One Head, Two Thoughts

I was fortunate enough that my birth lottery specifics resulted in me missing service in Vietnam. I turned eighteen in 1976, one year after its inglorious ending. This also means that I was not old enough to participate in the Vietnam protests which peaked in the late 1960's and early 1970's. 

I often wonder how my life's trajectory would have been altered had I been born five, even three years earlier. If I had been on a college campus from 1972 to 1976 instead of in high school, would I have participated in the protests, been active enough to have been arrested? Would I have fled to Canada rather than be drafted and sent to Vietnam? 

Based on the things I wrote, how I thought during my high school years, I am not completely sure how activist against the war I might have become, but I do know that if I had been able to overcome my fear of leaving my home country, or spending time in prison for my beliefs, or even sacrificing the good will of some of my family who would have been disappointed, if not antagonistic about my actions, my life would have taken a much different path. 

I relate this revelation because of my concern at the reactions to the current college protests against how Israel is conducting its war against the Palestinians. 

First, I wonder how many of those who protested in some way the Vietnam War see similarities in today's campus unrest, and wonder what percentage of those who participated in those protests are actively condemning today's students' protests.

The cynical side of me, the side which has expressed my disappointment with the Boomer generation in many previous posts, calculates the percentage of Vietnam protesters as supportive of today's protesters at 25% at best. Of course, I have no way of knowing if I am correct or not, but I do know that support of the protests is restricted to the more liberal TV commentators, and that the reactions of those "in charge" has been mostly negative, ranging from "they are just too naive or stupid to understand the situation" to "we should expel them from school" to "they hate America". 

For the record, I support the protesters, not just because I support their cause, but because I support their activism, their willingness to express their opinion, be arrested even, for a principle. To be honest, such actions, for principle, are not exactly common place today. Far too many people have compromised their principles, their alleged morals, for so long, they can't even recognize when they are doing it anymore.

The fact that at least some of today's young people feel strongly about a catastrophic war in a far away land and are willing to express those feelings publicly should give us hope for the future.

I told my wife yesterday that I don't understand the theory behind forcing the young people to take down their encampments, or go back to their dorms. It is the exact approach that will make them dig in, the exact method that will empower them to continue their actions. In the history of civil disobedience, when did "you can't do that, or you must not do that" ever work?

What do the protesters want? During Vietnam, they wanted the United States to stop killing innocent Vietnamese people. They wanted less taxpayer money for bombs, and less of their tuition money invested in the military industrial complex. 

As it turned out, by the way, those protesters were correct. We wasted billions of dollars, wasted thousands of young lives, and ruined tens of thousands of American families by our actions. History has proven those protesters correct.

In the case of those protesting the destruction of Gaza, they want President Biden to be more aggressive in demanding a ceasefire, they want less tax payer money to be spent assisting this slaughter, and they want their colleges to divest in those investments that enable this atrocity. Similar demands, one might say as their 1960's predecessors.  And, in light of our burgeoning obsession with calling America a Christian nation, seemingly consistent demands with that movement.

I expect that history will again demonstrate that these admirable students were correct, and that killing Palestinian women and children only created more hate and future violence.

As it relates to these protests, it appears that many Americans are not able to entertain two thoughts in their head at the same time. It is possible to condemn the slaughter of October 7th as a terrorist attack, as well as condemn the murdering of Palestinians. Doing both does not make you anti-Arab or anti-Semitic, but it does make you pro humanity.

I wrote a story earlier this year which detailed the discovery of a Hole which has formed in our atmosphere, a Hole that has exacerbated our tendency to selfishness. Perhaps this hole has also reduced our capacity to have two thoughts in our head at the same time as well, two thoughts that on their surface seem to contradict each other but actually have something in common more encompassing.

I could apply this theory to pretty much all of our current national issues.

For instance, being an advocate for liberal abortion laws does not mean you are in favor of killing unborn children. It reflects the very real scientific facts that maternal death rates in America are far too high, that a significant percentage of fertilized eggs do not become healthy people for all sorts of medical reasons, that forcing women to give birth to babies that will die after their first breath, or that were conceived through violence and/or incest, is not pro-life for the people effected by those draconian laws. In other words, respecting human life includes all life, not just that of the embryo.

This is also true for immigration. Being in favor of less stringent immigration policies does not equate to a desire to replace white Americans with brown ones, just as being in favor of stronger border security doesn't make you a racist. We can have both thoughts in our heads, a more secure border as well as a more humanitarian approach to immigration at the same time, could even achieve that lofty goal, if we weren't so adverse to thinking about both thoughts at once. 

Of course, having two thoughts in one's head requires some effort. It requires a rejection of simple solutions to complex problems and the politicians who present them. It requires spending less time playing games on the phone or betting on sports or watching reality TV shows, and more time reflecting on how we might want to be treated in similar circumstances. 

I mention the birth lottery earlier in this post. If we were born in Guatemala or El Salvador, would we not strive to take our family to a country with more opportunity, and if so, would we wish to be treated with kindness, or labeled vermin?

The story The Hole, for which I have provided a link below, does not end happily. Science does not save humanity (see climate change), God does not intervene with an ark. We have made our bed, and now have to lie in it, so to speak.

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-hole.html

 

But it is just a story. What has really caused us to be reluctant or unable, I'm not sure, to hold two thought in our head at once. 

I have posted under the heading Philosophy a few times before. One such post, which can be accessed by using the link below, was inspired by the writings of Simone Weil. She blames tribalism in general, but political parties in specific for our inability to think outside the constraints of the institutions which seek to control us.

Here is a link to that post.

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2018/11/intellectual-leprosy.html

I especially liked her use of the term intellectual leprosy. I think this sums up precisely the inability for people to have two thoughts in their head at once. Sometime I wonder if the root of that deficiency has something to do with the nature of our instant gratification society, although Weil died in the 1940's before we really dove deep into the culture that glorified new and shiny over old but working, and planned obsolescence seemed to be the foundation for manufacturers.

Has our obsession with material possessions driven out our ability to understand the conflicting nature of life, the give and take, sacrifice and callousness. 

