This past week I came across a few pictures/signs that seem to capture something of the mood of America these days. The first evoked a number of challenging comments on Face book. And while it doesn't get the whole story right, it does point out the greater similarities that exist between some of our so-called enemies and the way our governments operate at this moment in time. To be sure, I believe that some differences cannot be overcome - and that human sin is very real in the realm of politics - and some problems cannot be overcome by more education. Still... there is a lot to be said for getting to know one another and people-to-people diplomacy.
The next one builds on this theme and is equally interesting - especially having just finished Deborah Scroggins fascinating book: Wanted Women - Faith, Lies and the War on Terror - the Lives of Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Aafia Siddiqui.
Meanwhile, back home there were two postings that point to the weird contradictions that are all too alive and well in contemporary American life and religion. The first, of course, involves the hyperbole re: religious freedom and contraception. Funny that 98% of Roman Catholic women use some form of contraception but the good old boys still refuse to see the light. I don't begrudge the Roman Catholic bishops their theology - nor Mr. Santorum his ethics - but I refuse to cede any ground that suggests that they possess a monopoly on moral conduct or insight into the sacred.
Same goes for those who love to quote portions of the Scripture out of context to support this or that narrow bias or hatred. This one is truly worth 1000 words...
When it all comes down to the real nitty gritty, here is how I want to be judged and known...
1 comment:
Willow Wilson in her memoir Butterfly Mosque, had some interesting things to say about what she felt were "professional Islamic apostates" (my term--I can't remember hers), like Hirsan Ali.
Post a Comment