Jeff's Peace & Justice Journal

Blog Transition

2011-02-19T09:27:00.001-08:00

Future posts for this blog project will be available here.

I will no longer be updating this Blogger-based blog, but the project will continue on Wordpress. Even though all previously posted articles have been imported into the Wordpress blog, I will leave these here just in case someone has linked to them.

Peace, Jeff

Peace and Collaborative Development Network

2011-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Came across the Peace and Collaborative Development Network today, "a free professional networking site (with over 18,650 members from around the world) to foster dialogue and sharing of resources in international development, conflict resolution, gender mainstreaming, human rights, social entrepreneurship and related fields."

"PCDN seeks to create horizontal networking and information sharing for individuals and groups around the world. Members can chat with each other, create blogs, add to discussion topics, and share current research, experiences and challenges from the field. The Network currently has over 18,500 members and is receiving 300,000 hits a month."

Economic Justice

2011-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

One of my courses this semester is Economic Justice and Christian Conscience. Here's the class description:

How can economic relationships be made to more fully reflect God's concern for justice? The question will be set in the context of economic faithfulness being seen as joyful response to God's bounty and goodness. It will be explored by examining various perspectives on the meaning of justice, on economic "development" and North-South relations, on economic systems and theories, on economic production and the natural world, on business ethics and labor-management issues, on economics in the church (mutual aid, etc.), and on issues of economic faithfulness for the individual Christian (stewardship).

These are the required textbooks:

Blomberg, Craig. Neither Poverty nor Riches
Foster, Richard. Freedom of Simplicity
Reed, Esther D. Good Work
Rempel, Henry. A High Price for Abundant Living
Sider, Ronald J. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

I wish I could do a full degree in economic ethics. Topics that interest me: globalization, international development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), consumerism (spiritual, environmental and sociological connections), debt (personal & national), neoliberalism, fair trade, Jubilee (history, theology sociology), poverty (causes, effects, solutions), wealth distribution (The Economist addressed this recently), and economic anthropology.

Peace Theology (with a dash of SDA flavor)

2011-02-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

Slightly Update: 7 Feb 2011

A friend just asked me on Facebook what I meant by peace theology. I'm sitting in a coffee shop, which means I don't have books to quote from, except for one by EG White in my bag. My only tools are Google, Bible Gateway and White's book, Welfare Ministry.

Basically, I meant that the Bible couches its conversations in a framework of peace (shalom & eirene), especially, but not only, in the New Testament. For starters:

Jesus as the Messiah is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)
Jesus gives peace (John 14:27)
Jesus came to lead our feet into the paths of peace (Luke 1:79)
The good news of Jesus is the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-15)
Refusing Jesus' way of peace has real-world consequences (Luke 19:42)
Peacemakers are children of God (Matt. 5:9)
The God of peace makes a covenant of peace.
Paul repeatedly wished people grace and peace.

Peace is a broad term; the biblical usage goes way beyond our common conception of "absence of violence." Any injustice breaks peace as much as outright war. Righteousness and justice are integral to peace, and in contrast to how we normally use them, they are quite related (Colson Center, IV Press). An understanding of the Jewish words for compassion and justice helps make these connections (e.g., 7 words, Just Action). Peace is a very relational word--right relations, harmony, the weak are safe, there is no oppression/injustice, needs are met.

Thus the peace Jesus brought definitely included peace and reconciliation with God, but it did not stop there. If we are to be faithful to Jesus and the gospel of peace, we must not stop there! People say to me, okay, they post online comments to me like, "Do this peace thing on your own time. Don't distract the church from the work of preaching the gospel." But this limited definition of Jesus and the gospel is reductionistic and misses Jesus' point. Jesus' way was not abstract theology, it was love, it was peace, it was relational, it was lived. A few examples from Jesus and the early teachers:

Matt. 23:23 -- Justice is more important than tithe. But which have you heard more sermons about?
Matt. 5:23-24 -- Relational reconciliation should precede religious expressions. Steps are given in Matt. 18.
Matt. 22:36-40 -- Love of God and others are inseparable.
Matt. 25:31-46 -- Sheep and goat designations based on loving actions, not abstract theology.
1 John 3:17 -- Love of God doesn't exist when love for others is also lacking. Compassion, mercy, justice, love and meeting needs are all elemental to God's shalom.

I shouldn't just limit this to the New Testament since peace and justice are prevalent in the Hebrew Scriptures as well. Matt. 23:23 listed above echoes Amos, who said God hated their religion that lacked justice (Amos 5:21-24). This also echoes Micah 6:8, quite possibly the most well-known verse in this essay. Isaiah actually connects justice with God's presence, a connection I, as an SDA, interpret as applying to the end of the age. Is. 56:1 makes God's approaching salvation the motivation for pursuing justice, not a reason to neglect it. Deut. 16:20 also comes to mind in this regard--"Follow justice and justice alone."

Ellen White saw this social dimension as part of the gospel, not as an optional add-on. She writes, "Much more than mere sermonizing is included in preaching the gospel....The union of Christlike work for the body and Christlike work for the soul is the true interpretation of the gospel" (Welfare Ministry, pp. 32-33). The first 30 pages of that book just emphasize this over and over, especially in relation to Isaiah 58.

We see this in the early church as they lived the gospel of peace. It brought together men and women in amazing new ways, same with Jews and gentiles, slave and free, rich and poor. Social relations were turned upside down. Unity with God brought amazing peace to relations as never before. Paul (not to mention the prophets and Psalms and...) says way too much about peace in relationships to limit the ministry of reconciliation to our relationship with God alone (1 Cor. 7:15; 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:14-17; 4:3; Col. 3:11; 3:15; 1 Thes. 5:13, and more). The Bible just doesn't make this divide like we do (just like it doesn't divide justice and righteousness; which might affect one's reading of Matt. 5:6).

It can be argued that there is no good news of God apart from living the truth in community (1 John 1:7). We are not used to this language because we are used to using terms foreign to peace, justice and righteousness of the early church. Our lenses have been significantly affected by our post-Constantinian world view, as well as by post-enlightenment and post-Luther theologians. Here are two examples of how these lenses affect our selective reading of the Bible and God's priorities. Common:

NT (Eph 2:8-9): For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

HS (Is 1:18): “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

In context (adjacent verses to those above):

NT (Eph 2:10): For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

HS (Is. 1:17): Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

When we read Jesus' inaugural address that laid out his ministry, we see that justice, oppression and the spirit of the jubilee were central to what he was doing in proclaiming what his kingdom looks like.“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).

Even the Magnificat or Mary's Song rings with these themes (Luke 1:46-55), as does Jesus' later verification of his ministry to doubting and troubled John (Matt. 11:4-5). And we remember that John prepared people to meet Jesus by focusing on ethics when he could have just as easily highlighted the scriptures that were later considered by the early church to be prophecies pointing to Jesus (Luke 3). I believe this is important for the SDA church because we focus greatly on the 3 Angels' Message but we tend to neglect balancing our message with Is. 58. White instructed us, "The whole of the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah is to be regarded as a message for this time, to be given over and over again" (Ministry of Healing, p. 29, emphasis added).

This lead my thoughts in two directions. First, this emphasis on justice (again, integral to peace) is consistent with Jer. 9:24 and 22:16, where doing justice is tantamount to knowing the God who exercises justice. This connection between (a) knowing that God exercises justice and (b) us doing justice makes sense when we remember that as the church we are Christ's body on earth (1 Cor. 12:27), we are to do his work.

Second, Jesus was clear about how citizens of his kingdom live. How does Jesus end both the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7; Stassen's triads, see also Kingdom Ethics) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-41)? With the comparison of the wise and foolish builders. He meant action, not abstract ethics for a perfect world that will never exist this side of the resurrection and 2nd coming. He asks, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). This fits with Matt. 7:21-23 about doing God's will. James echoes this (1:22); no wonder Luther didn't like the book. I believe all of this is consistent with Abraham's original call to teach righteousness and justice (Gen. 18:19).

The summation of righteousness, justice, reconciliation, fellowship, and love is peace. This is peace theology. I should have included a section on empire theology; maybe I'll add it later. And any theology has to take into account complex teachings (e.g., Luke 12:51), but that would greatly expand this already lengthy essay. This isn't meant to be exhaustive, just an introduction. For more on peace, I highly recommend starting with the following (notably, all by Mennonites/Anabaptists, but others like Stassen, Wink, Hauerwas, Brueggemann, Grassi, Arnold, and others really should be on the list as well, like this Jewish book):

Covenant of Peace (Swartley)
Shalom (P. Yoder)
Politics of Jesus (J. H. Yoder)
The Upside-Down Kingdom (Kraybill)
Good News & Good Works (Sider)
Social Holiness (Kreider)

The original question that sparked this post was in reference to a class I took in Guatemala that looked at how to live peace theology in a violent society. We studied how churches have worked to promote a culture of peace and justice in a historical context of massive human rights abuses. They risk death threats when they stand with abused women. They give of themselves to help those economically destroyed when husbands and sons have been disappeared. They walk with lawyers to thwart a culture of impunity. They build schools for people groups ignored by government development projects or targeted by government violence. They teach conflict resolution classes to infuse society with new ideas for dealing with differences. For more ideas, see the organizations we visited.

Rigoberta Menchú -- My Suffering Country

2011-02-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Rigoberta Menchú is an indigenous/Mayan humans rights advocate from Guatemala who has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Here is a poem of hers that appeared in the January 1991 edition of Prism Magazine. Learn more about her here: Story, Foundation, Bio, Wikileaks.

“My Suffering Country”

I crossed the border, my love,
I don't know when I'll return,
perhaps in summer when Grandmother Moon and Father Sun
greet each other again one sparkling dawn.
While all the stars rejoice,
they will herald the first rains.
The pumpkin Victor planted the afternoon he was murdered by soldiers
will begin to sprout again.
The peach trees will bloom, and our fields will bloom. We will plant lots of corn,
corn for the children of all our land.
The bee swarms shall return
which so many massacres and so much terror drove away. Rugged hands shall again hold vat after vat to collect the honey.
I crossed the border drenched in sadness,
I feel great sorrow in this dark and rainy dawn,
which goes beyond my existence.
The raccoons cry.
The monkeys cry.
And the coyotes and the mocking birds are silent. The snails want to speak.
Mother Earth is in mourning,
stained with blood.
She cries day and night from so much grief.
She misses the rhythm of the mattocks and the machetes, the rhythm of the grinding stones.
Each morning she is anxious to hear
the laughter and songs of her glorious children.
I crossed the border with dignity.
My sack is filled with so many things from that rainy land. I carry undying memories of Patrocinio,
My sandals that were born with me,
The scent of spring, the scent of the moss, the caress of the cornfields,
and the proud scars of our childhood.
I carry my colorful guipil for the fiesta when I return. And yes, I carry my bones and my sack of corn, for come what may, this sack will return to where it came from.
I crossed the border, my love.
Tomorrow I shall return when my tortured mother weaves another guipil.
When my father burnt alive rises early once again to greet the sun from every corner of our little farm.
Then there will be rum for everyone, there will be tortillas and children's laughter
and joyful marimbas.
Fires will be lit at each farm and each river
to wash the maize flour at dawn.
We'll burn torches of pinewax to light the pathways, the gullies, the rocks and
the fields.