Animals in the wild are beautiful to see, but also violent and unmerciful towards each other as well.  

The sun setting over the ocean or against the backdrop of a majestic mountain is spectacular but that same mountain should it erupt or that ocean when in all its rushing fury can be fatal.

Understanding, nay, embracing the dichotomy of life could be the very essence of happiness yet all our institutions, political, national, religious, seem bent on explaining away that dichotomy, or worse, providing us with dogma that replaces the seeming contradictions with simplistic maxims.

Whether the answer lies in The Hole, or Simone Weil's theories, sometime soon, we need to demand more of ourselves and our elected leaders. Who knows, perhaps in the future, one of those student protesters currently being vilified will show us the way.

Visiting the Zoo

                                       Visiting the Zoo 

It was an exciting time for the children at South Central Middle School. As was customary, they were about to begin their week of study of animals, highlighted by a trip to a zoo at week's end. Those children who had older siblings knew all too well how exciting this week would be, especially the Friday trip. It was a right of passage that was not only celebrated by the students, but also by the community as a whole as many adults joined the trip, current parents of the children, as well as others who wanted to relive their own childhood experience.

Bobby and Susan Roberts were among the excited middle schoolers. They did not have an older sibling, but were well aware of the adventure that was imminent. Susan was especially excited, having spent many an evening reading about exotic fauna since her aunt and uncle had given her a membership in a national magazine that focused on the natural world. While Bobby's interests leaned towards sports, he did occasionally peruse her magazines, and had recently shown some curiosity about the bigger animals.

As the week of study progressed, the teachers interspersed the drier material with films and a particularly interesting visit from a scientist who had spent her life studying the animals of their field trip destination. In addition to the facts related to those animals, she kept the children on edge with tales of her encounters. 

The night before the week ending excursion, Susan could barely sleep, imaging her future life visiting schools with stories of research and the contacts she would someday experience. 

The next morning, all the excited children and various parents and other adults gathered at the school. It would be an all day event with limited chance to stop for food or drink, so there was much paraphernalia present in the lines waiting for transportation. For this reason, it took quite a while to get everyone settled into their assigned seats, but soon the caravan was on its way to this year's chosen zoo.

As mentioned before, there was a cherished history of these trips embedded in the culture of this and every middle school. While everyone knew the tradition had evolved into its present form generations ago, most didn't delve into the particular history of its inception.

Of course, there was a time when such study of the known flora and fauna was limited to the local area of each school. Field trips of this type were often just long walks into the natural world, led by the science teacher and a local expert who volunteered to share their expertise.

But as time progressed, as the science of the country achieved more and more advances in its understanding of technology, these "visits" began to transcend the local area. At first, a buddy school system was loosely established so that efficiencies could be gained to allow a more intense experience, beyond the local areas of each school.

Gradually, multiple communities partnered, but not just because they shared a common geographic location. The program slowly became one which the common experience of studying nature included the prospect of becoming familiar with children from other countries and cultures. For some, this phase was the culmination of the project as it fostered mutual understanding of both nature and other people.

While there wasn't anyone with such memories, the strategy had worked so well that war among nations had eventually ended. As did the outdated concept of dominion over nature.

Then came the breakthrough in space travel. 

Up until then, scientists had been incrementally accumulating information about the solar systems within the Milky Way galaxy, and the possible planets that may harbor life. As their data gathering methods improved, the list of places within the galaxy where life was detected grew. But their ability to understand the nature of those civilizations remained limited so it was agreed that the communications would remain one way, meaning input would be received, but nothing would be emitted which would reveal their own location in the galaxy.

Of course, none of this would have been accomplished without the cooperation of the various countries that encompassed this world. Once the rather simple, even mundane realization that through cooperation and finding common ground any problem could be solved, any achievement could be realized, advancements came in leaps and bounds. 

Soon, in addition to the innovations being made in space exploration, world wide problems such as poverty, access to clean water and sanitation, the elimination of death from fatal diseases, the health of the environmental, and strife among nations were all addressed from the perspective of solutions rather than blame.

Once everyone was safely seated on their transports, the interstellar crafts departed. Due to the discovery of worm hole dynamics, the actual travel time was far quicker than the assembly and loading of the travelers and their cargo. Within minutes, Bobby, Susan and all those aboard their vessel were in position above their destination planet.

South Central Middle School had been sending its students to a far away planet for many decades. Since there were hundreds of such planets to visit, most of the adults, while having experienced a similar trip, had not been to this particular planet. Unlike the children participating in today's itinerary, they knew that no two destinations were alike. It was just another example of the unfathomable nature of the universe, that there could be so much diversity, yet by that very diversity could unity and peace be attained.

The scientist who had spent time in Susan and Bobby's class earlier in the week, had also volunteered to lead today's excursion. When her voice came over the intercom, all the excited chatter stopped.

"Hello everyone," she began. "Welcome to the first stop on our visit to this planet. As I explained when I spoke to you in class this past week, I have spent much of my life researching the animals and peoples of this planet. They are still in a very early stage of their development, and so are not aware of our existence, nor the existence of any other life forms in the galaxy yet."

There was an audible gasp among the students and adults. Knowledge of other life in the galaxy was among the first things taught to children. It was the foundation upon which everything else was based, as it lead to both an understanding that arguing over material objects as compared to the vastness of the universe was akin to two fleas arguing over who owned the dog they lived on, and the realization that the diversity of life and respecting its importance was the whole point of existence. 

"As you can see, we are over a developed area of this planet," began the scientist. "Functioning infrastructure, an advance business structure of buildings and factories, recreation areas, a water filtration system, etc. Unfortunately, within the same areas where thousands of people live comfortably, there are also areas with people who lack the basic necessities of life, even some without homes."

Again, there was an audible gasp, especially among the children.

"Even kids?" asked one of them.

"Yes, sometimes," was the response. "The leaders of this particular country have created programs to help those without shelter, but they refuse to address the causes, so the problem persists. It is typical of such a planet in this stage of development. And remember, we were like them as well, although that was hundreds of years ago."

