tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52220651726267121902024-03-13T06:29:56.741-04:00What in the World?A personal take on what is happening in the world todayAdrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.comBlogger329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-57446486341321437342017-11-10T14:33:00.002-05:002017-11-10T14:33:23.519-05:00A sad farewell to blogging<br />
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It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to stop blogging. After more than six years, 329 posts (including this one), and attracting almost 650,000 page views, I am calling it quits.<br />
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I started blogging on April 13, 2011. For many years thereafter I averaged more than 60 posts annually. But this year I have managed only ten. And now 2017 is nearly history.<br />
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It's not that I have nothing further to say, but rather that I find it too draining to write a new post every week as I have done for a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but, for the moment, enough is enough.<br />
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My pace of writing has been slowing down for a while. This is not simply the result of aging (since all of us are aging whether we like it or not) but also because there is simply too much to write about. I don't have the energy anymore to write about all these things in depth as I have done in the past.<br />
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Instead of blogging, I want to use Facebook to comment briefly on topics that I am interested in rather than to engage in deeper discussions, as I did previously on this blog.<br />
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To all my faithful readers, I wish you happy reading elsewhere. If you are interested in following me to discover my thoughts on a daily basis, please turn to Facebook where I hope to be active for a while longer.<br />
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For a while, I boycotted Facebook, largely because of the time social media demand and the misuse that they can and do make of personal data. I returned because they do enable me to disseminate some of my thinking on current issues without lengthy writing.<br />
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I will not prolong this farewell note except to reiterate my regret for stopping. A very wise man once said that there is a time for everything. For me, the time to leave has come.<br />
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I intend to keep this blog open for the next while until the readership slowly declines and the sun finally sets on my blog. Until then . . .<br />
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Farewell, kind reader.Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-50007313824847403752017-10-12T12:22:00.000-04:002017-10-12T12:22:21.804-04:00Why Canadians are concerned about American politics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently some Facebook "friends" have taken me to task for commenting on American politics. They label me a "lefty" and have told that I have no business discussing American affairs. Trump and gun control are the two topics that rile them especially.<br />
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An op-ed article in the Toronto Star similarly argues that "Canadians seem to forget that we don't elect U.S. politicians." True enough, but that doesn't mean that they should not be concerned about what happens south of the border.<br />
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What happens in Washington or Las Vegas, and many other places in the U.S. impacts Canadians as much as it does Americans. We -- to switch for a moment to the first person -- know that the U.S. is their country and not ours doesn't negate our involvement in American issues.<br />
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The long border we share doesn't stop the weather crossing the border in both directions. It also doesn't stop drugs or guns flowing across the border. Ideas too cross the border without any control from immigration or customs agents.<br />
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Canadians watch American TV programs, read American newspapers, and visit American internet sites. That much of this traffic is one-way is the result of Canada having a much smaller population, approximately the same size as California. Thus we know what is going on in the U.S.<br />
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That Americans are often ignorant of anything outside their town, state, or country does not mean that Canadians are equally ignorant. Canadians are affected by what happens in the U.S. and therefore they need to know what is happening there. Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau famously likened Canada's position to its southern neighbor to "a mouse in bed with an elephant." The mouse is in mortal danger whenever the elephant turns.<br />
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Let's stop the nonsense of not allowing Canadians to comment on American affairs. For one thing, Canadians and Americans are family. Many Canadians have relatives living south of the border, and if not family, they have friends there.<br />
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Whether family or just friends, what happens to one affects the other as well. Blood is thicker than water. But, as happens too often, family or friends do not always agree. Canadians often pride themselves as different from Americans. In fact, this sometimes becomes a defining difference.<br />
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Many Canadians are happy that they cannot vote in American elections. That absolves them of any responsibility for electing Donald Trump. They are thankful that this disaster of a president is not their president. They can and do commiserate with Americans who rue the day of his election.<br />
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I have shared more than one glass of wine with American friends in order to console them. While Canadians didn't vote for him, they share some responsibility for the election of this incompetent, lying, promiscuous braggart. Trump says he wants to put "America first, " but the whole world knows he is interested only in putting himself first.<br />
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But Canadians are well aware that the same populism that helped to elect Trump exists north of the border as well. They pride themselves on having elected a government led by Justin Trudeau, a youngish prime minister who in many ways is the antithesis of Trump.<br />
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But this does not mean that the same populism cannot rear its ugly head in Canada, as it already has in many other countries. Thus Canadians are justified in studying what is happening in the U.S. and commenting on the phenomenon of populism, especially as exemplified in Trump.<br />
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The partisanship that virtually stalemates the political process in the U.S. is not as strong in Canada. Nor is gerrymandering possible since electoral districts in Canada are fixed by independent bodies and generally involve straight lines rather than the contorted figures found in the U.S.<br />
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Canadians also ask how Trump could have been elected as president when he lost in the popular vote. The anachronism of the electoral college makes them shake their heads. Lest Canadians get too triumphalistic, under the parliamentary system governments can be elected with less than a majority of the vote. A plurality suffices.<br />
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When Canadians look at their own system and compare it with the American one, they admit that both systems have their strengths and weaknesses. But Canadians are still thankful for their own system, in spite of its flaws. The Canadian constitution has many faults, but it does not give Canadians the right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment as it has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, erroneously in the opinion of Justice Warren Burger.<br />
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American guns stream across the border, but for most Canadians carrying guns is not an issue. Americans are shocked when at the border their guns are confiscated by Canadian Customs. Open carrying is not allowed anywhere in Canada, even though many Canadians love to hunt.<br />
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Canada has a universal health system that many Americans would love to have, but such a system is not possible in the poisonous atmosphere that exists currently in the U.S. The Canadian system has its weakness, but many Canadians list it as one defining aspect of Canada.<br />
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I am making these comparisons to illustrate why Canadians look across the border and are unhappy with what they see. Many are grateful that they live in Canada and not in the U.S., especially in the age of Trump. Some Canadians are afraid to visit the U.S. lest they be shot on the street.<br />
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Canadians do not have the right to vote in American elections, but if they were able, Trump might never have been elected. Canadians are rightfully concerned about what is happening across the border. They are affected almost as much as many Americans.<br />
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Perhaps Canadians are worse off since Canada would not be under the American umbrella if a war breaks out with North Korea. Korean missiles would fly over Canada, but the U.S. does not have to defend Canadians against missiles that are directed at the U.S. There is no such agreement between the two countries, and many Canadians would not like such an agreement if there were.<br />
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Canadians see much of what is happening in the U.S. and thus it is not surprising that they comment on what they see. These comments should not be interpreted by Americans as motivated by feelings of superiority (although sometimes it is). These comments should be viewed as being made by a close neighbor who cannot avoid seeing what is happening next door.<br />
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Americans may not always like it, but they must realize that Canadians are family. Families do not always agree with each other, but they remain family. Yet when families live in close proximity to each other, little things can begin to grate. Sometimes these become big things, like Trump and guns.<br />
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Familiarity breeds contempt. This helps to explain why Canadians are critical of the U.S. Canadians have a love-hate relationship with their neighbor to the south. They are jealous of its size and wealth, but they reject its exceptionalism and disdain for others which manifests itself as racism among other not-so-endearing qualities.<br />
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Not that Canadians do not have problems of their own, but they see some of their problems enlarged in their neighbor. The Bible pictures that as the "log" in one's own eye. Canadians have a fascination with the U.S. Thus they will continue to look south for the foreseeable future.<br />
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Canadians will also continue to be concerned about what is happening there. The futures of both countries are closely intertwined. American politics affects the whole world, especially Canada. Remember the story of the mouse and the elephant.<br />
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Therefore -- in typical Canadian fashion -- we apologize for staring at the U.S, We do so out of a real concern for Americans and their politics. Sorry!<br />
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<br />Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-66088117571304637382017-09-10T09:34:00.001-04:002017-09-15T15:43:57.258-04:00The insanity of war<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The world once again stands on the brink of a major war. The posturing of North Korea and the United States makes me, and doubtless many other people all over the globe, fearful of what might be in store for us.<br />
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Will we wake up one morning in the next few weeks and find out that Seoul has been wiped off the map and that 10,000,000 Koreans have died or been severely injured as a result of a nuclear attack by the North? And, as a further consequence, are we the next to die?<br />
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North Korean missiles are already capable of reaching Toronto (which is where I live). Many parts of the US are equally vulnerable. Are we all soon going to experience a nuclear Armaggedon? I sincerely hope not!<br />
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War is insane. No rational person, it would seem, wants to engage in war. Conventional war is already catastrophic enough, nuclear war is infinitely more so. The after effects of a nuclear strike will linger for decades or even longer.<br />
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The cost of a war in lives lost and property destroyed is only part of the accounting. The wasted resources, both human and material, are part of the equation as well; they could be put to better use. For example, poverty could quickly be eliminated all over the world with the money that is saved from waging wars.<br />
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The two main protagonists, Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, have both been described as insane. But the insanity does not stop with them. War itself is insane. But the insanity increases many-fold when these two maniacs are added to the brew.<br />
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An oft-quoted expression, attributed to Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, among others, is that insanity may be defined as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." One would think that after millennia of war we would stop this insanity. The results are always the same.<br />
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Insanity originally meant "the condition of being mentally deranged." In the 19th century, it began to take on a looser sense, "extreme folly or unreasonableness." Today, insanity can be used in both senses. Certainly, the latter interpretation applies to both Kim and Trump.<br />
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By discussing the alleged insanity of Kim and Trump I do not mean to imply that only the insane will wage war; war itself is insane, but this insanity is multiplied many times over when people who are possibly insane are involved.<br />
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I am not suggesting that both men <i>are</i> insane; rather, I suggest only that both have displayed aberrant behavior at times. I am not a psychiatrist nor have I examined them closely, but I trust the experts who have made such charges. That these strange characters currently head their respective nations should be enough to fill much of the world with fear.<br />
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Is a Second Korean War imminent? Or does this mark the beginning of World War III? Journalists have already mapped out several scenarios for this new war on the Korean peninsula. All point out the huge number of deaths and other casualties that will result, but very few dwell on the aftermath, which will probably be as long and as dismal as the quagmire that resulted from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.<br />
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Kim may seem crazy, but he is wily as a fox. He does not need a war since it will likely spell the end of his regime, but he does need to stand up to the perceived threat that the US poses to North Korea. The only way to stand up is to possess nuclear weapons and the necessary delivery system.<br />
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Yet if his country is threatened even further, he must resist and go to war. In other words, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He would be crazy to go to war and crazy if he doesn't. Some choice! This too illustrates the insanity of war. There is nothing rational about this choice.<br />
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Trump is in a similar position. He must continue to project the might of the US as the strongest and most powerful nation in the world. As Commander-in-chief, he must ultimately make the decision to go to war with North Korea. But the consequences are terrifying for everyone.<br />
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Is he prepared to sacrifice millions of Koreans on both sides of the border between the two Koreas? Will the American populace accept the deaths of thousands, if not millions, of American lives in the war itself and in the aftermath?<br />
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Yet not to go to war if South Korea is threatened by the North, and even more so, if Americans are endangered, would be political suicide for the American president. In both instances, he is damned and might even be judged insane. There is no easy way out of this dilemma.<br />
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Diplomacy is vital. It is better to jaw-jaw than to go bang-bang! War is insane, as both Kim and Trump must realize in their more lucid moments. Both may seem crazy, but the insanity of war will not prevent their nations, and probably the rest of the world, from being driven to this Armeggedon.<br />
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War is insane. It gets us nowhere. It brings death and destruction not only to the losers but also to the victors. Victory comes at such an enormous cost that it can often be best described as pyrrhic. In the end, no one really wins.<br />
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Even the two world wars in the previous century cannot be labeled as unqualified successes. Ostensibly intended to defend democracy, the motivations for these conflicts were not as pure as they might seem on the surface. In addition, both wars laid the seeds for further conflicts in the future.<br />
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Because of this, wars will never really end. They must always carry the label, "to be continued." There will always be wars as long as human beings reside on this planet. Wars spring ultimately from the evil that resides in all of us.<br />
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That is true of all wars, past, present, and future. The only war that is the exception is the war that God fights in order to restore the creation to the purpose that he intended. That war was won by Christ decisively on the cross on Good Friday in c.33 CE, even if appearances still suggest otherwise.<br />
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This is a statement of faith. You may not agree with me about the role of Christ, but you must acknowledge the continuing nature of war. Not only Christians but also many other people of faith insist that there will always be wars until -- as I would put it -- heaven and earth are reunited and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven.<br />
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Until then, there will always be war and so will the insanity that is associated with it. War is insane. There is no justification for war. The Just War theory, as I have written in a previous post (see <a href="http://hellemanworld.blogspot.ca/search?q=just+war+theory">http://hellemanworld.blogspot.ca/search?q=just+war+theory</a>), is no longer viable if it ever was.<br />
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War is insane. It is immoral. It is absurd that it continues until the present moment and will not stop anytime soon. But stop it must. God himself will end it one day. In the meantime, he calls on us to do what we can to end wars in our age. All human beings are created in God's image. Therefore we must love them. We are commanded to love even our enemies. We are not allowed to kill them. All life is sacred to God.<br />
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If war is insane, why should it continue? Is there any rational reason or any justification for war? I think not! I hope you agree with me, especially in the face of looming Armageddon.<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-40170382346591870422017-08-30T20:04:00.000-04:002017-08-31T22:40:05.451-04:00Christians and the Trump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christians come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. They belong to many denominations or sometimes none at all. They can be found in every country of the world. They belong to different political parties or no party. Some are rich, but the majority are poor. And very few are famous.<br />
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The Trump comes in only one size, shape, and color. He lives in the United States at the most prestigious address in the country. He belongs to a political party (although some contend that he is his own party). He is rich. And he was famous even before he became president.<br />
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What are Christians to make of Trump? This question is absurd in a way since there are maybe as many opinions about the American president as there are Christians in large parts of the world. Moreover, although it may hurt Trump's ego, there are still many Christians all over the globe who have never heard his name. There are also many Christians who never want to hear his name again, except for his resignation or departure from office in some other way.<br />
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My previous post was entitled, "Dump Trump!" That represents my own personal view. Other Christians may agree with me, but some Christians will not. That is why I could not call this post. "The Christian and Trump." There are many Christians, not just one.<br />
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Thus there is no thing as <i>the</i> Christian. Their diversity precludes such a title. Even Jesus cannot be called <i>the</i> Christian. He is the Christ. but he is not a Christian. As I repeatedly tell a Jewish friend who worships in church with me but had promised his mother to remain a Jew, "Christ was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, and died as a Jew."<br />
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<i>This is not the Jesus we learned about in Sunday School</i></div>
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Christ never became a Christian, since that name refers to someone who follows Christ. For Christ that is a logical impossibility. Thus he cannot be <i>the</i> Christian or even<i> a</i> Christian.<br />
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We should not ask Christ what he thinks of Trump, although we may be able to surmise his opinion. Christ is God. God alone can make the final judgment about any human being. This includes Trump.<br />
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His followers, however, those who bear his name, do make judgments about Trump, just as I did in my previous post where I wrote that Trump must go. The sooner the better. But he must leave through Constitutional means. And his leaving must not lead to civil war.<br />
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That is my opinion as a Christian. Nearly all American Christians have opinions about Trump. They have made up their own minds about him. Many Americans (as well as people all over the globe) condemn him. But others continue to support him in spite of what he says and does.<br />
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Polls reveal that 81% of white evangelical Christians voted for Trump in the last election and many will continue to vote for him. Similarly, 60% of white Catholics voted for him. It has been observed by many that white Christians awarded the White House to Trump.<br />
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The term "evangelical" is hard to define. Today it has acquired even more negative connotations because of the association with Trump. Many who identified themselves as evangelical in the past prefer not to do so now. I admit that I find it increasingly difficult to identify myself as such today.<br />
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Christian leaders responded in different ways to Trump after Charlottesville. Leaders from mainline churches condemned Trump's but very few evangelical leaders did. The few who did condemn hatred and violence were for the most part silent about white supremacy and racism.<br />
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Evangelical leaders did not mention Trump by name. Their silence and refusal to name Trump are part of my motivation for distancing myself from these evangelicals. They give evangelicalism a bad name. That is also what motivated me to publish my previous post.<br />
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It is not too late to ask all Christian leaders, whether Catholic, mainline, or evangelical, to speak out and universally criticize Trump for his racism and his reluctance to condemn white supremacy. The people sitting in the pews largely echo their leaders. No wonder the deafening silence.<br />
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Churches everywhere must pray, of course, for those who are the victims of racism and white supremacy, but that is not enough. Racism and white supremacy must be soundly condemned. In addition, they must reject a president who openly displays such racism.<br />
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Racism runs so deep in the American soul that it is almost impossible to eradicate. But that does not mean that Christians must not attempt to do so. As followers of Christ, they are commanded to love everyone, just as God does. There is no room for hate. They must love even the Trump.<br />
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How can people listen to sermons every Sunday in which they are reminded that God loves them unconditionally, and then spew hatred against those of another color or religion? In Charlottesville, Jews and Muslims were also made the targets of hatred?<br />
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Why the disconnect between what the message Christians hear on Sunday and their behavior outside of church? How can they support a president who is a racist and a sexist (and the list seems endless)? For me, the argument against him remaining as president is very simple: Trump is a racist (and lots of other evil things) and therefore he must be dumped. QED.<br />