The God that Failed

2011-02-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

You can access my final reflection essay for Peace & Justice: Latin American Perspectives here (resources are listed here). The six-page limit meant I couldn't include a number of thoughts I had originally intended to explore--violence in the introduction of Christianity to Guatemala by the Spanish, the ways that the United States has made life hard for its neighbors and brought the immigration issue on itself despite being considered by many to be a "Christian" nation, the Christianization of Rwanda before the genocide*, the spread of America's prosperity gospel, and the disconnect between theology and ethics.

On this last point, I see no direct link between basic theological questions and ethics. Since Jesus repeatedly taught about ethics and most of theology is about non-ethical questions, it follows that theologians are concerned with questions that were not Jesus' focus (Matt. 23:23). Once a month I join a conference call with peace activists from nearly every Christian branch--Orthodox, Catholic and a selection of Protestants (historic peace churches, mainline, evangelical). We represent the peace fellowships of our various denominations. There is no direct connection between our views on eschatology, ecclesiology, soteriology, the virgin birth, creation, the nature of Mary, or the atonement with our ethics of peace and justice. Within each group are those concerned with peace and justice as well as those who see these as distractions from preaching the true word of the Gospel. Maybe there should be a link between basic theology and ethics, but I don't see it in the real world.

The essay could be summarized with a phrase like Culture trumps Jesus. Or maybe Culture trumps religion, or even Empire trumps religion. In the end, I believe G. K. Chesterton was on to something: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

May there be peace (which includes justice) on Earth!

Essay: The God that Failed

NOTE: The complexity of the issue leads me to seemingly contradictory conclusions--(a) ethics and theology are virtually unrelated, and (b) both Protestant and Catholic theology undercut Jesus' ethics. Yes. :) These theologies, in my view, can and have short-circuited ethical thought and practice, but they don't mandate or require this fissure. As evidence, many who believed in indulgences and many who accepted salvation by grace alone with no room for discipleship still cared about ethics. And others didn't/don't.

NOTE 2: In Retrospect, I think I should not have interspersed factoids about the US throughout the essay. It would have been stronger to focus on the comparisons in part 1 and then include a later section arguing something like: It would be incorrect to think that only the exported version of Christianity has problems and that it works fine in the US and Europe. Look at these cultures to see that Christianity has historic problems there as well (greed, persecution of dissidents, extreme individualism, environmental damage, misuse of power in the church and in government, etc.), even if these three particular markers show especially low scores in Guatemala and Kenya.

*For a brief comment on Adventist failures in Rwanda, see Monte Sahlin's AToday blogpost (second to last paragraph).

Resources for SEMILLA Class

2011-01-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

In January 2011 I took Peace and Justice: Latin American Perspectives at Semilla, an Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City. Here is a description of the class from the syllabus and following are links I compiled throughout the experience.

This course is an approach to the Anabaptist-Mennonite understanding and practice of peace from a Latin American perspective. It explores the main conflicts, situations, and challenges of Central America. It examines the basic theological and spiritual convictions related to peace and justice that sustain the Church mission and testimony in these lands. It also provides an overview of how the Anabaptists have spent trying to follow Jesus Christ and to preach and live his message of peace in the midst of the challenging situations and struggles of this context. This course is offered at the Latin American Anabaptist Seminary (SEMILLA) in Guatemala.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG)
Guatemalan League of Mental Hygiene -- Reunions & adoptions
Survivors -- Domestic abuse
UPAVIM -- Women’s co-op connected to 10,000 Villages (Montessori school, crafts, bakery, soy milk, etc.)
Ruth and Naomi Co-op -- http://www.guatemalaproject.org/36201.html
Bezaleel & Fundameno -- Mennonite school and health care. http://bezaleel.mennonite.net/Bezlweb%20Donations.htm &
CASAS & SEMILLA (Facebook)
Justicia Restaurativa
Mission Year & CCDA. Some of us ate dinner with a couple that was connected to both of these. Like them, I first heard of both from Shane Claiborne.
Orphan Resources Intl -- Mike took us hiking on Pacaya for our last adventure. His story and the story of ORI was really encouraging. Mike's blog.

FILMS:

Recycled Life -- Documentary about the city dump in Guatemala City that we visited.
Return to El Salvador -- The website has the trailer and the first 7 minutes, along with a short film (Marcelo) on a related topic. It’s by the same director (Jamie Moffett) who made The Ordinary Radicals.
El Norte -- “Two indigenous youths…flee Guatemala in the early 1980s due to ethnic and political persecution. They head north and travel through Mexico to the United States, arriving in Los Angeles, California, after an arduous journey.” Trailer
Romero
Sin Nombre -- Trailer
The Corporation -- Companies behaving badly.
180° South -- Less related to our studies than the other films. It’s more for those interested in adventure sports and ecological conservation.

Food films:

The Future of Food -- http://www.thefutureoffood.com/
Bad Seed -- http://www.badseed.info/. I’ve only seen a small part of this. It reminded me of The Future of Food, though the quality seemed lower.
Earthlings -- http://www.earthlings.com/. Gruesome.
Food, Inc. -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/
The Garden -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1252486/
King Corn -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112115/

Andre recommends:

Peaceable Kingdom -- A documentary about farms and humans relationship to the rest of the world.
Ballad of the Little Soldier -- Documentary about child soldiers in Nicaragua by Werner Herzog. He happens to be one of my favorite directors, and if you like his style I would also recommend: The White Diamond, The Wheel of Time, and Little Dieter Needs to Fly.

BOOKS:

Peacemaking Power of Prayer -- As with any book, it can’t be read uncritically, but I think it has an element of wisdom to speak to our studies here.
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
Game as Old as Empire
The Arrival -- Comic book/graphic novel sans words about immigration. Emotional but not violent. Beautiful.
Jim and Casper Go to Church -- I thought of this book after visiting La Casa de Dios. See also http://churchrater.com/.
The End of Days
The Fullness of Time in a Flat World (Waalkes)

Joon recommends:

Three Cups of Tea (Mortenson)
Stones to Schools (Mortenson)
Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh (Norberg-Hodge)

RANDOM:

Bus bomb in Guatemala City -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12109840 & http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110113/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_guatemala_bus_fire_1
Chichicastenango
Coban
Iximche
Infant Mortality Rate (country comparison) -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate
Homicide Rates (regional comparison) -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
Per capita income (regional comparison) -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita
WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women -- http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/en/
enditnow (Adventist say no to violence against women) -- http://www.enditnow.org/ & http://www.atoday.com/viewpoints-vol-4-heatherdawn-small.
Smedley Buttler -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler. Wrote War is a Racket (http://www.amazon.com/War-Racket-Antiwar-Americas-Decorated/dp/0922915865 & http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html ). Two quotes I’ve posted on my blog (http://justicelives.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-posted-following-item-on-my-ethics.html ):

o "War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."

o "I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

Control Room

2010-12-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched Control Room (IMDb - Wiki - Official - Trailer), a documentary about Al Jazeera during the start of the Iraq war in 2003. At this point I have little interest in the history of the war (and other documentaries cover that topic much better), but Control Room interests me from a media ethics perspective. I place it along side War Made Easy, Manufacturing Consent, and War Photographer as quality documentaries at the convergence of media and war.

Interrogations

2010-12-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

A friend recently sent me this message:

"I heard a story once about a pastor who served as an interrogator in WWII or Vietnam and worked from a totally different paradigm where he truly treated the prisoners kindly even if they weren't willing to talk. In the long run he ended up being way more effective in getting info while the prisoners were truly treated with respect and not as enemies. He advocated for this approach to be accepted by the military but it obviously was not. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about and what his name is/was?"

I asked everyone in the Adv Activism Facebook Group, and I received these two links from Loren Siebold:

Atlantic 2005 -- http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/06/truth-extraction/3973/
Atlantic 2007 -- http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/10/torture-and-terror/5503/

Journal of Religion, Conflict, & Peace

2010-11-18T17:15:00.001-08:00

The Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace is available online. From the About page:

The Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace addresses both the problem of religion and conflict and the possibility and practices of peace, giving particular attention to peace. Articles address everything from interpersonal relationships to international politics and draw from any discipline or combination of disciplines that can illuminate the journal's central concerns. While the journal’s first audience is scholars, its aim is to be relevant and accessible to peace practitioners and anyone else concerned about these themes.

The journal is a publication of Plowshares: a peace studies collaborative of Earlham, Goshen, and Manchester Colleges. It is shaped by, but not confined to, the perspectives of the three historic peace churches-Society of Friends, the Mennonite Church, and the Church of the Brethren-associated with the colleges that compose the collaborative.

Practical Matters

2010-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

A fellow peace studies seminarian shared Practical Matters with me today. It is "a transdisciplinary multimedia journal of religious practices and practical theology." The current edition is on ethnography and theology. Enjoy!

Random Peace Resources & Trainings

2010-11-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

I've come across a few resources of interest lately. Here they be:

"The Center on Faith & International Affairs offers a selection of syllabi from universities in the U.S. and abroad" on "courses discussing religion’s role in politics." See list.
Peace and Justice Studies Association Blog
A "comprehensive, annotated guide to peace studies and conflict resolution programs at colleges and universities worldwide. This edition profiles over 450 undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral programs and concentrations in 40 countries and 38 U.S. states." View here.
Canadian School of Peacemaking -- 2011 Courses at CMU (June)
Summer Peacebuilding Institute -- 2011 Courses at EMU
Book: Conflict and Development (Mac Ginty & Williams)

Peacemaker's Toolkit

2010-11-09T11:40:00.001-08:00

The U.S. Institute for Peace lists a number of online publications in the Peacemaker's Toolkit, with more handbooks to come. So far, the Kit includes:

Managing a Mediation Process
Managing a Mediation Process Web Handbook
Managing Public Information in a Mediation Process
Integrating Internal Displacement in Peace Processes and Agreements
Debriefing Mediators to Learn from Their Experiences
Timing Mediation Initiatives
Working with Groups of Friends

Faith beyond Borders -- Adv Today Review

2010-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

My review of Faith beyond Borders is now posted at Adventist Today. Though this statement does not appear in said review: I loved this book. Read it, yo.

Art Gish, a life-long peace activist who died this past summer, once quipped, “Anyone can be a young radical. Where are the old radicals?”[1] Now well beyond retirement age, Don Mosley is likely the kind of old radical Gish wanted to find. As a co-founder of Habitat for Humanity (1976) and Jubilee Partners (1979), Mosley has traveled the world to serve humanity in the name of Jesus. Among other adventures, he has stared down the barrel of a gun in Egypt, protested the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in the U.S. (formerly School of the Americas), protected civilians as a co-leader of a joint Fellowship of Reconciliation/Witness for Peace delegation in Nicaragua, worked on two Israeli kibbutz, and illegally transported large shipments of medical supplies into Iraq for children affected by war and the trade embargo.

