Wednesday, April 26, 2006

What Would Jesus Do?

This is a short anti-war film of stills about children in war that is difficult to watch. You should watch it. I can't help but think about the recent declaration by religious leaders (inc. Card. O'Malley of Boston) about their all-out effort to pass a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Thanks also to Rep. Frist & Santorum who are backing them.

"The Catholic bishops and many of the other religious leaders involved have pledged to distribute postcards for their congregants to send to their senators urging support for the amendment. The Knights of Columbus is distributing 10 million postcards to Catholic churches."

We are fighting a war we can't win without major teactical changes (I'm waiting to hear the words "peace with honor"), are lacking universal healthcare coverage, have workers with no retirements, a public transit system that is almost non-existent, climate warming, pollution, lack of affordable higher education, and affordable housing. Why aren't these good, religious people advocating for decent wages, top notch public schools, clean air & water, and safe working conditions? Yet for this they will mobilize their membership. It seems as if they believe in the separation of Church & State, but only if they can control both.

This is all part of a larger (& successful) economic, religious, & political strategy. You can no longer seperate theology & ideology. Compromise, criticism, and dissent (which are the basis for our representative democracy) are damned. Disagreeing voices are termed immoral. America seemingly stands by itself as being "graced by God."

So watch the movie & remember the Beatitudes voiced by Jesus. We know what Jesus has said. The question is, what will we, the people say not only to ourselves but to each other? And more importantly, what will we do?

UPDATE: This was done by a 15 yr. old girl who has received mostly positive feedback, but not all. See Kamreka for more info.

No comments: