Current Event – Page 80 – intramuralist ™

01/31/2016

we the people

As we watch the current debating and berating — with many of us bugged or baffled by this odd election cycle — a wise friend pointed to me to this… a thought-provoking blog from Matt Walsh, a man who identifies himself as “a blogger, writer, speaker, and professional truth sayer.” In his latest stab at truth saying, he suggests that “America Is Falling Apart And It’s Your [our] Fault.” Ponder the following, little-longer-than-usual, brash but insightful excerpt:

“When deciding who to blame for the current state of affairs in our country, we always run through a familiar list of shadowy villains: the ‘system,’ the ‘establishment,’ politicians, lobbyists, the schools, the media, etc. These are fine suspects in their own right, but I find it ridiculous that, somehow, we skip right over the first and most dastardly culprit: ourselves.

We never blame us, do we? We always get off the hook. All of the misery and misfortune in our culture have been hoist upon us from Washington, D.C. and Hollywood and Ivory Towers, and none of it from us, we claim. We’re victims. We had no say in any of this at all, according to us. Well, at the risk of alienating literally every single person reading this, I’d like to suggest that you are an adult and a voter, and this is your fault. And mine. And your mother’s. And your neighbor Jim’s. And all of our accomplices who generally make up the club known as ‘We The People.’

Here’s what I know: If you and me and your mother and your neighbor Jim and the rest of them were prudent, rational, resolute, wise, well-read, morally courageous and intellectually engaged, we wouldn’t be in this fix. What’s more, we wouldn’t have the same sort of politicians because we wouldn’t vote for those sorts of politicians, and we wouldn’t have the same sort of media because we wouldn’t watch that sort of media. Right on down the line like dominoes, everything would change if we changed. Everything.

But there is no accountability. We all say we want accountability, but what we really mean is we want everyone else to be accountable. Very few people will actually hold themselves accountable for anything. Our Republic crumbles while we all sit around pretending we’re victims of a culture we’re actively creating and politicians we actively vote into office. We put torches to our own home and wonder why it’s on fire.

And then, surveying the destruction we wrought upon ourselves, we weep like damsels in distress, crying out for a white knight to save us. Inevitably, a charlatan in a suit of armor comes along and promises to do just that. We faint and fall into his arms, and he proceeds to immediately betray us. Then we weep again for another white knight to save us from the last one, and another comes along, and he betrays us, and we weep again, and another one comes, and so on and so on and so on and so on unto infinity.

In the midst of all of this, nobody ever says: ‘Hey American people, STOP IT YOU FOOLS.’ Instead, even the people who know better continue making patronizing excuses for us. They pontificate about how the ‘blue collar workers’ and the ‘middle class’ are feeling quite sad and angry at the moment, and we can’t very well be expected to take charge of our lives and make better decisions when we’re feeling this way. Nonsense. It’s all nonsense.

Any notion that we’re victims of some mysterious outside force rather than of ourselves should be laid to rest because of this election season. After everything we’ve been through as a nation, suffering the incompetence, corruptions, and failures of one ruling regime after another, look at what we’re doing when given the opportunity to go in a different direction: flocking to Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton.
Some of us support other candidates, but, if polls are any indication, something close to a majority are threatening to vote for one of these three. We could well be looking at a Trump-Clinton or even Trump-Sanders showdown for president. And whose fault will that be?
Ours. Such an election would be a searing indictment not of Washington, D.C. or ‘the establishment’ or any other vague entity, but of us. We the people.

We vote for petty bullies, crooks, and charlatans. We vote for them. We select them. Our politics are a reflection of us. Just like the deterioration of the family, the divorce rate, fatherless homes, the moral bankruptcy of our culture, the decline of faith, collective apathy, ignorance and intellectual laziness are manifestation of our choices, so is the political system. None of this was hoisted upon us by dark overlords or mystical sorcerers. We have made choices, we have done things, we have decided to be a certain way, and that way has proven poisonous to the future of our country…

Besides, what’s shallowly buried in this ‘don’t blame the voters who support bad candidates, blame the system’ stuff is the implication that, essentially, people are incontinent morons who cannot be held responsible for their own actions. Weak-kneed apologists who agree that Trump/Sanders/Clinton/whoever is atrocious but insist that their supporters can’t be criticized, are claiming to be smarter than those supporters. When they say, ‘Yes, I see that this candidate is an insidious despot but you can’t blame the people who don’t see it,’ what they’re really saying is, ‘Yes, I see that this candidate is an insidious despot but you can’t blame the people who don’t see it because they’re stupid.’