The ship next stopped over a continent which featured herds of wild animals roaming freely in the open spaces. The children had seen pictures of some of them during their study week, but being able to see them move and feed in real time drove many of them to the windows to see with their own eyes even though the animals could be seen on the monitors. 

Bobby was among them, gawking, his eyes wide in amazement, as he elbowed his friends who were also equally astounded. Some of the animals resembled those on his own planet, and he and his friends pointed them out as such. But others had no similarity.

"There are so many," remarked one of the adults. 

"Yes," replied the scientist. "But there were many times more not that long ago. Unfortunately, the people of this planet don't value the existence of animals as they should. Now, it has improved in the recent past, as there are organizations which advocate for the saving of animals which are close to extinction. But many species have already died off, and there are still many people who scoff at the notion of putting animal welfare above human needs."

"Do they kill them on purpose?" asked Susan. While she didn't have the same fascination for the big animals that Bobby did, she did possess a more profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms, although she hadn't yet consciously understood the actual nature of that connection. It was a foundation that she would build upon for the remainder of her life, and would inspire her to achieve her goal of being a scientist of the natural world.

"Sadly, the people of this planet do have a history of slaughtering animals for sport. That kind of short term thinking is not uncommon among civilizations in their infancy. They misinterpret dominion over nature as conquering, even wasting it, as opposed to acting as its caretaker."

From here, the ships moved over the oceans of the planet. The children seemed to lose interest for a few moments, the oceans being so large, but that changed instantly when they hovered over a huge island of trash floating below them.

"What is that?!," burst from dozens of mouths in unison.

"This is one of the more egregious results of a lack of concern for nature and the environment. There are a number of such floating trash piles in the oceans of this planet. The reasons are numerous, a rampant consumerism that values possessions over relationships, a business model that promotes product obsolescence, a head in the sand approach to refuse that discourages recycling and encourages waste, but really, its all about a lack of respect for their home."

"But that doesn't make sense," said Susan, whose nascent understanding of nature at ten years old already told her that trashing your home planet was stupid.

"Yes, you are right of course, Susan, but they just don't see it that way. Even though they know they don't have the capacity to live on another planet, don't have the technology to get there or to habituate such a foreign world, they also have an odd belief that their version of the Creator will either not allow them to ruin their home, or will somehow intercede to prevent it. They have missed the most rudimentary point, that you should appreciate what you are given, and by that appreciation, by taking care of that gift, you honor the force that created it in the first place."

The ships made many more stops as the day progressed. The visitors saw the melting ice caps and when those with math skills did some simple calculations, they shook their heads at the impending difficulties that the people of this planet would face, by their own hand. 

At each stop, the scientist pointed out not just the range of animals, but the myriad types of people as well. You see, that was another of the hidden lessons of this trip, another of the reasons why these treks were made to places outside their home solar system. Yes, the various animals that inhabited the galaxy was truly breathtaking, and an easy way to get the children interested in nature, but it was the variety of peoples that was emphasized as well, if on an unconscious, less apparent level. 

They visited an area where war was ongoing. It was an ugly scene of devastation, refugee camps, death, and hatred. Again, the children weren't fully cognizant of why they were shown this, but the adults knew that such exposure demonstrated precisely how little is accomplished by such activity, and why the lessons of always seeking common ground, always putting oneself in the shoes of those with a different perspective, was the bedrock of the success of their home planet.

The leaders of the planet where Bobby and Susan lived knew that there would come a day when the inhabitants of various planets would intermingle, and when that happened, it was lessons such as these which would make those first contacts peaceful rather than violent.

They also spent some time over the natural wonders of the planet, the amazing range of mountains, canyons, rivers and lakes, forests and woodlands. It was truly a beautiful planet, despite the misguided beliefs in progress by the home people.    

There were more stops in which animals' evolution on islands and other such isolated locales was highlighted and discussed. And there were stops where the apex animals of the world were shown in their glory and their failings. And, while those people were not aware of the yearly field trips that came to their world, unaware due to the advanced cloaking technology that had been developed for just this purpose, they were slowly becoming more attuned to the real purpose of life in this galaxy. It was the study if the evolution that particularly interested in the scientist who led this trip.

Whether enough of them would achieve this realization or whether the planet's inhabitants as a group would acquire this knowledge was not possible to predict. More did not than did. 

Back home, as they were being discharged from the ship, Susan approached the scientist, and waited patiently while she answered questions by some of the other children.

"What was the name of the planet we visited?" she asked.

"That is planet S23489," said the scientist. "which is determined by its discovery as related to the other planets in our galaxy." 

"No," said Susan, "what do the people who live there call their planet?" 

"Over the years, many names were given to it. Gaia and Terra have been used. Now they call it Earth."

Susan walked away hoping that the people of Earth be one of the civilizations that would understand the purpose of life, would learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, and would honor their creator by taking care of their pretty blue planet.

 

--------------------------

I was watching a Carson rerun this morning, and saw an episode with Carl Sagan. I missed the beginning of the show, so am not sure when the episode aired, but as they were talking about the Voyager probes being launched soon I know it must have been from 1976 or so. 

The subject of UFO's and aliens visiting Earth was also broached. Carl expressed skepticism at the idea that we were being actively visited, stating that of all the alleged abductions, there had never been an actual artifact taken from an alien craft. He also stated that there were many natural but unusual activities that occurred in the sky, as well as secret or undisclosed military maneuvers.

Of course, Carl certainly believed it was possible that there was life somewhere in the universe given the vast number of stars in the known universe, but didn't believe that we were actively being abducted, or that aliens were cruising around our atmosphere, allowing us to see them. He was of the opinion, at least at that particular time, that they would either make themselves completely known, or be smart enough to hide their surveillance.

Orson Bean was also on the show, and when Johnny commented that he was concerned that he would be no more than a pet to such advanced creatures, Orson joked that perhaps we already were pets, using the idea that two fish swimming in a fish bowl, arguing about the existence of God, might be certain there is a God since someone was changing the water in the bowl everyday!

As a result of this episode and these comments, I wrote the preceding story.