[1] http://www.docchallenge.org/2010-Finalists/old-radicals.html. See also http://www.jesusradicals.com/in-memoriam-life-long-christian-peacemaker-art-gish-dies/.

[full review]

Equity & Social Justice Conference

2010-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Learn more about the upcoming Equity & Social Justice Conference here.

2011 Conference Theme: Addressing Diversity, Social Justice and Human Rights in a Post-Racial Era: Challenges, Strategies & Implications

Date: March 26, 2011

Location: The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (Pomona, NJ)

Soldiers against Torture

2010-10-14T14:11:00.001-07:00

Soldiers against torture (Rodney Clapp, The Christian Century, 4 Oct 2010)

"Their stories are too little told—the stories of U.S. servicemen and women of devout religious faith who, often at great cost, stood up to protest the use of torture in the American open-ended war on terror." [full article]

Summer Peace Classes

2010-10-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

Canadian Mennonite University has published their upcoming summering offering -- Canadian School of Peacebuilding.

Eastern Monnonite University's Summer Peacebuilding Institute hasn't released the 2011 schedule yet. Keep looking.

Peace

2010-09-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Journal of Adventist Education dedicated an edition to peace. To view the articles online, go to the Issue Index and click on Volume 70, Issue 3, 2008.

Looking for reading material in peace history? Maybe these can help you get started:

Select Bibliography
Gerlof Homan, "Peace History: a Bibliographical Overview," Choice (May 1995), 1408-1419.

And a different type of history: A Natural History of Peace (Robert M. Sapolsky, Foreign Affairs, January/February 2006).

International Day of Prayer for Peace

2010-09-21T11:18:00.001-07:00

Today is the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

This year’s International Day of Prayer for Peace has a focus on Africa as part of the final year of the WCC’s Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV).

Africa is also the home of UN Messenger of Peace, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and green advocate, Wangari Maathai. Maathai, a Kenyan, has been designated as a Messenger of Peace with a focus on the environment and climate change.

The WCC-sponsored International Day of Prayer for Peace takes place on the same day as the UN International Day of Peace.

[From Decade to Overcome Violence]

Learn more at On Earth Peace (main site).

UPDATE (9-28-10): Learn more about the UN Day of Peace by watching the film Peace One Day or the subsequent film, The Day after Peace.

Adam Curle

2010-09-20T13:04:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to learn more about the theory and practice of Adam Curle, and today I came across this:

Peaceful Change Strategies -- To Negotiate or Not to Negotiate: That is the [False] Question
(Maire A. Dugan, BeyondIntractability.org, 23 June 2003)

The diagram and the article* it is originally from were of use to me.

*Adam Curle and Ma'ire A. Dugan."Peacemaking: Stages and Sequence," Peace and Change, Vol. 8, (Summer 1982) 19-28. See page 22 specifically.

Peacemakers with Facial Hair

2010-08-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Two notable peacemakers have died this year.

1. Art Gish (Old Radicals film)-- July 28, 2010

2. Gene Stoltzfus (@CPT) -- March 10, 2010

Peace Among the Peoples

2010-08-02T16:05:00.001-07:00

Before the Peace Among the Peoples conference began, Christian Peace Witness (CPW) members spent a day worshiping and discussing where CPW has come and where it needs to go. As the Adventist Peace Fellowship representative, I appreciated the chance to search for the "things that make for peace" with people from diverse Christian faith traditions. Stay tuned for more from CPW.

At the conference hosted by AMBS, I was encouraged and challenged by the stories brought by Jarrod McKenna. A few links:

Other presenters that really spoke to me personally: Mary Jo Leddy (Romero House), Rita Nakashima Brock (Saving Paradise), Glen Stassen (Just Peacemaking), Brian McLaren (A New Kind of Christianity), and Paul Alexander (Peace to War). Also noteworthy were strong words spoken by Stanley Hauerwas and Linda Gehman Peachey. I wish I had a recording of the final sermon by Andre Gingerich Stoner.

Comic relief was offered by Ted and Co.--I'd Like to Buy an Enemy.

After the last session, a number of the younger attendees had a post-conference shindig at the apartment of the couple primarily responsible for Jesus Radicals. Unfortunately, the Quaker seminarians had already left campus to head home.

Bonus points to the person who can name the theologian pictured on the middle t-shirt in the front row:
(Picture used by permission. Taken from Jarrod McKenna's FB album.)

MORE:

Adventist Peace Messenger (APF blog)
Adventist Activism

Peace: John Paul Lederach

2010-07-27T14:43:00.001-07:00

A friend shared this with me today. I'll be reading quite a bit of JPL this next semester.

The Art of Peacemaking -- Speaking of Faith (APM)

Babies and Justice

2010-05-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Moral Life of Babies (Paul Bloom, NY Times, 3 May 2010)

"Not long ago, a team of researchers watched a 1-year-old boy take justice into his own hands."

[read more]

Surfing in Gaza

2010-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Gaza surfers ride on wave of goodwill from Israel
Mairi Mackay, CNN.com, 12 May 2010)

In Gaza, a handful of Palestinian men have found a way to escape temporarily from the hardships of life in their conflict-wracked home. They go surfing.

http://www.godwentsurfing.com/

Sojo: Nonviolence

2010-04-12T10:01:00.001-07:00

Nonviolence: What About Hitler?
by Rose Marie Berger 04-12-2010

Three Cups of Freshly Squeezed Ethical Juice

2010-04-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

I posted the following item on my ethics class's forum. I'd thought I'd re-post here as well:

1) Smedley Butler, AKA "Old Gimlet Eye" (You just can't make this stuff up):

War Is a Racket (By Smedley Butler)

http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket
"[T]he title of two works, a speech [1930] and a booklet [1935]... in which Butler frankly discusses from his experience as a career military officer how business interests have commercially benefited from warfare."
"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

2) Narco Cinema

Want to disappear down a rabbits' hole of cultural and ethical surrealism? Then this be for you:

3) Zimbardo & the Prison Hoopla

I might not remember a lot from Social Psychology a decade and a half ago, but at least three things have stuck with me: marshmallows (Mischel), shocks (Milgram), and... prison insanity (Zimbardo).

Zimbardo's experiment shows that the power differential between those playing the roles of officers and inmates led quickly to social problems. In fact, the experiment was called off after just 6 days because the "experiment quickly grew out of hand. Prisoners suffered — and accepted — sadistic and humiliating treatment from the guards. The high level of stress progressively led them from rebellion to inhibition. By the experiment's end, many showed severe emotional disturbances" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbardo_experiment).

Colman McCarthy Courses

2010-02-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

Charissa found these by McCarthy. I really appreciated I'd Rather Teach Peace.

Courses:

Lent Series

2010-02-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

During Lent, I will be writing a series at Spectrum on giving our time to work for peace and justice in the world. Articles will appear every Sunday and Wednesday between now and Easter.

Click here for a list of the articles.

Howard Zinn

2010-01-28T09:53:00.001-08:00

It is sad to say good-bye to Howard Zinn, who died yesterday at age 87.

CCDA & Immigration

2010-01-25T16:55:00.001-08:00

Will any of you be at one of these CCDA events–Phoenix, Denver, Santa Ana, Chicago, Memphis or Miami? If so, let us know and send a report when the dust settles.

On Tuesday January 26, Christian leaders from across the US will join the CCDA board in Phoenix, Arizona for a “Day of Witness and Action” in support of comprehensive immigration reform. The purpose of this event is to stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters as well as to raise national awareness of our country’s broken immigration system. Our desire is to see Christians raise their collective voice around the injustice faced by immigrants and the need for our legislators to enact moral and just reform. Please consider standing in solidarity with CCDA and other organizations across the country. You are invited to join us in any of these cities/events:

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=0014hlzXZJE_jsw8467cbcTzwqPW82d4BaxwoE_vtODzL1-U1QnsFh1bkDgsUP35D0ZuIqwJO0Ae59zTlbyRuqXCxficZ6rpNgHJncpPiBFUsU%3D

Christian Nonviolence

2010-01-20T16:20:00.000-08:00

While neither written by nor about Adventists, the following 5 essays on Christian nonviolence may be informative for SDAs considering issues of peace advocacy, military participation or social change:

Christian Nonviolence (Walter Wink, Z Net, Dec 17, 2004). Wink is the author of Jesus and Nonviolence, Engaging the Power, Unmasking the Powers, & Naming the Powers.
God’s People Reconciling (Ron Sider, Mennonite World Conference, 1984). Ron is the author of Non-Violence, Churches That Make a Difference, & Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger.
Five Characteristics of Early Christian Nonviolence (Thom Stark, n.d.).
The Gospel of Reconciliation within the Wrath of Nations (David W. Shenk, International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 32 no 1 Jan 2008, p 3-6, 8-9). This is only available to Ebsco users. Shenk co-authored and/or edited Jesus Matters, A Muslim and A Christian in Dialogue, & Anabaptists Meeting Muslims.
A Call for Evangelical Nonviolence (Ron Sider, Christian Century, Sep 15, 1976, pp. 753-757).

There are many more, but to me these form a pretty good foundation.

Bonus 1 — Love Your Enemies
Bonus 2 — Early Christian Pacifism & Nonviolence
Bonus 3 — Every Church a Peace Church
Bonus 4 — Jesus Radicals (Theology)
Bonus 5 — Christian Peace Witness
Bonus 6 — Peacemaker Ministries
Bonus 7 — Orthodox Peace Fellowship
Bonus 8 — Pax Christi (Catholic)
Bonus 9 — Adventist Peace Fellowship
Bonus 10 — Muslim Peace Fellowship

Muslim-Christian Relations

2010-01-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

We've spent a couple days in class talking about inter-faith dialogue, especially between Muslims and Christian. Here is a sample of the resources that informed the conversation to one degree or another:

A Common Word
Muslim Peace Fellowship
Shenk, David W. The Gospel of Reconciliation Within the Wrath of Nations. Ebsco Article Link. Source: International Bulletin of Missionary Research 32 no 1 Ja 2008, p 3-6, 8-9.
A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue (Badru D. Kateregga & David W. Shenk, 1997)*

And I would like to read It's Really All about God (Samir Selmanovic, 2009), which was written by the Adventist pastor who runs Faith House Manhattan in New York.*

Today we had a guest speaker, Bertha Beachey, who lived in Somalia and Kenya for more than two decades. Her stories of building relationships with Muslims there was just beautiful. Amazing. She actually points to her Amish childhood as preparing her for that cross-cultural setting because she learned how to live in an oral culture where discussing issues and sharing stories are a rich part of the tradition.