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Do I hate Trump? No! But I do hate much of what he stands for and represents. I must respect the office he holds and I must and do pray for him, but I despise his policies and the way he treats people, including members of his own family.<br />
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Do I hate his supporters? No! Many of them are fellow believers and followers of Christ who have chosen to support a man whose behavior is unchristian. They may be Christians, just as I am, but that does mean that I have to agree with them.<br />
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Does this support make them racists? Not necessarily. They may support him for many other reasons: abortion or the supreme court or unemployment. Their support for Trump is often politically motivated and not necessarily theological, as they would like to make others believe. What is so theological about the makeup of the supreme court?<br />
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I respect their right to support Trump even if I cannot agree with their choice. Similarly, I request that they would respect my right to advocate dumping Trump. Even when we sit in the same pew (especially then, I might add), we must respect each other's position on Trump.<br />
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Christians can and do differ on politics. They can and also do differ on theology. But they must never equate the two in such a way as to suggest that someone who is conservative in theology must also be conservative in politics and vice versa. There is no mutual entailment between politics and theology.<br />
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Christians come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. They also come in different political and theological guises. They differ greatly in every which way. In spite of the many differences, mutual respect must always be present. Above all, love must always prevail when they interact. (The same principle applies in relations with people of other faiths.) There is no room for hatred in the life of a Christian.<br />
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What I want to do post-Charlottesville is to continue to plead for the dumping of Trump. You may not agree with me. If so, please respect my right to advocate his dumping. There are numerous people, both Christians and those who are not, who agree with me even if you, for example, do not.<br />
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At the same time, I will continue to respect your right to support Trump. However, if I begin to feel that you are expressing racism and you seem to be motivated by hate, I reserve the right to criticize you for that. In turn, you may also criticize me for my political stance, but you must do it out of love.<br />
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Then, and only then can we together openly discuss Christians and the Trump.<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-42022818914794690212017-08-19T14:43:00.000-04:002017-08-23T20:24:45.054-04:00Dump Trump!<div class="tr_bq">
<i>The format of this post is different from my usual ones. This one has no illustrations on purpose. I will argue that Donald Trump has exposed himself (for what he really is), and thus I do not want to portray him naked (after all, he the president). I am not partisan in what I am writing about him. I am not American, but I am concerned about a country that I have grown to love and a people that are wonderful (much of the time). Unfortunately, they have elected a truly awful leader. Americans deserve a better president. </i></div>
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It is high time to dump Trump! He needs to go for the sake of his country (and the rest of the world). The sooner the better!<br />
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When one thought that nothing worse could happen in Trump's sad saga, along came Charlottesville. The murder of Heather Heyer was tragic, but the tragedy did not end there. President Trump has made the situation much, much worse, both by what he said and what he didn't say.</div>
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First, he blamed the violence that contributed to her murder came from "many sides." Right and left, in his opinion, were equally guilty. The next day, he moderated his remarks, on orders, it seems. But the day after that, he reverted to his previous message, muddying the waters once more.</div>
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In his now-infamous news conference, he attributed the violence equally to what he coined the "alt-left." He avoided condemning the white supremacists who had organized the rally in Charlottesville, but he blamed "both sides" for all the violence.</div>
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He did criticize neo-Nazism and racism as repugnant to Americans, but he left no doubt where his own views lay by what he left unsaid. Both what he said and what he omitted saying have made him repugnant to many of his fellow citizens as well as people all over the world.</div>
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While he is not a white supremacist (at least not yet), he has revealed how deep-seated his racism is. Add that to his misogyny and mendacity, as well as his many other shortcomings, and one must conclude that he is not the leader that America needs today. He must go!</div>
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America deserves better! Trump did not receive a plurality of votes in the last election but he did get a majority in the electoral college. Thus he is legally president, but he has failed thus far in being the president the country deserves and needs, especially today.</div>
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While American infrastructure is literally falling to pieces, Trump has failed to demonstrate true leadership. Instead, he has demonstrated that he is unfit for any public office, let alone the presidency.</div>
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He is not only incompetent but also morally bankrupt, and so self-centered that he is totally unqualified to remain as president. He must go!</div>
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Even some Republicans are now waking up and openly criticizing Trump, they are ready to ask him to leave. This message goes beyond partisanship. It is now an undeniable truth unless one refuses to see his racism, his Islamophobia, his misogyny, and the hatred that his supporters have demonstrated.</div>
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The CEOs of many major companies are already deserting him. They are no longer willing to remain on his manufacturers' councils because of what happened after Charlottesville.</div>
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Trump's revelations post-Charlottesville were the last straw for them. His failure as a businessman-turned-president is now so evident that an exodus has started. There soon may be more deserters.</div>
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His character flaws are plain for all -- except for the extremists among his base -- to see. Instead of uniting the country, he has divided it even further.</div>
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That these extremists have not turned against him is proof of the divisiveness he has promoted. White supremacists and other racists use race as a tool to divide nations. Thus they support him.</div>
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The task of a president is to unite, but that is not in Trump's character. In his worldview, there are only winners and losers. He is a winner, while everyone who disagrees with him is a loser.</div>
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Now it is high time for all Americans to join those CEOs and politicians who have seen Trump's flaws and are willing to talk about them publically. Many now also want to see him go for reasons that are not necessarily partisan. Trump has been a failure as president. A total disaster!<br />
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Unfortunately, he will not change in the foreseeable future.</div>
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He is the real loser, and he must go. The only way that the nation will be united again is if he departs. The sooner the better, in fact, for the sake of the country. </div>
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All Americans must put aside their partisanship for the moment and urge Trump to go. By impeachment if necessary, by resignation if possible.</div>
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The reasons should be obvious by now. After Charlotteville, the emperor's new clothes can be seen by everyone, except those who are blind. Trump now stands naked before the whole world. He has exposed himself. He has shamed the United States.</div>
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Now he must have the decency to go either by himself or by force. Dump Trump for the sake of the nation and indeed the whole world!</div>
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Do I expect him to go soon? No, not unless his base deserts him en mass, which is not likely to happen. </div>
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Trump may well risk a civil war in order to stay in office. The risk of a civil war in the Trump era has been rated as anywhere between 30% and 95% by experts. No one wants that.</div>
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Many Republicans are hesitant to ask for Trump's resignation because that would be political suicide in today's climate. Only if his base deserts him will that be possible.</div>
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Yet go he must. But by Constitutional means only. Anything less will guarantee civil war.</div>
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Trump has already been rated the worst president ever in the history of the republic. By any measurement, he comes at the bottom of the list. How much longer can he last?</div>
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Trump may even resort to war with North Korea if he feels threatened by the ongoing probes into his Russian connections. That same fear makes him unwilling to submit his tax returns.</div>
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Democracy itself is under threat in the Trump era. Ronald Reagan expressed that threat aptly in his 1967 California Inaugural Address: </div>
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<i>Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history, who have known freedom and then lost it, have never known it again.</i></blockquote>
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Remember these words. Inscribe them wherever possible. Reflect on them often.</div>
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And then respond appropriately by dumping Trump!</div>
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Dump Trump!</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-71267291917754993262017-07-21T17:47:00.002-04:002017-07-25T21:16:37.995-04:00An ecumenism of hate<i>My postings are not as frequent as before. I had some physical problems, including my eyes, that kept me from writing as much as I did previously. Even this post took longer than I intended, but I hope you enjoy it. The topic, "An ecumenism of hate," is religious, but it has enormous political implications.</i><br />
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"An ecumenism of hate" is how an influential Jesuit magazine describes the apocalyptic world view fostering hatred, fear, and intolerance that unites certain fundamentalist evangelicals and "militant" Catholics. Islamic fundamentalists, jihadists, and others might also be added to these hate-filled groups.<br />
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<i>La Civilta Cattolica</i>, a Jesuit journal, appeared in the mid-July/August edition and released online on July 13. The article was reviewed by the Vatican before publication, as is normal. It was written by the journal's editor, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, and Marcelo Figueroa, a Presbyterian, who is the director of the Argentine edition of the Vatican newspaper,<i> L'Osservatore Romano</i>.<br />
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The title was "Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism: A surprising ecumenism." The article, among other things, examines how this world view has influenced US culture and politics. It points especially at the administration of President Donald Trump.<br />
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One feature of this "ecumenism of hate," according to the article, is a clear "Manichean" delineation between absolute good and evil and a confident sense of who belongs in which camp. Here it cites President George W. Bush's list of nations in an "axis of evil" and President Trump's fight against a wider, generic body of those who are "bad" or even "very bad."<br />
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The authors briefly examine the origins and spread of evangelical fundamentalist thought and influence in the United States and how many groups or movements became targeted by them as a threat to "the American way of life" and then demonized. In the past, communism and feminism were perceived as the enemy; today, "migrants and Muslims" are the targets.<br />
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The article foresees a constant conflict, culminating in a final battle, between good and evil, between God and Satan. Biblical support for this conflict is found in the Old Testament accounts of conquering and defending the promised land and ignores Jesus' love in the Gospels.<br />
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The article even makes brief mention of the theological-political vision of Rousas John Rushdoony, a founder of "Christian Reconstructionism," which calls for a nation built on Christian ideals and strict laws drawn from the Bible. This "Dominionist" doctrine, it claims, has inspired groups and networks like the Council for National Policy, as well as the White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon, with his "apocalyptic" world view.<br />
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However, a theocracy with the state subjected to the Bible, the article explains, uses a rationale that is similar to that of Islamic fundamentalism. "At heart, the narrative of terror" that feeds the jihadist imagination and the neo-crusaders draw from wellsprings "that are not too far apart."<br />
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According to the authors, "a strange form of surprising ecumenism is developing between evangelical fundamentalist and Catholic integralists" as they appeal to similar fundamentalist values and have "the same desire for religious influence in the political sphere."<br />
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Evangelicals and Catholics share similar values and goals when it comes to abortion, same-sex marriage, religious education in schools, and other moral issues. Both "condemn traditional ecumenism and yet promote an ecumenism of conflict that unites them in the nostalgic dream of a theocratic-type state."<br />
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"Triumphalist, arrogant and vindictive ethnicism is actually the opposite of Christianity," they warn.<br />
The most "dangerous" feature of this "strange ecumenism" between Catholic and evangelical fundamentalists is the xenophobia and Islamophobia that promotes "walls and purifying deportations" they add.<br />
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The authors explain that these abuses in fundamentalism, as well as confusing spiritual power with temporal power, are some of the reasons why Pope Francis is "so committed to working against 'walls' and any type of 'war of religion.'" Religion must be put "at the service of all men and women. Religions cannot consider some people as sworn enemies nor others as eternal friends."<br />
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"Today, more than ever, power needs to be removed from its faded confessional dress, from its armor, its rusty breastplate," the article notes. A "truly Christian" theological-political plan looks to the future and "orients current history toward the kingdom of God, a kingdom of justice and peace"; it fosters "a process of integration that unfolds with a diplomacy that crowns no one as a 'man of Providence.'"<br />
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Vatican diplomacy, according to the article, seeks to "establish direct and fluid relations with the superpowers" without preconceived notions or automatic alliances. It is also why "the pope does not want to say who is right or who is wrong for he knows that at the root of conflicts there is always a fight for power."<br />
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The article concludes by warning that the temptation to build a false alliance between politics and religious fundamentalism is built on a fear of chaos and the breakdown of established order. That fear can be manipulated when politics increase the tenor of conflict, exaggerate the potential disorder and make people upset by painting "worrying scenarios" that have nothing to do with reality.<br />
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Religion is then used as a way to guarantee order, and a political platform comes to exemplify what would be required to get there, the authors explain. "Fundamentalism thereby shows itself not to be the product of a religious experience but a poor and abusive perversion of it," That is why Pope Francis upholds a narrative counter to "the narrative of fear" because "there is a need to fight against the manipulation of this season of anxiety and insecurity."<br />
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The pope, the authors conclude, courageously offers "no theological-political legitimacy to terrorists, avoiding any reduction of Islam to Islamic terrorism. Nor does he give it to those who postulate and want a 'holy war' or to build barrier-fences crowned with barbed wire." The only barbed wire for a Christian "is the one with thorns that Christ wore on high."<br />
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This article has been criticized by many, especially conservative Catholics. Their criticism is directed in particular at the perceived ignorance of the authors of American politics and their supposed liberalism. Whether this is true or not is beyond the scope of this post. What is noteworthy is that the Vatican gave this article its imprimatur.<br />
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That alone is enough to irk these conservatives who despise Francis. He, and many influential figures at the Vatican today, they assert, want to move away from traditional Catholic teachings, and form a new alliance with modernity. It is clear why these conservatives oppose this article. so vigorously.<br />
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What intrigues me in this article is the idea of an "ecumenism of hate." Ecumenism, as it commonly understood, is based on love. Love for those who are different; love for those whose theology may contrast sharply with our own, but who nevertheless are part of the Body of Christ because the Body by its very nature consists of many parts, each of which is necessary for the proper functioning of the whole.<br />
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The authors perceptively have noted how an ecumenical unity of sorts can be built on hatred for others and an intolerance for them and their beliefs. Such an ecumenical unity of hatred shares a world view that is not limited only to Christians of various fundamentalistic stripes but also to other fundamentalists, whether Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish or Muslim.<br />
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All these types of fundamentalism are founded on a hatred of others that often expresses itself in violence. Intolerance breeds a contempt that is not afraid to resort to violence. The goal, ultimately, is to destroy the other. That, of course, is the antithesis of love. Fundamentalism is rooted in hatred.<br />
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Fundamentalism is also Manichaean. It is a dualistic belief that there is a good/ spiritual world that is in constant conflict with an evil/ material one. The good world is associated with light, while the evil world is associated with darkness. In such a world view everything is either good or evil, white or black, positive or negative. There is nothing in between.<br />
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Theirs is a binary world in which everything is reduced to its basic simplicity. Then there are no grays, but only white or black. In that world, thinking is unnecessary, since everything is clearly right or wrong. Sacred books are interpreted literally or, if that is not possible, are manipulated to say whatever has already been determined to be correct. There is no room here for any ambiguity. Small wonder that so many are attracted to it, blindly follow leaders, such as Trump, and are even willing to die, if need be, for their cause.<br />
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Not all who appeal to the fundamentals of a belief system are fundamentalists of the type portrayed in this article. But many fundamentalists are motivated by hatred, even if they do not realize it. Some (maybe, many) evangelical Christians and Catholics have hated each other for centuries. However, they have not always been aware of the common ground they shared and continue to share on contentious issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. There are, indeed, many more issues on which they are united.<br />
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To call this an "ecumenism of hate," as the authors of this article do may sound "preposterous" to their critics, yet there is a ring of truth to it. Spadaro and Figueroa have put their fingers on some of the common elements that unite various expressions of fundamentalism in many different religions. This includes ISIS. Widespread Islamophobia does not mean that there is no common ground even with this extreme form of Islam.<br />
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The critics blame the authors for gross inaccuracy and the use of extreme language, but even the whole industry of critics that sprouted up in the days immediately following publication of the article has not been sufficient to disprove the thesis of the authors about an ecumenism of hate that unites these fundamentalisms.<br />
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"An ecumenism of hate" is indeed a special ecumenism that deserves our careful consideration. One does not have to agree entirely with the authors in order reflect on this new type of ecumenism, one that is based on common elements, but these elements are rooted in hatred rather than love, as in traditional understandings of ecumenism.<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-80701489920993293472017-06-16T20:21:00.000-04:002017-06-16T20:21:20.851-04:00An Open Letter to the President about Lying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: start;">Mister President, </span></span></div>
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<i style="text-align: start;">“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: justify;">This is an open letter to you that I am also sending to all those who read my blog. You are the reason why I have written so little on my blog. But now I feel compelled to write to you about lying. As your problems continue to mount, I suggest that you should stop lying to others and, above all, to yourself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I am sorry if it seems that I am piling on you when everyone is dumping on you. But if it seems that lying is only a minor issue, you are wrong. How can people trust you if you lie all the time? That is why I emphasize the commandment forbidding lying so much. Truth telling is a sign of integrity. Instead, we have your tower of lies.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I am hesitant to write this letter. I am writing it not out of vindictive spite but because I am concerned about your great country and its rich promise. I am concerned for my grandchildren who live in the US. I don't want to see them suffer as a result of your presidency.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Let me begin with a story, one that you probably know very well. It's a story that goes back to the very beginning of American history. In fact, it goes back even before the US began. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">To the regret of many American parents, the story that the first American president, George Washington, once chopped down his father’s favorite cherry tree is, unfortunately, a myth, but the</span><span style="text-align: start;"> story is important, nonetheless. It's the moral that counts. </span></div>
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The story goes that when he was about six years old when he was given a hatchet that he enthusiastically used to chop at just about anything in sight. One morning, he even chopped a cherry tree, eventually cutting it down. When confronted about it by his father, George hesitated but told his father, "I cannot tell a lie."</div>
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He admitted to the crime. Rather than punishing George for chopping down the tree, his father said that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees. It’s a lesson in integrity that shows one of Washington’s many supposed virtues.</div>
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Many parents have used this story to teach their children about the meaning of integrity and the importance of telling the truth. This lesson is especially crucial today when you and the former FBI Director have accused each other of being liars. That was then, this is now!</div>
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I have purposely written little on my blog recently largely because of your eccentricities. I prefer not to use your name in my blog. That is why, without apology, I omitted your name at the beginning of this letter. Eccentricity is a polite way of describing you. More bluntly, you drive me and countless other people around the world crazy, whether through your speeches, your behavior, and your tweets.<br />
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I have studiously avoided writing about you for many months. This time I am motivated by a concern for a new generation of children who may be led to believe that your behavior is normal. Let me inform you that lying is never appropriate behavior for anyone, much less a president.</div>
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The recent drama surrounding the firing of FBI Director James Comey has brought the issue of your constant lying to the fore once again. Both of you have accused each other of lying. I know whom I believe is telling the truth. Unfortunately, it isn't you. Let me warn you: if you continue to lie when you are asked to testify under oath, that will be one more item on the growing list of possible articles of impeachment.</div>