So while I’m accusing the American public of wreaking havoc upon their own country, I’m not actually the one insulting the public. I do not believe that people are, by and large, stupid. And if people are stupid, I don’t believe I’m among the small minority of smart people. My access to information and my capacity to understand that information is about on par with everyone else. Yet, while I must claim responsibility for my share of this country’s decline, I’m at least not intent on voting for a socialist, a reality TV game show host, or a criminal. Why is that? Do I have mental capabilities that exceed those who support these reprobates? No, I don’t think so.

If a lack of intelligence were at the core of our nation’s problems, it might be true that our dear leaders in government, media, and education are solely to blame because they’re the smart ones taking advantage of a bunch of drooling imbeciles. But I don’t believe that to be the case. I believe at the core of our nation’s problems — especially our electoral problems, but also everything beyond that — are a collection of common vices, not mental deficiencies: laziness, apathy, greed, pride, envy, hatred, etc.

Our sin is our undoing. I’m as irritated with ‘the establishment’ as you are — or at least I would be if I knew what that phrase meant — but ‘the establishment,’ whatever it is, isn’t responsible for your sloth and your selfishness. Although nobody will acknowledge it, there is indeed a profound selfishness in the person who interjects himself into the democratic process yet refuses to think deeply, evaluate all the evidence, listen to opposing arguments, and scrutinize the principles, character, and integrity of the candidate he supports. To plug your ears and put on your blinders and plunge determinedly into the voting booth, having spent months aggressively refusing to apply any serious and considered thought to your decision, is an act of supreme self-centeredness. Even more so in the case of the people who vote for the politicians who promise to give them money appropriated from their fellow citizens. That’s greed and self-indulgence, not mere gullibility. In fact, these people are anything but gullible. They know exactly what they’re doing.

Ignorance, especially, can no longer be the stock explanation. We all carry around little devices that grant us access to all of the information in the world. The sum total of human knowledge is contained tidily in our pockets. We may choose to use this godlike tool to watch porn and take pictures of our own faces, but the fact remains that none of us have an excuse to be ill-informed. We continue to make reckless and shortsighted decisions as voters not because we lack information, but because we’ve seen the information and don’t care, or perhaps because we don’t care about seeing the information. In both cases, again, the fault is ours and ours alone…

Our bad choices and our flaws and our sins have brought us here politically, culturally, and in every other sense. That’s the truth. So if you want things in this country to improve, stop whining about the system and look in the mirror. We aren’t the victims, we’re the cause. If America is ever going to be ‘Great Again,’ it has to start with a little personal accountability.”

[Truth?]

Respectfully…
AR

01/24/201601/24/2016

let it snow

This weekend a blizzard has battered the Northeast. In some places there are more than two feet of snow. Over 8,000 flights have been cancelled, and over 1,000 power outages have been reported up the East Coast.

The New York Governor went so far as to issue a travel ban on New York City and Long Island highways and roads over the weekend. The snow was so significant, actually, that yesterday, all shows — both matinees and evening performances — were cancelled on Broadway. This is big.

This can also be dangerous. Let us first recognize that such a heavy amount of snow and the accompanying cold can be perilous for many people. Tragically, in fact, initial reports from this particular snow storm indicate at least 18 people have lost their lives in snow-related deaths thus far. The cold and ice and regional potential flooding bring an added, unpredictable risk.

I think, too, of those in distinct danger… I think of the elderly; I think of the homeless. My heart breaks for those who have no roof over their head nor food on their table. They are truly among the so-called “least of these.” We cannot forget them especially during times like this.

That said first — always attempting to acknowledge what’s most important — there is one thing I absolutely love about such significant snowfall…

The big flakes… pouring down… the accumulation…

It makes us stop.

That’s it; it makes us stop.

