Conversation Point

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

So much of history repeats itself.

Consider conversations swirling more vividly regarding the United States' use of torture during interrogations with Iraqi insurgents and suspected terrorists imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay. President Bush continues to deny that our government uses torture. Perhaps he hasn't seen the pictures that came out of Abu Ghraib prison only a few years ago. Andrew Sullivan, once a Bush supporter, was quoted this past weekend in The Sunday Times of London as saying that the "enhanced interrogation" techniques used in our country have their roots in the German term Verschärfte Vermehmung, which means enhanced or intensified interrogation. The Gestapo coined the phrase during World War Two, applying it to methods of torture that left no marks, but was effective in its efforts.

Aren't we proud to have exported such a fine example of how to treat people from one of the most ruthless military regimes in history.

In contrast, Frank Rich, in a recent article for The New York Times, speaks of an elite unit from our own World War II military which was responsible for interrogating some of the worst Nazi leaders. These men have expressed great pride in getting the most information our of their prisoners by playing chess and ping pong, and in not surrendering their humanity in the process.

Mr. Rich goes on to speak of other situations with which we have become all too familiar over the years of Mr. Bush's presidency, encompassing many, many extensions and abuses of power of the executive office. His point in doing so is to say we have become so numb, so used to what is happening that we, and Congress, have ceased to care. Or at least we aren't saying or doing much to stop it. I would suggest we are all biding our time until we finally elect someone else. We've abdicated responsibility for everything that is happening as a result of this presidency, but we still must live with its consequences.

Having read Mr. Rich's article this morning, I have thought long and hard about what he wrote, finally realizing how closely this scenario resembles the events that occurred the night Jesus was betrayed.

We all know the story. After three years Jesus' ministry came to an end in dramatic fashion. Deserted by his closest followers, Jesus was left to be interrogated, ridiculed, mocked, beaten and spat upon by the governor's soldiers after Pilate had washed his hands of the situation. Leaving no names by which to call these people, we can only assume that those who interrogated Jesus had long ago compromised their integrity and humanity in pursuit of a safe spot in the juggernaut that was the Roman Empire. Jesus was one more prisoner to them. They may not even have been as hard on Jesus as they were on other prisoners. We do know that next came a long walk through screaming crowds calling for his execution, then the crucifixion itself. People who loved Jesus, had worked with him, had clamored for the chance to hear him speak or be healed by him, stood by and did nothing to help him. Many of their voices were included in the chorus to crucify. Self-preservation is a powerful motivator.

Mr. Rich's article has stayed with me through the day. He talked about something I have known all my life, that just as there were those around Jesus who knew he was innocent, there were Germans who knew what was happening in the concentration camps and they did nothing. Our country has held onto that as a reminder of how easily we insulate ourselves against that which we feel we have no power. But we here in the United States were supposedly different. We were different because we lived in a democracy, a place in which all people had a say, a vote and a responsibility to use that power for the good of humanity.

But we apparently are no different than any other people or nation that doesn't feel a hand, claim ownership in what their government is doing. It is tempting to simply complain, blame President Bush, Congress and Vice President Cheney. They do deserve the blame. But so do we if we think we are not culpable for what is being done in our name, with or without our active support. Consider the announcements made over and over in airports as we scramble to get to our gates in time for take off: Our bags, our bodies, can be seized and searched without cause. Most people think this is just fine because they believe it keeps us safe. That's all well and good, but do you remember voting away your Fourth Amendment rights? I don't. But that airport announcement states loudly and clearly that we no longer enjoy those protections against unlawful search and seizure. We didn't agree to this change of our constitutional rights, but we are subject to its consequences.

It is time to seek God's help in delivering us from the evil of neglecting our responsibility to our fellow citizens. We must raise our voices, reclaim our commitment to community and remember that everything we do - or leave undone - matters. Ignoring what is before us will not make it go away. We are called to be more than we have been. We are called to do more than we have done.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 4:33 PM 0 comments

Carrying a Torch

The Dream for Darfur Torch Relay began it's twenty city tour yesterday here in Cincinnati, Ohio. The torch was carried around the commons of the University of Cincinnati by local heroes, raising awareness and imparting an urgent message for advocacy and action. Emphasized was the critical and constructive role that China can play in ending the ongoing atrocities,

One of those local heroes, Nick Clooney, offered first-hand knowledge of what is happening in this African nation, having visited there last spring with his famous son, George. Mr. Clooney spoke with warmth and affection for the people he met on that visit with whom he remains in contact. This is, after all is said and done, a human tragedy. When tragedy strikes, we gather ourselves together to care for one another. Mr. Clooney most poignantly wished that his friends in Darfur could see us standing together to support them, to let them know that they have not been forgotten.

What lessons has God taught us so that we may help these people who are our sisters and brothers? As people of faith we are obliged to do more than those who do not know God's love and grace.

