Weird Experience with Grandaughter!

I needed to take Nora Anne for a walk, i.e., I walk and she looks! I decided to take a longer route to her mother's workplace, thinking that maybe it would take long enough so that we could all walk home together. The walk was special for an unusual reason.

We walked through the grounds of St. John's Seminary!

It was quite weird to walk along the same pathways traverses years and years ago repeatedly with a total different vision of life. Discussing topics considered very insular by nature, i.e., most could care less about what we considered important, I now was thinking of the life taken, rather than the life planned.

It would have been inconceivable then that I would ever have made such major changes in my life. My commitment was strong and tested, i.e., eight years of such a restricted life-style should be some measure of dedication. However, in less time required for preparing for the priesthood, I left it without too much consternation (admittedly, there was some angst).

At the time, moving forward in another direction was clearly necessary. However, what the future would entail was very unclear.

And now, in this walk through my past, I was pushing along one of my four grandchildren who was perfectly content with her life as it is. I could not help but be grateful to the person who walked along with me all these many years or the children who have grown into wonderful adults with their chosen loved ones.

Such a walk brings the various threads of life together in such a beautiful tapestry.

"Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet" by Jeffrey Sachs

For those who read the author’s “End of Poverty”, this book is a further development of his efforts to mobilize people and nations to address the major issues impacting our world.

He identifies six major trends: (1) process of sustained economic growth has reached most of the world, (2) world’s population will continue to increase, (3) rise in income will be greatest in Asia, (4) people are living more in urban areas, (5) impact of human activity on the environment is significant, (6) gap between the richest and poorest is widening.

His approach towards addressing the major issues is based on the observation that none of the problems are peculiar to nation-states nor are they amenable to solution by nation-states. Without international cooperation, there is no possible mechanism to address the problems effecting our environment, population growth, and poverty.

He recognizes the need of universities, NGOs, governments, and private philanthropists to use their special talents in concert with others to address the problems. Resources are important and represent a small fraction of any nation-state (goal of 0.7% of GNP).

He has realistic methods to address the problems but recognizes that the United States government is itself a major problem. Our immense military and the use of its forces in places where it is counterproductive misdirect financial resources that could better be used to ameliorate real dilemmas in other parts of the world, not only out of a spirit of generosity but also self-interest in furthering our security and that of the world. He cites the following as proof of what our policies have achieved: “one day’s Pentagon spending would provide enough funds to ensure antimalarial bed net protection for every sleeping site in Africa for five years”.

To facilitate global cooperation, he recognizes that the United States has to radically change its foreign policies from one of arrogance to one of many working together.
It has to change its policies regarding population control, i.e., support contraception, increase its financial contributions, and work with other nations who initiate agreements designed to improve the situation.

As in his prior book, nations trapped in poverty require special attention. They have to be given the agricultural tools to become not only self-sustaining but make a profit to enable them to develop to a higher level, e.g., provide fertilizer.

Finally, he notes the importance of governmental support for infrastructure in order for any nation to develop its economy. Governmental resources are often supplemented by private resources, e.g., Gates, Rockefeller. Without such support, all the entrepreneurial skills of the peoples will fail.

Aggravation: Bush Style!

At least the days for Bush in the White House are limited! Amazed as I am that I am still more or less sane after reading some of his remarks, I wonder why I even pay any attention to what he does or says. His recent speech in Egypt nearly did me in! The man has gall to speak to others, presumably with the knowledge that what he is saying is filled with dishonesty, if not lies. I say “presumably” because I am not sure what passes through the synapses of his brain!

The speech was filled with statements that tested my resilience. Could I continue to care given the devastation this man has caused?

Bush referenced our ideals of liberty and justice as beginning a “revolution” that reached far beyond our borders. He referenced Chile, Indonesia, Poland, Philippines without blushing from the embarrassment of our countries complicity in doing such evil things as wrecking Chile by disposing of its legitimate president and killing the ambassador, creating economic havoc in these various nations (cf. “Theory of Shock Doctrine”).