Years ago I heard a wise man say, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” I think there’s a lot of truth in that; we are a busy people. We go from one thing to the next to the next. We have overflowing to do lists and seemingly way too much to accomplish on a daily basis. We don’t have enough time, energy, sleep, rest, you-name-it, because we are so busy. And when we are so busy, we don’t take the time to engage in some of the basic caring, polite, and subtle respectful tasks a wise one would always embrace…

We don’t have time to be selfless, to put someone else first, to put their needs ahead of our own…

We don’t have time to listen well, as it’s far more efficient for us time-wise to simply tell others what we think rather than listen to what they have to say…

We don’t have time for interactive dialogue, as Twitter’s tweets and Facebook rants are far easier, allowing us to still vent and spew our opinions and then actually think we had a conversation…

In other words, as busy people with full schedules who are so often on the go, we don’t perceive ourselves as having the actual time to be patient, respectful, or empathetic. We then begin to seemingly subconsciously dismiss those contagious, fruitful, and beautifully encouraging character traits because they take too much time.

It is true; patience, respect, and empathy take time.

When the snow comes, however, in such significant amounts, we have no choice; we have to slow down; we have to stop.

I love the fact that something makes us stop, being still, reflecting, thinking, thinking of others, and taking a break from those to do lists.

Hmmm… I wonder… I wonder if that’s why God created snow.

Respectfully…
AR

01/21/2016

Someone else’s kid

We each have places where we choose… where we root for one over the other… where we deeply want one person or one team or one side or school to win. We passionately desire success and victory for a single one.

And if that team or side or school includes my kid, then regardless of the current respect, obedience level, or whatever-still-in-need-of-growth characteristic exists in my kid, I am going to root like the dickens for my kid’s team to win. I won’t be rude; I won’t call anyone names (and hopefully not even think them); and I won’t be unable to interact warmly with any of diverse desire sitting in the stands nearby. I simply will root like crazy for the one I love — regardless of the health or status of my current relationship with him. I will be my son’s advocate. Always.

And then it donned on me last weekend… sitting in the auditorium in the first high school show choir competition, a weekend where my kid’s choir did great — but another choir was deemed to have done better; we came in second. And as I watched the winning choir burst with ample enthusiasm — pleased to have won and to have surpassed this day a choir with a growing national reputation — it donned on me: each kid on stage is someone else’s kid… each young adult is someone else’s kid. Each person on that stage is the kid of someone — and regardless of age, stage, character, or health of their current relationship, there is a parent watching who is rooting like the dickens for their kid. There is a parent who is pleased and proud.

Such is true whether the competition exists…

In Little League…
In high school…
In college or the pros…
At a swim meet…
At an Olympic track and field tryout…
At a high school debate team contest or even presidential debate…
On the hardwood…
On the gridiron…
On the field or something online…
Steelers/Bengals…
Steelers/Broncos…
Broncos/Patriots…
Brady/Manning…
Bird/Johnson…
Tiger/Phil…
Alabama/Auburn…
Michigan/Ohio State…
Duke/Carolina…
Red Sox/Yankees…
Tastes great/less filling… 🙂

The point in (almost) each of the above is that someone’s kid is playing. And someone other than you and me is going to be rooting just as hard for their kid precisely because it’s their kid… it doesn’t matter if growing up, they’ve made poor choices — or even if they’ve made a series of poor choices lately. The parent will always want the perceived best for their kid.

Let’s take this awareness one step further…

How does it change all of the above — who we root for, how hard we root for them, and how we perceive the side or team that bests ours on a given day — if we recognize each of us, created by God (since there’s no way we could have come out of nowhere) — as one of his kids?

If we are one of his kids, then he must always want what’s best for us, too… working on that whatever-still-in-need-of-growth characteristic still exists in me…

Makes me think that winning and losing, even coming in second, matter a little less than we sometimes believe…

Respectfully…
AR

01/17/2016

best friends for a day

A little less than a year ago, I had one of the best worst weeks of my life… as nothing prepares you for the passing of a loved one. Nothing. The only thing that makes the unbearable pain bearable is a faith that is grounded in wisdom and hope — and speaks of something greater than the circumstances at hand.

My younger sister passed away early that Monday morning. My family and I had long planned to fly to NYC on Thursday, as my teenage son and his talented show choir were set to dance on the prestigious, Lincoln Center stage on Friday. Hence, the celebration of Nicole’s life was moved to Sunday, which meant much travel (and even more emotion) packed into a few short days.

Unfortunately that Thursday morning, the undesired occurred again; in our midwest city of often sporadic weather, we were experiencing a blizzard-like storm that included over 9” of snow. Perhaps minor for our friends in Boston and Colorado Springs, 9” can be paralyzing in Cincinnati.