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I am not interested in the political and legal storms that you have raised ever since you became president but by your immoral behavior. You are someone who has no regard for God or any other human being. Your concern is only for yourself. You are interested only in increasing your own wealth and enlarging your own brand. </div>
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Your outrageous public comments and behavior make you totally unfit for any public office, much less the presidency. Even in your brief term thus far, you have already been rated as the worst American president of all time. Yes, you are indeed number one! First on that list of infamy! That speaks volumes, considering all the incompetents and criminals whose names are also on that list.</div>
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As president, you have revealed your disregard for God and others, especially when I measure your behavior by the standard of the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus 20: 2-17 (NIV). For those, like you, who may not be as familiar with these commandments, I have included them here.</div>
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The first four focus on our relationship with God. These are prefaced by God's reminder that he saved his people: <i>"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." </i>Then follow these four commandments:</div>
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<i>I. “You shall have no other gods before me.</i><i><br /></i><i>II.“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.</i><i><br /></i><i>III. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.</i><i><br /></i><i>IV. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.</i></blockquote>
No one can keep all ten commandments perfectly, but that is not the point. The commandments teach us both how far we fall short of God's standard and (just as important!) how we must live in thankfulness for his salvation. That was the context in which the people of Israel lived. Reading these commandments or (more likely for the Israelites) hearing them read would have been a constant reminder of their shortcomings and how they could thank him for his salvation.<br />
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You seem to pay little or no attention to either these four commandments or to the second set that focuses on our relations with our fellow human beings. For your sake again, since you don't seem to know the Bible very well. I also list these commandments:<br />
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<i>V“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.<br />VI “You shall not murder.<br />VII“You shall not commit adultery.<br />VIII “You shall not steal.<br />IX “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.<br />X “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”</i></blockquote>
The ten commandments are summarized in the great commandment to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. Of course, none of us can keep that central love commandment perfectly. The ten commandments make it quickly evident when we do not. The greatest commandment is love. God demands our love and he also demands us to love others. How about you, Mr. President?<br />
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You seemingly don't care about any of these commandments, much less the God who gave them. You worship money and power. Your name adorns buildings all over the world. You swear. And you are not known to attend church regularly, if at all.<br />
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The first four commandments deal with God. In response, you demonstrate your disregard for him. The next six commandments are immediately relevant to us when you show a total disregard for others and therefore for us, for all Americans, and for the rest of the world. We are your neighbors. You don't care about us at all. You care only for yourself.<br />
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Among other things, you are a womanizer, a thief, and an inveterate liar. And your greed is well known. Many other people all over the world behave this way, but they are not the president. As president, you are supposed to set a good example to your nation, but you don't.<br />
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Other presidents have been equally guilty of transgressing these commandments, but you as president have shown a blatant disregard for everyone, even God. Hence my concern for a younger generation who have you as their example: a president who lies so frequently and blatantly that I doubt you know what the truth is. For you, the truth is whatever you say it is.<br />
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I pity parents today. Earlier generations of parents knew the truth. And they knew the difference between the truth and a lie. They had the famous example of George Washington even if it was a myth. But that was then, this is now. Today you are the president. Now you must set an example for your nation. It saddens me to say this: some example you are!<br />
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Is it too much to expect you to change? To start telling the truth? I rather doubt it! But God is all-powerful. He can change hearts, yours included!<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-79063974397768298192017-05-15T21:04:00.001-04:002017-05-15T21:04:12.624-04:00Is America addicted to war?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Only rarely in its history has the United States of America not fought a war, and sometimes more than one at the same time. America was born in war and seemingly that has become its legacy. No wonder that many are asking the question: Is America addicted to war?</div>
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Graph 1 and 2 record all the wars the U.S. has been involved in from the American Revolution to the present. Look closely at the two graphs and it is readily apparent that there have been very few years when the U.S. has not been at war. It is remarkable that the U.S. has not become sick of war, but the explanation lies in part in its violent birth. Revolution breeds further revolution.</div>
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If we examine only the 12 major wars that the U.S. has fought, there is already enough evidence to prove this addiction. I cannot think of any other country that has been involved in so many wars for so long during its relatively short history. There cannot be any doubt that the U.S. is addicted to war.</div>
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<b>Graph 1: American Wars 1775-1900</b></div>
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<b>Graph 2: American Wars 1900-Present</b></div>
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The twelve wars in chronological order are (with the size of American involvement, death, and the reason for the war):<br />
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1. Revolutionary War (1775-83). U.S. troops engaged: 217,000. American battle deaths: 4,435. The 13 American colonies fought for independence from British rule to become the United States.<br />
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2. The War of 1812 (1812-15). U.S. troops engaged: 286,730. American battle deaths: 2,260.<br />
The U.S. declared war on Great Britain during its war with France.<br />
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3. Mexican War (1846-48). U.S. troops engaged: 78,718. American battle deaths: 1,733. The U.S. fought against Mexico over Texas and California, in the name of <i>"manifest destiny."</i><br />
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4. American Civil War (1861-1865). U.S. troops engaged: 2,213,363. Battle deaths: 140,414. The northern states and the southern states fought over slavery and states' rights.<br />
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5. Spanish-American War (1898). U.S. troops engaged: 306,760. American battle deaths: 385. Spain declared war on the U.S. because the U.S. supported Cuba's wish to be independent of Spanish rule.<br />
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6. WWI (1914-1918). U.S. troops engaged: 4,734,991. American casualties: 53,402. The U.S. joined the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan), who were at war with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey). The U.S. declared war on Germany April 6, 1917.<br />
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7. World War II (1939-45 -- U.S. involved, 1941-46). U.S. troops engaged: 16,112,566. American casualties: 291,557. The U.S. joined the Allies (Britain, France, and the USSR) to fight the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) after the U.S. forces were attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor in 1941.<br />
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8. Korean War (1950-53). U.S. troops engaged: 5,720,000. American battle deaths: 33,741.<br />
North Korea's Communist forces fought against South Korea's non-Communist forces supported by U.N. forces, principally made up of U.S. troops. The Korean War was the first armed conflict in the global struggle between democracy and communism, called the “cold war.”<br />
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9. Vietnam War (1954-75 -- U.S. involved, 1961-75). U.S. troops engaged: 8,744,000. American battle deaths: 47,410. The U.S. helped non-Communist South Vietnam fight invasion by Communist North Vietnam.<br />
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10. Persian Gulf War (1991). U.S. troops engaged: 2,183,000. Allied casualties: 147. U.S., Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Italy went to war with Iraq.<br />
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11. Afghanistan War (2002). Cause: Afghanistan’s Taliban government harbored Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist group responsible for Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Outcome: The Taliban government was ousted and many terrorist camps in Afghanistan were destroyed.<br />
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12. Iraq War (2003). Cause: Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of illegal weapons of mass destruction and Iraq’s suspected ties to terrorism prompted the U.S. and Britain to invade and topple his government. Outcome: Iraq was defeated and Saddam Hussein removed from power.<br />
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These are just the biggest mountains. If you look at the charts, you will notice how many more mountains there are. The U.S. has won many wars, but by no means all; some wars were inconclusive and others were lost. Experts conclude that the U.S. might win a war against the rest of the world combined, but victory is not certain.<br />
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The Cold War, the longest war in U.S. history, involved not just weapons and warfare but especially words and ideas. I began in 1945 and was a struggle between the U.S. and the USSR. The U.S. wanted to contain the spread of communism. The Cold War ended in 1990 with the collapse of the USSR. Even this war cost the U.S. enormous funds and contributed to the demise of the Soviet Union.<br />
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This almost constant warfare has led to the U.S. as a source for production of weapons. Warfare has utterly transformed the U.S. economy. Today that is labeled the military-industrial-congressional complex, a three-sided relationship, which results in the largest military spending budget in the world. The U.S. now spends more than the next ten countries combined.<br />
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In 2015 the spending on the military alone consumed 54% of the budget of the U.S. Aside from the question of the wisdom of spending so much on the military, this measures the cost of the American addiction to war. Not only has the U.S. waged war almost continuously since its inception it also spends more money on the military than any other country and the largest portion of the budget is devoted to defense.<br />
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The Defense Department is a misnomer. It should be called the Department of War. When presidents need to boost their popularity, they turn to the military, since such spending and the military itself are immensely popular. President Trump is no exception.<br />
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Via an executive memorandum, Trump detailed plans to fulfill his campaign promises to invest in a bigger military -- including more troops, warships and a modernized nuclear arsenal. He declared he was beginning <i>"a great rebuilding of the armed services of the United States."</i> Later he added:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Developing a plan for new planes, new ships, new resources and new tools for our men and women in uniform-- and I’m very proud to be doing that, As we prepare our budget request for Congress --and I think Congress is going to be very happy to see it -- our military strength will be questioned by no one, but neither will our dedication to peace.</i></blockquote>
Trump's comments are hypocritical and false. His proposed military buildup is a major departure from the Obama administration on national security issues. It is an ominous development in a nation that is already addicted to war. This is not what the U.S. needs at the moment. </div>
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<br />What the U.S. needs is a large-scale reduction in its military and its defense budget. It does not need almost two million men and women bearing arms and a budget that exceeds a trillion dollars a year. A country that is addicted to war is not ready to listen to the biblical message of Isaiah (2:4, New Living Translation):</div>
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<i>The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.</i></blockquote>
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<i>Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares, a sculpture by Evgeniy Vuchetich </i></div>
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<i>in the United Nations Art Collection</i></div>
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Yet this is the message that the U.S. must listen to and take to heart. The humongous defense budget can be put to better use that to support a bloated military. If there is ever to be peace on earth, then non-stop war must end. A nation that fancies itself a Christian nation must turn its swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks and overcome its addiction to war. Then and only then shall peace reign on a war-weary world. May there be peace on earth!<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-931026728064782212017-05-09T23:10:00.003-04:002017-05-09T23:10:59.942-04:00What is a good death?<i>I have decided to begin blogging again on a regular basis. Now in this Easter season I can write with new energy and conviction. I will, however, refrain from discussing politics, especially the American variety, as much as possible. But my resolution may not be enough to deter me from such a discussion if the situation in the world continues to develop the way it has. Clearly the world is becoming more and more divided. </i><br />
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<i>Today, I want to discuss a topic that affects all of no matter who we are: death. Benjamin Franklin famously observed that nothing is certain in life, except death and taxes. (This saying is now attributed to Daniel Defoe or Christopher Bullock.) I would add that the rich can avoid taxes, but no one escapes death. </i><br />
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What is a good death? This question is motivated by an article in <i>The Economist</i> on the topic of death. As the magazine explains, "death is inevitable, but a bad death is not." How does it define a good death? How would you and I define such a death?<br />
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Recently, I commemorated the death of my mother which occurred three years ago. It has been more than a decade since my father died. Both of them has led what many would describe as good -- even if difficult -- lives, but had they also experienced good deaths? I think not.<br />
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Death used to come by stealth, but that is no longer the case. Now, three-fifths of deaths come slowly and involve a slow, progressive deterioration of function. According to the article, people in wealthy countries can spend eight to ten years seriously ill at the end of life. Yet few of the 56m or so people who die each year receive good end-of-life care. <div>
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In Britain, where the hospice movement which is dedicated to providing high-quality care to dying patients arose, only about a fifth of that country’s hospitals provide access to palliative care on a regular basis.That may change through the Conversation Project in which share stories of the "good deaths" and "bad deaths" experienced by their loved ones. </div>
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Most people dread the experience of contemplating their own mortality. When death is hidden away in hospitals and nursing homes, it becomes less familiar and harder to talk about. I have lived in many countries where death is an everyday event. There it cannot be hidden; it is discussed daily. </div>
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But honest and open conversations with the dying should be as much a part of modern medicine as prescribing drugs or fixing broken bones. The article concludes:"A better death means a better life, right until the end."</div>
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As part of such a conversation, I want to share the story of my parents. Neither of them experienced what I would term a "good death," one where they in their last days were treated with the dignity they deserved and without unnecessary pain, although my father's death occurred more quickly than that of my mother and it was relatively painless. Even then, his death was not the "good death" he might have wished.</div>
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My father died as the result of a fall, yet he should have been allowed to die at home rather than in a hospital where I saw him yet in bed for a few weeks. What kept him alive, I think, was his desire to celebrate his 87th birthday, which he did the day before he died. I had to rush back from Nigeria where I was working only a month after returning there. I arrived just in time for his funeral. </div>
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<i>Some principles of a good death</i></div>
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My mother suffered unnecessary pain for many years in a nursing home before she died. I say unnecessary because she was deprived of the pain killers that could have made her last days more bearable. Only in the last week of her life was she allowed to receive as much morphine as she needed. Why? Were her doctors afraid that she would become addicted?</div>
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For a long time she also suffered the indignity of witnessing cancer eating away her face and limbs. Pain and a loss of dignity caused her to ask God to end her suffering and take her "home." She was a woman of deep faith, and yet she was not afraid to ask her children to pray that God would hasten her death. I confess that I prayed that with her on more than one occasion. </div>
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The day before her death I took a final photo of her, but I deleted it the next day because I could not bear this memento of a once proud woman. A shell was all that was left of my mother. I did not want to dishonor my memory of someone who had borne me and my siblings and had raised us with love. She prayed every day for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and not just for God to take her home.</div>
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In spite of her prayers for relief from her suffering, she enjoyed what was left in her life. Eating was one of her little remaining pleasures. Another was a little drink once in a while. Why not? She could have stopped eating and ended her life that way, but that was not her style. Only in the last week, when she could no longer eat, did that hasten her death. How sad in a way! How wonderful in another. Finally, release from her suffering.</div>
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<i>My father holding my mother's hand the day before he died</i></div>
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God granted her 93 and a half years of life, 63 years of marriage, and six children, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved all of them, sometimes too much so, perhaps, in a smothering way. And all who knew her loved her. Her's was a good life but not a good death. </div>
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Her zest for life -- at least the limited one that still remained -- did not permit her to contemplate suicide. While some of my siblings might dispute some of my claims about her, I want to retain my own memories of our mother. She was not perfect -- after all, who of us is? </div>
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But she did have a strong faith, as did my father. That was what led them to emigrate to Canada in 1951. Their emigration allowed my siblings and I to get an education. But most important, they passed on their faith. Parents sharing their faith with their children. There can no greater gift than that!</div>
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Even though she wanted God to end her suffering swiftly, my mother did not contemplate suicide, unlike Hamlet whose long soliloquy is focused, as is often claimed, on the thought of taking his own life. He is struggling with the issue of life and death -- the same issue we all must deal with. My mother struggled with that issue as well.</div>
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Listen to Hamlet as he poignantly voices the issues involved: </div>
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<i>To be, or not to be? That is the question—</i></div>
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<i>Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer</i></div>
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<i>The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,</i></div>
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<i>Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,</i></div>
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<i>And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep—</i></div>
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<i>No more—and by a sleep to say we end</i></div>
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<i>The heartache and the thousand natural shocks</i></div>
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<i>That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation</i></div>
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<i>Devoutly to be wished! To die, to sleep.</i></div>
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<i>To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub,</i></div>
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<i>For in that sleep of death what dreams may come</i></div>
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<i>When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,</i></div>
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<i>Must give us pause. There’s the respect</i></div>
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<i>That makes calamity of so long life.</i></div>
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In brief, for Hamlet death is something he earnestly desires -- it is devoutly to be wished. In his opinion, it nothing more than a sleep. However, there’s a catch, a rub or obstacle, as he calls it. The problem is that life after death is unknown and could be even worse than life. It’s a frightening thought for him. </div>
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This obstacle has a religious dimension: it is a sin to take one’s life. For this reason, the fear of the unknown, of what will happen after death, is intensified. He realizes too that death will deprive him of the action he must take: to revenge his father's death. Hence his doubts.</div>
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<br /><br />For my mother there was never such existential doubt. Her faith is evident in the text she chose for her funeral was Ephesians 5:18b-20: </div>
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<i>Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.</i></blockquote>
Singing and praising God was her joy in life and that is what she saw herself doing too after her death. For her, <i>"death has been swallowed up in victory,"</i> as the Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 15. That is why she wanted to give thanks to God for the victory over death we all enjoy through our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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There was no real doubt in her mind of this victory even if the all too human fears that we all have did arise at times; fears that Hamlet too expressed in this famous soliloquy. Therefore it is so sad that she had to suffer the way she did for so many years.<br />
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Why was she denied a good death? The answer lies not so much in an investigation of God's will, but it lies more in the way our society deals with death through refusing to provide the proper palliative care that all of us deserve. People should not have to die in hospitals, like my father did, nor in nursing homes, like my mother.<br />
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People should be allowed to die at home surrounded by loved ones. They should not die alone or only in the company of strangers. <i>The Economist</i> has provided an excellent survey of the problem that all of us will face some day: how can we experience a good death?<br />
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A good death is one in which suffering is reduced as much as possible and in the presence of loved ones. The reality of death is already terrifying enough without the suffering that too often accompanies it. My parents deserved better; all of us deserve better.<br />
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Let's begin by openly and honest addressing the question of death. As the article concludes, <i>"Death will remain terrifying for many people. Unless the way health care is organised changes, most people will continue to suffer unnecessarily at the end."</i><br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-88451697890235826912017-03-10T16:06:00.001-05:002017-03-11T13:53:58.619-05:00Giving up politics for Lent and doing something for the Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>My blogging will continue, even if intermittently. You may notice the absence of politics for the next while. Here is why. It is Lent. During Lent I also want to give up something else for the sake of the Earth. Read on.</i></div>
