Faith in Action

Kucinich delivers a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention. Not his best, in my estimation, but a great presentation nonetheless.

But what I’m really intrigued by is the revolutionary energy outside of the Democratic National Convention. Beyond the whitewashed theatrical production taking place on center stage every night, is a mass of people who are fed up with this oligarchical society and the fourth branch of its government - the media. Check out these clips of protests happening outside the building. (Note: there is some harsh language in some of the clips. If you don’t want to hear it - don’t click “play”)

FOX NEWS REPORTER GETS JACKED UP!

DEAD PREZ PUTS TRUTH TO MUSIC AT DNC!

POLICE SLAM CODEPINK PROTESTER!

IF THIS IS GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THE DNC, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CARNAGE THAT WILL UNFOLD OUTSIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION!?!

And here are a few that I’ve been checking out lately.

Our resident scholar/theologian/cultural commentator himself - Rev. C. Solomon has just released a tribute to Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Here’s a piece of it:

The Wright Reverend ought to be America’s man of the year! And even though his presence is not welcome at the Democratic Convention in Colorado, he is a substantial part of the reason for America’s profound new hope, for it is he who gets much of the credit for producing Senator Obama and family. If only more individuals in the nation, particularly its former and current leaders had been shaped at Trinity United in Chicago! READ MORE

Hard-hitting Glen Ford from Black Agenda Report brings the FIRE again with his latest piece entitled, “The Age of Katrina - Not Obama.” Take a sip…

The more delusional Obama supporters behave as if “their candidate’s speech on Thursday will herald a crack in time, after which posterity will speak of Before-Obama (BO) and After-Obama (AO) eras, and the transcendental Age of Obama.” They draw straight lines from Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech to Obama’s nomination acceptance oration. However, the event that far more accurately defines the age is Katrina, the unfolding catastrophe that descended on New Orleans three years ago, this week. Katrina is “the most dramatic manifestation of an implacable racism coiled deeply in the ruling structures of American society, primed to remove concentrations of Blacks from places of value.” READ MORE

Then there’s the Chicken Bones Journal - a great online resource for independent African perspectives on world views. (They need your financial support by the way.) Check out this piece I found there. It’s a letter of support for Cynthia McKinney from the President of the Socialist Party of South Africa (Azania)!

To Sister Cynthia McKinney:

We were particularly and greatly thrilled by your nomination as the presidential candidate of the Power to the People Committee and also that of your vice presidential candidate, Sister Rosa Clemente. These are indeed critical times for the United States but much so for the world and most particularly Africa and its people. We are excited and also support the endorsement of this nomination because of how we have come to know you, Sister Cynthia McKinney, and what you stand for.

The people of Africa and Azania, better known as South Africa, are greatly heartened by the fact that it is not in your character and style to keep quiet or turn a blind eye to the challenges that face you. You have consciously taken sides a long time ago and have been outspoken about countries such as Zimbabwe long before other people discovered where they were on the world map. READ MORE

And Renita Weems asks the question, “What’s wrong with being Nappy and Happy?” In this thought provoking commentary, Weems, highlights the Obama girls to raise the question of why Black women perm their hair. Is perming one’s hair a sign of self-hate? Take a sip…

I guess there’s no place in the White House for little black girls with nappy hair, huh? I know many of you can’t tolerate any criticism of the Obamas. And I’m not criticizing the Obamas. Not really. I’m raising a question about a black girl’s hair. And public perception. We’ve talked about this topic before when it was Michelle Obama. You can be sure that when this month’s issue of Essence Magazine arrived in the mail with Malia (10) and Sasha Obama (7) with hair straightened and curled around their shoulders, some black mother lost a battle with her ten year old about not straightening her (just yet). Why do we perm or straighten our daughters’ hair at such a young age?
What other ethnic group does this to their children? READ MORE

Ok - that’s enough for now. I’ll share more great blogs a little later this week.

I finished reading Jesus for President a couple of weeks ago and I’m about done with The Irresistible Revolution, and these two books have me really focused on the Kingdom of God and cultivating community. The seeker in me wonders what life would be like if we really lived out what Jesus preached and what the early followers of The Way were inspired to demonstrate with their very lives. When the early Believers lived the words of Jesus, something miraculous happened. Let’s read Acts 4: 32-34 with fresh eyes:

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

This is such a radical, counter-cultural community! These followers of The Way eliminated private ownership, unified under the banner of Community, and were blessed greatly as a result. As Shane Claiborne points out in Jesus for President, this subset of society eliminated poverty within their ranks. There was no government program. No foundation grant. No nonprofit assistance. No politician pushing promises. Because they decided to live the words of Jesus poverty became extinct. Now here’s the relevant question:

How many of us want to bring an end to poverty? (I’m betting on everyone on the other side of this screen raising their hands.) Good!