Now nearly 80 years old, her advice for us was:

Be true to your calling.
Nurture your inner life.
Be responsible for the calling, the gift, you've been given.
Keep short accounts.
Be open to God in your life and in the lives of others.
In the cross-cultural setting, know their language, history, religion and land.
Know what you believe and live it openly. Only use words to convey it when necessary.
Be invitational; don't just tell.
Be touched by the life and religion of the other.
Never stop learning.

Naturally, she had stories to flesh these out. Since I don't have an Amish background, I lack the skill of the narrative. :)

I really appreciated her thoughts on building relationships with people at home, not just abroad. She admitted that sometimes it's harder for her to get along with some U.S. political conservatives than it was for her to live in harmony with Muslims in east Africa, so she now works to build bridges with those on the far right as well.

Part of the presentation was a brief history of Somalia. Bertha wishes patterns of engagement by foreign countries had been different, that military intervention wasn't seen as the answer for every problem. In this area she spoke positively of Three Cups of Tea.* The two-plus hours necessitated a truncated discussion of this aspect since her focus was on ministry not political science.

One comment that really stood out to me was a story of grace where her greatest failure led to one of her greatest blessings. This is God's grace. That resonated with me since being at AMBS is a great blessing despite my failure to follow God in 2003 (it's a long story). The bookend to that failure in 2003 was enrolling here in 2009.

Bertha closed by saying, "Be responsible for what God gives you to do. Believe it or not it helps to change the world."

*I have not yet read these books. I hope to one day.

I.O.U.S.A.

2010-01-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

After I finished a paper this weekend, we watched I.O.U.S.A., a documentary about personal and national debt. Sobering. Having been interested in this topic for the past decade and a half, I found a fair amount repetitive, but it laid a necessary foundation. If you haven't seen it, do.

You may call this a cop-out, but I don't intend it to be: "Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13).

Movie Site

30-minute Version

Trailer:

Later we watched the "hybrid-documentary" Paper Heart (Wiki). If you haven't seen it, think When Harry Met Sally + Napoleon Dynamite.

And now I'm back to the books (or I will be after I post this).

CPT -- Palestine

2010-01-13T18:53:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, David, my professor in Mission & Peace, told about an experience he had while working with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Palestine (Gaza or West Bank?). On the way to a Palestinian family's home for dinner, he noticed two piles of rubble. At dinner with the host family, the father introduced his son as his little terrorist weapon. David was confused so the man told the story.

The piles of rubble were their family's previous homes, which had been flattened by the Israeli army. In the middle of the night the army showed up with bulldozers and told the family they had 15 minutes to get out. After the military razed the house, the father took his young boy to a soldier and told him to take the boy since the father no longer had a place to shelter him. I presume it was done with a bit of emotion, and he was arrested for attacking the soldier with a weapon--his son.

Two videos on Palestine:

CPT (I can't find the video I want now. These are available from '05.)
60 Mins

A Just Forgiveness -- Review

2010-01-06T17:29:00.000-08:00

My review of A Just Forgiveness is now up at Adventist Today. Here’s the first paragraph:

Aquinas and Augustine developed the philosophical foundation for just war.[i] Glen Stassen promoted just peacemaking.[ii] Gerald Schlabach argued for just policing.[iii] Now, Everett Worthington Jr. attempts to build a framework for just forgiveness by asking, “How can Christians forgive without excusing wrongdoing?”

[complete article]

Corners and Coins

2010-01-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

Have you seen Corners, the Nooma that draws its name from the ancient practice of leaving the edges of fields unharvested for others to glean (ex., Lev 19:9-10)? Over Christmas a few of us were talking about what that teaching could look like today in our non-agrarian society.

Today in class a gentleman shared how his church tries to live this. Members collect their spare change and bring it to church whenever there is a 5th weekend in a month. This money is donated to MCC, the Mennonite international development and relief agency.

I liked the sound of it. We save our change and have used it for Christmas and birthday presents for the past couple years, but this takes it to another level. I think this should be in addition to planned giving. What do you think? And what other ways could this ancient teaching be lived today?

John Perkins

2009-11-20T15:52:00.001-08:00

Click here to listen to a conversation with John Perkins via the Project on Lived Theology.

Make Poverty Personal

2009-11-18T08:37:00.001-08:00

Shameless self-promotion: My latest book review is up at Adventist Today--Make Poverty Personal.

I believe this is an important book, so I hope you'll check out the review.

Janitor in Pakistan Saves Female Students

2009-11-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

I found this article to be noteworthy, and I'm sure it's getting plenty of coverage:

Christian janitor died saving Muslim students (Ivan Watson, CNN.com, 11 Nov 2009)

Justice, Truth & Peace

2009-10-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

Quote found on pg 34 of W. Swartley's Covenant of Peace:

"By three things the world is preserved, by justice, by truth, and by peace, and these three are one: if justice has been accomplished, so has truth, and so has peace" (JT Ta'anith 4.2).

Saturday Potpourri

2009-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Two sets of randomness today:

First, this past week in Peace Colloquium, we were introduced to the following resources:

Innocents Abroad: American Teachers in the American Century (Jonathan Zimmerman, 2008)
Enough: Why the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty (Roger Thurow & Scott Kilman, 2009)
Famine: A Short History (Cormac Ó Gráda, 2009)
Ending Africa's Hunger (Raj Patel, Eric Holt-Gimenez & Annie Shattuck, The Nation, 21 Sep 09)
Naomi Klein in Conversation With Michael Moore (The Nation, 23 Sep 09)
Cornucopia Blues (Brent Cunningham, The Nation, 21 Sep 09)

Second, these random articles interest me:

Web Roundup (Adventist Activism, 8 Oct 09)
Monday Potpourri (Pack Light, 5 Oct 09)
Two Voices on Michael Moore's "Capitalism" (Jared Wright, Spectrum, 9 Oct 09)
Repent! For the Kingdom of God is Near (Sarah Lynne, Jesus Manifesto, 9 Oct 09)
The Death of Progress (Joshua Dbau III, Jesus Manifesto, 6 Oct 09)
Greed, America, and the Rich Young Ruler (Mark Van Steenwyk, Jesus Manifesto, 6 Oct 09)
Adventures in seeking God’s love and justice (smh00a, Jesus Manifesto, 25 Sep 09)
Tables scraps or the One Whole Loaf (Loren McGrail, Jesus Manifesto, 7 Sep 09)
The Health Care Question (Travis Mamone, Jesus Manifesto, 7 Sep 09)
911 Campaign: Lament Violence, Invest in Peace (Shane Claiborne & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Jesus Manifesto, 27 Aug 09)
Critics on Our Left, Meet the Critics on Our Right (Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Sojourners, 9 Oct 09)
Video: Colbert on Conservapedia’s Bible Translation Project (Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Sojourners, 9 Oct 09)
A Faith Declaration for Health-Care Reform (Jim Wallis, Sojourners, 8 Oct 09)
Scripture and History Remind Us That We Are All Immigrants (Lynne Hybels, Sojourners, 8 Oct 09)
Smashing Economic Idols (Julie Clawson, Sojourners, 8 Oct 09)
David vs. Oil-iath (Elizabeth Palmberg, Sojourners, 6 Oct 09)
Listening to Poor People ‘Offstage’ (Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Sojourners, 5 Oct 09)
Five Benefits of Common Security Clubs’ Economic Solidarity (Chuck Collins, Sojourners, 2 Oct 09)
Singing and Praying Justice, Part 2 (Jeremy Del Rio & Louis Carlo, Sojourners, 2 Oct 09)
Proclaiming Jubilee in the Midst of Foreclosures (Mark Van Steenwyk, Sojourners, 28 Sep 09)
“In the world…” (Robert Martin, Young Anabaptist Radicals, 5 Oct 09)

Israel & Palestine

2009-09-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

Today in Peace Colloquium, a student reported on her work/internship at Mar Elias school in I'billin, Israel, which was started by the Arab Palestinian Christian priest, Elias Chacour. The student body is composed of both Muslim and Christian students. While there are no Jewish students (if I heard correctly), there are a number of Jewish teachers and professors. Classes don't meet on Fridays or Sundays, but they are on Shabbat.

If you are interested in this unique school, you can learn more here:

Mar Elias Educational Institutions
Blood Brothers (Elias Chacour)

She said tourists can stay at the school for ~$35-40 a day, which includes room and board. In return, travelers spend half the day volunteering at the school and the rest of the time sight-seeing.

We were asked to watch this CBS clip before attending the presentation--Is Peace Out of Reach?

Four of the many resources she had on display:

THE HUMANITARIAN IMPACT OF TWO YEARS OF BLOCKADE ON THE GAZA STRIP (Report by OCHAOPT)
Encounter Point (film, 2006)
Until when... (film, 2004)
Waltz with Bashir (film, 2008)

Marcelo Rivera & El Salvador

2009-08-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

Jamie Moffett (Another World is Possible) is following up his first documentary, The Ordinary Radicals, with a new film looking at the civil war in El Salvador that ended 17 years ago, Return to El Salvador. While filming for this project, he came across the story of Macelo Rivera, a teacher and activist who was killed, presumably, because of his work to stop mining in the area. Take a look:

Learn more here:

Down the Well (I. Thompson, Philadelphia City Paper, 29 July '09)
El Salvador: The Mysterious Death of Marcelo Rivera (C. Mychalejko, Upside Down World, 6 Aug '09)

Sign a petition here.

Carter on Women's Rights

2009-07-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

This is an important move for Jimmy Carter--leaving the Baptist Convention because of its views on women:

The words of God do not justify cruelty to women (Jimmy Carter, Guardian.co.uk, 12 July 2009)

The Elders have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights. We have recently published a statement that declares: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable."
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world's major faiths share.

Learn more about The Elders.

Health Care Reform -- U.S. Style

2009-07-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

Health care is in the news as both houses of Congress are working on ideas.

Previously, I have written these posts on the topic here and at another blog:

Now I direct your attention to a few newer articles by variety of authors:

Rube Goldberg Already Lives Here (Jonathan Cohn)
If Republicans Think Being Uninsured Is No Big Deal... (Jonathan Oberlander, The New Republic)
Why We Must Ration Health Care (Peter Singer, New York Times, 15 July 2009)
Ministry of Healing, v. 3.0: Why Adventists should fight for universal health care (Ryan Bell, Spectrum Magazine)
Three Moral Issues of Health Care (Jim Wallis, Sojourners)
Sick (Cohn)

And some older articles:

France is healthcare leader, US comes dead last: study (AFP, 8 Jan '08)
World’s Best Medical Care? (Editorial, New York Time, 12 Aug '07)
US Ranks Last Among Other Industrialized Nations On Preventable Deaths, Report Shows (Science News, 8 Jan '08)
Ten Reasons Why American Health Care Is so Bad (The American Prospect, 2 Nov '07)

Demonstrations

2009-05-15T11:21:00.001-07:00

I recently attended two demonstrations/protests/worship services in D.C. You can read about them here:

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
100 Days Campaign
War and Peace (cell phone video footage)

Adventist Activism Blog

2009-03-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce a new collaborative blog project -- Adventist Activism. Noted participants include Doug Morgan (Adventist Peace Fellowship), Monte Sahlin (Faith in Context), and Ryan Bell (Intersections).