Bush lectured the guests on the need to develop alternatives to oil. While this is true, he then indicated that our nation has “aggressively” proceeded with such strategies. In fact, he fought such actions most of his time he has been president. Only when the price of oil increased both rapidly with enormous increases was he forced to at least reference this need for alternatives sources of energy.
Bush then discussed the various features of democracy without shame for his inability to recognize popular elections unless the results are what we want (Palestine) and his interventions in the political process of nations, e.g., Pakistan, that are designed to meet his government’s goals.

And to top it off, he says, “free societies give citizens the rule of law, which exposes corruption and builds confidence in the future” while his presidency has abandoned the rule of law, e.g., permission to torture, signing statements to not abide by congressional legislation, denying habeas corpus to detainees, privacy of public office to the point that our government no longer exemplifies the spirit or letter of the Constitution.

By my count, there are 244 more days left before he can proceed to cut his brush!

The Death of Political Conservatism!

While it may be premature to announce that political conservatism is dead, I share some joy in reading that some see its demise, at least in the form known in recent history.

I was first made aware of the "inside" drive toward modern conservatism when reading two of the books of Kevin Phillips ("Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich" & "American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21stCentury"; I have not yet read his new book, "Bad Money").

Essentially, he relates his personal involvement in devising the great political strategy that would ensure Republican control of the White House and Congress. He was a genuine conservative, one whose interests were consistent with the party’s history, viz., fiscal conservatism and an emphasis on the individual rather than promoting the role of government. His books lamented its sinking into fiscal irresponsibility and right-wing ideology supported by Christian evangelicals.

Now, George Packer has written a long article in the New Yorker that depicts how the Republican Party has essentially run out its strategy and is left without any ideas and a major lapse from traditional conservative principles.

We can thank George W. for his role in ruining whatever hopes that conservative wing of the Republican Party had for enduring political conquests. Now, it is clear that their inability to govern (contrasted with their history of political victories) has resulted in their inability to deal with the real problems as perceived by the vast majority of Americans: economic stability, healthcare, global warming.

I encourage the reading of George Packer’s article (link above).

Newly Minted Law School Graduate!

His existence wrapped around siblings’ wishes,
Given knowledge, experience, love, and support,
He emerges from academia with knowledge and skills,
Eager to share his gifts, as others to him.

Excellence in law while married and, now, a parent
Comes with challenges others parry,
But also joys in having his achievements
Shared by his special loved ones.

Memories of yesterday falter before today’s reality,
Now a trusted sibling and son,
Tomorrow, a person with counsel,
Always, one bringing laughter.

Rather than standing on sibling shoulders,
Now walks as equals,
Sharing parents’ love and pride,
Lawyer born yesterday, stands tall.

Pastor Wright Controversy!

I anticipate little support for my version of the Obama/Wright controversy. However, in spite of the published negative reports regarding Pastor Wright, I am one who views the controversy through another lens.

First, though, it must be clear that I wish that Wright was somewhat more nuanced in some of his words and less happy and raucous in his press conference. Having said that, however, it does not alter my basic perception that Wright was on the side of Right.

My perception originates from my personal experience as a priest. Without justifying myself any more than there is a need to justify Wright, I did perceive my role during the 60’s as speaking Truth to Power. While it sounds audacious to think that a young priest would feel compelled to address the morality of civil rights and the Vietnam War, for example, I could see nothing more pertinent to being a Christian than one’s approach to these basic issues of the day. My experience was less than great! Essentially, many protested by walking out on my sermons, many boycotted my liturgies (called to be sure that they would avoid the liturgy that I would lead), and ultimately, signed statements for my removal. At the time, this may have been somewhat unusual in suburban Boston, but it was within the scope of what many considered paramount religious leadership (consider the likes of William Sloane Coffin, Martin Luther King, the Berrigan brothers).

It was a small transition to adopt liberation theology coming out of South America (Leonardo Boff (Brazil), Jon Sobrino (El Salvador), Gustavo Gutiérrez (Peru)). While the Vatican resisted this type of theology, it was clearly relevant to understanding the situation of the poor in nations where their resources were aligned to the few. Liberation theology fit well with the scholarship of Dominic Crossen et al. who saw Jesus as a reformer, as one who was not interested in starting a religion as much as addressing the injustices of the society (including Judaism) in which he lived.