Now, how many of us - Believers - Followers of The Way - Disciples of Jesus are ready to start siphoning off our personal possessions so that everyone’s needs are met? (uh…he-…helloooooooooooo out thereeeeee….”cricket” “cricket”)

You do know that living within the American Economic System that poverty will never leave us don’t you? This mixed capitalism that we live under supports the unjust distribution of resources, selfishness, material gluttony, oligopolies, and political oligarchies. It just doesn’t line up with the words of Jesus. (i.e. “Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me” Matt. 25:40)

Our culture offers many grand words about our responsibility to those in need, but if you match our words with our actions then you’ll find we are much like the rich ruler that Jesus encountered who was curious about immortality. Let’s read this together with fresh eyes:

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”

“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” [Mark 10:17-23 New Living Translation]

How many of us can say: No Murder? check. No Stealing? check. No adultery? check.

SELL ALL I HAVE AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR?! But GOD gave me this Benz!

Oh really. (Do you really mean this BENZ gave me my god?)

The Kingdom of God is obviously not of this world, but it is the only sermon that Jesus preached and when his earliest adherents lived it; they experienced remarkable miracles and blessings from God. There was joy, unity, food, and no lack among them. They were the Beloved Community.

I’m striving now to experience God’s Kingdom in my personal life and I’m starting with my stuff. I have too much. I’m not rich by the world’s determination, but in another sense I am. I had nearly 8 pairs of shoes, more clothes than I can wear, more “things” than I can classify and I drive past people in downtown Baltimore who are barefoot, half naked, and hungry. God created enough for everybody. Why are there people with nothing living alongside people with more than enough?

I took four pairs of my shoes out of my closet and to the Baltimore Free Store last Saturday. I watched with great joy as those who needed my brown loafers walked off with them without paying a dime. I thought I was going to tear up while giving up my Durango boots, but nope. I’m good. I have enough. And I have more that I’ll be turning over this Saturday.

This is the type of Christian communalism that my soul longs to see! I’ve had enough of Christian commercialism. I’m hungry now for the Kingdom of God.

Anybody up to searching for the Kingdom with me?

Well, according to the United States he was a terrorist, but now he is a highly respected international diplomat. Mandela was on the United State’s Terror Watch List which made sure he had to jump through extra hoops to gain entry into the U.S. I’m sure his name being on that list also authorized the CIA or FBI to take some “other” actions against him as well. [read: wiretapping and other surveillance activities. I'm sure we'll read about it in a book after Mandela has made his final earthly transition.]

While most world leaders applaud Baba Mandela today (some going so far as to suggest that he is nearly a saint), he wasn’t always so celebrated - of course most of us know about his being an anti-apartheid political prisoner for 27 years in Robben Island Prison, but I wonder if most people know that Mandela came to be a proponent of armed self-defense in South Africa. Consider this quote from his Opening Statement in his defense case before the Pretoria Supreme Court in April 1964 entitled, “I Am Prepared To Die.”

At the beginning of June 1961, after a long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I, and some colleagues, came to the conclusion that as violence in this country was inevitable, it would be unrealistic and wrong for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the Government met our peaceful demands with force.

This conclusion was not easily arrived at. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle, and to form Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). We did so not because we desired such a course, but solely because the Government had left us with no other choice. In the Manifesto of Umkhonto published on 16 December 1961, which is Exhibit AD, we said:

“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices - submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future, and our freedom”.

They say that the conservatives of today were the radicals of yesterday. While I wouldn’t say that Mandela is a “conservative” it is interesting studying his development. I have serious doubts about whether or not he would support armed self-defense today. Or maybe he would. Who knows.

What I do know is that the revolutionary spirit is alive and well in the world, especially in Nigeria where members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), are engaged in guerilla warfare against Western oil companies (Shell, Chevron, and others) who are extracting the “liquid gold” from their land and leaving the indigenous people to live in extreme poverty. Being that the government of Nigeria is not advocating for the masses of poor in the nation and non-violent rallies and protests are not working, groups like MEND have begun a campaign of sabotage, kidnapping, and murder of Western oil workers in order to aggressively reconstitute the redistribution of resources in their nation.

Now who are the terrorists in Nigeria?

How does this apply to other conflicts in the world? (i.e. Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinians, the Israeli Government, FARC, the Columbian Government, etc.)