Our About page describes the project this way:

As the Body of Christ, we are collectively committed to continuing the work Jesus started while walking this earth — spreading the good news of the Kingdom by serving, healing and teaching (1 Corinthians 12:27; Mark 10:45; Mark 3:10; Acts 1:3).
Adventist Activism is a collection of our stories and thoughts regarding this work of spiritually motivated social action.

Everybody is Against...

2009-03-25T14:38:00.001-07:00

Amnesty International

The Ordinary Radicals

2009-03-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

You can read my review of The Ordinary Radicals at Adventist Today.

Come on over and let's watch it together.

Headlines

2009-03-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

In the news:

World Bank Financial Report Grim (Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 8 March '09)
Iraq's Unspeakable Crime: Mothers Pimping Daughters (Rania Abouzeid, Time, 7 March '09)

Headlines

2009-03-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

In the news:

International Court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese president (Nic Robertson, CNN.com, 4 Mar '09)
Sudan soldier: 'They told me to kill, to rape children' (Nic Robertson, CNN.com, 4 Mar '09)
ICC: Bashir Warrant Is Warning to Abusive Leaders (Human Rights Watch, 4 Mar '09)
Spring breakers skip Cancun for volunteer work (Elham Khatami, CNN.com, 4 Mar '09)
Democrats seek 'Truth Commission' probe of Bush (Larry Margasak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar '09)
Obama releases Bush secret terror memos (Manilla Bulletin, 4 Mar '09)
The Tortured Memos (Editorial, The New York Times, 3 Mar '09)

Simply Christian, Part 4

2009-03-01T17:54:00.001-08:00

This will be the last look at Wright's teachings on justice in Simply Christian. I definitely encourage JPJJ readers to spend some time in this work as it covers many other important issues (okay, justice isn't the only topic worth studying) in a non-aggressive or didactic manner, including relationships, spirituality and beauty. The intersection of heaven and earth is a well-developed theme that deserves significant reflection.

I do wish he used more end-notes to substantiate his claims (for example, like Rob Bell's style), as I disagreed with some of his remarks outright but couldn't consider his sources, biblical or otherwise.

Exerpts from Justice Revisted (p. 225 - 228)

But to get from that longing and demand to anything that approaches God's intended justice, we must go by a route very different from the one which the world normally expects and even demands. The majority language of the world in this respect is violence (p. 225).

On the Cross the living God took the fury and violence of the world onto himself, suffering massive injustice--the biblical stories are careful to highlight this--and yet refusing to lash out with threats or curses.... Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of a world in which a new type of justice is possible (p. 226).

To work for a healing, restorative justice--whether in individual relationships, in international relations, or anywhere in between--is therefore a primary Christian calling. It determines one whole sphere of Christian behavior. Violence and personal vengeance are ruled out, as the New Testament makes abundantly clear. Every Christian is called to work, at every level of life, for a world in which reconciliation and restoration are put into practice, and so to anticipate that day when God will indeed put everything to rights (p 226).

Our Father, give me the strength to not resort to violent words or actions when I feel defensive. Open my heart to love and to forgive no matter the circumstances.

[part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4]

Wednesday Potpourri

2009-02-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

These articles and posts have caught my attention this week:

FBI recovers 48 juveniles in prostitution raid (23 Feb '09, CNN.com)
Stimulus: Can it feed the hungry? (24 Feb '09, CNNMoney.com)
Guantanamo detainees treated humanely, Pentagon report says (24 Feb '09, CNN.com)
Eating Alongside the Poor for Lent (16 Feb '09, Urbana.org, Least of These blog)
Good News and Bad News (27 Jan '09, Urbana.org, WhirledView blog)
Your Body as a Billboard (20 Feb '09, Skyejethani.com)
Japan’s Hidden Christians (24 Feb '09, Skyejethani.com)

Simply Christian, Part 3

2009-02-20T10:39:00.001-08:00

Wright revisits the theme of justice throughout the book, along with spirituality, beauty and relationships--the four echoes. A number of quotes from the section on inspiration and the Bible are worth highlighting here in our third installment in this series.

What is the purpose of the Bible?

The Bible does indeed offer plenty of information, but what it offers in a more primary way is energy for the task to which God is calling his people (p 182).

After quoting 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Wright comments:

Equipped for every good work; there's the point (p 182).

In other words, the Bible isn't there simply to be an accurate reference point for people who want to look things up and be sure they've got them right. It is there to equip god's people to carry forward his purposes of new covenant and new creation. It is there to enable people to work for justice, to sustain their spirituality as they do so, to create and enhance relationships at every level, and to produce that new creation which will have about it something of the beauty of God himself" (p 182-183).

And finally, he concludes by stating,

The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth (p 184).

Our Father in heaven, teach me to slow down, to meditate on your word, that I may gain the wisdom, courage, strength, patience, focus, motivation, love, peace and boldness to work for justice.

[part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4]

Linguistics

2009-02-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Travis shared this one with me tonight:

"National Language"

[URL: http://xkcd.com /84/]

Simply Christian, Part 2

2009-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

In Part 1, we talked about the echo of a voice that speaks of our desire for justice. What does this whisper mean? Wright gives three possibilities (p. 9):

"We can say, if we like, that it is indeed only a dream, a projection of childish fantasies, and that we have to get used to living in the world the way it is."
"Or we can say, if we like, that the dream is of a different world altogether, a world where we really belong, where everything is put to rights... but a world which has little purchase on the present world..."
"Or we can say, if we like, that the reason we have these dreams... is that there is someone speaking to us... someone who cares very much about this present world and our present selves, and who has made us and the world for a purpose which will indeed involve justice, things being put to rights, ourselves being put to rights, the world being rescued at last."

Which interpretation do you currently believe? Why?

This beginning chapter has one more quote that stands out to me:

It is important to see, and to say, that those who follow Jesus are committed, as he taught us to pray, to God's will being done 'on earth as it is in heaven.' And that means that God's passion for justice must become ours, too. (p. 13)

Our Father in heaven, use me to work for justice that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Make me who you want me to be. Show me who you have created me to be, and how I can build the kingdom of justice in my unique way.

[part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4]

Simply Christian, Part 1

2009-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

I’ve been reading a book given to me for Christmas, N. T. Wright’s Simply Christian. The first section (of three) listens to the echo of a voice. Four echoes, actually—justice, spirituality, relationships and beauty. Why do we value these? Why do crave them? Why are they so elusive? This is my first of 3 or 4 installments on the echo of justice. Wright writes:

Our passion for justice is often like [not being able to remember a good dream]. We dream the dream of justice. We glimpse, for a moment, a world at one, a world put to rights, a world where things work out, where societies function fairly and efficiently, where we not only know what we ought to do but actually do it. And then we wake up and come back to reality. But what are we hearing when we’re dreaming that dream?

It’s as though we can hear, not perhaps a voice itself, but the echo of a voice: a voice speaking with calm, healing authority, speaking about justice, about things being put to rights, about peace and hope and prosperity for all. The voice continues to echo in our imagination, our subconscious. (p. 3)

After discussing the unstable nature of justice in this world, Wright continues:

I don’t want to be too despondent. There is such a thing as justice, and sometimes it comes out on top. Brutal tyrannies are overthrown. Apartheid was dismantled. Sometimes wise and creative leaders arise and people follow them into good and just actions. Serious criminals are sometimes caught, brought to trial, convicted, and punished. Things that are seriously wrong in society are sometimes put splendidly to rights. New projects give hope to the poor. Diplomats achieve solid and lasting peace. But just when you think it’s safe to relax… it all goes wrong again.

And even though we can solve a few of the world’s problems, at least temporarily, we know perfectly well that there are others we simply can’t and won’t. (p. 5)

So what does this desire for justice mean? Where does this come from? Can the desire ever be fulfilled? We’ll discuss this a bit here, but hopefully it will lead you to read the complete book with a group of friends. And here is another blogger's summary of the book.

[part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4]

Peace & Revolution Yo

2009-02-02T14:34:00.000-08:00

These are good reading/viewing:

God's of War video (Peace Messenger)
The Style of Subversion, Part 3 (Jesus Manifesto)
Quotations (In Communion)

Blog Round-up

2009-01-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

These are notable:

Living an Incarnational Life (sermon recommended by Loren Seibold)
A Year of Living Like Jesus (Compassion in Politics blog). I've seen Dobson preach, and I really appreciate his ministry.
International Development Enterprises: Partners and Countries Strategies (Compassion in Politics)
A Great Micro Franchising and Micro Enterprising Opportunity: Indian Cyber Cafes (Compassion in Politics)
How Christians Can Ignite Community Service (Compassion in Politics)
A Nonviolent Revolution of Love (Compassion in Politics)
A bicycle pilgrimage (Young Anabaptist Radicals blog)
Gary Haugen speaking at Davos today (IJM Institute)
Great Post (IJM Institute)
Early Christian Pacifism and Nonviolence (Christarchy)
Mustard Seed Associates has listed the talks given at last year's The New Conspirators conference. Shane Claiborne's is the only free one. The rest cost $3 each.
Surprised by Hope: 1 (Adventist Peace Fellowship)

State = State

2009-01-25T16:10:00.000-08:00

David Cramer posted this thoughtful article at Young Anabaptist Radicals. Click on the link below for the entire article.

Yesterday was truly a big day in U.S. history. The inauguration of the first African-American President is truly a turning point for our nation, especially given our abysmal history on race. Moreover, it was encouraging to hear Senator Dianne Feinstein’s reflections on the nonviolence of Martin Luther King, President Obama’s message that we need not choose “between our safety and ideals” and his call to diplomacy and international aid over sheer violent force and military power, and Reverend Joseph Lowery’s prayer that one day we will “beat our tanks into tractors.”

Nevertheless, I had a difficult time getting too emotional or excited over this change of guard.

Read his concerns in the complete post here.

In the News

2009-01-21T19:21:00.001-08:00

1) More evidence from the Middle East that Marvin Gaye was right, war is not the answer:

"Despite Israel's intense bombardment of Gaza, the deaths of more than 1,300 people (a majority of whom appear to have been civilians), the wounding and maiming of more than 5,000 more, the destruction of thousands of buildings, including ministries, hospitals, U.N. facilities, even Gaza's American International School, Hamas is still in business" (After the war, an uneasy peace, Wedeman, CNN.com, 21 Jan '09).

2) And Obama is already moving on the detention issue:

"In one of his first acts in office President Obama has ordered the U.S. government to suspend prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days, military officials said Tuesday."