Israel Hamas War

Before beginning this post, I reread the one I created in October after the Hamas attack on Israel. I had posted that one under the topic War and Forgiveness. Obviously, there is no reason to do the same today, as there has been very few examples of people involved on either side discussing forgiveness. Here is a link to that first post.

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2023/10/israel-palestinians-and-hamas.html

So, I guess it is War, about which I have written many times. Here is a link to one of my earliest efforts concerning this topic. 

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-about-war.html

There are those that say the current Israeli - Hamas war is about the necessity to make sure that what happened last October never happens again.  That the future security of Israel depends on wiping out all vestiges of Hamas. Retrieving the hostages that remain is also mentioned as a goal of the continued military action.

But to me, it is all about revenge. 

Revenge.  That all encompassing need to seek justice when we are wronged. And, if you read that post I referred to above, the topic I touch upon at its end which is also at the end of the letter to the editor which led to that post, it is the idiocy of revenge that I discuss.

What strikes me about this war, and all wars, is that they very rarely accomplish the primary goal of preventing similar actions from occurring in the future.

For the life of me, I can't understand how the Israeli government and people don't think that by killing tens of thousands of women and children, in addition to displacing over a million Palestinians, isn't going to sow the seeds for future terrorists. And as for rescuing the hostages, I hope to be surprised that some are still alive, but believe that goal are words offered to the families, not a priority of the war.

Hatred begets hatred, war begets war, and anyone who thinks otherwise is either fooling themselves, or more likely, is only interested in revenge. 

But wait a minute Joe, you might say, didn't the bombing of Japan and Germany, the utter destruction of those two countries in addition to the slaughter of thousands of its citizens lead to peace? Are they not our allies today?

For me, this is the exact example of why war and revenge do not cease the circle of killing, because I assert that it was the Marshall Plan, which aided all the countries devastated by World War II, allies and enemies alike, and the monetary loans and grants provided to Japan which ended the cycle. In other words, it was kindness after the war that worked, not the war itself.

Proof of my assertion is that when we compare the treatment of Germany after World War I, when punishment of the defeated was the rule of the day, it seems obvious that the people were ripe for someone like Hitler who could point to the monetary revenge enacted by the Allies as the reason for their poverty and suffering. 

From there, speeches exhorting The Fatherland above all, (can you say Germany first) and a plan to restore Germany to a world power resonated with the German citizens. And so the cycle repeated. Had we treated Germany after WW1 as we did after WW2, perhaps the destruction of the second World War could have been avoided. But again, revenge ruled the day.

Additionally, Stalin dismissed the aid offered by the Allies, thereby creating a divided Europe, and eventually the onset of the Cold War. One could speculate that had Stalin accepted monies and assistance from the Marshall Plan, the world would look much different than it does today.

So, the question becomes, will Israel embark on its own version of the Marshall Plan once it has devastated Gaza? Will they follow the path of the Allies after WW2, or the path that was pursued after WW1?

To be honest, I am skeptical that once the ground war into Gaza has ended, that Israel will strive to rebuild Gaza. Certainly not as long as Netanyahu remains in power. 

In the movie Back to the Future, after George saves Lorraine from the clutches of Biff in the car outside the prom, he looks down at his clenched fist, looks at Lorraine, then offers his open hand to her to help her out of the car.

Will Israel offer an open hand to the Palestinians after they destroy their infrastructure and kill their leaders? And if so, will it be enough to counter the hatred they have created among the people who have seen their hospitals, businesses, and homes leveled and their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters killed?

So again I say, revenge never works. One could even go so far as to say that rejecting revenge was one of the main tenets of the New Testament. Good news that replaced an eye for an eye with do unto others as you would have done to you.

It is a lesson not only important for Israel and the Palestinians to embrace but for America as well. Had we done so, the trillions of dollars and thousands of young lives wasted after 9/11 could have been saved.

 

 

An Atheist for Christ

It has been a dozen years or so since I wrote An Atheist for Christ. At the time, I "published" it, available to purchase through Amazon on Kindle for $1.99. I sold a few over the course of the next few years, certainly less than I hoped, but.... 

Because it was such a while ago, it took me some time to figure out where I had saved it. As it turned out, it was on the hard drive of a computer I stopped using a few years ago, but didn't destroy. Once found, it then took me a number of tries to alter its format into one which my new computer could handle. During the process, I also made a few grammatical fixes, and altered the format a bit. 

As a result, I present to you a new version of the compilation. As I said it my last post, the issues raised are all still very relevant, which disappoints me all the more considering twelve years have passed. In fact, it seems for some, the problems have deepened, become even less likely to be resolved. 

Perhaps we will make better progress in the next twelve years. 

                                         

                                    An Atheist for Christ 

                          

    Foreword 

When I told a friend of mine that the title of this group of essays was to be An Atheist for Christ, she said that it didn’t make sense. She assumed, like many people, that belief in the teachings of Christ presupposed belief in God. I joked with her that she was right, I really should have called the essays An Agnostic for Christ, but that just didn’t have the same ring to it, the same pizzazz. 

What I hope to demonstrate to her in this brief collection of thoughts is that in fact one can believe in the teachings of Christ and in the beauty of his message without glorifying it with the connection to God. In other words, if we don’t shoot the messenger who delivers bad news, conversely, perhaps we shouldn’t deify those who have brought us good news. 

    Chapter One: Cigarettes and Guns 

I don’t smoke, at least not cigarettes. I believe it is an unfortunate habit that robs many people of their health, and their material resources. That it is physically addictive has been proven without a doubt which leads me to wonder how anyone who manufactures, distributes or retails the product can deny that it is not a very uplifting way to earn a living. I imagine that many of them smoke themselves so at least they are putting their money where their mouth is, so to speak. 

I would prefer that cigarettes be made illegal as they have been proven to be physically, emotionally, and mentally addictive. But it has been demonstrated over time that attempts to legislate away human foibles frequently results in the opposite reaction. It is an unfortunate fact that people will always engage in activities that are harmful to them. So, while I do not feel sorry for the tobacco companies when they get sued for huge amounts of money especially when one considers how much time and effort they spent in attempts to bury the evidence of the link between their product and cancer, I also have limited sympathy for those people who sue when they develop lung cancer. 