With the storm extending across the entire East coast, flights were being cancelled by the minute; one by one, we would hear disheartening news of another show choir family unable to make this once-in-a-lifetime trip. For some odd reason, our morning flight took off, relatively on time.

Save for my grieving heart, the flight itself was fairly smooth — that is, until we approached LaGuardia. We were immediately placed into an hour long holding pattern, as the airport had closed in order to plow the runways. Unbeknownst to us at the time, after that hour, the airport had actually reopened, but the first Delta flight attempting to land skidded right off the runway, crashed through a fence, and came to rest with the plane’s nose extending out over the adjacent bay of water. Thank God no life-threatening injuries occurred.

Needless to say, our Delta flight was then told the airport was closed. With the storm intensifying and more airports closing, we wondered if they would return us home. After more delay, we were told we would be landing at Bradley International — although most of us knew not where that was.

Once landed (in Hartford, CT, no less), we found ourselves in a sea of stranded others… so many questions and confusion. Airline reps attempted to be clear; maybe busses would come; maybe they could get us to our desired destination sometime today. There were too many “maybes.”

Yet there amidst the hundreds stranded, we were given a blessed gift. Three other show choir families were experiencing the same flight and plight: two sets of parents, one set of grandparents. We recognized one another, but previous to this moment, I did not know them well. We huddled, put our minds together, assessing our options.  Deciding to take things into our own hands, we walked and talked. As a group, we shared all this unexpected, significant emotion… the challenge of being diverted… the fear of being stuck… the concern for our friends traveling alternate routes… the empathy for our friends no longer able to come… and the worry for our kids, who were separately en route. There was so much deep, dichotomous emotion — almost too much to handle.

“Too much to handle” for me was all this on top of what had happened earlier in my week. Thus, thrust together in Connecticut — feeling simultaneously totally overwhelmed and profoundly grateful — I couldn’t help but share the more prevalent feelings permeating my heart, that which happened before we ever took off. The way those men and women then reacted to the news of my sister’s death was beautiful… the tears in the women’s eyes… the immediate hugs… the questions, the sincerity, and the genuine concern… They loved this then semi-stranger in a way that was meaningful, authentic, and true. Any differences did not matter. They became, as I like to say, my best friends for a day.

Several hours later, we finally made it to Manhattan. The time included multiple phone calls, prayers, selfies in the abandoned baggage claim area, a drink in the pub, and then a two/three hour, at-times-treacherous but fun-filled van ride before pulling into Times Square near 5:30 p.m. As we each exited the van, saying “see you tomorrow,” we hugged one another, unspeakably aware of all the emotion the day entailed. Those friends will always be uniquely, deeply dear to me — what a beautiful role they serve… my “best friends for a day.”

FYI: Show choir season started again yesterday. I can’t wait for the months ahead. I love those kids… and it’s precious to be with your friends.

Respectfully… with great joy…
AR

01/10/2016

creating news

[First, a disclosure notice for all of our non-sports enthusiastists: stay with me; this is far more than a sports post.]

Yesterday my hometown Cincinnati Bengals played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The Bengals have made the playoffs for the past five consecutive years. Only the Bengals, Patriots, and Packers have been to the last five postseasons.

In Cincinnati, leading up to this match up and all season long, the people have been pumped regarding postseason opportunities. We couldn’t wait! We’ve played well — albeit like every NFL team, losing a few games we wish we wouldn’t have or shouldn’t have — but it has been an excellent season of accomplishment. In Cincinnati, we’ve been talking about the growth of quarterback Andy Dalton, the development of backup A.J. McCarron, the stability of head coach Marvin Lewis, the talent of the running backs and wide receiver corps, and the strength of the entire team. It has been an excellent year. That’s in Cincinnati.

Outside Cincinnati, Dalton, McCarron & Co. are mentioned in the media — but such seems not the press’s primary focus. Outside Cincinnati, the media’s mantra is that there is no satisfaction in merely making the playoffs. Coming into yesterday, the Bengals had not won a game in the previous four years; in fact, they have not won a playoff game since January of 1991. That is the focus for those who do not live here.

Let me not suggest that those who live here are unaware of the record nor completely satisfied; my point (and this is where it becomes “far more than a sports post”) is that those who live here and those who don’t are focused on different things.

As recently acknowledged by the Intramuralist, we live in a contemporary news cycle that seems to create more news than it actually, factually reports. They assume angles and promote perspective that — while they may exist — may also not be the most accurate. They then promote their desired, chosen angle.