And during my life, I am aware of the injustices and crimes committed by our government (please consider a recent blog on “The Shock Doctrine", April 22). What our government has done and continues to do, e.g., Iraq, torture of detainees, lies, surely makes me angry, if not livid.

If I were a person of color, especially black, it does not stretch my imagination to consider how deeply I would feel that I and my brothers and sisters have been short-changed, regardless of my present status. While I respect the likes of Obama and Crosby who want the Black adults to assume personal responsibility for the lives of their family members, I am also aware that the history of neglect causes scars that run deep.

And thus, I listened to Pastor Wright and, rising above his egotistical appearance at the Press Club (smiling in a self-justified manner), I did not find much to disagree with. I wished that he did not interpret the controversy as an attack on the Black Church; I would prefer that he said an attack on a legitimate theology within the Christian tradition. But, this is a small criticism.

While my personal theology has changed rather dramatically during the past few years, the basic thrust of social justice remains strong. Jesus was in the business of reform. The thrust of his message to love one another is comparable to Kantian philosophy that behavioral norms should be based of what is applicable generally or John Rawls’ perception of justice as that which you would want if you were on the lowest ladder of the socio-economic structure. Without social justice, I cannot expect that peace will be a common phenomenon.

At this point, we look back during the past eight years and there have been few strong voices against the Bush administration. Surely, the media have not focused strongly on the truth of deceit and lies supporting the Iraq invasion and subsequent catastrophes, e.g., Gitmo and Abu Ghraib prison. The press has been criticized for abdicating their role. In general, our religious leaders have not taken on our government’s immorality (war is a moral issue for me) as was done during the Vietnam War. There were some, like Pastor Wright, who used the rhetoric of anger to point out that public, i.e., government, behavior matters.

When the tragedy of 9-11 occurred, my initial reaction was, “What have we done to warrant such anger?” When I read about our excesses in the use of natural resources, I read through the lens of the Third World. How would I feel if I suffered under the conditions common among these poorer nations? When I read that the World Bank, under the domination of the United States, provides loans under conditions that doom the borrowing country to become even more impoverished, I get angry.

Who speaks out about these injustices? I surely did not invent the facts; they are available to all. Yet, the silence among our leaders is breathtaking! And, one could say, “What have I done?” Admittedly, not much (except for the few in my family or friends who have little choice!!). Whether one agrees that a pulpit should be the source of such anger, it remains the only one available to some.

However, the controversy did present problems for me regarding Obama. It was his books that originally turned me on to his potential for being a great leader. In these books, he discussed convincingly his conversion to Christianity and the role of Pastor Wright. The only conclusion I had was that he was a regular church participant of the Trinity Church. Yet, he now claims to have never heard much of what has been attributed to the Pastor. It does not sound credible. Secondly, he did not defend more convincingly the positive role of liberation theology. He could have referenced many, such as James Cone, Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological, who have spent their academic careers on this topic. It is not a niche theology known only to a few. And, there are many others, e.g., Martin Marty of University of Chicago, who are relatively moderate who also participate regularly in the worship at Trinity Church.

I wished that the media would not focus of such peripheral items. I wish that the media focused on substance. I wish that Pastor Wright had postponed his responses until another day or ate the controversy as a price for his service. I wish a lot of things, but wishing does not make reality.

We need people to tell the truth. If there is no one in our national leadership who will do it, if the press continues to serve more as a mouthpiece of power, then the only hope is that religious leaders who exercise their prophetic role that has been highlighted throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity.

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I note that in the current edition of TIME (May 5, 2008), Michael Eric Dyson published an article ("Understanding Black Patriotism") that addresses the issue of patriotism from the perspective of a black person. The history of black persons serving our nation in war as well as in peace, while at the same critical of their status in our society, is overwhelming.

More recently, Sebastian Mallaby discusses the controversy as a sign of our impoverished our political culture is. Distinguishing true issues from the peripheral appears too hard to do.

Visit to Eve Katherine

Scratch myself to check,
Am I alive or in a dream?
Now holding a fourth child,
Born to our children in short order.

Each priceless and unique,
Eve Katherine’s world filled
With love of parents shared by
Noise and laughter of her brother.

Still hard to believe,
A world formerly celibate,
Now holding the fruits of love,
A world of separation,
Now a new era of grandchildren!