that the boarder region of the southern United States is prosperous because of NAFTA.

Excerpt from President's White House Press Briefing (02-28-08) ...

John.

Q Thanks, Mr. President. There's been a lot of criticism on the campaign trail of free trade policies and even talk about the U.S. opting out of NAFTA. And it doesn't seem that you want to discuss the prospects of Republican candidates on the campaign trail this year, but --

THE PRESIDENT: Not yet.

Q Not yet. But just given all the concerns about the economy that people have, do you feel like you could win in a state like Ohio if you were running again for President?

THE PRESIDENT: Landslide. (Laughter.) Look, I am a big believer in free trade. And the reason why is I firmly believe that free trade is essential to the formation of high-paying, quality jobs. In other words, people who work for industries that export goods to overseas are likely to be paid more than their -- other workers.

Secondly, if you look at the -- our economic growth recently, particularly last year, a major portion of that growth came as a result of exports. It's an essential part of our economic picture.

Yes, I heard the talk about NAFTA. One statistic I think people need to know is I think there's roughly like $380 billion worth of goods that we ship to our NAFTA partners on an annual basis. Now, $380 billion worth of goods means there's a lot of farmers and businesses, large and small, who are benefiting from having a market in our neighborhood. And the idea of just unilaterally withdrawing from a trade treaty because of trying to score political points is not good policy. It's not good policy on the merits, and it's not good policy as a message to send to our -- people who have, in good faith, signed a treaty and worked with us on a treaty.

Thirdly, those of us who grew up in Texas remember what the border looked like when we were kids, and it was really poor. And you go down to that border today, it is prosperous on both sides of the river, to the credit of those who proposed NAFTA, and to the credit of those who got NAFTA through the Congress. If you're worried about people coming into our country illegally, it makes sense to help a place like Mexico grow its economy. Most folks would rather be finding a job close to home; most folks would rather not try to get in the bottom of an 18-wheeler to come and put food on the table.

This agreement has meant prosperity on both sides of our borders, north and south. And I believe it's in the interests to continue to seek markets for our farmers, ranchers and businesspeople. I also know it's in our interest to insist that when people sell products into our countries [sic], that we get treated fairly. In other words, if we treat a country one way, people in a country one way, we expect to be treated the same way -- like Colombia.

The Colombia Free Trade vote is coming up. Many of their products come into our country much easier than our products go into theirs. It makes sense to be treated equally. But on this vote, there's an additional consequence. If the Congress rejects the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, it will sorely affect the national security interests of the United States. It will encourage false populism in our neighborhood. It will undermine the standing of courageous leaders like President Uribe. And I strongly urge the Congress, when they bring this -- when the Colombia Free Trade Agreement is brought to a vote, to seriously consider the consequences of rejecting this trade agreement.