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I have decided to give up politics for Lent. This means that I don't want to discuss politics during the entire period, especially not on FB nor on this blog. In a previous post, I already announced that I would stop posting on FB for a while. That moratorium involves more than politics. How long I will stay off FB remains to be seen, but Lent gives me an opportunity to test my resolve to temporarily leave politics alone in this blog.<br />
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There are thousands who have made the same decision not to discuss politics during Lent. The chief political lightning rod for many, especially in the USA, is President Trump. My decision goes further than not discussing Trump. I am extending it to include all politicians and all forms of political talk. This is hard for me.<br />
I have to admit that that I have already broken this self-imposed rule once or twice since Lent started and I will probably do so again. Lord, have mercy! I confess that I am addicted to politics or at least political discussion. By temperament, I would never have made a good politician, but politics is in my blood. My family has always enjoyed political debate, as my children will readily testify.<br />
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Lent, as celebrated in many Christian churches, is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word "len(c)ten", which means "spring." The Dutch word for spring" is "lente."<br />
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The forty days represents the length of time that Jesus spent in the wilderness, where he endured the temptations of Satan and prepared to begin his ministry. But there are many other references to forty in the Bible that indicate such a period of preparation.<br />
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Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. This involves self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism.<br />
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Today, many Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. This is what I am also doing during Lent this year, as I will mention in a moment.<br />
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Let me begin with something to give up: politics or, at least, the discussion thereof. Why politics in general? The answer is spelled: TRUMP. He has given politics and many politicians all over the world a bad name. I had hoped not to use his name at all, but that is unavoidable in the context of explaining why I don't want to discuss politics for a while during Lent.<br />
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I have friends, some of whom are dual American and Canadian citizens, all of whom get livid when his name is mentioned. If only out of respect for them, I would refrain from any discussions in which his name might come up. But it is almost impossible to engage in any political discussion at present or discuss any politician without referring to him.<br />
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For the sake of my friends, my own mental health, and indeed the sake of my soul, I have decided to stop such discussions until Lent is over. Addictions can make many forms. It seems that our whole society is addicted to discussing this man. Hardly a day goes by without an organized protest taking place somewhere either for or against him.<br />
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Rarely has anyone so polarized people as much as this man. You either love him or hate him. However, since I am not allowed to hate anyone, it is difficult for me as a Christian to engage in any political discussions without transgressing the commandment to love my neighbor. The feelings he generates in me are that strong.<br />
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Of course, this will not change after Lent. But, at least during these few weeks, I can try to do what God commands me to do: to love others as myself. This commandment is difficult at the best of times, but these are not those times.<br />
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So, what can I do? My decision stems from my faith obligation to love even those who are largely unlovable. Even if I do keep my resolution during Lent as much as I can, this does not eliminate the problem I will face afterwards. It remains just as the obsessions or whatever we resolve to give up for Lent do.<br />
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Nevertheless, the attempt to control our obsessions is spiritually enriching. It may never stop them entirely, but it does strengthen our resolve to do more in the future. It signifies this as well to ourselves and to others.That is why we should not be afraid to mention our resolutions to those around us.<br />
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Such a public pronouncement can help us to keep our resolutions. That is what I am doing in this post. Yet this too is not enough. It is negative: it something I want to avoid. I also want to do something positive,<br />
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This Lent, <a href="https://cpj.ca/">Citizens for Public Justice</a> is encouraging Canadian Christians to <a href="https://cpj.ca/for-the-earth">Give it up for the Earth</a>! I am on the board of this faith-based organization. Give it up for the Earth! is a campaign that challenges us to see Lent as an opportunity to promote the well-being of the global community as we work to mitigate climate change. (Please use the links for more information.</div>
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Let me quote from the webpage of Give it up for the Earth!</div>
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<i>Give it up for the Earth! campaign is centred on a postcard that includes:</i><br />
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<li><i>a pledge to individual climate action, and </i></li>
<li><i>a call for more far-reaching national climate policy.</i></li>
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<i>The aims of Give it up for the Earth! are to raise awareness about climate change, and collect signatures as a demonstration of support for increased federal government action. How you do this is up to you!</i></blockquote>
I have my ideas and you have yours. Send them to CPJ, and they will forward them the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna. These ideas will be presented to her at a campaign closing event on/around Earth Day (April 22).<br />
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You don't have to order cards from CPJ in order to participate in this campaign. Just decide to make a change in your life for the sake of the Earth. That is a small sacrifice to make. That is what I am also doing during Lent. Your decision is vital to help reduce the effects of climate change and to save the Earth.<br />
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Give it up for the Earth! goes beyond changing personal habits like driving or eating meat everyday, taking long-haul flights or making money from investments in fossil fuel companies. as important as these are to show our commitment to God’s call to care for the well-being of people and the planet. For Canadians, it is imperative that our governments also change their priorities on climate change. We can do so by presenting our ideas to them as vigorously as we can.<br />
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This message of speaking up for stronger government action on climate is not only for Canadians. In every nation Christians are called to care for the earth. The OT prophet Jeremiah addressed the misuse that God's people had made of the land he had given them: <i>"And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination"</i> (2:7).<br />
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This message has never been more relevant as humanity faces the devastating consequences of climate change around the world, while those with the power to act do so little. As citizens of wealthy, developed countries, we have both the ability and responsibility to take action to protect creation. All faith communities increasingly recognize this.<br />
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So, this Lent I am doing something negative in givng up politics, at least for a little while. I am also doing something positive by giving up something for the sake of the Earth by making changes in our personal lives and urging our governments to do what they can to limit climate change.<br />
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I am not suggesting that you need to follow me to stop discussing politics for Lent. But I do invite you to join me in doing what we can for the sake of the Earth. I have written many times about climate change. In my opinion, climate change is the biggest threat to human existence today. Let's all do what we can to save our planet! That is the best way to observe Lent 2017.<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-58900556675645226642017-02-24T09:03:00.000-05:002017-02-24T09:03:07.921-05:00Confessions of a blogger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm back. Sort of. Blogging that is. Like Hamlet, I have pondered this existential question and decided to blog again, even if more intermittently than in the past.<br />
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Let me explain what happened and why I am beginning to blog again after a break of almost three months. It's been a long time for me as well, but there are many valid reasons and there are also some confessions.<br />
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About these confessions, don't expect anything prurient. My reasons are practical (at least for me), yet I owe everyone an explanation for my absence for these many months.<br />
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If you have missed receiving any new posts recently, my apology for that loss. If you did't, I apologize as well. Maybe I can earn your interest this time around.<br />
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Blogging is a personal experience. The postings are my own reflections on what is happening in the world, but they are also ones that I want to share with others, otherwise I would not write them. Yet blogging has created some problems for me. Thus let me begin with a few personal confessions.<br />
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First of all, I am getting older. Even though aging is a chronic condition that afflicts each and every one of us, I now realize that it is afflicting me more intensely every year. The list of my infirmities is growing. Walking has become a challenge because of back problems, but sitting behind a computer is also difficult. Moreover, my eyes are progressively clouding over, although surgery can correct that.<br />
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So I needed a break to give my body time to heal. That healing as been much slower than I expected. And thus I am back to blogging, albeit cautiously. My previous schedule of weekly postings has slowly but surely been diminishing since I started blogging about six years ago.<br />
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Both my back and my eyes have made it a challenge to keep up this schedule. Even now, it is difficult for me to sit in front of the computer for extended periods of time. This is frustrating for me. Even this post is more onerous than previous ones over the years.<br />
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For the record, in 2011 and 2012 I had 64 posts each year. In 2013 my total went down to 61 and the following year it was 49. In 2015 the total went down even further to 39, while last year, in spite of only one post in December, the total rose slightly to 41. The grand total now stands at almost 320.<br />
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The total number of pageviews over that period is approaching 600,000. One post has attracted about 72,000 pageviews, but most garner only a few hundred views each. I typically have had an average of approximately 10,000 views per month. That is still how many I receive per month after being absent for so many months. Evidently, there is interest in my blog. Enough to encourage me to take up my pen, er computer, and continue blogging.<br />
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My second confession is political. I confess my disdain for Trump. I refuse to dignify him with the title of "President." He may have been properly elected (although that system needs a major overhaul), and thus earned this title, but in my heart I refuse to acknowledge him as such. He is not MY president. I am a Canadian, thus this is true of me by definition. But I share my disdain for Trump with many Americans who also make this claim, as was evident on Presidents' Day.<br />
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Trump is perhaps the primary reason for my absence from blogging. I found it too difficult for me to write every week and avoid discussing this man. After his inauguration, my problem only became worse. I have previously referred to him as "He whose name shall never be used in my house!"<br />
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That gives you some idea what I think of him. I did not want to spend the next few months irritated by him nor have comments irritate others the same way. This break was one way of protesting the current scandal of American politics. My silence has allowed me to reflect on what is happening. America has become a pigsty, one that I don't want to wallow in it any longer.<br />
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I am not afraid to speak out publicly against Trump and his administration. The worst they could do is to refuse me entry to Trumpland. This would be a serious loss for me because some of my children and grandchildren live there, and I have many friends there as well. But I refuse to sully my mind every day by describing what is happening in Trumpland. You can read that yourself in your newspaper of choice.<br />
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A well-known Dutch theologian wrote a book some decades ago with the title (translated), <i>Politics is everything, but not everything is politics</i>. He meant to say that politics influences every part of life but it is not the most important thing in life. In the Trump era it is easy to regard politics more important than it is.<br />
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For a few weeks I wanted to step back and reassess what I was doing in this blog. Aside from Trump, I discovered that I was devoting too much time and space to politics in general, and drifting away from the role that religion plays in life, which is the central focus of my blog.<br />
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My most popular posts are not intentionally political. Climate change, has generated the most attention of my readers. This topic certainly has strong political aspects but it is not inherently political. It is, however, a religious topic since it touches on our view of the world and the place of human beings in the world.<br />
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Have we as human beings contributed to climate change? Our answer to that question is at heart a religious one. Religion, as I define it, deals with more than the existence of God or of many gods. It also deals with this world and how we perceive our role in it.<br />
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In the next few weeks and months, I hope to concentrate more on the role of religion in life, not just in the private sphere, where it has been relegated by secularism, but also in the public arena. That is where we live out our lives and interact with each other. This is where we express our faith. It is also where our hopes and our fears come to the surface.<br />
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In my future posts I also intend to explain certain subjects that interest me and, I hope, you as well. Things that I do not fully understand, and thus want to clarify, if only for myself. This too is part of <i>What in the World</i>. I could turn the title of my blog into a question: "What in the World Is . . . ?"<br />
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So I intend to veer away from the politics of Trumpland, but not necessarily politics as such. There is much that is happening in the world that has not (so far) fallen victim to Trumpism. That I will emphasize, rather than the excesses of you know who.<br />
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I hope that this confession helps to explain why I have not posted anything for several months. Health concerns are only part of the story; Trump also plays a significant role. I want to purge my soul of that awful man as much as possible. These months have been a catharsis for me.<br />
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So with some fear and trepidation I hope to return to blogging with a degree of regularity. Health issues will continue to restrain me, but my intention is to write as much as I can, but at the same time ignore Trump. The rest of the world cannot ignore him. but I will as much as possible for the sake of my sanity.<br />
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Confession, it is said, is good for the soul. If so, that is yet another step to in this cleansing process. I have bared my soul a bit. Please encourage me as I open a new page of this blog. I need to know that I am doing what you want as well. We need to encourage each other in a world that has seemingly become crazy.<br />
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<i>This post is being published on the day that my father would have turned 97. Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of his death. I dedicate this post in his memory.</i><br />
<i> </i>Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-38138719888120651972016-12-01T10:07:00.000-05:002016-12-19T13:38:33.612-05:00Whitelash, coming soon to where you live<br />
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<i>"Whitelash" is a new word coined by CNN commentator Van Jones to describe, in part, why he felt Americans elected Donald Trump as president. But the term describes an old reality: Dramatic racial progress in America is inevitably followed by a white backlash, or "whitelash." Reconstruction in the 19th century was followed by a century of Jim Crow. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s was followed by President Ronald Reagan and the rise of the religious right.</i></blockquote>
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<i>Four years ago, on the eve of President Barack Obama's re-election, I warned that his presidency could spark such a backlash. In my November 1, 2012, story headlined, "Parallels to country's racist past haunt age of Obama" . . . I examined another time when white Americans nostalgic for an old social order transformed the country. This is what happened -- and could happen again in the years ahead.</i></blockquote>
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This quotation is from the preface to an article by John Blake for CNN on the role of racism in the US in Donald Trump's election. He traces the racist backlash that has followed many events in US history, and points especially to Reconstruction in the 1870's Ronald Reagan's and Obama's elections as triggering backlashes. He attributes Trump's election in part to Obama's victory in 2008.<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "chronicle ssm" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>“This was a whitelash,”</i> Van Jones said on CNN on election night. <i>"This was a whitelash against a changing country. It was a whitelash against a black president, in part. </i></span><i>And that's the part where the pain comes. I know it's not just about race,"</i> he continued. <i>"There's more going on than that, but race is here too and we have to talk about it."</i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "chronicle ssm" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>"Whitelash"</i> is a contraction of <i>"white backlash." "Backlash"</i> itself dates back to 1815, originally used for a jarring movement caused by a machine’s parts being put into action. It is very noticeable and potentially dangerous.</span><br />
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Whitelash entered American political debates decades before this election. It was used as early as the 1964 presidential campaign, when President Lyndon Johnson and Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater squared off over the Civil Rights Act. Thus Jones's use of this term merely revives this old term.<br />
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Others have disputed the effect of whitelash on the election of Trump. Be that as it may, the reasons for Trump's victory are not of immediate interest to me. Rather, I am concerned with the storm that Trump unleashed during his campaign. The hatred that he inspired has affected many whites to say and do things that they otherwise might never have done or said.<br />
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It is undeniable that there was an underlying racial dynamic at play in the election which represented white disenfranchisement and resentment of an America that has increasingly become unrecognizable to them. This is why Mr. Trump’s slogan <i>“Make America Great Again”</i> resonated with so many people. It resonated especially with racists who form a small yet significant part of the current whitelash.<br />
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I am thinking particularly of the racist remarks and graffiti that has appeared in many cities in North America. This is one example of whitelash. Trump has enabled people who feel powerless to express themselves in these crude ways. Trump's hate-filled language has authorized them do and say these awful things. This whitelash is coming soon to where you live, if it is not already there.<br />
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Such speech and actions have always happened, but the current rash of these incidents which are racially motivated and directed at various racial as well as religious groups. In this campaign Trump managed to malign groups as diverse as Mexicans and Muslims. He put his imprimatur on such vicious attacks, and consequently some of the alt-right followed his example.<br />
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Those who do follow his example are perhaps the most extreme instances of the whitelash. There are, no doubt, many others who will not desecrate mosques, synagogues, and even churches, but they tacitly approve what these extremists.<br />
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Nevertheless, whether extremists or not, all can be identified as part of the whitelash. After Trump's campaign they feel empowered to at least think racists thoughts and some even to say the N-word or paint swastikas.<br />
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I do not mean to imply that Trump himself is a racist or that all his supporters are. Unfortunately, there are enough racists among them to warrant some of these charges. Those who can legitimately be called racists are a small yet extremely vocal group who,like their brothers and sisters that are part of the whitelash have resorted to illegal methods to express themselves.<br />
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Trump's crude speech and inflammatory language is like red meat to them. It feeds their anger and licences their further activities. While their methods are widely condemned, many who might never perform such reprehensible deeds themselves, do entertain similar thoughts. Racism is deeply rooted in the human psyche. It is often imbibed with a mother's milk.<br />
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Canada is not immune to whitelash. Kellie Leitch has centered her campaign for the leadership of the Conservative party around the call for immigrants to Canada for "anti-Canadian values." Canadians are not all like that. Some of her constituents have responded by creating a "Not my MP" movement.<br />
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North America is not the only venue for this type of whitelash. It is prevalent in Europe too, where populist or nationalist political parties are gaining influence and even coming to power, as has already happened in Hungary. How Muslim women dress has become a bone of contention, most recently in the Netherlands where the government there has banned the burka and the niqab.<br />
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God did not create human beings that way, but we are socialized to separate ourselves from others who are different. It becomes "Us" vs "Them." It does not matter if the differences are racial, ethnic, or religious. The result is alienation instead of reconciliation.<br />
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But reconciliation is what is needed. The way to counteract whitelash is through reconciling people with each other, not fomenting hatred. As I wrote in a previous post, love is the best response. Even those who desecrate houses of worship still deserve our love even when they make us angry.<br />
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Reconciliation is the task of churches. Churches are not the only agents of reconciliation, of course, but this is the<i> raison d'être</i> of the Christian Church. God sent his Son into the world to reconcile himself and humanity. At the same time, God through Christ is reconciling human beings with each other and, indeed, with the entire creation.<br />
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Whitelash may be spreading also to where you live, but the best way to counter it is to deny them the publicity they seek. That will suck out the oxygen they need, but not be confrontational. Your actions must be motivated by love. Never forget that love is stronger than hate.<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-20503159380956418772016-11-19T19:43:00.002-05:002016-11-19T19:43:38.324-05:00Responding to the election in love<br />
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America is deeply divided, as the results of the presidential election show. In the week after the election I witnessed many responses to the Trump victory, ranging from ecstasy to anger. Loud protests are occurring all over the country and even in other countries.<br />
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As readers will know, my disdain for Trump is widely shared in Canada, but I did not like Clinton either, even if she was, for me and many others, the "lesser of two evils." Americans throughout the long campaign had strong feelings for one one or the other of the two candidates, so much so that families and churches were sorely divided and friendships disrupted.<br />