Let’s be honest, when you took your first puff, you coughed. We all did. You knew it certainly couldn’t be good for you, or your body wouldn’t have reacted so negatively. But again, we all have our bad habits, so if a few million dollar settlements help reduce the profitability of tobacco companies, I am OK with that as long as we all realize that the fault is comprehensive. 

I also don’t own a gun, can’t imagine ever owning one. And while I admit that responsible gun ownership is the rule rather than the exception, I would certainly prefer there be less guns in the world, more rules governing ownership both in type and quantity. What saddens me is that so many people die from the misuse of guns, yet there are those who truly believe that more guns would make us all safer. As if an increase in guns would only find their way into the hands of good people, and as if there has never been a case of a good person losing their temper or making a bad decision. 

Perhaps we should look at is this way. If the thought of lung cancer eating away your insides isn’t enough to persuade you to quit, just imagine a picture of Jesus giving his Sermon on the Mount with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. Or a gun sticking out of his waist band. 

Hard to envision? 

    Chapter Two: Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

    Marriage

The institution of marriage is a hot topic right now. Most specifically, gay marriage. Many people of religion maintain that it is against God’s will for marriage other than between a man and a woman. There has been and continues to be amendments to various state constitutions to define marriage as only between a man and a woman thereby outlawing gay marriage. 

In particular, the amendment in California called Proposition 8 that was ratified by the voters thereby outlawing gay marriage was challenged in the courts, both state and federal, as being unconstitutional for the reason of its being contrary to the pursuit of happiness clause embedded in the framework of the state of California's constitution. 

One might also wonder if the issue of separation of church and state might eventually be raised as it is generally conservative Christian groups that spearhead such amendments. 

At the time of passage of Proposition 8, it was proclaimed an important “victory” for those who present themselves as defenders of the sanctity of marriage. I am married, to a woman, and don’t understand the concern. 

How does the marriage of two people of the same sex affect my relationship and family? Especially in an age where virtually half of all heterosexual marriages end in divorce? I would think that religious people would rejoice in the prospect of any persons who are willing to pledge their faith to each other before their neighbors and their god. 

Seems an odd premise, claiming a belief in marriage that is so strong that you would make it illegal for certain people who want to marry. Some proponents of the one man, one woman definition of marriage point to the fact that homosexual couples can't have children in the normal way. That if everyone was gay, the species would die out. But does that mean that heterosexual couples who choose not to have children should also be prevented from marrying? 

And what of heterosexual couples who turn to artificial means to have a child? Is it not a blessing when that child is conceived and raised in a family that would go to such lengths to have a child? Is it any less of a blessing when a same sex couple navigates the same process? 

So, if it isn’t really about success or failure of marriage and it isn’t really about carrying on the existence of man, what is it about? Many will answer that homosexuality is against nature and against God's plan. Funny how some people know exactly the details of God's plan. But what if God's plan is to test how we treat each other by creating people with different skin color, different religious beliefs, different sexual orientation?

    Chapter Three: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

    Health Care

A few years ago, we witnessed the passage of the first substantial health care reform bill since the creation of Medicare. Much was made by its opponents that the reforms would cost the country billions of dollars while continuing our steady decline to socialism. What was so confusing was that many of the same people who were adamantly against the legislation were receiving their health care benefits from the government. 

Some were older Americans on Medicare. 

Some were proud veterans who had bravely served their country and were now taking advantage of the Veterans Administration for their medical care. 

Some were the politicians themselves whose health care was not only top notch but subsidized by their employer (the United States taxpayers) and was available for life, even after an election loss. 

Other voices against the reforms were people of great wealth. For them, the health reforms would mean little because their wealth enabled them to fly anywhere in the world and pay any amount of money to be treated for an illness. I imagine that they had concluded that their wealth was the result of their hard work, and therefore they were entitled to the best health care that money could buy. 

Conversely, it seemed that their attitude towards helping other people, fellow citizens of this great country, to have access to even basic health care hinged on a belief that those less fortunate must somehow deserve their plight. Strangely, many surveys of the public's attitude towards health care insurers who denied coverage to the sick in the guise of pre-existing conditions while routinely posting profits in the billions, was unfavorable. A majority of people acknowledged that the thought of Americans going bankrupt and/or losing their home as a result of an illness did not seem fair, yet a similar majority, in the end, was not in favor of many of the newly enacted reforms, especially those that required all people to buy health insurance. 

Even though it is obvious that any health care system will go bankrupt if only sick people paid premiums, we were unable to accept the premise that everyone purchasing health insurance (which most of us buy anyway) does not compromise our belief in capitalism. 

The sad part is that many people become proponents of a more universal health care system only after they or a family member face a devastating illness without proper insurance. Then, finally, it is easy to imagine how even more destructive the illness becomes, depending on how good their coverage turns out to be. 

Wouldn't it be better if, instead of the refrain offered by those who have been let down by the health insurance industry, "I don't want this to happen to anyone else" could somehow become "This shouldn't happen to anyone" without the negative occurrence happening first? 

    Chapter Four: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

    Wealth and Materialism 

Most people don't realize that the United States became a world power and a wealthy nation only recently. We spent much of the first 160 years of our existence as a nation experiencing the pains of growth, mostly ignored by the more established European powers. 

Our first real voyage onto the world stage was World War I and while we certainly made an impression on those countries of the old continent, our newfound status didn't last long, and by the 1930's we were virtually bankrupt as a nation. 

Our true sustained rise started in the years of WWII, grew in leaps and bounds during the time of the Cold War and, some might say, culminated in the collapse of the Soviet Union during the 1980's, which resulted in there being only one super power left, the United States of America. 

This incredible period of growth produced (and was driven by) the emergence and meteoric growth of the middle class. Some might argue that the time from the late 1940's through the 1970's featured history's greatest time of upward mobility for the everyday man. It was no longer about being born into wealth. 

Clearly, capitalism enabled the common man to aspire to and achieve a standard of living that provided a comfortable lifestyle and the opportunity to allow one's children the chance to an even better life. Working hard to attain a higher standard of living was supposed to be a means to a happier life. It was supposed to provide some of life's comforts, and allow for leisure time to spend with family, friends, or just to relax. 