I am not suggesting that their angle is wrong.

I am suggesting, however, that their angle may not be of greatest significance to the people nearest the situation.

The media is creating the significance.

So my question is where else is the media promoting a perspective that is comparable to “outside Cincinnati”? … where are they creating news and promoting a perspective that does not resonate best with the people who are actually involved?…

… in regard to how they report on Donald Trump?…

… on Pres. Obama’s current leadership — negatively or positively?
… on climate change advances or consensus?
… on terrorism developments?
… on gun control lobbying and legislation?
… on Netflix’s “Murder for Hire” or Sen. Ted Cruz’s citizenship?

My point is that while news media may report fact, their presentation of the facts may emphasize angles that are out of touch with the people most involved. Media is choosing what angle to emphasize; we then are prone to respond to the emphasis — as opposed to the aspects of greatest significance to those who know the subject best.

Yesterday — granted, in a tight fought battle — yet for the fifth consecutive year, the Cincinnati Bengals lost in the first round of the postseason, this year to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-16. With all due respect to my favorite Steeler fans… daggone-it.

Looks like the media will have something, sadly, to still talk about.

Respectfully…
AR

01/05/201601/05/2016

mad

Over the weekend, a group of men took over the headquarters of a U.S. wildlife refuge near Burns, Oregon — a small city in the Eastern part of the Beaver State. The men are angry over the imminent imprisonment of two area ranchers who were found guilty of arson three years ago. The convicted men set a series of fires in 2001 and 2006, intending to protect their lands and cover up evidence of deer poaching, but one blaze went on to also burn 139 acres of federal property.

The ranchers were convicted by a federal jury in 2012. After a plea deal, one was sentenced to three months in jail — the other, one year. This past October, however, a U.S. district judge re-sentenced each man to five years in prison — even though their sentences had already been fully served. That judge — differing from the previous, presiding judge — felt the initial sentence was too lenient.

The men now occupying government property decided to protest. They are mad.

A couple clarifying, relevant notes: (1) the family of the convicted ranchers does not support how the protestors have behaved; (2) many of the protestors have come from other towns and other states; and (3) the convicted ranchers still turned themselves in to police custody.

I find myself pondering, no less, a Slate Magazine headline: “What in Tarnation Is Going on With All These Angry Ranchers?”

Let’s be clear…

They have a right to protest.
They do not have a right to federal land.

That is true of all the protestors we’ve seen in recent months…

People have a right to protest.
People have a right to voice their opinions.
People even have a right to rant.

They do not, however, have a right to destroy.
They do not have a right to threaten.
And they do not have a right to take someone else’s property for their own.

That’s the case regardless of the passion or protest — regardless of whom the protestors actually are… their agenda or any demographic category… be it in Burns, Baltimore, or some place of supposed higher learning, etc.

The protestors are mad. But their madness does not change what they have a right to do.

It does, however, sometimes change how we react. That’s the hard part.

We look at all these protestors — all these mad people — and while we may agree or not with the purpose for the protest, we sometimes allow our empathy for the person or cause to alter our acceptance of what’s right and wrong; we extend abundant grace to one but none to the other. We then too often find ourselves caught in the queasy quandary of believing it’s ok for some people to illegally occupy or destroy — but for others, it is not. That may say more about us than it does about them.

Yes, we can be a strange people… mad, if you will.

Respectfully…
AR

01/03/201601/03/2016

here’s to 2016

IMG_5493 (3) After a year of atypical, ardent ups and downs, the Intramuralist and company set out to add some new experiences to our annual, end of year celebrations. Hence, this midwestern family of five found ourselves in the middle of Times Square as the ball and confetti dropped, ringing in the festive start to 2016.

It was actually fascinating; we had never done that before — “a bucket lister,” said one enthusiastic son. And so with an approximate 999,995 others, we did our best packed sardines imitation — albeit mostly without the odor and oil.

On one hand, the precautions were eye-opening in a “huge-A-Ha,” unfortunate way. We noted the thousands of police officers positioned to protect us; they were on every corner… in the streets… on the subway. It is a sad reality that such joy-filled public celebrations must now be guarded against those who set out to only destroy; the evil and terror has pierced our innocence. No doubt none in our family will soon forget the few officers thus actually armed with AK-47s.