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Each side found it difficult to understand why other had opted for their own candidate. "How stupid can you get!" was probably one of the milder epithets they hurled at each other. But such reproaches miss the point. Each side can provide very good reasons for why they voted the way they did.<br />
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The two sides hardly listened to each other during the campaign. Each was living in their own universe where Fox or MSNBC were the preferred channels to watch. This divide goes back a long way, long before the current election campaign. But it has grown exponentially, and now even threatens the integrity of the country, as I suggested in my previous post.<br />
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Trump won the election in the only way that really matters, through the electoral college. Clinton indeed won the popular vote, but that doesn't get her the presidency, at least not until the system is changed. If Americans want to gripe about her losing the election, then they must change the system. Protesting at this point will not change the results. Only a constitutional change can prevent that happening again.<br />
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I too have my concerns about Trump as president. Yet nothing that ordinary people like you and me do is going to change him. He is unpredictable, as everyone agrees. Thus the only thing we know for sure is that the world is in for is a tumultuous four years (at least). Some Americans are already losing sleep over this.<br />
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Other Americans might have been equally concerned if Clinton had won. They claimed they couldn't trust her, and thus they were worried about her as president. These worries were real in their eyes, just as those who voted for Clinton were worried about Trump.<br />
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Although we cannot change the election result, we can change our attitude to those who voted for the other candidate. They had legitimate reasons, at least in their own eyes, for doing so. Thus we may not blame them. The reasons for Trump's victory should not be laid at their feet.<br />
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We may disagree with them, but we must not blame them for the way they voted.. We must respect them. They are our neighbors, fellow church members, or even family and friends, And therefore we should not demonize them. As people of faith we are not allowed to do that.<br />
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A friend of mine has written an excellent editorial in which tells us to remember several things in the aftermath of one of the most divisive presidential elections in the US in recent memory. He is writing specifically to Christians who are as divided as everyone in the country is, He calls on Christians to remember several things which I will summarize and then add my own comments.<br />
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First, he want us to remember that our struggle is ultimately a struggle against spiritual forces. They may seem strange to many Western people, but in the rest of the world the realty of spirits, also evil spirits, is an integral part of their worldview. In fact, the spirit world is more real than this tangible one.<br />
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Evil is all pervasive. Good and evil can be discovered in all of us. We all need to be aware that evil is not just outside in the larger world but that it also resides within each one of us. He writes,</div>
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<i>Our struggle is against the spiritual forces of evil that infect each and every one of us. Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote, “But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being” (The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956). That line runs through every Republican and every Democrat. It runs through Christians and non-Christians. It runs through every race, gender, or class.</i></blockquote>
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If evil resides in every heart, then no one is innocent. None of us is entirely good or evil, although evil, in my opinion, can sometimes take an extreme, personal form, witness monsters like Hitler and Stalin. And there are many currents examples of that as well. Yet neither Trump nor Clinton deserves to be labelled as entirely evil as happened during the campaign and continues to happen even now,</div>
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Evil can also take structural forms, as happens in the growing inequality in the world. Inequality is perhaps the main reason for the massive support for Trump. It also underlies the growing popularism that politicians elsewhere in the world are capitalizing on.<br />
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All of us must be careful not to be caught up in the nets of these politicians with their specious appeals. Inequality is very real,but their proposed solutions, as beautiful as they may sound are not always effective. Many people who supported Clinton are equally concerned about inequality. Trump supporters are not the only victims of inequality, all of us are affected and all of us should oppose it.<br />
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Just because they voted for Trump doesn't allow us to demonize them. Many had a valid reason for voting the way they did. We must respect their right to do that. If their vote was motivated by hatred that is another matter entirely.<br />
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In war the enemy needs to be demonized before they can be killed. In elections the voters are not the enemy, and thus they should not be demonized. To demonize means to disregard their humanity and to treat them as less than human. Christians and Jews cannot do this because they believe every human being is created in the image of God. Thus the commandment not to kill. Other religions have similar prohibitions.<br />
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Instead, God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Republicans and Democrats are our neighbors, and.thus we must love each other. Jesus, in fact, commanded his followers to also love their enemies. We must not treat people who voted for other candidates as enemies, but we must love them. Always. That is the only way to heal the wounds caused by the election in families, churches, and among friends.<br />
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That love must extend even to those like Trump and Clinton whom we strongly dislike. Like and love are not identical. We must all learn to love certain people that we don not like. We must even love those who spout hatred out of their mouths. There are many political candidates and their supporters who do that regularly. Yet the only appropriate response to hate is love.<br />
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Second, my friend suggests that his readers must remember that their political and social visions, whether Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, are not synonymous with what God is doing. God is building a kingdom. but his kingdom cannot be reduced to only erasing racism and poverty nor can it be reduced to ending abortion and protecting religious liberty.<br />
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If people voted for Clinton or Trump for these reasons alone, then the scope of God's kingdom is severely restricted. Instead of encompassing the entire universe, people have limited the sphere of God's reign to mundane matters, even if they are important. That is one factor in the current "culture war."<br />
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He observes, correctly, that the so-called “culture war” is not identical to the spiritual war. The line dividing good and evil cuts through both sides of the culture war divide. No camp has a monopoly on good or evil, just as no individual is entirely good or evil. Thus we must refrain from making such judgments about others. We must demonstrate love instead of hate.<br />
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Jesus Christ alone is Lord. Christians are not allowed to put their faith in ordinary human beings. In the early history of the church, Christians were often compelled to make the prescribed offering to Caesar, but most of them refused to do that. Similarly, today Christian must refuse to grant their allegiance to anyone except Christ. To do otherwise would be to deny Christi's lordship and ultimately to limit the universal scope of his kingdom.<br />
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My son-in-law posted this on FB the other day. His thoughts are similar, and thus I want to share them:<br />
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<i>In church today we heard "How you voted doesn't change how Jesus thinks of you". This, to me, seems inherently true. If that is the case, then we as The Church should act the same way. How others in our faith community voted shouldn't change the way we think of them...we are still seeking the Kingdom of Heaven in this world together, serving together, etc just like we were before the election...lord, give us courage to treat people as people and give us strength to extend this to all our our relationships...in and outside of church.</i></blockquote>
Would that many more people would treat others with respect and love! Then the US and the entire world may still experience four very turbulent years, but Americans will be able to live together again in peace and harmony. That is my prayer.<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-23045217455994617072016-11-11T12:21:00.001-05:002016-11-17T13:37:53.427-05:00Trump, The Disunited States of America, and God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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America is more divided than ever before in living memory, so much so that it should be called the Disunited States of America as the results of the November 8 election illustrate, One half of the country is wondering how the other half could have voted for Donald Trump. The rest of the world can only look on in dismay as I did. Now, after a few days I am able to channel my dismay and offer a few remarks.<br />
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All of us had better get used to saying, "President Trump." The unimaginable has happened! And as a result, we also need to get used to talking about "The Disunited States of America." The USA is no more, it seems, except on paper.<br />
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On November 8, 2016, a new country called the Disunited States of America was born. It is not official yet, but is already a reality. This new country has had a long gestation period. Election Day 2016 was the delivery date. The birth of the Disunited States of America was inevitable after what has happened in the last few decades but even more the last few years with Trump's victory. He will be the first president of that new country.<br />
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Several questions might be asked, however: How long this new country will survive? Is it possible to bring back the old? Unfortunately, these questions are too big to answer now. At the moment, I merely want to look at what we can learn from the aftermath of November 8 about the disunity that exists in America,.<br />
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"Disunite" is in the dictionary. When used transitively, it means to cause disagreement or alienation among or within, or to separate, sever, or split; used intransitively. it means to disintegrate;or to come apart. Both uses are possible in this case.<br />
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"The Disunited States of America" is also the title of an alternative-reality novel, The country it envisions is one where the different American states never united and went to war with each other. This is not the reality we have known for so long. This name, however, strikes me as highly appropriate.for what is currently happening. The election of Donald Trump is an expression of that disunity.<br />
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The dissolution of the United States is a possibility that many people have discussed in the past. Yet most people are frightened by that idea, The American Civil War was fought to stop such a breakup. What will happen if California secedes, as some people there are now threatening to do? But what is happening today is different from what happened a century and a half ago.<br />
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What prompts today's disunity is not expressed in the divisions that exist between the various states that were illustrated aptly on the electoral map that evening, but the divisions that exist within the entire\populace. These divisions have existed for a long time, but they have never been as visible as now. That is why, after November 8, I suggest that the United States of America be renamed the Disunited States of America.<br />
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In my admittedly limited experience, the polarization in the USA has never been greater. An entire nation, as well as many people all over the world, were stunned by the results of the presidential election. Half the nation is elated and a slightly larger number are depressed. It is important to understand that this is not normal. In any election, of course, there are winners and losers.. But what is happening before our eyes is not typical of bare-knuckle politics. Something extraordinary is happening: something much more nefarious and dangerous.<br />
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The idea of America as politically polarized -- that there is an unbridgeable divide between right and left, red and blue states -- has become a cliché. What we must realize, however, is that the increasing polarization in recent decades has been closely accompanied by fundamental social and economic changes -- most notably, a parallel rise in income inequality. This phenomenon has been noted in many other countries as well.<br />
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As a result, in countries all over the globe and not only in the US, many political parties have moved right, away from re-distributive policies that would reduce income inequality. Economic inequality has fed directly into political polarization, and polarization in turn creates policies that further increase inequality. This has become a vicious circle. In America the result has been catastrophic.<br />
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Donald Trump capitalized on the growing inequality and won the election as a result. People who wanted change flocked to him. His racist, sexist remarks and his misogynistic behavior added to his appeal. They hate Obama because of his race and his policies, especially Obama Care.<br />
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Also, people did not want to vote for a .woman candidate. As the consummate insider, Hilary Clinton represented the powerful elite who did not want change. Above all, she was a woman and carried a lot of political baggage, not least her alleged untrustworthiness.. Clinton would not be able to bring about real change, not the spurious changes Trump trumpeted.<br />
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Bernie Sanders, even though he represents the far left in American politics, might have been a better choice for the Democrats. His program also advocated change, and thus addressed the concern of many young people in particular. I doubt, however, that he would have attracted much support from the "angry white men" who form Trump's core constituency.<br />
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America faces many serious problems: a costly and cruel healthcare system, an energy system that contributes to damaging climate change, and an incoherent immigration system. None of these problems can be solved or even significantly ameliorated under the present setup.<br />
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Trump was the advocate of change. He promised to undo Obama Care, build a wall on the border with Mexico.. He also denied the human factor in climate change and threatened to deport Muslims.. If Clinton had become president, the present setup would likely have continued unchanged, but she would not have adopted Trump's absurd policies. Those are not the changes that America needs.<br />
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Trump's vices seem to outnumber his virtues. He is a lot of things to many people., depending largely on their attitude to him. For those who oppose him, he is all the things that the media has repeatedly cited. How could this man be even considered for the presidency? He is a nightmare for many. Perhaps the world will wake up soon from this collective nightmare.<br />
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How does God enter into the picture? Some, even many, Christians (as well as other people of faith) blithely assume that God will bless America because they, as righteous people, have voted for certain politicians who agree with their supposedly biblical stance on issues, whether that be abortion, same-sex marriage, gun-control, immigration, and so on. These are all polarizing issues and have become more so since Trump appeared on the scene.<br />
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In Trump's case, what they overlooked is his un-Christian language and behavior. Trump has played the evangelical Christian card even more than his recent Republican predecessors. Holding up a Bible, as he has done on occasion, does not make him a Christian.<br />
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Not surprisingly, Trump's candidacy has served to polarize the American populace even more. He used the popularizing issues for his own benefit. His election victory is the result. Now the world shudders with the though of him taking office. He may be the least qualified presidential candidate of all time, as Obama has stated. His moral qualities are equally lacking.<br />
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Trump is a polarizing figure in his own right. People either love him or despise him. You cannot be neutral with regard to Trump. Those who love him were elated on November 8, while those who despised him were depressed when the evening was over.<br />
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These feelings are intense and will continue to be for a long time. The division runs so deep that I have renamed America "The Disunited States." In a previous post, I suggested that all people of faith pray for the election, praying in particular for peace and reconciliation. No doubt, many people did any way.<br />
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Thankfully, there was peace for the most part during the election itself. But the intensity of the feelings involved was evident already when many protesters in America's largest cities holding signs with the slogan, "Trump is not my president."<br />
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Since I am a Canadian, he is not my president either, but he is the president of my daughter and her family who are Americans. In my house, many of us had a sleepless night as we watched the election results. Admittedly, Clinton was a terrible candidate. This judgment has nothing to do with her being a woman. I too had hoped that the greatest glass ceiling of all in America had finally been shattered. That did not happen, not yet.<br />
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Out of 330 million Americans, surely two people could have been found to be the standard bearers for the two major parties. Would God bless America because of these two candidates. Hardly! Both are less than the best. America needs the best!<br />
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I don't want to list the shortcomings of each of them. That they already did for each other, and the media finished the hatchet job. Future presidential campaigns must never be allowed to descend to such depths again. The office of president is the most dignified one in the country, and the campaigns must demonstrate that.<br />
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What I suggest now are renewed prayers for all who were involved in this election. Special prayers are needed for Trump. Even if he himself does not fear God, we who do must pray for him, although not the way some Christians prayed that Obama would be removed from office and replaced by someone else. If we pray sincerely for the president, then we will not need to remain fearful for the next four years.<br />
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No doubt, some people may wish to go to sleep for a few years, somewhat like Rip Van Winkle did, But that is not possible. What we can and must do is pray for good leadership during the next presidential term. Then we will be able to get up every morning and great a new day. Obama promised that after a long sleepless night the sun would get up in the morning after the election, and it did.<br />
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Maybe the Disunited States of America.will become truly united again -- united in fact and not only in name. That is my earnest prayer. Please pray with me for unity. May God richly bless America!<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-68528447654056127482016-11-07T21:50:00.000-05:002016-11-11T08:03:02.779-05:00A Call to Prayer for the Election.<br />
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Pray!<br />
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That is my advice as the USA stands on the eve of this momentous election.<br />
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Tomorrow is a BIG day!<br />
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Many people will be chosen for many offices all over the country.<br />
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But one office stands out -- the presidency.<br />
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My advice is unsolicited, I concede, but it comes with the best of intentions.<br />
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It is what God commands of all his children.<br />
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He invites everyone to pray,<br />
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And so do I.<br />
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I am a Canadian, thus I cannot vote in this crucial election.<br />
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What I can do is pray, as millions around the world are also doing.<br />
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People of faith everywhere are praying -- desperately praying!.<br />
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After all, what else can we do?<br />
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Most of us are helpless bystanders<br />
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What many of us say and do will not influence the results of the election.<br />
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But the results will influence every one of us.<br />
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All that most of us can do is implore God to save us.<br />
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Whether we are Americans or not, we must pray.<br />
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Americans alone can vote, but the rest of us cannot.<br />
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If you are an American, do so, but vote wisely.<br />
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Vote as God directs you.<br />
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First of all, even before you mark your ballot, pray!<br />
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And continue to pray afterwards too.<br />
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Pray also, if you have already voted.<br />
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Join millions of others around the world who are praying for this election.<br />
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Never, in my seventy-plus years, have I witnessed such an election campaign.<br />
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Nor have most people in the world.<br />
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I don't want to describe that campaign.<br />
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It has been disgusting!<br />
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I understand how difficult this election is for many Americans.<br />
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The choices seem terrible, especially for the presidency.<br />
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That is why it so important to pray.<br />
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Pray for God's guidance as you vote:<br />
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for a peaceful election day,<br />
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and for peace after the election.<br />
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Pray that the candidates and voters may accept the results.<br />
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Pray for healing for the country,<br />
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for all Americans,<br />
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for every person in every city, town, and village,<br />
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for reconciliation in marriages,<br />
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in families,<br />
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in churches<br />
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and among friends.<br />
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Pray for all those who have been elected or reelected.<br />
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Pray for peace in the world.<br />
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An, and if you can find the time, pray also for the rest of the world.<br />
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Since they are praying for you.<br />
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God bless America! <br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-2825603937233481122016-10-28T15:40:00.001-04:002016-11-07T16:17:07.685-05:00Ashamed to be a Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am ashamed to be a man. Very ashamed.</div>
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No, I am not a transgender person who is dissatisfied with my gender identity. Rather, I am ashamed that men are responsible for so much violence against women. Men continue to persist in such behavior, so much so that I am ashamed. I am sure that many men are also ashamed by violence against women.<br />