The words of the Biblical prophet Isaiah are integral to our understanding of how God works among us. Isaiah anticipated the birth of The Messiah, informing the people of his time what to look for in this new leader. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9: 5-7)."

Isaiah also spoke openly about God's directive to care for the poor, the lonely, the lost, the suffering, with whatever we had to give, saying, "Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am (Isaiah 58: 6-9)"

Between these two portions of scripture we understand what we are to do and who leads us to do it But we also learn that our own futures are at stake in this venture. How we behave, how seriously we take Isaiah's words as God's prophet, directly impacts our lives. If we recognize the leadership God presents to us in The Messiah, whom we know as Jesus the Christ, we will honor God's imparative to care for each other, and then our light will arrive, we will be healed, our righteousness will go before us, God's glory will follow us and guard us. We will call out to God, knowing that we will be heard and answered. God will say, "Here I am." It is in giving that we receive, and in helping others we help ourselves. Time and time again the prophets have spoken, extending the opportunity to do what we know to be right, just and loving in God's eyes.

Prophetic voices still speak among us.

After Mr. Clooney spoke, Mrs. Homa Yavar, co-chair of the event and the Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur, led us in prayer for the people in Darfur, honoring the dead and upholding the dreams of the people who still live. Her voice broke as she eloquently bound us to the vision God carries for us, for them, for all of humanity.

How then can we embody this Biblical precept and stop the violence in Darfur?

We can pray. We can write our congressional representatives to put pressure on President Bush to act decisively to end the violence. We can divest our money from companies that do business with the Sudanese government, architects of this horrific slaughter. We can stop buying all products produced in China. We can stay conscious, educated about what is happening in Darfur, and we can tell others what is going on and urge them to act in anyway they can.

Prophetic voices still speak among us, requiring us to pay attention, take note and to act. Our own voices must be added to this historical litany so that everyone who needs to hear has the chance to make a difference.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 8:00 PM 0 comments

What Not to Talk About

I just finished reading, To Find Out Something Only Dead Men Know, an article by Christopher Cooper posted today at Common Dreams, a web site dedicated to liberal news and views. Mr. Cooper compares watching Ken Burns' The War, a documentary about World War II, to watching the drama we're funding in Iraq unfold on the news each night. But a lot of what Ken Burns included in his footage is not shown on any network broadcast. Close up, wars all look pretty much the same. Bloodied bodies, ripped apart, strewn over the landscape like grotesque piñata fillings at a child's birthday party. Fuel-driven fire being shot into caves to flush out the enemy. Civilians dismembered and burned beyond recognition. Perhaps Burns is allowed this time of truth-telling because it is PBS and they make a habit of doing these sort of things. Maybe years of distance breeds enough emotional numbness for us to be able to at least glance at such horrific images.

Most likely it is because we can claim moral distance from what happened before we were born, before we were able to vote, before we had any say in what went on in our own country, a country founded on the belief that the government should be of, by and for the people. If Brian Williams, Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson ever makes an attempt to show us where our war tax is going, who and how it is killing, we may begin to think differently about this whole, messy business of invading other countries. We may hold the Bush administration responsible for the choices it has made on our behalf, and therefore, hold ourselves responsible for believing, if only a little, that this war was justified in any remotely sensible way.

But we don't want to see these images in our homes, and we especially don't want to harbor the chance that our children would catch a glimpse of mutilated moms and dads being cried over by young, orphaned children. We don't want to talk about what doesn't concern us on a daily basis, what doesn't threaten our lives or our families' lives, what makes us squirm at our very core.

War isn't the only thing we aren't supposed to talk about these days. Religion, politics, gay rights, poverty, the decline of education in our central cities, our crumbling US economy, global warming. Pick a topic, any topic, that demands some conscious awareness, educational consideration and a sense of the impact it makes on real, live human beings. Most folks have an opinion, but that opinion isn't based in their own understanding. It is based on media images and words pointedly honed to a fine-tuned simplicity for easy digestion and dismissal by the general public. Either a whole lot of people don't care anymore, or we have come to believe that caring is too hard, too costly and not our concern to begin with.

But Jesus would have us believe and behave otherwise.

As a child, hearing scripture read from the pulpit fascinated me, compelled me to listen for truths that transcended culture and time. I wanted to be right there when Jesus stood to speak with the crowds on grassy knolls, in front of the Temple and when he listened to them over family meals in their own homes. I wanted to search the faces of those Jesus confronted on their own turf, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, Scribes and Chief Priests. What would it be like to see them sidle up to Jesus and his disciples, carrying on a conversation with some locals, ready to interrupt, set the trap and wait for Jesus to step into it? Then, the tables would be turned, effortlessly, and these religious men would be left speechless in their tracks. That would be something to see.

