From the Lexington Herald-Leader Monday, Dec. 26, 2005 http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/13478743.htm
A wondrous, wintry day in Woodland Park was a welcome break from not only the typical holiday buzz, but also from controversies so out of character for this season of peace and goodwill.
I mused on the ancient oaks and elms, their bare brown branches stretching across the cold, gray-streaked skies. These trees have presided over a past that created our present. And so, I wondered, what kind of Kentucky our majestic friends will find on a future Christmas morning.
For we are most certainly at the proverbial crossroads and the decisions we make now will create a Kentucky worthy of its citizens and character or rob us of the greatness within our grasp.
The most critical obstacle to our ascension is the rush to adopt casino gambling as the answer to our problems, when it will in fact worsen them. Will Kentuckians have the wisdom and strength of character to look beyond the siren call of false profits? Will we identify the wolf in Santa's suit promising money for education and health care if we will only strike this Faustian bargain?
Those most loudly touting casinos ask why we should allow tax dollars to leave the state. Yet that is the wrong question at the wrong time in Kentucky's history. The proper question is not how many tax dollars Indiana gets from Kentucky gamblers, just as it is not how many vacation dollars Florida gets from Kentucky tourists. Rather it is how we best and most fairly raise sufficient revenues for our needs and then live within whatever budget they provide.
Electronic slots are unlike any other form of gambling. As John Warren Kindt of the University of Illinois says, it is the crack cocaine of gambling. It is lickety-split action with manipulated payoffs that hook gamblers, 5 percent of whom become addicts. Many more become problem gamblers.
All academic research, unbiased and untainted by pro-gambling propaganda, conclusively shows that slots are an economic loser. That is, the state will lose more money than it takes in from taxes. Indiana, for example, has approved ever more gambling and still is $1 billion in debt.
Even worse, this economic loss does not take into account the ruined lives, the inconsistent lessons to our youth and the sacrificing of our pioneer tradition of leadership at the altar of false hope and short-term thinking that casinos represent.
The nation underwent a similar gambling scourge in the late 1800s. It got so bad that Kentucky and other states banned gambling and even changed their constitutions to prevent future generations from falling into the downward spiral of economic and societal ruin.
An alternative vision would build on the inherent goodness of Kentuckians, instead of preying on them. We could be the state that welcomes business and industry, as an electronic-gambling-free zone, unlike our neighbors. This is a niche where we win big.
Our very name, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, suggests the winning path. We must think positively and encourage the helping hand of friendship in every field, whether it is volunteer programs for reading instruction, worker training or financial advice. We should teach good citizenship to our young, strengthen opportunities for families and lend a hand to those left behind.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come tells us Kentucky still has time. All we need do is walk the sure-footed path consistent with our highest values. Then Woodland's stately trees will witness a Kentucky that is indeed all happy, merry and bright.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Jesus and Politics
It’s always tricky relating Jesus to contemporary politics, but it is especially so during this time of peace and goodwill. Yet if we are to glean the true essence of Jesus and all of what he so passionately wanted to teach us we must not cower of doing so when an occasion presents itself.
The recent U.S. Congressional budget vote is just such an opportunity. The House has once again voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest taxpayers, while slashing roughly 45 BILLION dollars in social welfare programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, student loans and child-support enforcement.
Jesus’ exhortations to do precisely the opposite are so numerous they need no citation, yet I dare say ALL those who vote against the poorest of us while rewarding the richest are among the most vocal and visible Jesus cheerleaders.
“WAIT!” they typically say, “our actions are not anti-Jesus because they promote personal responsibility and individual freedom from oppressive government.” They will add that their personal charity is sufficient to fulfill Jesus’ commands. Many would further intimate that government welfare is socialism and makes us like “godless” communist states.
First, if anyone doubts Jesus’ desire that we apply his principles even in—ESPECIALLY within—our political process they should refer to ACTS 4: 31-35*. Here you will find no better definition of collective action, of, um…er…wow the truth is sometimes so hard to say…of “socialism.”
In no way am I saying we must conform our free market capitalistic system to this arrangement. And perhaps it is because I derive my goodies from it that I feign ignorance about Jesus’ will in this regard.
But it is beyond any reasonable argument that even should Jesus not require us scrap our system he would certainly want us to do as much as possible to achieve the social EFFECTS of a the collective arrangement described in Acts. That is, Jesus would want us to use our political governing systemto do all we can to ameliorate human suffering and “promote the GENERAL WELFARE” as our own Constitution mandates.