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We can no longer tolerate such abusive behavior by other men. Many of us may have accepted it at one time, even if we did not do it ourselves, but that is no longer possible because we do not view women that way nor should society. Therefore, I feel compelled to speak out, and so must other men if this problem is ever going to be licked.<br />
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Violence against women can take many forms, including sexual assault and abuse, which I want to concentrate on this time. I have touched on this issue several times over the last few years in my blog because of its prevalence around the globe. It can be found in every country of the world and it happens in very part of society.<br />
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This time, I will not deal with violence against women perpetrated on continents other than North America. Female infanticide; physical, sexual and psychological abuse, child marriage; female genital mutilation, and child prostitution are just a few examples of such violence. Sadly, there are more,examples, too many to list here.<br />
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Instead, I want to restrict myself to sexual abuse in North America, which has made headlines recently. Donald Trump is perhaps the most infamous case at the moment. Bill Cosby's name also immediately comes to mind. Other examples can be found both here and in other parts of the world.<br />
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And going back a few decades, JFK's attitude to women was abusive, but he did this in an era when the media looked the other way. Somewhat later, Bill Clinton was not so fortunate when the media reported him engaging in questionable sexual acts that he only belatedly admitted. All of them claimed that the sex was consensual, but power structures put a lie to that claim.<br />
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As I should hardly need to explain, sexual assault and abuse is any type of sexual activity that s woman does not agree to. This includes inappropriate touching;vaginal, anal, or oral penetration; sexual intercourse that she says no to; rape or attempted rape. It can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces her to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention.<br />
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I should not have to add that such violence is always wrong, whether the abuser is a date; a current or past spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend; a family member, a coworker, an acquaintance or a stranger. In most jurisdictions, it is also illegal, although enforcement of these laws is often haphazard or totally lacking.<br />
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Unfortunately, men like Trump are in total denial when it comes to violence against women. They claim that they have never committed any form of sexual assault. And that if they did have sex, it was always consensual. Trump even adds that <i>"no one respects women more"</i> than him.</div>
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Such acts of violence are committed against women expressly because they are women. The <i>UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women</i> states that:<i>"violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women"</i> and that <i>"violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men."</i><br />
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Kofi Annan,a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, declared in a 2006 report posted on the <i>United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) </i>website that:<i>"Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime with the abuser usually someone known to her."</i></div>
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In Canada, aside from domestic and some other kinds of violence, such violence has been signaled especially in the military, the RCMP, other police forces, and even in fire departments. The sexual harassment of women in Canada's armed forces and police services is common, The evidence, both anecdotal and actual, is extensive, yet little is done about it. It has gone on for decades and continues today. The pattern is familiar: public outrage is followed by promises by the military and the RCMP to do better, but nothing changes.<br />
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To the leadership in the armed forces, the RCMP, and other police forces, sexual abuse and assault seem to constitute a public relations problem that must be managed, rather than a culture and practice that has to be expunged. In the armed forces, denial has become standard operating procedure. A former Chief of the Defence Staff has stated that he did not accept the <i>"notion"</i> that sexual violence was part of the military culture. No wonder so little has happened to correct this dire situation.<br />
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The culture of the armed forces and quasi-military forces like the Mounties promotes hyper-macho behavior in its young men in the name of unit loyalty and absolute conformity to the chain of command structures. Some men admit that within weeks that culture has changed them and made them behave the same way as their fellow soldiers or policemen.<br />
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There is indeed a sexualized culture in the military which intimidates female victims and discourages them from reporting the harassment. It's the same in the RCMP. Female members are fearful of speaking out because of reprisals against their career advancement. </div>
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Last year, a young woman hired by the prestigious Royal Military College in Kingston to run a workshop on sexual assault and consent said she was greeted by greater hostility by the cadets than she had ever experienced before. One officer cadet joked that nobody reports sexual harassment, <i>"Because it happens all the time."</i></div>
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<i>RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson, and plaintiffs Janet Merlo, center, and Linda Davidson</i></div>
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Recently, the RCMP delivered an apology to female officers and civilian members who suffered harassment, discrimination, and sexual abuse in the force. The federal government has put aside $100 million for compensation. RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson teared up as he apologized and praised the women for their courage:<br />
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<i>To all the women who have been impacted by the force’s failure to have protected your experience at work, and on behalf of every leader, supervisor or manager, every commissioner, I stand humbly before you today and solemnly offer our sincere apology.<br />You came to the RCMP wanting to personally contribute to your community and we failed you. We hurt you. For that, I’m truly sorry.</i> </blockquote>
Two factors can curse a female Mountie’s career, according to some women confidence and intelligence. One said,<i> "The more beautiful you are, the more feminine you are, the more willing you are to speak up, the worse you’ll be treated." </i>That is sexism: the objectification and the demeaning of women.<br />
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The culture that condones and even encourages violence against women is pervasive. It can be found in every military and police force in the world.Men are inculcated into that culture -- willingly or not. In such a culture, women are at a great disadvantage. The name of the game is power. Who has the power? Men, of course. They control the entire process.That is why nothing is going to change anytime soon.</div>
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Trump's predatory behavior towards women as recorded in 2005 expresses the prevailing attitude of some men in this culture. Men can do anything they want with women. An excerpt from this recording:<br />
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<i>And when you’re a star they let you do it,’ Trump says. ‘You can do anything.’<br />‘Whatever you want,’ says another voice.<br />‘Grab them by the p—y,’ Trump says. ‘You can do anything.'</i></blockquote>
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The sexists in this culture, which seems to include a lot of men, might respond by saying, <i>"Oh good! Just what we need! We can’t get enough of that!"</i> Not that they need any further justification or encouragement for their behavior. They have absolutely zero respect for women. Trump typifies their attitude.<br />
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It is no wonder that women are demanding an independent body, outside the chain of command, to examine complaints of sexual harassment. The existing power structure prevents a fair examination., But more is needed; much more!</div>
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There are many types of violence against women that I have not discussed. There is no real hierarchy when it comes to violence; all are equally objectionable. Violence directed against men is also wrong. Unfortunately, men are also frequently victims of bullying, especially in the military.<br />
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Enough is enough! Men and women are equals and must treat each other the same way. Women must no longer be treated as subordinates. The whole power structure must be changed. Women must enjoy full human rights, and these rights have to be codified as positive laws and then, most crucially, be properly enforced. If all that happens, then violence against women would be reduced and eventually stopped.</div>
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As a final note, I want to speak to those Christians who argue that the Bible supports the subordination of women. While I do not intend to refute them by discussing specific biblical verses, I would point out to them that the best way to understand the Bible yeaches is through discerning where the biblical texts are placed in the larger biblical story.</div>
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The subordination of women looks back to the situation of a fallen humanity. But now, since the death and resurrection of Christ, such subordination is no longer relevant. In the new creation that he ushered in, a new relationship between men and women is possible. This relationship excludes all forms of violence, including violence against women. In Christ, all of us are new creatures who are commanded to love one another. </div>
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If all people loved each as they should, there would not be any violence at all. Although the fulfillment may have to wait for some future time, we may start now already. The United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 54/134 has designated November 25 each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women . We don't have to wait until November 25 to act. Men and women must work together to end this violence. Enough is enough!</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-69404308726798167792016-10-22T16:19:00.002-04:002016-10-26T11:50:41.224-04:00Evangelicals dump Trump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>With the US election only two weeks away as I am writing this, I hesitated about writing another post about Donald Trump. We are so offended by him that in our house that we have started referring to him as, "He whose name will not be mentioned." However, I do want to mention this letter from a large number of evangelical leaders which expresses much of what I would want to say in the waning days of the election campaign. Even though I am not an American, I feel strongly that Christians, as well as all people of faith, must speak out strongly against what this man stands for. </i><br />
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At the beginning of October, a very diverse group of evangelical Christians published a letter condemning Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his candidacy. In it they argue that his campaign <i>"affirms racist elements in white culture"</i> and is, therefore, unacceptable to them as Christians.<br />
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The letter, which was signed by nearly 80 prominent evangelical leaders, thinkers, authors, and pastors, decries Trump’s attacks on women, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, and the disabled, saying such vitriol is an affront to the Christian faith. The signatories say they reflect a more diverse coalition of evangelicals than what is often portrayed in the media or has been courted by Trump:<br />
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<i>A significant mistake in American politics is the media’s continued identification of ‘evangelical’ with mostly white, politically conservative, older men" the statement reads. "We are not those evangelicals.</i></blockquote>
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They describe themselves as diverse in ethnicity, gender, age, denomination, churches, and political orientation. They are also growing. They add. "Given the rich diversity within our unity, we call upon the political world to hear all our voices, and for the media to acknowledge that the evangelical community is quite diverse."<br />
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They explain: <i>"As evangelical Christians, we believe our hope and allegiance rests in the person of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, and Lord of our lives."</i> For this reason, they insist they are not partisan, although some people dismiss them that way. That is not fair, as they add:<br />
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<i>That is why no politician, party, movement, or nation can ever command our ultimate loyalty. As citizens both of the Kingdom of God and this world, we vote with humility, knowing that our favored candidates always fall short of biblical values. We recognize that despite our unity in Christ, we will inevitably disagree about which political stances come closest to the heart of God for our nation.</i></blockquote>
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But this letter was prompted by the candidacy of Donald Trump. They begin by declaring: <i>"Imperfect elections and flawed candidates often make for complicated and difficult choices for Christians. But sometimes historic moments arise when more is at stake than partisan politics--when the meaning and integrity of our faith hangs in the balance. This is one of those moments."</i></div>
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Trump's campaign, they insist<i> "is the most recent and extreme version of a history of racialized politics that has been pursued and about which white evangelicals, in particular, have been silent."</i> They bemoan that silence and attribute the current political environment to it.</div>
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They conclude with the affirmation:<i>"We, undersigned evangelicals, simply will not tolerate the racial, religious, and : gender bigotry that Donald Trump has consistently and deliberately fueled, no matter how else we choose to vote or not to vote."</i> And they invite other evangelicals to join them in this declaration.</div>
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While the signatories had no shortage of criticism for Trump, they carefully avoided endorsing his opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. That is an indication of their non-partisanship. This letter is directed against Trump, not the Republican party, although Republicans chose him as their candidate. In this election, some Democrats and Independents will also vote for Trump. That is to whom this letter is addressed, not to the parties as such.<br />
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Evangelical leaders, like all other voters, should be allowed to voice their political preferences publically. The signers of this declaration did so publically, but in a private capacity and not as a representative of any church.<br />
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Churches as institutions, have to tread carefully so that the gospel is not used for political ends. That would be a misuse of the gospel. But there are times when the gospel compels people to action. That is the case now, as these evangelical leaders insist:<br />
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<i>Because we believe that racial bigotry has been a cornerstone of this campaign, it is a foundational matter of the gospel for us in this election, and not just another issue. This is not just a social problem, but a fundamental wrong. Racism is America's original sin. Its brazen use to win elections threatens to reverse real progress on racial equity and set America back.</i></blockquote>
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That is bold language. It requires courage to speak so boldly, but sometimes the times demand it. This is what the Barmen Declaration did in 1934. The Theological Declaration of Barmen, to give it its full title, was a document adopted by Christians in Nazi Germany who opposed the German Christian) movement. </div>
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In the view of the delegates to the Synod that met in the German city of Barmen in May 1934, German Christians had corrupted church government by making it subservient to the state and had introduced Nazi ideology that contradicted the Christian gospel into the German Protestant churches.</div>
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The Declaration was mostly written by the Reformed theologian Karl Barth but was modified as a result of input from several Lutheran theologians. I do not mean to imply that Trump's campaign should be equated with the Nazis, but rather that the racism that Trump trumpets demands a similar response from Christians today.</div>
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Racism and misogyny and the other activities (read, sins) that Trump tries to make respectable have no place in the public square where politics is played, much less in the churches where believers go to hear the gospel. But that same gospel can and, indeed, must also proclaimed in the public square.</div>
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Contrary to what some evangelical Christians maintain, religion and politics do mix. Religion influences politics and politics influences religion. Most of us would agree since there are many historical examples that can be adduced to prove their mutual influence. They do mix.</div>
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I admit that politics should not play a role in the church and the church as an institution should not interfere in politics. But that does not mean that Christians must desert the public square and avoid politics. That would be foolish. That way politics is left to non-Christians (such a Donald Trump).</div>
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Christians, whether individually or as a group, can and should speak out in the public square since that is where politics is done. That is what those who signed this letter have done. They write: </div>
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<i>We see this election as a significant teachable moment for our churches and our nation to bring about long-needed repentance from our racial sin. Out of this belief, we have written this declaration, inviting you to be part of what we have learned from one another and long to see in the churches and the world—a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human lives.</i></blockquote>
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And thus they invite others to join them in their protest: <i>"We invite you to stand with us, join in this declaration, and pass it along to your friends, congregants, pastors, students, and the diverse evangelical church." </i><br />
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Instead of condemning these leaders, as some have done, you and I should add our signatures to this long and growing list. More than 80 people have signed the published version. Others have done by signing the petition at change.org. I invite you to affix your name to this important document before the election. You can do so by using <a href="https://www.change.org/p/donald-trump-a-declaration-by-american-evangelicals-concerning-donald-trump">this link</a> just as I did.<br />
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If you are an American, you can also cast a vote against Trump by voting for one of the other candidates. If you don't want to vote for Clinton, you can leave that part of the ballot blank. The important thing is this: don't vote for Trump!<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-49076031839974114092016-10-12T14:24:00.003-04:002016-10-21T11:45:30.227-04:00Ukraine and Turkey: Divided, yet Connected<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i>I have not written any posts for several weeks because of a trip to Ukraine and Turkey. This was for both business and family reasons. It offered me some new insights into the situation of both countries. I visited both Kyiv and Istanbul, as well as a Ukrainian city in the Russian-speaking zone. I have been in both countries before, yet every time much has changed. I did not visit Crimea, but it is very much involved.</i><br />
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Ukraine and Turkey are very close -- one can fly from Kyiv to Istanbul in two hours -- but they are also very far apart. Their histories are closely intertwined, and yet they might as well be living on different planets. The Black Sea, on which these two countries are located, both unites them and also separates them.<br />
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There is more. Ukraine belongs to the Orthodox Christian world, while Turkey has been Muslim since 1453 when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. Yet almost five hundred years before this, at the time of Vladimir the Great, Orthodoxy was chosen as the religion of what is today Russia and Ukraine after Vladimir's emissaries reported that in Constantinople they had been transported into heaven.<br />
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Turkey is where the seven churches of Revelation were located. This is where the Christian Church flourished initially. This is the home of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Ecumenical Patriarch still makes his home in Istanbul. I have visited this church several times. But is dwarfed by all the mosques that now tower over the city. It is obvious which religion controls the city. Today Ukraine is Christian and Turkey Muslim.<br />
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They are also divided ethnically. Ukrainians are predominantly Slavs and Turks are mostly Turkish. Their languages are not related. Ukraine is itself divided into Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking sectors. The latter constitute about 30% of the population, although nearly everyone learns Russian in school, but that is now changing.<br />
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What surprised me during my stay in Ukraine is the response of the Russian-speakers to the annexation of Crimea and the attempt to absorb may of the Russian-speaking areas. These people, almost unanimously, have sided with Ukraine.<br />
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Ukrainian nationalism is at an all-time high. Ukrainian flags are everywhere and the names of cities and town have been changed to their Ukrainian form. Signs on the streets are in Ukrainian and English, while the use of Russian has been reduced.<br />
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In Crimea, which was Ukrainian until Russia annexed it 2014, there is a sizable Tatar community who speak a language that is related to Turkish. These Tatars do not like the Russians. There are historical reasons for their animosity. The Crimea plays a crucial role in this history, which is worth examining in some detail.<br />
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The Crimean Tatars emerged as a nation at the time of the Crimean Khanate, which was a Turkic-speaking Muslim state that was among the strongest powers in Eastern Europe until the beginning of the 18th century. The Tatars, a Turkic ethnic group, now make up 12 percent of the population of Crimea. <br />
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The Crimean Tatars mostly adopted Islam in the 14th century and thereafter Crimea became one of the centers of Islamic civilization. The Khanate was officially a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire with great autonomy after 1448. The Tatars ruled the Black Sea peninsula until the Russians conquered it in the 18th century.<br />
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The Russo-Turkish War (1768–74) resulted in the defeat of the Ottomans by the Russians, and according to the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (1774) signed after the war, Crimea became independent and Ottomans renounced their political right to protect the Crimean Khanate. After a period of political unrest in Crimea, Russia violated the treaty and annexed the Crimean Khanate in 1783.<br />
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A treaty signed between the Russian and Ottoman Empires on April 19, 1783 transferred Crimea from Ottoman to Russian control The treaty promised that if Crimea ever became independent or was transferred to a third party, it should fall under the control of the Ottomans once more. The Turkish government chose not to pursue such a claim in 1991 when Ukraine became independent of the Soviet Union.<br />
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This claim was made by the Turkish newspaper <i>Hürriyet,</i> which argued that if the Autonomous Republic of Crimea announced its independence, then it falls under Turkish rule. However, the first article to actually make the claim regarding the 1783 treaty came from Ceylan Ozbudak, a television presenter and political analyst based in Istanbul, on March 1, 2014, who wrote for <i>Al Arabiya,</i><br />
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She used that claim as the backdrop for her opinions on what steps the current Turkish government should take in mediating the dispute between Russia and Crimea. Unfortunately, the treaty did not, contrary to these claims, transfer Crimea to Russian control, nor did it promise that it should go to the Ottomans if Crimea became independent.<br />
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In fact, the treaty actually guarantees the independence of Crimea and says nothing of its possible transfer to Ottoman rule. This claim is an example of sloppy journalism. Sources should always be carefully checked. Yet many Turks, including those who are well-versed in Turkish politics, still believe this, probably because Turks want t believe it.<br />