We'll hear more about this quote from the same article, "The retired judge in charge of determining which prisoners should face trial told The Washington Post last week that she refused to send one prisoner before the tribunals because 'his treatment met the legal definition of torture.' (Obama calls for halt to Gitmo prosecution, Candiotti and Ure, CNN.com, 21 Jan '09).

3) Yes, we have not heard the last of the torture issue yet. There are many considerations yet to be determined. For example, Binding U.S. law requires prosecutions for those who authorize torture (Greenwald,Salon.com, 18 Jan '09).

4) And, finally, Who killed Flipper? (O’Hehir, Salon.com, 22 Jan '09???). Sounds like an intense follow-up to Earthlings.

Smedley Darlington Butler

2009-01-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

Known as the "The Fighting Quaker," Smedley Butler was a decorated Marine Major General in the first half of the 19-hundreds.

Check out this quote:

Thus I helped make Mexico, and especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue in. I helped in the raping of half-a-dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers and Co. in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras "right" for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

[read all of I was a Gangster for Capitalism]

Additional info on Butler:

Related books:

Confessions of an Economic Hitman
A Game as Old as Empire
The Secret History of the American Empire
To be fair: See criticism of Perkins in Wikipedia

Christians on Military and Torture

2009-01-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here a few conversations taking place at Spectrum that have interested me. Diverse opinions are well represented, and my opinions can be found throughout the first three threads.

And two bonus conversations:

Political Philosophy

2008-12-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we just need to slow down and consider the deeper questions of power and class:

Department of Peace

2008-12-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

In 2006 I posted this short article about the Department of Peace. Then today I received this email:

Thank you Jeff for posting a link supporting the Department of Peace bill in Congress.

Just FYI, there is a website www.Change.org that is holding an online event through Jan 15th calling for the "Ideas For Change in America." The idea to "Appoint Secretary of Peace in Department of Peace and Nonviolence" is in the category of other and currently in first place.

We need your help retaining that position all the way till Jan 15th. This idea will be given to President Obama, and be featured on networks like MySpace helping it reach millions of people. I am requesting your support in anticipation of the upcoming 10 day run off.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/appoint_secretary_of_peace_in_department_of_peace_and_non-violence

"Our planet, our media , our social interactions, our homes all suffer from the epidemic of inter-personal violence and warfare that plagues America. With the establishment of a Department of Peace and Non-Violence, with a respected Secretary of Peace in the President's Cabinet, and a program to reduce violence in cities, nations, and even in our homes, we will all benefit from the growth of a culture of peace ."

Would you be willing to quickly vote for this idea and share the link below in an email to your networks, mailing lists, friends, groups you know, blog it, bulletin it or just post the widgety thing on your website??

I really appreciate your attention to my request and truly honor the peace work all of us are doing! Keep up the great peace work!

With Appreciation,
Ana Campos
South Florida State Organizer
U.S. Campaign for a Department of Peace and Nonviolence
Phone: (954) 793-3279

National Website: www.ThePeaceAlliance.org
MySpace: www.MySpace.com/DepartmentofPeaceFlorida
Florida Photo Album: www.Picturetrail.com/DepartmentofPeaceFlorida
Videos: www.Youtube.com/DOPFloridaCampaign

Spectrum Magazine

2008-12-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

From Monte Sahlin's article at Spectrum Magazine (17 Dec '08)--Adventist Action Against Torture--I learned about this current campaign to impress the Obama administration with the need to abolish torture and ensure justice--Help Obama End Torture (sponsored by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture).

And one comment on that post brought this New York Times editorial to my attention:

The Torture Report (17 Dec '08)

"Now, a bipartisan report by the Senate Armed Services Committee has made what amounts to a strong case for bringing criminal charges against former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; his legal counsel, William J. Haynes; and potentially other top officials, including the former White House counsel Alberto Gonzales and David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff." [more]

Conscientious Objectors in Israel

2008-12-19T11:12:00.001-08:00

Sojourners has been highlighting the plight of non-combatant youth in Israel recently:

Support Israeli Conscientious Objectors — Free the Shministim (Howard Zinn 12-03-2008)

Israeli Intelligence Official’s Daughter Jailed for Refusing Military Service (Omer Goldman 12-16-2008)

"My name is Omer Goldman. I am 19 years old. I am one of the Shministim. I need your help.

"I first went to prison on September 23 and served 35 days. I am lucky; after two times in jail, I got a medical discharge, but I’m the only one. By the time you read this, many of my friends will be in prison too: in for three weeks, out for one, and then back in, over and over, until they are 21. The reason? We refuse to do military service for the Israeli army because of the occupation."

Read those articles for ways to get involved.

What do I believe in strong enough to go to jail for?

Power to the peaceful.

Friday Potpourri

2008-12-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

There was a lot in the news this week:

1. Planner of Rwandan massacres convicted of genocide (Sukhdev Chhatbar And Donna Bryson, Associated Press, 18 Dec '08)

"A former Rwandan army colonel was convicted Thursday of genocide and crimes against humanity for masterminding the killings of more than half a million people in a 100-day slaughter in 1994. Survivors in Rwanda welcomed the watershed moment in a long search for justice."

2. Regulators adopt new credit card rules (Marcy Gordon, Ap Business, 18 Dec '08)

"Federal regulators on Thursday adopted sweeping new rules for the credit card industry that will shield consumers from increases in interest rates on existing account balances among other changes."

3. Gay leaders furious with Obama (Ben Smith, Nia-Malika Henderson, 17 Dec '08)

“'I have many gay friends, I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church,' [Rick Warren] said in a recent interview with BeliefNet.

"In the same interview, he compared the 'redefiniton of a marrige' to include gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy."

Note: It's that last sentence that stands out to me. I've heard this jump before, and it bothers me. Where does this fear come from?

4. Fla. police close books on '81 Walsh killing (Yahoo.com, AP, 16 Dec '08)

The news:

"A serial killer who died more than a decade ago is the person who decapitated the 6-year-old son of 'America's Most Wanted' host John Walsh in 1981, police in Florida said Tuesday. The announcement brought to a close a case that has vexed the Walsh family for more than two decades, launched the television show about the nation's most notorious criminals and inspired changes in how authorities search for missing children."

The good news:

"Adam's death, and his father's activism on his behalf, helped put faces on milk cartons, shopping bags and mailbox flyers, started fingerprinting programs and increased security at schools and stores. It spurred the creation of missing persons units at every large police department.

"'In 1981, when a child disappeared, you couldn't enter information about a child into the FBI database. You could enter information about stolen cars, stolen guns but not stolen children,' said Ernie Allen, president of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, co-founded by John Walsh. 'Those things have all changed.'

"The case also prompted national legislation to create a national database and toll-free line devoted to missing children, and led to the start of 'America's Most Wanted,' which brought those cases into millions of homes."

The not-so-good news:

"What it also did, said Mount Holyoke College sociologist and criminologist Richard Moran, is make children and adults alike exponentially more afraid."

Ordinary Killers

2008-12-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

What lurks in the human psyche? To what level of depravity would I personally descend given the right (wrong) situation? It's a hard question to ask, but I believe it's worth the effort if we let the answer lead us to a commitment to peace and nonviolence.

As an undergrad psychology major, I was astounded to learn about Stanley Milgram's shock experiment and Philip Zimbardo's prison experiment. "Normal" people would do amazingly disturbing things to other humans with shocking expediency. Unbelievable. (Read more on Milgram: Milgram Experiment, Would I Pull That Switch?, Perils of Obedience.)

Recently, CNN.com published an article that again looked at this issue--They killed their neighbors: genocide's foot soldiers (Courtney Yager, 10 Dec '08).

The article begins, "Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Slobodan Milosevic. They are household names, infamous for masterminding genocide. But who were the foot soldiers who did the dirty work?"

"In many cases they were equally notorious in their communities because they were the friends, neighbors and co-workers of those they raped, slaughtered and buried alive."

It continues, "Experts have reached a troubling conclusion: It was actually very easy for the architects of genocide to find more than enough ordinary people to do the killing.

"Genocide is often the result of a 'perfect storm.' A country reeling from political and economic turmoil, a fanatical leader promising to make things better and a vulnerable population targeted for blame -- all combine in a blueprint for mass murder."

Read the full article and think about it for yourself. What attitudes and commitments would keep you from taking the easy path toward violence? How can we work for peace and justice for those in need of advocacy today?

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31:8)

Health Care

2008-12-12T11:53:00.001-08:00

Two stories on health care today:

1. Daschle to lead effort to overhaul health care (Robert Pear, International Herald Tribune, 12 Dec '08)

Will he be able to do any more than the reformers before him? Maybe if we support the efforts. Talk to your representatives. Let your local leaders know this is wanted by the populace.

2. Mugabe is a 'modern-day Hitler' (BBC.com, 12 Dec '08)

That's quite a claim or accusation. Supportable? And at what point is it a truly failed state? Aren't we getting pretty close with 11.2 million percent inflation (CNN) and a cholera outbreak along with the previously crises?!

And why did I include an article about Mugabe under the heading "Health Care"? Compare these statements made in the same week (day?):

WHO: "The World Health Organization says the outbreak has not been contained and the death toll has increased to 792 people, reports the AFP news agency."

"The WHO has warned that the total number of cases could reach 60,000 unless the epidemic was stopped."

Mugabe: "'I am happy to say our doctors are being assisted by others and the WHO [World Health Organization] have now arrested cholera.'"

Bosnia

2008-12-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

I have a lot to say, but it seems that I have put this blog too low on my priority list.

Here are a couple CNN articles written in regards to an upcoming special on genocide.

'Bombs for peace' after slaughter in Bosnia

Scream Bloody Murder

Darfur Now

2008-11-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, the local university hosted an evening focused on the genocide in Darfur. After a skit and a couple technical difficulties, we watched Darfur Now, a documentary that shares the stories of six activists working to improve the situation in western Sud an. ACTION, the student group sponsoring the event, has attended protests at a certain Chinese embassy in the past.

Showing six different perspectives on the issue was a useful technique. It gives viewers more options for engaging the film, since we tend to project ourselves into the story. Who do I relate to more--the celebrity, the hometown activist getting signatures, the lawyer, the NGO administrator, the local leader, the woman who joined the revolution? Which one is an example of how I can get involved? It shows that we can each play a role, regardless of who we are. And it helps us see how tragedies affect different people.

After the movie, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan shared parts of his story of fleeing for his life. There are two "Lost Boys" attending the university here. Now I'd like to see the original film.

Having read Darfur Diaries, it was interesting to see the footage and add a visual element to the story. For me, seeing the people and places makes it so much more real.

My life has been so easy. Signing the petition after the film seemed so trite, so shallow compared to the need.

Taxi to the Dark Side

2008-10-31T11:42:00.001-07:00

We finally watched Taxi to the Dark Side, the last film on my list of 5 War-on Terror documentaries I've wanted to see.