Now of course our very system accomplishes much of this. Free markets encourage the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels industry that in turns provides job and creates progress. And it is to the gods of this private initiative that today’s conservatives so bow, in undying loyalty to “trickle down” theory. Yet we know from our history, from our current situation, that trickle down does not work: there still remains much human want and need right here in our own country.
Admittedly politics is about finding the right balance between fostering free market capitalism and checking its abuses and it is often an area very shaded in gray. However, this last Congressional budget vote is way beyond that area.
Reducing aid to our most vulnerable citizens while adding still more to the richest is bad enough. That they did so during this celebratory season of Jesus’ birth is truly a pity.
And Jesus wept.
*ACTS 4:31-36
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
The recent U.S. Congressional budget vote is just such an opportunity. The House has once again voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest taxpayers, while slashing roughly 45 BILLION dollars in social welfare programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, student loans and child-support enforcement.
Jesus’ exhortations to do precisely the opposite are so numerous they need no citation, yet I dare say ALL those who vote against the poorest of us while rewarding the richest are among the most vocal and visible Jesus cheerleaders.
“WAIT!” they typically say, “our actions are not anti-Jesus because they promote personal responsibility and individual freedom from oppressive government.” They will add that their personal charity is sufficient to fulfill Jesus’ commands. Many would further intimate that government welfare is socialism and makes us like “godless” communist states.
First, if anyone doubts Jesus’ desire that we apply his principles even in—ESPECIALLY within—our political process they should refer to ACTS 4: 31-35*. Here you will find no better definition of collective action, of, um…er…wow the truth is sometimes so hard to say…of “socialism.”
In no way am I saying we must conform our free market capitalistic system to this arrangement. And perhaps it is because I derive my goodies from it that I feign ignorance about Jesus’ will in this regard.
But it is beyond any reasonable argument that even should Jesus not require us scrap our system he would certainly want us to do as much as possible to achieve the social EFFECTS of a the collective arrangement described in Acts. That is, Jesus would want us to use our political governing systemto do all we can to ameliorate human suffering and “promote the GENERAL WELFARE” as our own Constitution mandates.
Now of course our very system accomplishes much of this. Free markets encourage the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels industry that in turns provides job and creates progress. And it is to the gods of this private initiative that today’s conservatives so bow, in undying loyalty to “trickle down” theory. Yet we know from our history, from our current situation, that trickle down does not work: there still remains much human want and need right here in our own country.
Admittedly politics is about finding the right balance between fostering free market capitalism and checking its abuses and it is often an area very shaded in gray. However, this last Congressional budget vote is way beyond that area.
Reducing aid to our most vulnerable citizens while adding still more to the richest is bad enough. That they did so during this celebratory season of Jesus’ birth is truly a pity.
And Jesus wept.
*ACTS 4:31-36
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Jesus Beyond Mere Christianity
So begins a serendipitous series on Jesus, during the celebratory season of his birth.
While not “born again” by what I perceive many would consider that term to mean, Jesus has forever been at the center of my consciousness. From the Jesus of my little childhood church nestled in those mystical mountains of Eastern Kentucky, to the Jesus of the Bedside Storybooks, the ones with the colored illustrations showing Jesus with the flowing brown locks and blazingly blue eyes. He was “the little lord Jesus, who laid down his sweet head”…the Jesus who “loved the little children, red and yellow, black and white, (because) all are precious in His sight.” Yes, that Jesus was all good and all loving.
When the death of my little 3-year-old brother, Willie, crushed my poor parents, it was Jesus who was our rock and sanctuary. I recall one Sunday, me and mom going to a different mountain church one Sunday—just me and her—and I looked up at her beautiful, but now so forlorn face and saw a tear streak down from her left eye.
At that precise moment I knew what faith was. All the years, all the books and sermons and televangelists and little courses in this or that were all summed up in that one tear on mom’s otherwise serene face. It was a tear of unfathomable grief, but of immeasurable faith as well. We needed no words on our way back home as that tear spoke volumes about mom’s total trust in and total reliance on God.
The next fall, when I was 6, we moved to Lexington and my idyllic Mayberry mountain childhood was over. Church shopping, we started at the Greek Orthodox, as all my grandparents were Orthodox in the “old country” (Syria and Lebanon). But the services were in Greek and lasted about three hours! I remember following dad as he got up and walked around, in out and around the church, until the closing prayer.