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The Crimean Tatars do have more than one bone to pick with Russia. In May 1944, shortly after Soviet troops drove German forces from Crimea, Josef Stalin accused the Tatars of collaborating with the enemy and ordered their deportation. About 250,000 Tatars were shipped in freight trains to Central Asia, where more than 40 percent died of hunger and disease.<br />
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Many Tatars later returned to Crimea in the years before and after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, which led to Crimea becoming part of an independent Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against the Crimean Tatars "becoming pawns" in disputes between countries, in particular between Russia and Ukraine.</div>
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Though Russia has control over the peninsula, its sovereignty remains disputed as Ukraine and the majority of the international community consider the annexation illegal. A range of international sanctions remain in place against Russia and a number of named individuals as a result of the events of 2014.</div>
In March 2014, following the ousting of the Ukrainian president in the Ukrainian revolution and the subsequent takeover of the region by pro-Russian separatists and Russian special forces, local authorities held a referendum on "reunification with Russia", the official result of which was a large majority in support. The Tatars, understandably, did not agree.<br />
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The Russian Federation then officially annexed Crimea and now administers it as two federal subjects: the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. Ukraine does not recognize the annexation and, backed by most of the international community, continues to assert its right over the peninsula.<br />
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With so much both uniting Ukraine and Turkey as well as dividing it, it is no wonder that Crimea continues the focal point of these disputes. There are many reasons why Turkey sides with Ukraine, in spite of the latter's many ties with its Slavic and Orthodox neighbor and the enormous differences there are between Turkey and Ukraine.<br />
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Yet there is much that continues to tie these two countries, much of it revolving around Crimea. By visiting Ukraine and Turkey, I have gained a deeper insight into these two countries and their relationship to each other, especially because of Crimea.<br />
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Religion and politics are intertwined in the relationship between Ukraine and Turkey. Turkey may be cozying up to Russia at present, but its historical ties are with Ukraine. They are not married to each other, but could be, if history were the gauge. Another lesson I learned is that Crimea should become independent again. That is one way to resolve the problem raised by the Russian annexation.<br />
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Ukraine and Turkey are divided, but there is much that connects them.<br />
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-46873529251709826612016-09-11T19:36:00.002-04:002016-10-12T12:46:13.092-04:00Mother Theresa: Sinner or Saint?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mother Theresa was canonized by Pope Francis at a ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people on 4 September 2016 in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. About 1,500 homeless people from all over Italy attended. The ceremony was also streamed online on the Vatican channel. She is now officially known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.<br />
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In the Catholic Church,the title <i>"Saint"</i> denotes a person who has been formally canonized, that is, officially and authoritatively declared a saint, by the Church and is therefore believed to be in heaven, A <i>"saint"</i> is anyone in heaven, whether recognized on earth or not. The Catholic Church teaches that it does not <i>"make"</i> or <i>"create"</i> saints, but rather recognizes them upon proof of their <i>"holiness"</i> or likeness to God<br />
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Formal canonization is a lengthy process, often of many years or even centuries, The first stage in this process is an investigation of the candidate's life by an expert. After this, the official report on the candidate is submitted to the bishop of the pertinent diocese and more study is undertaken. The information is then sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the Holy See for evaluation at the level of the universal Church.<br />
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If the application is approved, the candidate may be granted the title <i>"Venerable"</i>. Further investigation may lead to the candidate's beatification with the title <i>"Blessed"</i>. Next, and at a minimum, proof of two important miracles obtained from God through the intercession of the candidate are required for formal canonization as a saint. These miracles must be posthumous.<br />
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Finally, after all of these procedures are complete, the Pope may canonize the candidate as a saint for veneration by the universal Church. For Mother Theresa all these steps, including the two miracles, were fulfilled, and thus she was canonized.</div>
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<i>Canonization of Saint Theresa of Calcuta on 4 September 2016 in St. Peter's Square</i></div>
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Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, on 26 August 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent. At the age of twelve, she felt strongly the call of God. She knew she had to be a missionary to spread the love of Christ. At the age of eighteen she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. After a few months' training in Dublin she was sent to India, where on 24 May 1931 she took her initial vows as a nun.<br />
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The suffering and poverty she glimpsed in Calcutta made such a deep impression on her that in 1948 she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums there.<br />
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On 7 October 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Holy See to start her own order, The Missionaries of Charity, whose primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.008px; line-height: 20.8128px;">I</span>n 1965, the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.<br />
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The Society of Missionaries has spread all over the world, including the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. They provide effective help to the poorest of the poor in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and they undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes such as floods, epidemics, and famine, and for refugees.<br />
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Mother Teresa's work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world. She has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize and the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding. She also received the Balzan Prize and the Templeton and Magsaysay awards.</div>
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In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, <i>"for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace."</i> She refused the conventional ceremonial banquet given to laureates, and asked that the $192,000 funds be given instead to the poor in India, that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world's needy. </div>
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When Mother Teresa received the prize, she was asked, <i>"What can we do to promote world peace?" She answered "Go home and love your family.</i>" Building on this theme in her Nobel Lecture, she said: <i>"Around the world, not only in the poor countries, but I found the poverty of the West so much more difficult to remove."</i><br />
Mother Teresa died on 5 September 1997. The Holy See then began the process that would lead towards canonization. Her postulator, the person who guides a cause for beatification or canonization through the judicial processes, has<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span>said, <i>"We didn’t have to prove that she was perfect or never made a mistake.," </i>but he did have to prove that Teresa was of heroic virtue.</div>
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A saint is still a sinner, as Martin Luther affirmed when he penned the famous Latin phrase:<i> "Simul Iustus et Peccator."</i> By this he meant that while a Christian is legally declared to be righteous in the sight of God on the basis of Christ’s perfect work, they will continue to commit sin in this life. Until they are glorified, Christians are both saints and sinners.</div>
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<i>In traditional Christian iconography, saints are often depicted with halos, a symbol of holiness; note how Judas Iscariot at the forefront is the only apostle without a halo.</i></div>
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The same is true of Mother (now Saint) Teresa. According to some of her critics, her clinics have received millions of dollars in donations, yet their conditions were criticized for a shortage of medical care, systematic diagnosis, and necessary nutrition. They charged that <i>"Mother Teresa believed the sick must suffer like Christ on the cross."</i></div>
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One of Teresa's most outspoken critics was Christopher Hitchens, who wrote in a 2003 article, <i>"This returns us to the medieval corruption of the church, which sold indulgences to the rich while preaching hellfire and continence to the poor. [Mother Teresa] was not a friend of the poor. She was a friend of poverty. She said that suffering was a gift from God. She spent her life opposing the only known cure for poverty, which is the empowerment of women and the emancipation of them from a livestock version of compulsory reproduction."</i> He has also accused her of accepting contributions from dictators.</div>
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Mother Teresa experienced doubts and struggles over her religious beliefs which lasted nearly 50 years until the end of her life, during which<i> "she felt no presence of God whatsoever, neither in her heart or in the Eucharist." </i><br />
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Her postulator reported that Mother Teresa expressed grave doubts about God's existence and pain over her lack of faith: <i>"Where is my faith? Even deep down ... there is nothing but emptiness and darkness ... If there be God—please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul."</i></div>
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He thought that some might misinterpret her meaning, but for him her faith that God was working through her remained undiminished, and that while she pined for the lost sentiment of closeness with God, she did not question his existence. He compared her comments to the 16th-century mystic St. John of the Cross, who coined the term the <i>"Dark Night of the Soul."</i> According to him, other saints have had similar experiences of spiritual dryness, .</div>
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That believers are both saints and sinners, as acknowledged by Luther, is widely affirmed in most Christian denominations. Protestants typically use the word "saint" to refer to anyone who is a Christian. This is similar to how the Apostle Paul in his letters addresses the recipients as "saints" or holy people.</div>
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All Christians need to be aware that they are at the same time both saints and sinners. That knowledge keeps them humble and consciously dependent upon God’s grace. If they refuse to identify themselves as sinners as well as saints, they risk the danger of deceiving themselves about their sins. That is part of the paradox of the Christian life.<br />
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Someone who fails to see this is likely to end up blind to their sins and embrace a form of self-righteousness, but they may also tragically break down in a state of spiritual depression when the presence of sin in their life becomes apparent despite their best efforts to live the Christian life.<br />
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For whatever reason, Mother Therese experienced depression much of her life. Yet she lived an amazing and productive life. <i>"Simul Iustus et Peccator"</i> is what she experienced in a very personal way. She is both saint and sinner, as are all Christians.</div>
Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-75636365066706903922016-09-11T19:05:00.001-04:002016-09-13T10:40:15.901-04:00Should Christians vote for Trump? Part Two: Jesus, Trump and Poverty<i>This is the second of a series on why Christians (and other people of faith) should not vote for Donald Trump.</i><br />
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In the first part of this series I contrasted the humility of Jesus with that of Trump. Who would you vote for, I asked: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">Jesus or Trump? I stated there that these two men couldn’t be more different; they are polar opposites from each other, and thus I wondered how they can have so many worshipers in common; that is beyond belief.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">One is the epitome of humility while the other is an arrogant and narcissistic fool. Unfortunately, many of Trumps supporters overlook his failings because they feel he is one of them. They identify with him. But how can they do that when the difference between them is like day and night?</span><br />
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But there many more areas where these two men differ. For that, I want to return to Luke 14, where the story is told of a dinner at the house of a Pharisee that Jesus attended. In the first part of the story, he had criticized the Jewish leaders for their arrogance in choosing the best seats at the dinner table.<br />
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But Jesus wasn't finished yet with his dinner-time lesson. He also criticized his host who had invited him and the other Jewish leaders for inviting only their friends, relatives, and other rich people to their dinners. He told them off for not inviting the poor and the disabled, who need a dinner. Besides, they can't return the favor.<br />
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What he told them is the gospel: it is good news for the poor. The poor are the ones who ought to be invited. They are the ones who deserve an invitation and not those rich, arrogant fools who think they are better than anyone else. “Blessed are the poor,” Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount.<br />
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<i>Is this the Jesus we can expect when Trump is president?</i></div>
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Psalm 122: 9 contrasts two very different attitudes to the poor. On the one hand, there are those of whom the psalmist says, <i>"They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor."</i> But of the wicked, the psalmist says, <i>"The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing."</i></div>
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The poor were excluded from this dinner. The disabled had also been excluded by the Jewish leaders. However, in Jesus' kingdom, as I have explained in a previous post, the poor and those who are disabled will receive special attention. The kingdom of Jesus is an up-side-down kingdom where different values are observed. There is no room in that kingdom for those who do not welcome the poor and the disabled. Jesus here is not only giving a lesson on humility but also on hospitality.<br />
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Right after these two lessons in Luke 14, Jesus taught a parable about a great banquet to which many people have been invited. However, some people gave excuses because they did not want to attend. Jesus himself is the one who has issued the invitation to this great eschatological banquet. Many have been invited, but a special invitation is reserved for the poor and disabled.<br />
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Only those who are arrogant and unconcerned about the poor and disabled are excluded -- or better, they have excluded themselves. They claim they are too busy to come. That sounds a lot like Donald Trump, doesn't it? What would his excuse be? I am too busy running for the presidency? Anyway, Trump is interested only in money! He doesn't have time for God.<br />
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I am telling this biblical story because this post is intended especially for those in the US who claim to be followers of Jesus but are intent on voting for Trump. To them, I say this: You must choose one or the other of these two; you cannot serve both at the same time.<br />
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On the issue of the poor, Trump's record is poor. He has affirmed his support for the poor on many occasions: He has stated: "In fact, actually, the people I resonate best with are poor people and people that are really blue collar. That seems to be a base that I have. I have a tremendous base. Those are the people that like me. …I think the people that like me the least are the rich people."<br />
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Indeed, the poor do love Trump, but he doesn't reciprocate. Incredibly, he has told a newspaper that he thinks poor people, the people want to vote for him, are morons, His policies are intended to help the rich, not the middle class, much less the poor, in spite of what he says about loving the poor.<br />
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Trump has been called the wealthy poor boy. He is fabulously wealthy; He owns homes in Manhattan; Palm Beach; upstate New York; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Rancho Palos Verdes, California; as well as hotels, apartment buildings and resorts all over the planet. He even has his own fleet of planes, all bearing the Trump label. But he is not an advocate for the poor.<br />
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Yet he is poor: he doesn't realize his need for God. He attributes his wealth to the American work ethic. He regards himself as self-made man (with a little help from his daddy). Thus he is critical of welfare and extols the value of work:</div>
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<i>That's what I find so morally offensive about welfare dependency: it robs people of the chance to improve. Work gives every day a sense of purpose. A job well done provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. I love to work. In fact, I like working so much that I seldom take vacations. Because I work so hard, I've been privileged to create jobs for tens of thousands of people. And on my hit show "The Apprentice", I get to work with people from all works of life. I'm known for my famous line, "You're fired!" But the truth is, I don't like firing people. Sometimes you have to do it, but it's never fun or easy. One of my favorite parts of business is seeing how work transforms people into better, more confident, more competent individuals. It's inspiring and beautiful to watch.</i></blockquote>
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Both Trump and Hilary Clinton have this in common: both promise to help Americans find jobs, but neither has said much about helping people while they are not working. The US has the deepest poverty of any developed nation, but you would not know it by listening to them. It’s not at all unusual for people running for president not to talk about poverty, but that does not excuse Trump from not siding openly with the poor. Sadly, Clinton is no better.<br />
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In <i>Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis,</i> J.D. Vance, a Yale Law School graduate who grew up in the poverty and chaos of an Appalachian clan, gives a voice and presence in the public square to the poor of America. He helps to explain why in the poorest parts of West Virginia you can see nothing but TRUMP signs. Vance explains that these people -- his people -- are struggling, but laments the fact that not a single political candidate speaks to those struggles. Not even Trump.<br />
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Trump uses the poor just as he does other groups. They support him, but that support is not deserved if measured by what he has done for them: Zero! Nada! In fact, he has consistently made their situation worse and continues to do so.<br />
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Trump has filed for bankruptcy four times, which makes him the top filer in recent decades. All of them involved hotels and casinos and all were Chapter 11 restructurings, which lets a company stay in business while shedding debt it owes to banks, employees, and suppliers. He makes no apologies for having much of his debt wiped ou. <i>"These lenders aren't babies,"</i> he says,<i>"These are total killers," </i>He should look at himself in the mirror, then he will see a morally-bankrupt person who does not deserve to become president.<br />
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His bankruptcy is also illustrated by his refusal to pay suppliers and workers on numerous occasions. That is how he treats the poor who work for him. According to Forbes, his trade policies threaten to make the poor even poorer. Indeed, in that event, all Americans will become poorer. Trump doesn't care, as long as he can continue to make money.<br />
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Who has demonstrated more concern for the poor: Jesus or Trump? What a question! When Jesus began his ministry, he told his listeners that he has been appointed to preach good news to the poor. He demonstrated his love for them by sacrificing himself on the cross.<br />
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In contrast, Trump is a narcissistic egoist who has never demonstrated any genuine concern for the poor, except as part of a staged political ploy. The man is a hypocrite! Some people have even compared him with the Anti-Christ. That might be a bit unfair, but he is an evil man who no person of faith should support.<br />
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Whom will you choose? You cannot serve both of them at the same time. You must either follow Jesus and reject Trump at the ballot box, or you may vote for Trump, but then you will be denying Jesus. That is how stark the choice is. You cannot serve both God and money. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians think they can, but they are wrong.<br />
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If you truly love God, you must also love the poor. That is what God commands all believers. Therefore, there is only one choice you can make on Election Day. To do anything else would be blasphemous. Don't join Trump in his blasphemy and evil deeds!<br />
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Instead, vote for the poor. If only the name of Jesus would be on the ballot, that would make voting so much easier. But this year you can still vote for the poor by not voting for Trump.<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-82993514314859611222016-09-01T21:50:00.000-04:002016-09-14T15:42:57.356-04:00Should Christans vote for Trump? Part One: Jesus, Trump, and Humility<div class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>I want to begin a new series of posts asking the question: Should Christiansvote for Donald Trump? The idea came out of a sermon that I recently delivered. There I did not make the comparison directly, but it was implied. Here I want to make it explicitly. </i><i>I am a Canadian and thus cannot vote in the US, but I am troubled that so many American fellow believers support Trump. My contention is that one cannot be a Christian and at the same time support a man whose behavior is so contrary to the Christian faith. </i><br />
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Jesus or Trump? These two men couldn’t be more different. They are polar opposites from each other. How they can have so many worshipers in common is beyond belief. According to many polls, three-fourths of Evangelicals (who belong to many Christian denominations) want Donald Trump to become the next president. They love him!</div>
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However, Trump is someone who has been divorced several times, mocks the disabled, denigrates women, engages in juvenile name-calling, disparages Mexicans and Muslims, encourages Russia to hack the emails of Americans, and -- most notably -- has devoted his life to the accumulation of money. How can so many Christians vote for him?<br />
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As the election date draws closer, I want to do what I can to persuade them otherwise. I also want to encourage those who despair when they witness his egregious behavior. Today I want to contrast Trump and Jesus. That is not a fair comparison, of course, since Jesus is incomparably greater than Trump, no matter what the latter thinks of himself.<br />
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I want to contrast them in terms of humility. In future posts, I want to raise other areas where they differ greatly and thus force Christians, especially Evangelicals, to re-examine their support for Trump.<br />
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One is the epitome of humility while the other is an arrogant and narcissistic fool. Unfortunately, many of Trumps supporters overlook his failings because they feel he is one of them. They identify with him. But how can they do that when the difference between them is like day and night?</div>
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The gospel writer Luke, in chapter 14, tells the story of Jesus attending a dinner at the house of a Jewish leader. <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Jesus noticed how each of the guests had picked the best places at the dinner table. They thought they were the most important and therefore they deserved the place of honor.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Jesus reprimanded them for this attitude. He may have been thinking of </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Proverbs 25:6-7:</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> "Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be put lower in the presence of a noble."</i></span></span></span></div>
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Jesus condemned the pride and arrogance of the Jewish leaders, as is clear from the next verses where he says those who had sought the most important place would be told to move to a lower place much further from the host. Imagine what the other guests must have thought of Jesus' remark. They must have been highly offended. </div>