But something changed. The accumulation of wealth became the ends rather that the means. In sports, in business, in entertainment, $10, $20, $40 million per year salaries are commonplace while the standard of living for everyday Americans has stagnated. 

As the wealth and worth of the top 1% continues to grow, as our government is flooded with the monies of special interests and billionaires, the notion that happiness can only be found in riches and possessions has replaced the concept that a happy family, good friends, satisfying work, and faith in God and the goodness of man is the recipe for individual happiness. 

Perhaps if we could be a fly on the wall when some billionaire is confronted at the gates of heaven with the simple question, did you make the world a better place, we might realize that obscene wealth may be the biggest obstacle to a more lasting, eternal happiness. 

    Chapter Five: Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 

    Children 

The teachings of Jesus are full of stories which demonstrated his love for children. As a self-described Christian nation, it should be a no brainer for us to do all we can to make sure that every child is presented with the opportunity for shelter, food, a loving home, and a quality education. 

Yet so many of our financial battles, the debates between the current fiscal condition and the future solvency of our country, seem to boil down to cutting benefits for the least among us, those in poverty, children as well as adults, while maintaining the advantages of those with the most resources. Frankly, I am not sure the gentle will want to inherit the earth if the greedy and short sighted among us continue to poison our water, denude our forests, strip mine our mountains and gouge holes in our earth all in the name of profit for the few. 

However, perhaps the earth in this case refers not to the physical plane of our existence, but the earth as it freely gives us its fresh water, its flora and fauna, its beautiful landscapes. Perhaps it is only the gentle who can truly appreciate the wonders of the earth, and therefore only they that can inherit and enjoy its gifts. 

Furthermore, perhaps it is only through a child’s eyes that we will be able to truly see the wonderful variation of man himself. Young children, when placed in a room without adult interventions, will play with each other without regard to race or gender, economic or social status. It is only when the prejudices and biases of their upbringing is implanted and learned that children become racists, misogynists, and other kinds of purveyors of hatred. 

What will it take for us to stop idolizing those who use their talents to take advantage of the meek and gentle, those who scoff at the idea that love is the strongest weapon we have against the forces of evil, and that taking over the earth is not remotely the same as inheriting it. 

    Chapter Six: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

    Spirituality 

Many people equate attacks on religion as attacks on God. Of course, there are those who flock to the idea that the flaws of religion, man’s invention, proves there is no God or that God is not good. In that sense, they are just as wrong as those who assume that an agnostic or atheist cannot be spiritual. 

I have no doubt that those who truly look for the best in others, those who seek out and share stories of good deeds, those who value integrity and courage above fame and fortune, will be rewarded, not just in the next life assuming you believe in such a thing, but in this life as well. 

Many people, those of faith and those seeking the meaning of life, look to our religious leaders for lessons and guidance to attaining a spiritual life. Books by the hundreds have been written by PHD’s, gurus, and common men who were struck with inspiration. And, it is very easy to find God’s word being explained on TV and radio. 

Occasionally, I will stop to watch one of those shows on cable, or listen a few minutes to one on the radio. Generally, it doesn’t take long for the “preacher” to single out a segment of society that God hates, and who is to blame for the world’s troubles. Or, the emphasis will be on the fear of being cast into eternal damnation if one doesn’t think a certain way or worship a certain god. 

What seems to be missing is the message that spirituality is its own reward. It provides a positive outlook which begets an attention to the good times, and a resistance to depression in the light of those times not so good. 

It sees the cup half filled. 

It helps one live in the moment as opposed to wishing for the moment to pass for a future moment that is never realized. 

It sees the good in all, forgives the bad actions committed by everyone, and inspires empathy and an ability to see life through another’s eyes. 

Perhaps, rather than bemoaning the apparent trend for people to attend church less often, to claim affiliation with a religion is steadily declining, to discuss openly the possibility that god does not intervene in the lives of man, but expects us to be each other’s keeper, perhaps if more men of religion focused on the simple message of love, the trend might reverse. 

    Chapter Seven: You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? 

    Politics and Nationalism 

Partisan politics is at an all-time high, and the country is as divided as ever, is a common refrain on both the left and the right. Notwithstanding that the ego-centrism of always thinking we live in the greatest time ever, or the greatest country ever, or any such “ever” statements is revealing in itself, I can’t imagine that any time other than the time of the Civil War where hundreds of thousands of Americans were killed by Americans, was any less divisive. 

And how about the 1960’s and 1970’s when the fight for Civil Rights for black Americans created deep divides, the deaths of citizen protesters by police, and riots in the streets? A bit divisive, don’t you think? 

But all that aside, it is certainly a time when calling the president a hater of America or of white people, or merely calling him a liar in the halls of Congress, seems outrageously commonplace. One would think that, as a Christian nation, we would remember Christ’s words about loving your enemies, especially when your “enemy” is merely a fellow citizen with a different party affiliation. 

So imagine the difficulty in following Christ’s command to love your enemy when he is a Muslim terrorist who just beheaded a journalist? People on both sides of the aisle believe their perspectives are good for America and often find it hard to understand the completely opposite viewpoints of the other side. Our true strength, the true measure of America’s greatness and her level of Christianity, is acknowledging where we differ, respecting those differences, acting by example to show how our beliefs may be better to follow, and working together in the areas where agreement can be found. 

It may not approach the command of loving one’s enemies, but it is clearly superior to calling them anti-American or unpatriotic. In Christ’s time, tax collectors weren’t well respected. So let’s replace the word taxpayers in his statement with the word terrorists. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the terrorists do the same? 

    Chapter Eight: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 

    Corporations 

I especially like this beatitude. It goes well with Christ’s proverb about the rich having as much of a chance to reach heaven as a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Yet, clearly America is all about wealth. And the creation of the corporation is the penultimate vehicle for accumulating wealth. Those who incorporate gain all the benefits of its success but bear little of the penalties when it fails. 

The corporation has no national allegiances; even economists whom I consider left leaning, give corporations a pass when they move their base off shore for better tax rates. 

