‘Commissioned II Love’ (C2L) has been expelled from Savannah State University, the transgression being the ancient Christian practice of foot washing. After attending a C2L retreat and participating in the practice a student then went forward organizing a petition to have the group shut down, claiming a “cult like mentality”. The University put C2L on suspension for “harassment” and “hazing,” and later expelled them from campus for their continued off campus activities.
The offended fraternity member compelled action by the University, in part if not entirely, with his “cult” proclamation. The stereotypical, almost always wrong, associations are sleep deprivation, controlled environment, (everyone must follow the program) and building emotional bonds in order gain influence. Common labels to promote the concept of brainwashing. More than fundamental Christian practice these tactics more closely resemble spring break, a ritual to initiate participants into a lifestyle contrary to their upbringing, being influenced by peers into life altering deeds otherwise not imagined.
Civilization is built on promoting communal experience that serves the greater good. Art, architecture and ceremony are deeply embedded with religious and ideological meaning to send a message to the larger community. Social taboos and norms guide our daily activities. Negatively, the con man personifies the abuse of such ties. We see manipulative or controlling figures in families and our communities. Discernment and discretion are, or were, attributes upheld to prevent this proverbial pulling of our strings, yet the moral vacuum of modern day confounds.
C2L is being smeared with the label but Christianity itself promoted the ‘cult’ image to the detriment of many. The silent suffering of the dehumanized victims of this Christian Witch-Hunt face discrimination in the work place, alienation from their families and allocation to second class citizens. All past associations and accomplishments denied recognition for they have all become objects for these mindless dupes to promote the deception of the cause. The most extreme of many examples being the Waco Massacre. It took almost two months under an unconstitutional siege, a mass slaying and the gross destruction of evidence to raise a low rumble in their defense and still no one has been held accountable.
The worldwide cultural upheavals of the 1960’s, hippie-freak communes and the flood of new religions and sects from home and abroad were met with waves of fear and hostility from an overwhelmed Christian community unable to respond appropriately on many levels. Exacerbated by the likes of Charles Manson and Jim Jones, numerous innocents were maligned and destroyed in the tsunami. Misguided Christians so quick to indict, having lost all touch, now embrace alternative lifestyles. Is it any wonder Christianity is under attack from government and media by an intolerant society easily offended and quick to accuse?
Undeniably this Christian group is entitled access to our courts to correct this wrong placed upon them and defend their rights as citizens, but it is not the answer to what ills of this nation. True Christian values well lived are. The washing of feet is a profound Christian practice but let us remember whose feet Jesus washed. As in this case they were those of His betrayers. None came, not even a lawyer, to stand by His side that evening or the following day. The only words in His defense being:
“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Have a Blessed Easter.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
Paths to Peace
The Pax Romana extended beyond the boundaries of a single society and was maintained by the first truly professional military to achieve a sustained peace, imbued with civil pride and duty. Highly developed training and regulation allowed it to maintain stability across vast territories with extreme efficiency of numbers. This peace through force has been highly beneficial to the development of civilization.
On the other hand, many have given their lives over to peace, rejecting violence of any kind. Buddha in ancient times and more notably Jesus Christ, who has had such a profound impact on the world today culminating in the influence of the United States, founded on unwavering faith in Christ. Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and others have set the example of fighting injustice and living for the sake of others. Their pioneering idealism elevated man's moral understandings, creating a more just and compassionate world for everyone.
Drastic change in lifestyle, devotion to severe discipline and most importantly the willingness to give up ones life for another are common in both vocations. Politics is their meeting ground. It was the military leadership and devout faith of George Washington that brought victory in the Revolution and contributed to the creation of the most advanced political system in the world. It was the idealism and willingness to go to war that lead Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War to bring an end to slavery, cleansing the sins of the nation. Franklin D. Roosevelt preserved freedom and democracy from the powers of dictatorial fascism that sought world dominion in World War II. Could you imagine the alternatives?
And it is the same in Iraq. It was perhaps not even five seconds on the evening news and quickly passed through the news cycle without comment last week. Fourteen Police were rounded up and executed by insurgents for a supposed crime committed by three other officers, but more significant, embedded in the story not even gaining its own headline, was the report of two families being gunned down for attending Sunni-Shiites reconciliation events organized by the United States. In reality many Imams and political figures have been taking stands for peace and speaking out against terrorism often with fatal consequences.
