perspective...

darlene coffman on lerner's criticisims of hedges

"Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are."
- St. Augustine of Hippo
I found myself becoming more and more angry as I read Lerner's criticism of Hedges. I think Hedges models perfectly what Augustine called hope's two lovely daughters--anger and courage. In fact, Chris Hedges's courage as a writer is more apparent than his anger. He is willing to stretch the acceptable discourse among "sophisticated" progressives by speaking his own truth boldly--at the risk of being labeled "too negative, too depressing." Lerner may be the psychotherapist but it is Hedges who has the greater claim to truth. Just notice the response from Hedges' readers. His writings typically draw 5 - 6 times the number of positive comments as other writers. (390 comments, mostly positive, to this article.) Lerner says Hedges should speak from a spirit of more compassion. It takes a lot of compassion to express the outrage Hedges has over the needless human suffering that Obama and the Democrats have not only been complicit in but have initiated this past year.

I have even less respect for Lerner's defense of Israel's behavior, claiming that the 'apartheid' label is not justified. In the next line he contradicts himself as he acknowledges that 'apartheid' accurately describes the treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

I don't know in what shape and from exactly what direction the alternative party will come, but I personally think we must shake ourselves free from the Democratic fetters and get involved in building it. “Progressive Democrats” won’t work. There would just a lot of infighting. --a waste of energy. If progressives don't strike out on a new path, other movements will fill the vacuum. People can't live with the level of corruption, betrayal, and deception that has gripped us. It will probably be messy and take a long time, so we should waste no time and get on with it. It would give us hope!

"If you want peace, work for justice." [Pope Paul VI] I have always been fascinated by this statement. Does it always work? How about in the health care debate? How about in the illegal immigration debate? How about in the debate over the role of women in the Catholic church? What about in the narcotics war on the Texas/Mexico border? What about in the debate over subsidies to agriculture? What about the Israel/Palestine debate? Where has it indeed worked?

As a bumper sticker, it has helped peace in our family. My wife has agreed to that one bumper sticker for her car. She will attach none of mine. But her one bumper sticker is peace for us. Let's adopt a new quote: "Justice is a Bumper Sticker." And stick to it.

Washington looking for Israeli sign of commitment to peace

PJ Crowley, a US State Department spokesperson, tells Al Jazeera that the US has "outlined some concerns to the Israelis" and is waiting for a response from the Israelis to see "what level of commitment Israel has to move forward" on Middle East talks.

But both Israelis and Palestinians have the responsibility to take actions to help and not hinder the process, he says. (Mar 17, 2010)

Anti-Mountain Top Removal Activists Risk Arrest at EPA HQ with Elaborate Protest

"Blowing up mountains contaminates water"

Who wants your money?

Who is courting you? Someone wants your money if you are motivated by fear, driven by peer pressure, are a reactionary, or have a big ego. Find out who may be courting you at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/35718168#35718168

Collateral Damage

The other day I saw a slogan that went something like this:
Jesus said . . . "Whoever receives a little child in my name receives me."

As I read that slogan on the back of a t-shirt, I thought how much better our world would be if we put that principle to work in our lives and on planet earth. We haven't done a very good job of putting that into practice. Many people claim that we live in a Christian nation, but in almost the same breath justify mistreatment of children. If you doubt that, keep reading. After the government building in Oklahoma City was bombed, we were horrified by the taking of innocent lives, especially the lives of children who were killed or injured in that building. Later when Timothy McVeigh justified the deaths of innocent victims including children, the nation was appalled that he called them "collateral damage." In reflecting on the slogan on that t-shirt I had to wonder, "What would Jesus say about a "collateral damage" defense for the deaths of those children?" But what about the children who die because of our bombs? Would Jesus answer differently for the children in Iraq , Afganistan, and Pakistan who have been killed and maimed by our actions against their nations? Why do religious people continue to justify wars that cause so much "collateral damage?" What would Jesus say?

questioning hedges...

"I hope you read this through to the end, even while grumbling that it is too long..."

Rabbi Michel Lerner - disagreeing with Hedges on Obama via Common Dreams.

via darlene coffman, read chris hedges

"The timidity of the left exposes its cowardice, lack of a moral compass and mounting political impotence. The left stands for nothing. The damage Obama and the Democrats have done is immense. But the damage liberals do the longer they beg Obama and the Democrats for a few scraps is worse. It is time to walk out on the Democrats. It is time to back alternative third-party candidates and grass-roots movements, no matter how marginal such support may be. If we do not take a stand soon we must prepare for the rise of a frightening protofascist movement, one that is already gaining huge ground among the permanently unemployed, a frightened middle class and frustrated low-wage workers. We are, even more than Glenn Beck or tea party protesters, responsible for the gusts fanning the flames of right-wing revolt because we have failed to articulate a credible alternative."

Go read the whole thing.