How does this apply to historical conflict and its traditional re-telling? (i.e. the Black Panthers, American Indian Movement, Pilgrims, Black Muslims, Puerto Rican Independence Movement, the Central Intelligence Agency, Bloods, Crips, Black Guerilla Family, Young Lords, the Weathermen, MOVE, etc.)

With support from Africa Action, I sent Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) a note about Senate Bill 2166, a bill concerned with canceling Africa’s odious and crippling debt. Here’s his response:

Dear Mr. Brown:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for providing debt relief to poor, developing nations that have borrowed from the United States , other creditor governments, and international financial institutions.

I share your concern for highly indebted countries that are in desperate economic straits and unable to repay loans and honor other financial obligations. These nations must often commit large portions of their national budgets to servicing debt at the expense of human development and social programs. Senator Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) introduced S. 2166, the Jubilee Act, on October 16, 2007. The bill would cancel debt of eligible developing countries and would establish a framework for creditor transparency and responsible lending. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, of which I am a member.

While many countries have already paid off the principle debt , they continue to pay heavy interest. I share your belief that debt relief for impoverished nations will provide resources for desperately needed development initiatives and human services. Without the burden of debt, countries can better focus their efforts toward economic develo pment and poverty reduction .

Again, thank you for sharing your views. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other matter.

Hat Tip: Christian Post

By Anne Thomas
Christian Post Correspondent
March 3, 2008

The Poverty and Justice Bible, the latest release from Bible Society, has broken new ground as the first ever to literally highlight the more than 2,000 passages that reveal God’s sorrow over poverty and injustice, and His command to believers to act to eradicate them.

The new edition challenges the notion that the Bible is a dusty, outdated rulebook, and shows that God – through the Bible - was already speaking out on poverty long before anyone else.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Tom Wright, bishop of Durham and Bible Society’s president, said, “Poverty and injustice are two of the biggest issues of our day, challenging the minds of politicians and social activists around the world.

“The imbalance of global wealth, famine, water shortages, exploitation and corruption are all issues that invoke outrage – and demand attention. But The Poverty and Justice Bible shows that, in speaking out on these issues, God got there first.”

Far from being irrelevant, the Poverty and Injustice Bible demonstrates that God’s Word has “something to say about issues that resonate today”, the bishop added.

“This Bible connects with the very fabric of today’s world, with all its problems and messiness – and has something powerful to say,” he said.

Bible Society was inspired to develop the new Bible after Pastor Rick Warren, author of bestselling The Purpose Driven Life, admitted that had missed more than 2,000 verses that speak of God’s heart for the poor despite studying theology and being a pastor for decades. He claimed that Christians risked losing their credibility if they failed to speak out against poverty and injustice.

Christian leader and commentator Tony Campolo added, “Here’s proof that faith without commitment to justice for the poor is a sham, because it ignores the most explicit of all the social concerns of Scripture.”

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The murders in this town must stop! I could actually feel stress and grief gripping my heart this week as I tried to offer support to the family of Zachariah Hallback - the 18 year old Algebra Project student who was murdered last week on the corner of The Alameda and 33rd while waiting for a bus at 8pm. Zach’s Homegoing Service was today at Israel Baptist Church and his mother informed me that there will be a prayer vigil for her son this Monday - MLK, Jr. Day at 6pm on the corner where he was killed.

Concerned Baltimoreans are also mourning the loss of 14-year-old Edward Smith gunned down in Cherry Hill. Smith was a student at the ConneXions Community Leadership Academy. The circumstances involving his murder are yet unclear, but I think that it was truly insensitive on The Baltimore Sun’s part to publish information concerning Smith’s history with the Department of Social Services. Is that supposed to be some type of justification for this child’s death?

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Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not study history are bound to repeat it.”

In 1960 civic organizations in Anne Arundel County and Charles County began to fight to remove slot machines from their jurisdictions. The battle was joined in 1962 by a Grand Jury from Anne Arundel County, which found “extensive corruption, illegal use of the machines by minors, and increased crime.”

In 2007, we should have learned from the mistakes of Maryland citizens during the 1960’s. We’ve had slot machines in Maryland and it has been proven that slot machines will be detrimental to our livelihood. When slot machines were in Charles County the Department of Defense requested that slot machines be removed from the borders of its naval base because sailors were repeatedly losing their salaries to these machines before returning home to their families. Those were the old style mechanical slot machines.

A recent report studying the new style video terminals in Canada showed that 25% of Canadian slot players were either at risk, or problem gamblers. This study confirms the much-reported notion that current video slot machines are designed to be the crack cocaine of gambling.

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