Yet the peaceniks of the United States, not able to recognize the pure evil embodied in the insurgency, give no recognition to the military, religious or political peacemakers of our age giving their lives in Iraq.
Should we expect otherwise? Now holding prominence in the United States is the baby boom generation that, contrary to any past religious discipline, embraced drugs and free sex. They spat on our soldiers returning from Vietnam and closed their eyes to the millions who died because of the retreat they forced. It is a generation, whose most vocal representatives, rejected the values of their parents and now, obviously not trusting the upcoming generations, seek to dictate what we drive, eat and do in our own homes (I’m speaking of smoking not other acts that have always been illegal).
As our politicians recognize those who marched and suffered in the civil rights movement of the 60’s, facing off with the evils of segregation, shouldn't we recognize those standing and giving their lives for freedom in Iraq? The Imams, the families of influence, political leaders and the common man of Iraq are giving their lives daily for peace, to end religious and ethnic intolerance. Where are the voices in the United States speaking out against evil and injustice being inflicted against the Iraqi people? Where are those willing to lock arm and arm, Muslim, Christian and Jew together with representatives of nations from around the world, to march the streets of the insurgency for peace? Truly such a march would be done in the very face of death and those in participation deserving of admiration. It is a march our Soldiers and Marines make everyday.
On the other hand, many have given their lives over to peace, rejecting violence of any kind. Buddha in ancient times and more notably Jesus Christ, who has had such a profound impact on the world today culminating in the influence of the United States, founded on unwavering faith in Christ. Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and others have set the example of fighting injustice and living for the sake of others. Their pioneering idealism elevated man's moral understandings, creating a more just and compassionate world for everyone.
Drastic change in lifestyle, devotion to severe discipline and most importantly the willingness to give up ones life for another are common in both vocations. Politics is their meeting ground. It was the military leadership and devout faith of George Washington that brought victory in the Revolution and contributed to the creation of the most advanced political system in the world. It was the idealism and willingness to go to war that lead Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War to bring an end to slavery, cleansing the sins of the nation. Franklin D. Roosevelt preserved freedom and democracy from the powers of dictatorial fascism that sought world dominion in World War II. Could you imagine the alternatives?
And it is the same in Iraq. It was perhaps not even five seconds on the evening news and quickly passed through the news cycle without comment last week. Fourteen Police were rounded up and executed by insurgents for a supposed crime committed by three other officers, but more significant, embedded in the story not even gaining its own headline, was the report of two families being gunned down for attending Sunni-Shiites reconciliation events organized by the United States. In reality many Imams and political figures have been taking stands for peace and speaking out against terrorism often with fatal consequences.
Yet the peaceniks of the United States, not able to recognize the pure evil embodied in the insurgency, give no recognition to the military, religious or political peacemakers of our age giving their lives in Iraq.
Should we expect otherwise? Now holding prominence in the United States is the baby boom generation that, contrary to any past religious discipline, embraced drugs and free sex. They spat on our soldiers returning from Vietnam and closed their eyes to the millions who died because of the retreat they forced. It is a generation, whose most vocal representatives, rejected the values of their parents and now, obviously not trusting the upcoming generations, seek to dictate what we drive, eat and do in our own homes (I’m speaking of smoking not other acts that have always been illegal).
As our politicians recognize those who marched and suffered in the civil rights movement of the 60’s, facing off with the evils of segregation, shouldn't we recognize those standing and giving their lives for freedom in Iraq? The Imams, the families of influence, political leaders and the common man of Iraq are giving their lives daily for peace, to end religious and ethnic intolerance. Where are the voices in the United States speaking out against evil and injustice being inflicted against the Iraqi people? Where are those willing to lock arm and arm, Muslim, Christian and Jew together with representatives of nations from around the world, to march the streets of the insurgency for peace? Truly such a march would be done in the very face of death and those in participation deserving of admiration. It is a march our Soldiers and Marines make everyday.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Quick, Someone Call Nanny 911
"These parents are just not on the same page." (Nanny Deb is my favorite) As Nancy Pelosi's House of Representatives has passed a resolution rejecting President Bush's plan for Iraq one must ask how this could possibly be productive as we attempt to bring stability not only to Iraq, but the greater global community? As children act out and behave badly when the parents contradict and undermine each others authority, so to the world when our President given the authority by the Constitution of Commander and Chief and sole decision maker in foreign policy is continually undermined by the Congress.