The corporation certainly has no concern for its employees, treating them as liabilities rather than the reason they prosper. Whether it’s moving jobs to southern states with lower standards of living or overseas to countries with labor rates a fraction of ours, corporations are all about profit for the investors. 

What is doubly ironic is that since the 1980’s, pay for those running the biggest multi-national corporations has increased hundreds of times. I wish I could be present when all those “camels” try to pass through the eye of the needle at the Pearly Gates. 

With the recent Supreme Court decisions granting some individual and religious rights to corporations, one might think that an increase in acts of Christianity towards the employees might develop. Unfortunately, the reality is that those rights will only be used to advance the needs of the corporation, the one true master. 

Humanity is far and away, second billing in the hierarchy of priorities, and God, a farcical theme thrown about by those in charge to make us think they care about loving one another. 

But, ever the optimist, I soon expect a generation of the future, to understand the perils of the corporate mentality, and begin to reverse the trend that allows corporations to control so much of our daily lives. Hopefully, this event will be spurred, not by some horrible event that demonstrates the core corporate belief that people are a liability to higher profit, but by a gradual swing to the spiritual awakening which acknowledges the phrase, “You cannot serve God and wealth”. 

    Chapter Nine: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

    War and Peace 

Is it even possible for America to truly heed this beatitude? One could reasonably defend the assertion that our country was born from violence – the War for Independence. That, as I mentioned above, our greatness became apparent during World War 2, the years of the Cold War and the times leading up to the collapse of Soviet Russia. 

In the late 1960’s a book called the Report from Iron Mountain was published. It claimed to be the result of a top secret commission charged with studying the effect that a lasting peace might have on America, and all nations. Since then, it has been called everything from the greatest literary hoax of all time, to the blueprint for American foreign policy. 

My mention of this report is neither a recommendation nor condemnation, but to make the point that while many Americans believe we are a peace loving nation, war has been our calling card since inception. 

We are the biggest supplier of weapons on earth. 

We have one of the highest ratios of guns to people of any country and one of the highest percentages of death by violence. 

We actively pass Castle Doctrine Laws that give the green light to the use of deadly force if someone enters your home. 

We scoff at those who think poorly of the phrase “shoot first and ask questions later”, and admire those who “speak softly and carry a big stick”. 

Even our police departments, many now possessing vehicles and weapons that one would only expect on a battlefield, seem to have lost their charge of using deadly force in limited practice. 

Are weapons set to stun becoming the stuff of science fiction only? Our arrogance about the use of force is so entrenched that many weapons, from hand guns to an airplane with nuclear bomb capabilities, have been called peacemakers. 

Perhaps it is me, but, as the Iron Mountain report concludes, if the best way to galvanize nationalism is to always have a boogeyman to blame, and if the best way to control the thinking of a population is to immerse them in stories which inspire fear, and if the best way to direct media content is through corporate control, then perhaps Murdoch and Ailes knew what they were doing when they created Fox News. 

One thing is for sure, if we are to aspire to the moniker “sons of God”, we have a long way to go before we truly emulate Jesus of Nazareth.

    Chapter Last: In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 

    The Golden Rule 

I was fortunate in that I was raised a catholic by parents who lead the life by example. While I have strayed away from the dogma of the religion, I believe that I was guided by the examples taught to me about Christ and demonstrated to me by my parents. If I had been raised by Islam parents of the same mold, or by Jewish parents or by Buddhists or by agnostics, as long as they were true to the spirit of their beliefs, I have no doubt I would be of similar thought today. 

I have made many mistakes in my life, engaged in activities immoral and foolish, detrimental to both my body and my soul. I am far more reasonable, far more spiritual in the vacuum of these writings that in the reality of life. But I hold on to the idea that men and women, beset by the same tribulations and temptations, have achieved great things, uplifting things. 

Some have written great treatises on economics, some have made life saving medical discoveries, some have created magnificent declarations of man’s equality, some have achieved superior athletic feats. 

And some have presented us with an example of how to live among each other in peace and harmony. By equating this last achievement, Christ’s example, to a connection with god, perhaps we provide an excuse not to strive. So perhaps, an atheist for Christ is not a contradiction in terms as my friend told me, but a mindset that acknowledges the combination of good and bad that exists in us and challenges us to make conscious choices, every day, to be one or the other. 

Lastly, I often wonder why today’s liberals do not refer more often to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the greatest liberal of all time in my opinion, when proposing or defending their viewpoints and policies. 

Clearly, God and the bible have been ceded to the Republicans. Even in the defense of the use of guns and force, the word God often appears in a book title or a speech. And, you can’t go a day without hearing some far right pundit or politician quoting the bible while feeding the fans of hatred against the evil du jour. 

Yet the quotes I have referred to on these pages, sentiments that reflect a new way of interacting with each other, are far less mentioned, far less used in discussions and lessons. 

Is it just too difficult emulate Christ, in private and public policy? Is it politically incorrect to even try? Perhaps then, only through atheism, without the restrictions of the dogma of the religions that encompass them, can the spirit of these great institutions, and the teachings of Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha be truly realized, and manifested in daily practice.

Chino

Last weekend I was a bit startled with the news headline proclaiming that President Biden had declared Easter Sunday, March 31st, as Transgender Day of Visibility. At first I thought it was a fake news article, since it seemed like such an outrageous and not very smart move by Biden. When I clicked on a few of the articles addressing the proclamation, the entire focus was how insulting this was to the Christian community, and how it proved that Biden and the liberal mob to which he answers were yet again displaying their anti-Christian, even anti-God agenda.

Of course, then I googled the subject and quickly discovered that March 31st has been recognized in this fashion since 2009. Biden didn't just proclaim it out of thin air, he just recognized its existence in solidarity to a community that is under assault from the far right.

Folks, it took literally, seconds for me to understand the backstory, yet millions of Americans did not choose to spend those few seconds, less time that it took to read any of the hateful attacks on Biden, to discover the truth.

Additionally, I thought it interesting to do a quick walk down memory lane and research how Easter Sunday is determined. I say memory lane because, as someone who was raised a Catholic, who attended eight years of Parochial school, and four years of high school in a setting run by Christian Brothers, I probably knew the formula behind Easter Sunday at some time. 