But as a child I was only aware of the drama, the desire to see good triumph over evil in the most profoundly felt ways. I wasn't aware of the sadness that probably also accompanied Jesus' interactions within his community. The people who could most effect change in their world were desiring nothing more than to keep the crowds from simmering out of control, lest Rome get wind of the troubles and limit their power even more. The Temple leadership and Rome kept an uneasy truce. If that was disrupted, the future would become even more uncertain. Using Jewish law and the prophets to keep the peace was their job. Jesus knew where his colleagues stood, politically and theologically.

However, Jesus knew the time had come to talk about what before had been kept silent. Good News is hard to contain, once you have heard it and understood it.

We have heard the Good News, and, hopefully, we understand it. We can, and should talk about all the things happening in the world. With our friends, within our families, with our children. With our council representatives, our congresswomen and men, our senators, our governors, and yes, with our president. We must talk about all the things that are difficult to think about, let alone say out loud. What if this war in Iraq, this war that has already outlasted World War II, doesn't end for years? How will this affect our communities, our economy, our educational system? What happens if President Bush decides one war isn't enough and he wants to pick a fight with Iran before he leaves office? Whether we like it or not, we need to start talking to each other about things that matter.

Please remember, we have heard the Good News. Do you understand what that means? Whether we like it or not, we have a unique perspective as people of faith, as well as a unique responsibility to be ready for the Pharisees and their buddies when they come sneaking up behind us, ready to make us fall flat on our faces. It is time to pay attention, educate ourselves and be ready to confront those who would rather keep us and our faith perspective silent.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 6:58 PM 0 comments

Learning Abundance

What images come to mind when you consider the word abundance?

Are beautiful homes, shiny cars, lush resorts filled with palm trees and expansive beaches what you imagine? Perhaps sparkling jewels, closets overflowing with designer clothing and endless nights out on the town at first class restaurants are more your style. Would a big screen television, a computer so advanced it could almost run the world and a houseboat on the Mississippi be to your liking?
Maybe a full bank account is all you need in the world.

Financial comfort and material wealth easily accommodate one definition of abundance, the most common one, particularly here in the United States. Our American dream of single family home ownership, two new cars and great annual vacations pits itself against the realities of daily life and fluctuating economic patterns. Simply put : many of us aspire to look successful by creating a lifestyle of material means. We barter our future for lovely things, but don't necessarily feel accomplished, prosperous or content in possessing them. A consumer-based society has little else with which to work. Richness in things doesn't guarantee richness in relationships, spirituality or appreciation for our planet's natural resources.

What are some other ways to contemplate this idea of abundance? How do we shift this paradigm of abundance equals stuff? Where do we look to find ideas and examples that can broaden our perspective, maybe even change our lives? How can we learn abundance?

One resource is the Bible, which speaks of both wealth and abundance in many forms. The general perception is that God considers money and what it can leverage as evil. It's time to let go of that old, false myth and realize that God isn't so much concerned about what we possess as how we use it. The apostle Paul's first letter to his friend, Timothy, tells us, "The love of money is the root of all evils(I Timothy 6:10)." Loving money can become a temptation, a distraction from living one's faith, if it becomes a lifestyle choice. The Great Commandments encompass loving God, each other and ourselves. There is no room for the love of money in a world view that seeks to learn and live abundance. Letting go of the idea that money is the central source of abundance opens our minds to the possibility that there is more out there.

Jesus called many people blessed, abundant, throughout his three years of ministry, and explained what he meant, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter al kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so people persecuted prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:3-12)."

Jesus turned the idea of abundance on its head, pointing to those who appeared to have the least as being the most blessed. Jesus preached a new way of seeking out and discovering abundance in everyday life, places most people would never think of looking. The merciful and the meek, the peacemakers and the persecuted, lived and shared their abundance each day. Giving mercy creates an abundance of mercy in the world. Giving peaceful responses, makes the world a more peaceful place. Mourning that which has been lost to us helps others understand the importance of connectedness in community. Seeking God's righteousness in all that we do makes justice tangible and real for all people. Jesus' teachings draw each of us back to what we already have that we can share.

Recognizing we are already blessed, already abundant just as we are. is the most important thing we can know. Giving that blessing away is the most important thing we can do.

In a world that says scarcity is king, giving is uncomfortable business. If we give too much away we will have less for ourselves and less than our neighbors. So much for keeping up with the Joneses. But shifting gears, feeling that we each have more than enough to give, begins to redirect our sense of empowerment. Sharing a blessing like mercy or kindness takes nothing away from the giver. If fact, Jesus pointed out that anyone who offers blessings to another out of their own abundance will receive the same back automatically. It isn't how much we have that makes us abundant, but how much we give.

Learning abundance actively places us in the circle of wholeness that is creation itself. We each represent a portion of God's graceful riches to be shared with all of humanity. What are the blessings you hold in your life? How can you share with others out of this abundance?

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 3:08 PM 0 comments