While the other four (and others like War Made Easy) were disturbing, this one was especially intense because it focused on the interrogation techniques and patterns of abuse from Afghanistan to Iraq. The film loosely follows the story of a young Afghan, Dilawar, who was the 2nd prisoner to die in the Bagram facilities in a week.

At the Academy Awards, I heard director Alex Gibney say this in his acceptance speech: "This is dedicated to two people who are no longer with us, Dilawar, the young Afghan taxi driver, and my father, a navy interrogator who urged me to make this film because of his fury about what was being done to the rule of law. Let’s hope we can turn this country around, move away from the dark side and back to the light" (copied from Wikipedia).

Unsolved mysteries:

(1) How a man, the president, who claims to be a Christian can advocate for extreme interrogation techniques (aka torture). WWJD?

(2) How the United States can spurn the Geneva Conventions (ICRC info).

(3) How the U.S. can reject Habeas Corpus.

Human Trafficking and Child Prostitution

2008-10-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, you're keeping up on the IJM blog. And sometimes it's good to be reminded of what's happening closer to home on the justice front. For example:

Operation frees dozens of child prostitutes (CNN.com, 27 Oct 2008)

There are people everywhere that need freedom and peace. What's my role today?

Learn more:

Conscientious Objection Conference (SDA)

2008-10-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Should I Fight? Conscientious Objection & the Seventh-day Adventist Church
November 6-9, 2008
Kingsway College, Oshawa, ON
www.shouldifight.ca

Eleven papers will be presented, including these:

Just War Theory & the Role of the Christians
Adventists, Military Service & War
The Beginnings of a Peace Church
Where is Your Citizenship?
Peacemakers at War

Also, the documentary For Conscience Sake will be shown on Saturday night.

Registration is free, but space is limited.

Compassion in Politics

2008-10-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

I really appreciate the writing at the Compassion in Politics blog. Great stuff. Here are some examples:

Plus links like these:

War Made Easy

2008-09-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend we watched War Made Easy, a documentary that brings Norman Solomon's book to the silver screen. It looks at the partnership between presidents and the media in preparing the nation for war. Intriguing.

Some reviewers find the film boring, but I really appreciated it. The significant use of archival footage was a plus. And it goes well with the other films we've seen lately on militarism.

Next time we start building toward war, watch this and see how much is repeated.

The Local Church

2008-09-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

I came across this great post on the church (i.e., a faith community) being present in its local geographic and social community--Location, Location, Location--while reading the International Justice Mission blog, which I jumped to from the page titled, "Churches on a Justice Journey--Engage."

Been a While

2008-08-29T10:11:00.001-07:00

Hola mis amigos. It's been a long time since I posted here. This summer we moved twice, I started three jobs (now down to two), and spent quite a few weekends on the road. Costa Rica was nice. Through it all, I only updated Pack Light.

I've had a lot to say about justice but just didn't say it. But I'm back.

On Pandora I've been listening to Michael Franti, Sean Hayes, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shihan, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. I also recently heard Justin McRoberts at www.ijm.org/getinvolved/students.

Since you weren't reading here this summer, I hope you were checking out Books for Ordinary Radicals or the IJM Institute blog.

Power to the peaceful,
Jeff

Howard Zinn -- You Can't Be Neutral

2008-05-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

For Memorial Day 2008, we went shopping. We wandered up and down the dusty paths at the local flea market looking at antique bottles and bookcases, homemade knick-knacks, and Amish rugs. We neither bought nor sold.

Then we came home and finished watching a documentary about Howard Zinn, You Can’t Be Neutral on Moving Train. Interviews with Zinn are interlaced with archival footage, commentary from his colleagues, and readings from his various books by Matt Damon. While documentaries like The U.S. vs. John Lennon and Why We Fight are more engaging (entertaining? up tempo?), this one is still enlightening and well worth watching.

The dialogue and readings are full of excellent quotes, and I’ll finish this post with the one Matt reads as the film comes to and end:

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

“And if we do act in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents. And to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

Darfur Diaries

2008-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

At our last movie night, a friend handed me a book, Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival. It works a tricky balance as part adventure log, part history lesson and part activist investigation. Brutal.

While not covering the details of systematic burning, pillaging and raping, the reader still gets a sense of the desperation and hope. It was interesting to read the sentiments of the displaced people; some wanting revenge, others just wanting to return home. All wanting peace, someday.

One item on the author’s agenda list is to convince the reader that the general media has over simplified the conflict into a North/South, Arab/African, Islamic/Christian dichotomy. Instead, the author believes that the government is using divisions between groups to cause chaos, keep it in power, and obtain the resources it desires. Thought provoking.

Now I want to watch the documentary—Darfur Diaries: Message from Home.

Isaiah 7-10

2008-04-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

The sentence in chapter 7 that strikes me the most is the last half of verse 9. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." This wasn't just nice God talk; it was life and death since it concerned invading armies. What is stronger in my life today, fear or faith?

A related verse in chapter 8 reads, "Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us" (v. 10).

Chapter 9 has a profound verse regarding widows and orphans. Most verses relating to those two groups are words of defense and encouragement, but notice why this one is so different. "Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness" (v. 17).

Just being in a weak or marginalized group doesn't mean a person has a free-ride ticket with God. Wickedness and "vileness" mean there is disobedience and pain, and that doesn't fly with God no matter who the actor is.

Justice retakes the focus in chapter 10. For example, "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless" (v. 1-2).

Finally, God is as much against pride as he is against injustice. A connection? "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eye" (v. 12).

Distorted Earth

2008-04-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

My sis shared this Oxfam distortion of the world. I now share it with you; freely received, freely given.

Kiva

2008-03-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Want to do something beautiful with your money? Check out Kiva.

Here's the scoop: Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.

Korean Documentaries

2008-03-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

I recently heard that Tony Gilmore was working on a new documentary about adoption in South Korea. That news motivated me to highlight both of his works.

Behind Forgotten Eyes "presents the stories of a few brave women who came forward and broke the silence protecting a past that some want to stay buried. What are these stories that were hidden for so long? Whilst Korea groaned under the harsh colonial rule of Imperial Japan, the Japanese military coerced, tricked, and forced the women of Korea into a brutal and systematic form of sexual slavery on an unimaginable scale" (IMDB).

I saw an early version of this film in a private screening in Seoul. It was powerful, haunting. I haven't seen the final cut, but I'll still say it is worth your time. The narration is done by Yunjin Kim of the TV series Lost.

Resilience explores the topic of adoption in Korea.

"South Korea has sent more of its own children away for adoption than any other country, nearly 200,000 children abroad--and continues to send them despite the fact that it is no longer a poor, developing country. What are the reasons these children have been relinquished? Resilience tells the deeply moving stories of the mothers whose children were sent away. For the first time, a few brave women break their silence to tell their stories of profound loss and broken family ties--and of the painful decision that has impacted the rest of their lives" (IMDB).

Waterboarding Ban Vetoed (Follow that?)

2008-03-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

President Bush followed through on his threat to veto a bill that would have banned the CIA from using waterboarding, electrocution, beatings and other violent forms of torture. It would have allowed the 19 interrogation techniques currently approved for military questioners.

Thumbs up to Diane Feinstein and all others who will continue pushing for this legislation.

As reported here earlier, waterboarding "involves strapping a person down and pouring water over his or her cloth-covered face to simulate and create the sensation of drowning. It has been traced back hundreds of years to the Spanish Inquisition and is condemned by nations around the world and human rights organizations as torture" (Bush vetoes bill banning waterboarding, AP/CNN.com, 8 Mar 2008).

The article continues, "Some argue it must be banned because, if torture, it is illegal under international and U.S. law. The Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 includes a provision barring cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment for all detainees in U.S. custody, including CIA prisoners, and many believe that covers waterboarding.

"Others say that, even if legal, there are practical arguments against waterboarding: that its use would undermine the U.S. when arguing overseas for human rights and on other moral issues and would place Americans at greater risk of being tortured when captured." [full CNN article]

This reminds me of Isaiah chapter 1 where God is confessing his weariness with all the religious meetings and rituals when what he's really after is justice (v. 10-17). I can just hear him saying to us, "I'm sick of your endless preaching on TV shows, at conferences and in your megachurches. I don't want to hear any more of it until you abolish torture!"

Stop Waterboarding

2008-03-08T05:41:00.001-08:00

"WASHINGTON - President Bush is poised to veto legislation that would bar the CIA from using waterboarding — a technique that simulates drowning — and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects. " (Bush to veto waterboarding bill, Jennifer Loven, AP/Yahoo News, 8 Mar 2008).

Let your representatives and senators know that you support this bill, that you want to ban heavy-handed tactics that are below the ideals and values of our country.

Animal Rights -- village tree

2008-03-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

Raintree, the blogger behind village tree, has posted about the treatment of animals and vegetarianism--As I Sit Here Weeping.

The embedded film is an hour long analysis from a Jewish perspective. Check it, yo.

Red Letter Christians

2008-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

The full name of Tony Campolo's new book is Red Letter Christians: A Citizen's Guide to Faith and Politics. This is not merely a list of candidates' voting records with suggestions for helping the Republican party retain the White House. Far from it! But it is also not a call to build a Religious Left to counter the Religious Right as he explains in this BeliefNet article.

With a call similar to that of Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Tony expresses the need to support values and issues, not partisan politics with a complete allegiance to a given party.

Tony explains, "Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, we want to unite Christians who are concerned about what is happening in America. We are evangelicals who are troubled by what is happening to poor people in America; who are disturbed over environmental policies that are contributing to global warming; who are dismayed over the increasing arrogance of power shown in our country’s militarism; who are outraged because government funding is being reduced for schools where students, often from impoverished and dysfunctional homes, are testing poorly; who are upset with the fact that of the 22 industrialized nations America is next to last in the proportion of its national budget (less than two-tenths of 1 percent) that is designated to help the poor of third-world countries; and who are broken-hearted over discrimination against women, people of color, and those who suffer because of their sexual orientation" (BeliefNet, accessed 2 Mar 2008).

While I have only read sections of this book while standing in the bookstore, I can say that I really appreciate the parts I did read. Chapters are devoted to topics such as government waste, crime, the environment, The war, AIDS, gay rights, immigration, minimum wage and SO much more.

If you read this and want more, start a Jim Wallis library with these:

The Great Awakening (2008)
Living God's Politics (2006)
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It (2006)
The Soul of Politics: Beyond "Religious Right" and "Secular Left" (1995)

And if you feel like a revolutionary or just an "ordinary radical," check out Shane Claiborne's new work of art, Jesus for President (2008). I just started reading this one. Good stuff. Hardcore.

Isaiah 5-6

2008-03-01T05:29:00.000-08:00

In chapter 5, we hear a "song" about all that God had done for those in Jerusalem, Judah and Israel. But what did he get for all his investment? "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress" (v. 7).

Verse 8 begins a series of woes, "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land." "Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants" (v. 9).