Yet herded as we were into this unprecedented environment on NYC’s jam-packed 7th Avenue, there was something more eye-opening and encouraging than all the precautions, all the protection, and all who attempted to zap the joy of New Year’s Eve…

Picture this… picture the most crowded place you can imagine — a stadium, a massive conference room… people everywhere… with little room to do anything more than raise your arms with smart phone in hand in order to capture the next snapshot, chat, whatever.

But unlike such typical scenarios, where a crowd of massive size would be aware of varied interests and individual wants, needs, opinions, emotions, etc., we were all focused on the same thing; we were all excited about the same thing; we were all looking in the same direction — eyes focused — waiting and wanting for the big ball to drop.

Without a doubt, there is a inherently beautiful meaning accompanying the dropping of that New Year’s ball…

Instead of focusing on our differences and maximizing what we don’t have in common — noting that in an actual, estimated crowd of one million people, countless significant differences exist — we shared something greater. Indeed, it was far greater… so great, in fact, our individual differences did not matter…

… different genders, ethnicities, ages, faiths, etc. They did not matter. They were also not watered-down. Our differences did not have to be ignored or removed in order for the celebration to ensue. We were each excited about a celebration greater than self.

I was especially struck by my youngest son, that incredible kid who has never been disabled by his special needs. Note that previous to our trip, we had (sadly) cautioned him in regard to taming some of his typically more overt, overly friendly interactions in Manhattan. But sensing there was something different about this crowd — and people actually were interacting and were friendly — Josh said “hello” to an elderly New Yorker. Encouraged by a brief acknowledgement, Josh continued, “Hey,” he paused. “Want to be friends?” The man was first taken by surprise; he then lit up with a huge grin, articulating a hearty, warm Italian response, and said, “You just made my whole night!” 

Our nights were each made — because our individual differences did not matter. We could simply, poignantly, “be friends.”

Oh, how I crave such… that we learn to accept and respect our differences — with no demanding-ness, no in-your-face-ness, no watering down nor need to force everyone else to “think like you/me”… no narcissism… no arrogance… no “mad-as-hell” rants or unattractive self-promotion…

It’s amazing what that big ball can do.

Here’s to 2016, friends… as we wrestle with our differences via respectful dialogue — always encouraging one another to grow.

Respectfully…
AR

12/31/201512/31/2015

washing away 2015

Greetings, friends. ‘Tis time to say goodbye to another year. And while some years feel better to say bye to, it is my prayer that each is a year in which we can say we have learned and we have grown.

Some of the learnings of the past year have been challenging. Some of our experiences have been ones we’d like to forget; and some of the ways people have chosen to discuss what’s happening around us have been awful and disrespectful — albeit not here. Thank you for being committed to dialoguing with respect. Solution cannot come otherwise.

Since this blog began over seven years ago, we made a commitment to delving into all issues and ideas respectfully — knowing full well we would not agree on all things nor on all angles. Our growth comes not in convincing all others to finally “think like me,” so-to-speak; our growth comes through active listening, humility, and the willingness to be sharpened by persons other than self.

And so as another year washes away, my desire is to encourage you and thank you for being committed to that growth. It is my true privilege to pen these posts, interacting with you.

Also — in a bit of a foreshadowing teaser — I’m eager to share with you how we spent New Year’s Eve in our family. Alas, such shall wait for another day. 🙂

Blessings, friends. Allow me to take this time to wish you and yours a new year of deep peace and great joy… a year that isn’t quickly wanted to be wished away… and a year in which we each continue to grow.

Respectfully… always…

12/22/201512/22/2015

sins of omission?

At this time of year, some strongly suggest that there exists some so-called “war on Christmas.” Honestly, the Intramuralist has never been too keen on that idea; I’m not keen on utilizing the “war on,” politically-expedient terminology in any arena — save that which is actual war.

I do believe, however, there exists a vocal minority which wants no acknowledgement of the holiday…

… like at the University of Tennessee, where students and staff were told this year they were not allowed to throw any Christmas parties… “Holiday parties and celebrations should celebrate and build upon workplace relationships and team morale with no emphasis on religion or culture. Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise.” The university’s chancellor later apologized, recognizing a possible infringement of free speech.