We eventually settled on Good Shepard Episcopal Church, and it was in and through this church that God has revealed and is revealing still the nature of His most enlightened of sons, Jesus. This ideal nature is at its core familiar to ALL humanity for it is the essence of humanity’s highest nature. Yet, the traditions of MAN have obscured it, layering manmade conventions and supposed truths on top of the Jesus’ true nature.
Too often these dogmas contradict Jesus, making him a flashpoint for division and conflict instead of unity and harmony. Subsequent writings will explore this in more detail, but just for today consider Christmas and how the whole world, Christians and non-Christians alike, celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ birth.
My Jewish vendor-friend was on his way to buy a “secret Santa” gift for an office party. Another was going to visit his mother for “Christmas.” He explained their observance similarly to many non-Christians with whom I have spoken: they celebrate Christmas as a time of HOPE AND HAPPINESS and Jesus as that message’s prime author.
They, like me, do not consider Jesus as God, for as even Jesus himself said, there is only one God, and he is father of us all. But Jesus said that God sent Jesus as our Rabbi, our teacher, to show us a higher truth and a higher way to live that was truly revolutionary for his times.
Fact is, it gives me great hope to see my spiritual brethren, be they Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, agnostic or not who celebrate the season for they grasp the essential core of what Jesus was all about and why this is imminently worthy of our celebration and especially of our emulation.
Indeed, if Jesus would even want a celebration in his name, this recognition of hope, happiness and a desire to live life as he taught—did he sacrifice his very life to so teach—would be his ideal reason.
Merry Happy Holly Jolly to you all!
Rfd 12/8/05
While not “born again” by what I perceive many would consider that term to mean, Jesus has forever been at the center of my consciousness. From the Jesus of my little childhood church nestled in those mystical mountains of Eastern Kentucky, to the Jesus of the Bedside Storybooks, the ones with the colored illustrations showing Jesus with the flowing brown locks and blazingly blue eyes. He was “the little lord Jesus, who laid down his sweet head”…the Jesus who “loved the little children, red and yellow, black and white, (because) all are precious in His sight.” Yes, that Jesus was all good and all loving.
When the death of my little 3-year-old brother, Willie, crushed my poor parents, it was Jesus who was our rock and sanctuary. I recall one Sunday, me and mom going to a different mountain church one Sunday—just me and her—and I looked up at her beautiful, but now so forlorn face and saw a tear streak down from her left eye.
At that precise moment I knew what faith was. All the years, all the books and sermons and televangelists and little courses in this or that were all summed up in that one tear on mom’s otherwise serene face. It was a tear of unfathomable grief, but of immeasurable faith as well. We needed no words on our way back home as that tear spoke volumes about mom’s total trust in and total reliance on God.
The next fall, when I was 6, we moved to Lexington and my idyllic Mayberry mountain childhood was over. Church shopping, we started at the Greek Orthodox, as all my grandparents were Orthodox in the “old country” (Syria and Lebanon). But the services were in Greek and lasted about three hours! I remember following dad as he got up and walked around, in out and around the church, until the closing prayer.
We eventually settled on Good Shepard Episcopal Church, and it was in and through this church that God has revealed and is revealing still the nature of His most enlightened of sons, Jesus. This ideal nature is at its core familiar to ALL humanity for it is the essence of humanity’s highest nature. Yet, the traditions of MAN have obscured it, layering manmade conventions and supposed truths on top of the Jesus’ true nature.
Too often these dogmas contradict Jesus, making him a flashpoint for division and conflict instead of unity and harmony. Subsequent writings will explore this in more detail, but just for today consider Christmas and how the whole world, Christians and non-Christians alike, celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ birth.
My Jewish vendor-friend was on his way to buy a “secret Santa” gift for an office party. Another was going to visit his mother for “Christmas.” He explained their observance similarly to many non-Christians with whom I have spoken: they celebrate Christmas as a time of HOPE AND HAPPINESS and Jesus as that message’s prime author.
They, like me, do not consider Jesus as God, for as even Jesus himself said, there is only one God, and he is father of us all. But Jesus said that God sent Jesus as our Rabbi, our teacher, to show us a higher truth and a higher way to live that was truly revolutionary for his times.
Fact is, it gives me great hope to see my spiritual brethren, be they Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, agnostic or not who celebrate the season for they grasp the essential core of what Jesus was all about and why this is imminently worthy of our celebration and especially of our emulation.
Indeed, if Jesus would even want a celebration in his name, this recognition of hope, happiness and a desire to live life as he taught—did he sacrifice his very life to so teach—would be his ideal reason.
Merry Happy Holly Jolly to you all!
Rfd 12/8/05
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)