The baby boomer generation to which we owe much for our political quagmire built its reputation on its unabashed rejection of the society of their parents and its underlying structure. To much of that generation 'all you need is love' encapsulates their lives. But when Nanny Deb steps into the picture and sets up the ground rules, much more than the ability to express the inherent love in the family is being established. What she is providing is a structure in which the children can feel secure, boundaries in relationships that they could not understand otherwise and concepts of right and wrong by which to guide their actions. (Some might call that good and evil) To the baby boomers and their political manifestations on the left these realities are non existent including concepts of discipline, punishment or even sin. They idealize abortion for why would you want to bring an unwanted, unloved, child into the world, and embrace homosexuality and their supposed rights to marry and raise children for why would you deny anyone the opportunity to love. Yes, many on the left raised sound families that contained such structure and discipline, but try to get them to admit it and your in for an ear full.
Many of those we call our enemy have been raised in homes where women are objectified and the infidel, a child of the same God in my book, considered unworthy of life or idolize those who have been. These unruly children need to be given some structured discipline to guide them in their relations with the global community and we, being the most powerful nation of the world, have a responsibility to provide it and our President is the only one with the authority to decide how.
The fledgling Iraqi government itself needs to know it has consistent support to allow it to act with confidence and decisiveness. Our Middle East Christian communities and the Muslim community itself, of whom many complain that they don't speak out against terrorism, need the stability that the policy of President Bush has the potential of providing. Such sermons against terrorism carry great risk to the presenter's personal well being and family, and with the calls for withdrawal those who would protect them and their government could soon be no more.
As reports of captured communique of insurgent collapse become old news and we hear of all its leadership fleeing to Iran in the wake of the troop surge, why do they continue to fight? The Middle East could be transformed by one united voice from the United States. As they say, the family is the foundation of civilization and its time to practice what we've learned there.
The baby boomer generation to which we owe much for our political quagmire built its reputation on its unabashed rejection of the society of their parents and its underlying structure. To much of that generation 'all you need is love' encapsulates their lives. But when Nanny Deb steps into the picture and sets up the ground rules, much more than the ability to express the inherent love in the family is being established. What she is providing is a structure in which the children can feel secure, boundaries in relationships that they could not understand otherwise and concepts of right and wrong by which to guide their actions. (Some might call that good and evil) To the baby boomers and their political manifestations on the left these realities are non existent including concepts of discipline, punishment or even sin. They idealize abortion for why would you want to bring an unwanted, unloved, child into the world, and embrace homosexuality and their supposed rights to marry and raise children for why would you deny anyone the opportunity to love. Yes, many on the left raised sound families that contained such structure and discipline, but try to get them to admit it and your in for an ear full.
Many of those we call our enemy have been raised in homes where women are objectified and the infidel, a child of the same God in my book, considered unworthy of life or idolize those who have been. These unruly children need to be given some structured discipline to guide them in their relations with the global community and we, being the most powerful nation of the world, have a responsibility to provide it and our President is the only one with the authority to decide how.
The fledgling Iraqi government itself needs to know it has consistent support to allow it to act with confidence and decisiveness. Our Middle East Christian communities and the Muslim community itself, of whom many complain that they don't speak out against terrorism, need the stability that the policy of President Bush has the potential of providing. Such sermons against terrorism carry great risk to the presenter's personal well being and family, and with the calls for withdrawal those who would protect them and their government could soon be no more.