In verse 15 and 16 God counters with something like, "Well, if you're not going to do it, then I will." "So man will be brought low and mankind humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled. But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness."

Again a rebuke of the abuse of power, "Woe to those... who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent" (v. 22, 23).

Chapter 6 deals with the dramatic call of Isaiah to God's service. The future isn't looking so bright for the crew, but God promises a holy seed will remain in the land when everything is destroyed.

Cuba and Human Rights

2008-02-29T05:44:00.000-08:00

"Listen up kid! I don't like you. But because some town in Switzerland says so, you have rights." --Dwight Schrute on The Office.

Cuba signs human rights treaties at UN (Edith M. Lederer, Yahoo.com/AP, 28 Feb 2008)

"UNITED NATIONS - Cuba's government signed two key international human rights treaties Thursday that Fidel Castro long opposed, but said it had reservations about some provisions..."

Although this appears as a change of policy by Castro's brother, Raul, the decision to sign the treaties was announced December 10, while Castro was still in power. Which isn't to say that Raul influenced Fidel to announce a change he planned to make.

What changes might occur because of the signing?

"Asked at a news conference whether Fidel's opposition to parts of the two covenants, including the right to form independent trade unions, had changed now that Raul is president, Perez Roque said no. He reiterated that Cuba would later specify some reservations about treaty provisions."

Isaiah 1-4

2008-02-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

I’ve decided to read through the book of Isaiah. I’m looking for God’s priorities, especially in the context of two words—justice and righteousness. Today I read the first four chapters, and these are the sections that stood out to me the most:

Isaiah 1:18 is fairly popular. “Come let us reason together…. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” I’ve heard that a lot. But just before it, we read, “learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow” (v. 17). We see another plea for the fatherless and the widow in verse 23.

Verse 27 uses both of the words I’m looking for. “Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.”

Chapter two gives hope of a day when weapons of war will become farm implements and people will no longer study strategies of war (v. 1-5). It finishes with a declaration against the proud—those concerned with superstitions, divination, treasure, military might and idols (v. 6-22).

Chapter three again takes up the call of justice. “The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: ‘It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty” (v. 14-15).

Chapter four paints a picture of hope in God despite the problems to come.

Waco: The Rules of Engagement

2008-02-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

Waco: The Rules of Engagement was our film of choice this past week. I didn't remember much from the 1993 conflagration, but I had a general sense that David Koresh taught that he was Jesus Christ and that the Branch Dividians were a weird cult that collected arms and blurred traditional boundaries of healthy sexuality. Though not a clearly formed opinion, I figured that whatever had gone wrong was the fault of the religious extremists.

I had no idea how far back the Branch Dividian movement went. The movement broke from the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1929 and began to grow in the early 1930s. A major split occurred in 1955, and Vernon Howell (David Koresh) joined the group in 1981. While the documentary gives some of this background, the emphasis is on the initial ATF raid on February 28, 1993 and the firey stand-off conclusion on April 19.

Through congressional hearings, expert interviews, forensic evidence, film footage made by the Branch Dividians, and survivor testimonies, the documentary paints a very different picture than I had previously understood.

One significant question is who fired first during the initial raid. Because videos of the event and the front doors themselves are missing, this question cannot be conclusively decided. Despite this ambiguity, several questions remain: Why didn't the authorities arrest Koresh while he was in town or outside of the community? Why did they turn it into a stand-off? Why was it handled in this way? Why is evidence missing? It is also noteworthy that all of the survivors were acquitted of conspiring to murder federal agents, though other charges brought convictions.

The disparity between the original claims about the April 19 raid and subsequent evidence demonstrate that the federal agency was looking for a fight and was planning to kill as many Davidians as possible. This is demonstrated by agents firing on a burning building in back areas where members could have otherwise escaped the flames. This area was not readily visible to the media who were kept on the front side of the community. Heat sensitive footage taken from the sky ultimately revealed this atrocity.

I have not read the various books on the events at Mount Carmel in Waco, so my general knowledge of the event is very limited. However, at this point I conclude that inappropriate sexual behavior and odd religious beliefs were met with bad music, weapons, gas and fire. If the facts are even close to my present understanding, then both sides have serious explaining to do. If not in this world, then on the way to the next.

The group of us who watched this film had also seen The End of the World Cult together. One significant difference I noticed between these two films was the mannerisms of the various members. Even if you didn't listen to the audio of The End of the World Cult, you would notice that their gestures, eye movements and other mannerisms were odd. Something was wrong. Something was off. By contrast, the interviews with Branch Dividians during the siege showed "normal" people with normal speech patterns, normal topics of discussion, normal mannerisms. I don't know what conclusions can be drawn from the differences in appearance between the two groups, but the difference was clear.

Wild film; give it a go, but be warned of graphic footage.

Little Acts of Love

2008-02-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from Seeking Peace (Johann Christoph Arnold, p. 131):

I no longer believe I can change the world; I believe God must. I will still go on protesting injustice.... Yet I feel it is the daily little acts of love that prove our sincerity just as much as the bigger things we do.

It is easy to become frustrated by the power of evil in the world, and to become embittered. But we can also be humble and look for ways to turn our indignation into something positive, such as service to others.

U.S. Federal Budget Proposal

2008-02-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

I have shared the questions I would like to ask the current round of presidential hopefuls. These questions reveal my priorities. The 2009 budget proposed by President Bush reveals his.

Why is this on a blog about justice? I do not believe it is right to spend $650 billion on defense, more than the next 168 countries combined, while we continue to fail to support the Millenium Development Goals with our repeatedly promised .7% of GDP (.15% currently). We have the opportunity to help over a billion people gain access to food, water and housing, but instead we build tanks, missiles and machine guns. Are we any different from the Rich Man who neglected Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)?

Thumbs Up

Increases for abstinence education, Pell Grants for college students from low-income families and grants to school districts.
Almost $20 billion increase in State Children's Health Insurance Program over the next five years, still falling short of plans passed twice by Congress.
10.3 percent increase (total of $22.7 billion) in foreign aid with increases for HIV/AIDS programs, anti-drug and -crime programs, development aid, and security packages. Some of these proposals are not my foreign aid priorities, and this is still FAR short of the .7% of GDP we have promised for meeting the Millenium Development Goals (The End of Poverty).

Thumbs Down

Additional $36 billion for defense, an increase of 8% to over $650 billion. This does not include additional funding ($70 billion) for the Iraq war. Read more about U.S. expenditures on the military here--military budget, world military spending, countries and military expenditures.
$18.2 billion cut in Medicaid, nation's single largest payer of children's health care for working families.
$700 million cut from discretionary health programs that children depend on, ranging from poison control hotlines to funding for training children's doctors.
Eliminates $283 million federal program to help make homes more energy efficient. Cuts energy aid to poor households by $500 million, a 22 percent drop.
Over $400 billion budget deficit.

It will be interesting to watch how the debate over the budget progresses. I do hope some priorities will be changed. Voices needed.

Sources

Bush budget would bring record deficits (Yahoo News, 4 Feb '08)
Bush Budget Cuts Federal Health Programs Vital to the Health of All Children (Fox Business, 8 Feb '08)
Department of Defense (Accessed 11 Feb '08)

The End of Poverty (Jeffrey Sachs)

2008-01-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

I cannot encourage you enough to read The End of Poverty. Just do it. Promise yourself that you’ll find a way.

The first few chapters relate Sachs’s own evolution as a development economist and advocate—a process that leads him from Harvard University to countries around the world and eventually to Columbia University where he helped found The Earth Institute. We follow him along the journey of gaining insights into the roles that geography, population growth, and disease play in the poverty trap.

The subsequent chapters describe the needs of the poor, the misconceptions most of us have regarding what is being done and what the real problems are, and finally the way forward.

Sachs quantifies, maps, deconstructs, and personalizes the problems. Thankfully, he does not end there. He also quantifies the needed response, demonstrates the possibilities we have over the next couple of decades, and offers policy advice on increasing capacity and accountability.

For less technical, but more spiritual analyses of the same topics, see Walking with the Poor (Bryant Myers), Red Letters (Tom Davis) and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (Ron Sider).

100th Post! "And Justice for All"

2008-01-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is the 100th time I've signed-in to this account to speak my mind, highlight news items, ponder the Bible, or comment on movies, books and music.

To celebrate, I will highlight a fine chapter in Toward an Evangelical Public Policy titled "Justice, Human Rights and Government." Ron Sider, President of Evangelicals for Social Action and author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, edited the book along with Diane Knippers and wrote the 30-page chapter under consideration.

Sider argues persuasively through logic and scripture that Christians must be concerned with four types of justice, which he summarizes in this way (p. 165):

Commutative justice "requires fairness in agreements and exchanges between private parties." Weights and measures should be the same for everyone. Contracts should be kept.

Retributive justice defines what is due to persons when they have done wrong. It defines what is appropriate punishment for someone who has broken the law.

Procedural justice defines the procedures and processes that must be fair if justice is to prevail. Procedural justice requires a transparent legal framework, unbiased courts, the rule of law, freedom of speech, assembly and the vote, honest elections, and so on.

Distributive justice refers to how the numerous goods of society are divided. What is a just division of money, health care, educational opportunities--in short, all the goods and services in society?

Sider addressed these issues by analyzing the words justice and righteousness throughout the Bible. Because he believes Christians tend to support a more-or-less biblical attitude toward the first three categories (which is debateable), Sider spends more time discussing the biblical imperative to distribute the means of survival equitably and justly. Specifically, he presents teachings on land/capital ownership, debt forgiveness, the sabbatical year and generosity. This discussion alone makes the book worth picking up at the library or local bookstore.

The final section of the chapter looks at the role of government regarding the four areas of justice described above. It is a worthwhile study but not the focus of this blog.

Here is a sampling of verses Sider references:

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Proverbs 14:31)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40)
He defended the cause of the poor and needy.... Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 22:16)
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. (Isaiah 10:1-2)
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. (Psalm 140:12)

Plus Micah 2:2, Amos 5:11-12, James 5:1-6, Amos 2:7, Luke 16:19-31, Ezekiel 45:9, Isaiah 5:8-9. And many, many more...

Ezekial 16:49 -- Re-inventing the SDA Wheel

2008-01-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Nathan Brown has posted an excellent article at Re-inventing the Adventist Wheel--The Sins of Sodom.

We often hear of Sodom and Gomorrah's sexual sins, but fail to realize Ezekiel's teaching, which says, "'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy" (Ez. 16:49, NIV).

Click here to read his insightful analysis of greed, consumerism and social justice.

A People of Service -- Adventist Review

2008-01-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

Pastor Sung Kwon, Director of Adventist Community Services, wrote a great article for the Adventist Review this month--A People of Service.

This is the opening paragraph:

MEMBERS OF THE HOLLYWOOD Adventist Church in California believe in wholistic ministry, which they describe as “going beyond service to include advocacy and social change.” That’s why church leaders and members there are learning to implement the skills of community organizing.

[MORE]

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