Do you know?

Without diving too far into the weeds, Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon. (Paschal is derived from pascha a transliteration of the Aramic word meaning Passover). What is the Paschal Moon? That is the first full moon that occurs after the spring equinox. 

But where does the crucifixion of Jesus come in, you ask? Well, if my memory of the catechism I was taught serves, there was a tradition of freeing a condemned man at the time of the Passover. Jesus, having been condemned to die could have been granted freedom, but the story goes that when asked whom to free, the Jews in the crowd shouted for Barabbas to be freed, not Jesus. 

As Christianity gained favor in the following decades, it made sense to align the death and resurrection of Jesus with the harbinger of new life, the spring equinox, which had been celebrated for thousands of years before the birth of Jesus. 

So, just to summarize, Biden did not "choose" Easter Sunday, March 31st to honor Transgender Day of Visibility, it has been celebrated on that day since 2009. Also, Easter Sunday does not really memorialize the death of Jesus of Nazareth, if so we would celebrate the actual Friday before Passover when he was crucified. Instead we honor Jesus's sacrifice for our sins on the day he rose from the dead, by 

co-opting the observance of spring which has been commemorated by humans for centuries.

So why all the hubbub about Biden's recognition of the annual Transgender Day of Visibility? 

Can you say prejudice? It is hard to decide which group of people in America are being attacked more, the transgender community or the undocumented. Both are routinely pilloried in the conservative media, both labelled everything from subhuman to perverts. Their treatment is indicative of those Americans who are afraid of the changes that are outpacing their understanding, and who prefer to blame their own fear of mortality as well as the loss of the rose colored memories of their childhood on the people who are being offered so conveniently by those seeking power and influence.

As I have said in a number of past posts about prejudice and discrimination, America has a rich history of using immigrant labor to build our infrastructure, fight and die in our wars, and do all the jobs that the "native" population eschews, while at the same time crying that those same immigrants are criminals, lazy, dirty, and are poisoning the blood of our country.

Here are links to a few of those posts. 

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2022/07/different-vs-special.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/rudolph-and-lincoln.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2018/07/muslim-demographics.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2015/09/prejudice.html

What seems so remarkable to me is that so many of the most outspoken people, and some of the most vitriolic comments about the LGBTQ+ community and the undocumented, emanate from those claiming to be Christians. 

As I mentioned above, I was raised a Catholic. But more importantly, I spent a number of years deciding for myself which religion best suited me, rather than believing everything I was taught in school and at church, just because my parents were Catholic. 

I read the bible, along with some of the other religious tomes. I followed a guru for a while, going to knowledge classes, attending programs, listening to tapes, practicing meditation. I found inspiration in the lessons of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount, in the writings of Kahlil Gibran, and in the real life examples of my mother's life, particularly in her friendships and her focus on family.

While I am certainly far from a religious person, not having an association with any church for many decades, I do feel that my perception of the foundation of Christianity, the life and lessons of Christ, precludes the hatred that I see directed towards those considered on the margins of society by these alleged Christian groups. 

Perhaps I am misguided, but considering that Jesus lived his life amidst the marginalized people of his time, I firmly believe he would be advocating for much better treatment of the undocumented and those with a different gender preference. Of course, there are people who follow that example, and it is no secret how they are treated by those who claim to be believers of Jesus Christ.

To put all my cards on the table, I do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, that he died for our sins so that we could be saved, or that he rose from the dead, let alone that he was born of a virgin and conceived through the holy spirit. Yet, based on my understanding of his teachings, I wonder how those who claim to be Christians can exhibit such hatred and condemnation for others, in his name.

I distinctly remember writing a paper for religion class while in high school in which I speculated on whether a Christ figure was sent to every planet in the universe for the purpose of opening heaven to that planet's inhabitants, or whether Earth was unique. And if our planet was special in that way, why would God not save the inhabitants of all planets she created in the universe? And if we are that special, why are we so violent and inhumane in how we treat each other? One would think if we really felt we were that unique in the universe, we would celebrate our diversity, and our special place in God's plan. 

At this point in my life, I fail to see how any Christian can act in such an unchristian way, if he/she really believes what they claim to believe. We celebrate the diversity of our pets, the wonder of travelling to other countries, of seeing the wonders of our planet, of trying new foods, listening to new music, experiencing the incredible range of life that was provided by our creator, and then dehumanize some of her creations, in her name. 

Is it any wonder why more and more people are estranged from the religion of their upbringing when they see so much of America drowning in the very deadly sins that the Christian bible warns of, especially greed, wrath and pride?

I will next post An Atheist for Christ, which I wrote over ten years ago. I have just finished reading it, making some tweaks on format, correcting a few spelling errors. I shook my head a number of times during this process, as I realized that the points I made have not changed or improved, but in fact, have worsened. 

I sometimes hear conservatives, seemingly with glee, point to polls that indicate that a large percentage of Americans are not happy with the direction of the country. They seem to assume that when someone with a similar perception as myself, indicates our displeasure with where we are going as a nation, that we blame liberals, or Biden, or "woke" policies. 

This is another indication of their arrogance, their inability to realize that many Americans are distressed with the direction of our country because of the actions of those who wield their Christianity as a weapon to marginalize, even dehumanize, those who they claim god does not love. 

I am unhappy with America because of judicial decisions based on 18th and 19th century mores, laws that restrict voting rights rather than expanding access to this precious right, and policies that treat people who are different, by birth, as enemies of our creator, as if any of us can understand such an unfathomable intelligence.  

Oh, I almost forgot. Why on earth does this post reference a pair of pants made from lightweight cotton materials?

Chino, pronounced with the letter i sounding like a long e, is the trousers. 

But for me, the letter "i" in chino is pronounced with a long i. Put more easily, my version of chino, my use of it as an acronym, rhymes with the acronym Rino, or republican in name only.

Do you get it? Chino, Christian in name only.

It is those people, Virginia, that are the reason why I am unhappy with America's direction, and why, sadly, I believe the worst is yet to come.