As reports of captured communique of insurgent collapse become old news and we hear of all its leadership fleeing to Iran in the wake of the troop surge, why do they continue to fight? The Middle East could be transformed by one united voice from the United States. As they say, the family is the foundation of civilization and its time to practice what we've learned there.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Education Offensives, or, Evil Is As Evil Does
The Taliban in Afghanistan has launched a new 'education offensive'. After destroying and terrorizing schools established by the new government, causing most parents to keep their children at home, the Taliban will open up ten new madrassas, Islamic seminaries for boys, in southern Afghanistan. Educating a new generation of jihadists by grabbing the minds of the youth is not a new tactic. The former communist block used the same tactics, still strongly entrenched in North Korea, not only to indoctrinate the youth from an early age but have them report on the activities of their parents.
Looking to North Korean textbooks as an example, urging the youth to "become the dictator's soldier", we can only imagine the content of Taliban sponsored textbooks. But this offensive to capture the hearts of the youth is alive and well in the United States itself. The Gay Straight Alliance and other homosexual agenda oriented groups are putting out their own literature targeting our young people from kindergarten and beyond. They intimidate administrations and students using the judicial system to force their agenda upon thousands of public schools across the country. Recruiting and presentations are being done without parental notification.
Teachers Unions and administrations themselves are becoming more agenda oriented openly supporting specific candidates. Children's work and speech are censored to support political agendas and teachers unions defiantly stand against the rights of parents to make education choices by opposing vouchers and alternative schooling. Hotly debate issues such as global warming are promoted Ala "An Inconvenient Truth" as well as a pro homosexual view only policy. Lawsuits are pursued against any opposition to homosexuality and any reference to Christianity condemned.
The common denominator in all these situations is the undermining of parental authority. "Did God say 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" Gen. 3:1. And so it began as God, our first or ultimate parent, became the first victim of character assassination. The Qur'an reveals a deeper characteristic, telling that when God asked Iblis why he did not bow down before Adam per His command "He said, 'I am better than he;...' Then Satan began to whisper suggestions to them..." Qur'an 7.11-27. Mankind has fought hard to build standards of goodness that have brought blessing and prosperity, namely through religion. Organizations such as Focus on the Family take a prominent position in the Christian faith to support family structure and values. Pope Benedict XVI has put out his Message for the World Day of Social Communications, May 20th, titled "Children and the Media; A Challenge for Education", upholding the authority of parents. The United States is one of the only nations in the world where home grown Muslims are not considered a threat and in fact support strong family structures, particularly in our black communities, that contribute to society.
These standards and values are ingrained into our law and social structure. The Founding Fathers of this great nation instilled the highest ideals of honoring God and our fellow man into documents such as the "Declaration of Independence" and "The Constitution of the United States". The title itself, 'Founding Fathers', advances the position of something to be revered and upheld. Yet revisionist history devitalizes all they held dear.
To live a good life we need to shun evil and live a life that benefits others. This alone demands utmost effort and a commitment to higher ideals that does not come easily. In the same way supporting the family requires constant vigilance and dedication to the values it embodies. The family is God's design in which we grow to reach the full potential He has envisioned for each of us as our parent. There is no mystery to the origins of those who would seek to subvert its sovereignty.
Looking to North Korean textbooks as an example, urging the youth to "become the dictator's soldier", we can only imagine the content of Taliban sponsored textbooks. But this offensive to capture the hearts of the youth is alive and well in the United States itself. The Gay Straight Alliance and other homosexual agenda oriented groups are putting out their own literature targeting our young people from kindergarten and beyond. They intimidate administrations and students using the judicial system to force their agenda upon thousands of public schools across the country. Recruiting and presentations are being done without parental notification.
Teachers Unions and administrations themselves are becoming more agenda oriented openly supporting specific candidates. Children's work and speech are censored to support political agendas and teachers unions defiantly stand against the rights of parents to make education choices by opposing vouchers and alternative schooling. Hotly debate issues such as global warming are promoted Ala "An Inconvenient Truth" as well as a pro homosexual view only policy. Lawsuits are pursued against any opposition to homosexuality and any reference to Christianity condemned.