… like at W.R. Castle Elementary in Johnson County, Kentucky last week, where kids were performing “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” but the school superintendent cut Linus’ speech because it contained a biblical passage. Linus speaks of the babe lying in the manger, then saying, “And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.’ That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

I don’t see either above as a “war.” I see it as… wait. Allow me one more current observation, first quoting that beautiful, beloved song…

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

A song so meaningful to many, played so eloquently often, this time of year. Microsoft even featured the hymn in one of their first TV commercials this month, billing it as a “special message” from their employees. They sang the entire song, entitling it: “Microsoft spreads the spirit of the season on 5th Ave.” The only problem is that they omitted the “with God as our Father” section of the song… uh, God would be the spirit of the season. (“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”)

That’s it. I understand that not everyone is convinced of the first coming of Jesus Christ. I get that; it’s not my job to play the convictor in the heart of another.

What concerns me, however, is our society becoming increasingly uncomfortable in acknowledging God and his rightful position in our society and in our lives. Christmas, Hanukah, and multiple other holidays are key moments when we acknowledge who God is and how as mankind we relate to him. Some instead want a removal of all acknowledgement. That, I believe, is dangerous. When we can no longer acknowledge God’s existence — when we spend more effort and energy on God’s omission than on our humble acknowledgement — we have elevated ourselves to something we are not. We are also missing the meaning and spirit of the season.

December 25th is officially recognized as “Christmas” by the United States government; it’s one of only 10 American, federal holidays. Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

I respect both those who celebrate Christmas and those who do not — those who wish to honor Jesus and those who do not. But sad is the day when the existence of God is omitted from the celebration.

Respectfully…
AR

12/13/2015

at risk society

As I sort through what’s most current in our conversation, I keep coming back to all the shouting going on. Truth is, I’m not all that fond of it. Someone, somewhere, says something seemingly foolish, and we are tempted to do primarily three things in response:

Say something foolish back
Lambaste an entire people group
Attempt to squelch the speaker

I suppose, at times, we do all three.

With “the Donald” dominating the news flow, many have justified the disrespect right back… what an idiot… how stupid his supporters… he’s doing so much damage; someone please shut him up…

I get it. We want to stop the foolish speech. We don’t want to hear it anymore. We go so far to even question the embedded freedoms of the First Amendment. I thus sense an arrogance that disturbs me… in Trump… and in us.

It’s just that we are so good at thinking we are right. And when we think we’re right, we justify the screaming at others. We justify lambasting people groups. We justify not listening. And we subconsciously justify never being sharpened by different opinion. We have forgotten the good that can come from different opinion.

Let’s be clear: Trump’s idea of banning all Muslims conflicts with the religious freedoms also constitutionally embedded in this country. Trump’s perceived, specific, overly non-compassionate-toward-Muslims approach to dealing with the terrorists isn’t striking because it’s a popular idea; rather, it’s striking because it’s a direct contrast to Pres. Obama’s perceived, non-specific, overly compassionate-toward-Muslims approach. Trump tells us what new we need to do. Obama tells us what he’s already doing. (Ugh. Sigh. Fill in your exasperated uttering here.) My point is that neither approach seems effective. And yet, we jump on bandwagons, saying something foolish back, lambasting entire people groups, and eagerly wishing somebody would please shut up.

I tend to agree with a recent Washington Post editorial shared by a wise friend…

“…I am just as concerned about the destructive tone of the Trump campaign as I am about its demagogic content. How can you hear what someone else is saying, no matter how important, when you’re shouting? How can you bring people into a constructive search for solutions to our national problems when you do nothing but belittle them, and even suggest they are stupid, weak or corrupt?

A truly free society, one that gives its citizens the responsibility of participation, can function only to the extent there is civil discourse. We can engage in a mutual search for solutions only to the extent that we agree a problem exists. That can never happen unless we talk to each other, listen to each other and respect the fact that honorable people can reach different conclusions. When that sense of comity is missing, we are at risk.”

Friends, we are at risk. Most of us justify both the shouting and not listening to one another because we say “the other guy did it first.” It’s like which person chose not to listen first: then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, when he said his “single most important” goal was to stop Obama — or Obama, who pursued healthcare without working with a single Republican legislator? Tell me, truthfully: who’s the better listener and respecter of different opinion?

So I say it again: we are at risk. We are at risk because our leadership does not practice nor model civil, respectful discourse and solution. Do I blame Trump? No. While I’m no fan, I simply see him as the current most magnified manifestation of our lack of willingness to pursue a constructive, respectful search for solution.

I continue to wish for something better and more.

Respectfully…
AR