The common denominator in all these situations is the undermining of parental authority. "Did God say 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" Gen. 3:1. And so it began as God, our first or ultimate parent, became the first victim of character assassination. The Qur'an reveals a deeper characteristic, telling that when God asked Iblis why he did not bow down before Adam per His command "He said, 'I am better than he;...' Then Satan began to whisper suggestions to them..." Qur'an 7.11-27. Mankind has fought hard to build standards of goodness that have brought blessing and prosperity, namely through religion. Organizations such as Focus on the Family take a prominent position in the Christian faith to support family structure and values. Pope Benedict XVI has put out his Message for the World Day of Social Communications, May 20th, titled "Children and the Media; A Challenge for Education", upholding the authority of parents. The United States is one of the only nations in the world where home grown Muslims are not considered a threat and in fact support strong family structures, particularly in our black communities, that contribute to society.
These standards and values are ingrained into our law and social structure. The Founding Fathers of this great nation instilled the highest ideals of honoring God and our fellow man into documents such as the "Declaration of Independence" and "The Constitution of the United States". The title itself, 'Founding Fathers', advances the position of something to be revered and upheld. Yet revisionist history devitalizes all they held dear.
To live a good life we need to shun evil and live a life that benefits others. This alone demands utmost effort and a commitment to higher ideals that does not come easily. In the same way supporting the family requires constant vigilance and dedication to the values it embodies. The family is God's design in which we grow to reach the full potential He has envisioned for each of us as our parent. There is no mystery to the origins of those who would seek to subvert its sovereignty.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
All Men Are Endowed
By Their Creator...
I felt a lingering sadness over the hanging of Saddam Hussein at the end of last year. It is not difficult to understand the sentence, and it was based on only a fraction of the actions he committed against humanity. The Wall Street Journal put forth a reasoned argument for execution and others rightfully pointed out that any nation responsible for his detention would become a target of terrorism. Ultimately the people of Iraq through their justice system decided his fate, and allows us all to rest easier that justice was done. Common practice dictates that those who violate the rights of others have their own rights taken away.
The Popes opposition to the execution recognizes a higher reality, that our founding fathers themselves submitted to, that human rights are given by God to all men and are inalienable. If we truly practice our belief in God can we ever justify the killing of others? The taking of an other's life is in a sense to claim an authority equal to that of God and carries an immense responsibility. It demands that those who were victimized accept the sentence as recompense for the violations against them and permit the loved ones of the accused to grieve. It demands that the loved ones of the accused accept that grave sins had been committed and not hold a grievance against others for the execution. Saddam's letter stated a realization that goodness exists on the side of his enemy. It is this ability to see beyond the man-made barriers we build between ourselves that enables us to recognize the inherent equality bestowed upon all men by God as our founding fathers did.
Islam had another chance to show its merits before the world, if not by showing clemency for Saddam, then by carrying out the execution with dignity followed by an appropriate response by all. The ensuing illicit execution video was not only a poor reflection on Islam in the Middle East but on all those who took delight in its images. The timely investigation and arrests of the perpetrators spoke well of Iraq's fledgling democracy.
I felt a lingering sadness over the hanging of Saddam Hussein at the end of last year. It is not difficult to understand the sentence, and it was based on only a fraction of the actions he committed against humanity. The Wall Street Journal put forth a reasoned argument for execution and others rightfully pointed out that any nation responsible for his detention would become a target of terrorism. Ultimately the people of Iraq through their justice system decided his fate, and allows us all to rest easier that justice was done. Common practice dictates that those who violate the rights of others have their own rights taken away.
The Popes opposition to the execution recognizes a higher reality, that our founding fathers themselves submitted to, that human rights are given by God to all men and are inalienable. If we truly practice our belief in God can we ever justify the killing of others? The taking of an other's life is in a sense to claim an authority equal to that of God and carries an immense responsibility. It demands that those who were victimized accept the sentence as recompense for the violations against them and permit the loved ones of the accused to grieve. It demands that the loved ones of the accused accept that grave sins had been committed and not hold a grievance against others for the execution. Saddam's letter stated a realization that goodness exists on the side of his enemy. It is this ability to see beyond the man-made barriers we build between ourselves that enables us to recognize the inherent equality bestowed upon all men by God as our founding fathers did.
Islam had another chance to show its merits before the world, if not by showing clemency for Saddam, then by carrying out the execution with dignity followed by an appropriate response by all. The ensuing illicit execution video was not only a poor reflection on Islam in the Middle East but on all those who took delight in its images. The timely investigation and arrests of the perpetrators spoke well of Iraq's fledgling democracy.
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