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Jesus chose this dinner as the place to teach a lesson to these stuffed shirts. I can think of many people today who would be equally offended. Trump, in particular, would probably have said to Jesus, “You are fired!” There are more like him, however, in every walk of life. However, they do not make the sort of leaders people should try to emulate.</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Jesus did not always observe the norms of society. He broke the rules, if necessary, so that he could usher in his kingdom. That kingdom is a new creation, one that is very different from the kingdom of the world that we see all around us. So much so that his kingdom has been called the up-side-down kingdom. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">In that kingdom there is no place for those who are proud and arrogant. The kingdom of Jesus is reserved for those who are truly humble. Humility is the chief entrance requirement. Without this as passport one cannot enter.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The Jewish leaders did not understand that. Nor does Trump. He wants to set up his own kingdom. His is a kingdom of this world. It has totally different values. Trump claims to be a Christian, but his arrogant behavior indicates he is from from the kingdom of Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The apocryphal book of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sirach describes pride and its consequences very well. Listen to these words from Sirach 10:12-18, which is there for our edification:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord; the heart has
withdrawn from its Maker. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations. Therefore the
Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities, and destroys them
completely. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers, and
enthrones the lowly in their place. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Lord plucks up the
roots of the nations, and plants the humble in their place. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Lord lays waste the lands of the nations, and destroys them to the
foundations of the earth. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He removes some of them and destroys
them, and erases the memory of them from the earth. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pride was
not created for human beings, or violent anger for those born of
women. </i></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">What is humility? The dictionary is not helpful. There it is defined as </span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.”</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The Greek word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>tapeinophrosýnē</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> is used several times in the New Testament where it often interpreted as </span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>having a modest opinion of oneself</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>.”</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #3b3e41;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> But that is not correct either.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Humility is not a denial of our talents and gifts but is our recognition of them. It expresses our desire to live up to our worth and do something even greater. It is in the service to others that the greatest form of humility is demonstrated. In the Old Testament, Moses especially is cited for his humility. See </span></span><span style="color: #663366;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Numbers 12: "</span></span></span><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And Moses was exceedingly humble, more than any man on the face of the earth."</i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">True humility involves submitting oneself totally to God. It means recognizing the virtues and talents that others possess, particularly those that surpass one's own, and giving due honor and obedience to them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It also means recognizing the limits of one's talents, ability, or authority; and, therefore, not reaching for what is beyond one's grasp. In the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">up-side-down kingdom that Jesus ushered in, humility does not mean self-effacement, but putting God first.</span></span></div>
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Humility is the opposite of pride. As C.S.Lewis famously put it, <i>“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” </i><br />
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Jesus is presented as the prime example of humility in Philippians 2:1-11:<br />
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<i>If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. </i><i>Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In Luke, Jesus prophesied what would happen when people humble themselves and when they don't:: “</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus practiced </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">true humility! He submitted himself totally, just as Jesus did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Such submission, as Islam recognizes as well in its name, is the essence of humility. Those who are truly humble, submit themselves to God and they so so by serving others. I just can't see Trump doing that!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Mother Theresa, whom many people would acknowledge as a truly humble person and even a saint, has described several ways that people can practice humility:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To
speak as little as possible of one's self.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To mind one's own
business.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Not to want to manage other people's affairs.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To
avoid curiosity.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To accept contradictions and correction
cheerfully.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To pass over the mistakes of others.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To accept
insults and injuries.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To accept being slighted, forgotten and
disliked.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To be kind and gentle even under provocation.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Never
to stand on one's dignity.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To choose always the hardest.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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On this scale, Trump would fail miserably. He would fail even more miserably when compared to Jesus. Trump's character, as displayed in his speeches and lifestyle, contradicts the humility that Jesus displayed. personally and that he demands of his followers.<br />
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My question is: how can anyone support a person whose arrogance has become proverbial? Trump's behavior is the antithesis of that of Jesus. How can people who consider themselves Christians follow Trump rather than Jesus? One cannot serve both of them!<br />
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There are many good people of faith in the US who will band together in November to defeat Trump and his divisive agenda. The list is long. It includes both Christians and non-Christians. There are also many humanists, atheists, and agnostics, not to forget the one-fourth of those who label themselves as Evangelicals.<br />
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Even some of the last named group, who together probably consider themselves among the most ardent followers of Jesus, may yet desert Trump at the last minute. Would that everyone would desert him! That is my hope and fervent prayer!<br />
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Please join me in spreading this message. Christians (and indeed all people of faith) should not vote for Trump. He does not deserve to become the next American president.<br />
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-3703295056462202282016-08-27T16:11:00.003-04:002016-09-01T09:31:43.620-04:00Bigots, Mosques, and Burkinis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The poster says everything we need to know about those who published it: they are bigots. Bigots are people who are utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion. There are many such people all over the world. In this poster, they blame Muslims for every act of terrorism; they equate Islam and terrorism. This is Islamophobia.<br />
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Their intolerance is on display on a daily basis. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have accused each other of being bigots, but that epithet belongs properly only to one of them, arch-bigot Trump. Almost every word that spews out of his mouth smacks of bigotry, whether directed against women, Mexicans, Afro-Americans, veterans, or Muslims, Muslims are demonized the most.<br />
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Islamophobia is increasingly rampant in many countries to judge from recent news reports. Muslim groups seeking to build mosques to accommodate their growing numbers of followers are encountering vehement opposition in communities across the US and elsewhere in the world. Trump'has now moved Islamophobia into the mainstream.<br />
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By linking Trump’s and the <i>"alt-right</i>" movement, Clinton says that he is <i>"taking hate groups mainstream." </i>This fringe movement is rampant with conspiracies and hate. Trumps attention has now offered the alt-right a new level of credibility as well as a valuable opportunity for fund-raising and recruiting.<br />
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Although Trump has publicly kept his distance from the alt-right, his critics have accused him of offering subtle cues to invite its support. The alt-right claims to endorse the preservation of white culture in the US. Its views are widely seen as white supremacist and anti-Semitic..In plain words, they are bigots. </div>
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However, their bigotry is no longer hidden but is now openly displayed. Trumps rejection of political correctness and his tacit endorsement of alt-right has made bigotry respectable. Islamophobia can now be openly displayed and those who claim that 9/11 has taught them everything they need to know about Islam can haul out their signs again.</div>
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In the wake of perceived terrorist attacks in Europe and the US, anti-Muslim sentiment has spiked. Attacks on mosques have become more frequent, and existing and proposed mosque sites have been targeted for vandalism and other criminal acts. There have also been efforts to block or deny necessary zoning permits for the construction and expansion of other facilities.<br />
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Mosque opponents frequently claim their objections are based on practical considerations such as traffic, parking, and noise levels, but those concerns are often pretexts and mask anti-Muslim sentiments. Bigotry is the real reason.<br />
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Government officials in some areas of the US have yielded to this religious bigotry by treating mosques and Islamic centers differently than other proposed houses of worship and denying zoning permits. Even where local governments strongly support religious freedom, private citizens nevertheless often seek to intimidate Muslims into forgoing the exercise of this freedom.</div>
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Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US. The Pew Forum estimates that there are 3.3 million Muslims living in the US in 2016. But the most common figure that the US government uses is about six million. While specific figures may be debated, what cannot be disputed is the phenomenal growth of Islam. Since about 1990 the number of registered Islamic centers and mosques has tripled to more than 2,500.</div>
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<i>Islamic Center of America, largest mosque in US in Dearborn MI</i></div>
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In France, there are currently 2,200 mosques, but that number needs to double within the nest few years, according to Muslim leaders. However, they believe local authorities in France are blocking applications to open or build mosques and prayer-rooms.<br />
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The demand for more mosques is unlikely to find favor with the French government, still struggling to work out common strategies with Muslim leaders to combat radicalization in France after a spate of shootings, starting with the one at Charlie Hebdo. The government is also concerned about a rise in support for the far-Right Front National.<br />
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In France as well, burkinis have been banned on beaches in several municipalities. Burkinis are designed in accord with Islamic traditions of modest dress. The suit covers the whole body except the face, the hands and the feet, while still being light enough to enable swimming. It resembles a full-length wet suit with a built-in hood.<br />
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Those who support tthe burkini bans cite as reasons the observance of secularism, risks to public order and, sometimes directly, security, underscoring how sensibilities have quickened with France in a state of emergency living under what has been termed an <i>"extremely high"</i> terror threat.<br />
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Beneath the clash over how to dress, or undress, on the beaches of France simmers an issue that for decades has divided the nation, and grown more complex in this time of terrorism. At least a dozen towns have banned burkini swimwear. This is the latest skirmish in a long-running duel between some members of France's large Muslim population and the secular establishment.<br />
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The highest French administrative court has just ruled against the burkini bans, but that will not stop this war. The burkini has refueled the debate over the French principle of <i>"laicite,"</i> or secularism. This debate is unlikely to go away. And Muslims, who feel they lost ground over this controversial issue, aren't likely to forget.<br />
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Today, enshrined in the French constitution, secularism is still being defined, debated and clarified by politicians and experts. Some Muslims and non-Muslims alike maintain that the purpose of secularism is being thwarted and the principle transformed into an instrument to regulate the behavior of Muslims.<br />
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Modest swimwear and caps are used not only by some Muslims, but also by some orthodox Jews and conservative Christians. The original burkini was designed in 2004 by an Australian-Lebanese woman who wanted clothes for modest females to play sports. She says she created the garment to give women freedom, not to take it away.</div>
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While some women cover up because of religious teachings or men tell them to, others do so because of their own idea of modesty. Burkinis aren’t threats to the freedom of women;, but the laws that ban them are. At least the French court has sided with the women, even if many French people still support the ban.</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-6628289199951872622016-08-15T13:37:00.000-04:002016-08-25T20:04:39.172-04:00Why is there so much hatred in the US?<br />
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Why is there so much hatred in the US? I don't mean hatred of the US, which is a well-known and often described issue, bur in it. During this US election period, which still has some months to go, I have rarely witnessed so much hatred directed against certain politicians, in particular, Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, as well as certain ethnic and religious groups. This comes especially from supporters of Donald Trump.<br />
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This is public hatred, not just private. We all have things we hate and despise, but most of the time we don't publicize them. Public expressions of hatred against people are frowned upon. But what is currently happening in the US is excessive and indeed borders on hate speech, which is illegal. In the US, however, the First Amendment trumps (pun intended) any hate laws.<br />
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These people do not merely dislike certain people, they hate them. I happen to dislike both Clinton and Trump, but I do not hate them. These people, however, become apoplectic with hate. Their hatred of both Clinton and Obama can be described as irrational. They may be rational people most of the time, but not when it comes to these two Democrats whom they blame for everything that is wrong with America today.<br />
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One reason why there is such irrational hatred targeted toward anyone is because it makes people feel better. If your life sucks, it's easier to be a victim and say the President is making your life hard than to admit you just suck at life or made bad decisions.<br />
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Two days after Obama was re-elected, a fourth-grade boy asked Obama, <i>"Why do people hate you? They’re supposed to love you. And God is love." "First of all,"</i> he told the boy, <i>"I did get elected president, so not everybody hates me. What is true is if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody’s just getting mad all the time. And. you know, I think that you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt."</i><br />
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"<i>And then,"</i> continued the President, <i>"I think they’re worried about their own lives. A lot of people are losing their jobs right now. A lot of people are losing their health care or they’ve lost their homes to foreclosure, and they’re feeling frustrated. And when you’re president of the United States, you know, you’ve got to deal with all of that."</i><br />
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Obama touched on two important reasons for the hatred of some people, but his response doesn't address the irrational nature of their attitude to Obama and the woman who wants to replace him as president. There are other, perhaps more fundamental reasons for their seemingly irrational behavior. </div>
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The problem lies in the polarized political system that prevails in the US. There are only two main parties and, under the first past the post system (FPP), each must curry favor with their core base, whether right or left (whatever those terms mean at any particular time).</div>
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A system of proportional representation (PR) , in contrast, would allow for politicians to address the concerns of a wide spectrum of voters instead of forcing them to move to the extremes as under FPP. PR is now being actively considered in Canada, although it is not clear that the federal government will adopt it since FPP produces more majorities. while FP often results in coalition governments.</div>
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But the main reason is that Republicans and Democrats live in different worlds. They watch different TV networks, listen to different radio programs and access different media. Never the twain shall meet. Both of these worlds are known for the lies they propagate. Truth is a slippery commodity, as Trump illustrates on an almost daily basis. Each side accuses the other of lies and distortions, although one side seems to specialize in this dubious art. Just look at the survey above.</div>
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The two sides transcend the boundaries of the two main parties. Republicans and Democrats can be found on both sides, with the former predominating on one side -- the side that is infamous today for stretching the truth. Trump is the exemplar of this art, but that is another story for another time.</div>
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The worlds that these two sides represent differ as much as day does from night. The media on both sides paint diametrically opposite views of what is happening. Thus it is no wonder that the two sides are unable to communicate. with each other. They don;t speak the same language. For example, one side describes the Obamas as one of the most wonderful and gracious couples ever to inhabit the White House, while the other side portrays them as the exact opposite. Which is true?</div>
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Racism is the elephant in the room. Many Americans are still not able to accept the reality of a black couple residing in the house that their slave-ancestors helped to build. These people cannot get their heads around a black person occupying the highest office in the land. They hate the Obamas and everything connected with them.</div>
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Race is the primary division for them. That is why American cities today have a black center and white suburbs. It is the opposite of an Oreo cookie. Until such racism is eliminated or at least controlled, black/white violence will remain an integral part of American life for many years to come. </div>
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Hatred of groups such as blacks is perhaps even more widespread that that of individuals since it is often covert and sometimes unacknowledged. Islamophobia belongs in this category. So does homophobia and other similar phobias. Many people are unaware of their hatred of certain groups until Trump and others stoke their fears by presenting these groups as threats. The result is hate.</div>
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Many of the same people hate Hilary. She represents the elite in America who have deprived them of their jobs, their homes, their future as well as that of their children. They are hopeless, and thus they look for a scapegoat to bear the blame. </div>
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Hilary fits the bill perfectly. She comes from a privileged background and is married to a former president who signed NAFTA, the trade agreement between Canada, the US, and Mexico, that many of them hold responsible for their miserable condition. They are angry and filled with hate for her and all Democrats.</div>
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The media trumpets their spiteful hatred. Having fed them lies and more lies, the media are now the vehicle for their self-proclaimed savior: Trump. He has fostered their anger and contributed to their hatred by encouraging them to use violence if necessary to derail Hilary's run for the White House and accession to the presidency.</div>
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Such hatred is not an entirely new phenomenon in the US. <span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571px;">I</span>n the 1860s, Lincoln was so hated that half of the country announced they wanted out of the Union and fought a deadly civil war that ended with the nation intact, but Lincoln martyred. </div>
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Nixon, Clinton, and George W. Bush have all received their share of derision. But the hatred that some Americans currently spew out is unnerving. How is such hatred possible? We can understand the intense hatred 150 or so years ago, when slavery was the issue. But today there is no similar issue. </div>
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Not even abortion qualifies, since those who are opposed to abortion cannot justify such hatred in the name of protecting the unborn and still remain consistent in advocating the sacredness of life. But hatred can blind people who can hate nearly everything all in the name of love (as Newt does). Many Americans do that.</div>
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Hatred, however generated, is not justifiable. No major religion preaches hatred. Instead, their message is always love. Love alone can atone for all the hatred that is being spewed out on a daily basis. The fourth-grade boy who asked Obama, <i>"Why do people hate you?"</i> said correctly,<i> " They’re supposed to love you. And God is love." </i></div>
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I am reminded of the late Jack Layton, the noted Canadian politician, who penned these fine lines: <i>"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."</i> Martin Luther King Jr. expressed similar sentiments about the primacy of love.</div>
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Love does drive out hate. That is the appropriate response to the hatred we continue to witness every day. We must set an example of love, not hatred. Love is the message the world needs to hear, not the hate-provoking rantings of Donald Trump. Love will change the world, not hate. Contrary to Trump, love will make America great again, not hate.<br />
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Why is there so much hatred in the US? There are many answers, but there is only one way to respond to hatred: love! Love of those in authority, love of groups, love of the other, and even love for those who spew hatred. Love does change the world!</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-46779073864058625102016-08-10T09:46:00.000-04:002016-08-14T22:22:11.803-04:00Should sex become an official Olympic sport?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The real games at the 2015 Rio Olympics will not be televised. And there may not be any gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded, but this unofficial sport is the one that many athletes most eagerly look forward to participating in It does not take place in any of the main sports venues but mainly in the Olympic Village where most of the athletes are housed and which has as its unofficial motto: <i>"What happens in the Village stays in the Village."</i><br />
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Thus it is not surprising that we know little about what happens in the Village except for stories that have leaked out over the years. Such activity can be measured, however, by the use of condoms. That provides a degree of objectivity, although it may seem shocking to some people.<br />
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There are more than 10,000 athletes at the Summer Games and almost 3,000 at the Winter ones of whom an estimated 70-75% engage in sexual activity. Much of this activity involves one night stands with people who they may never meet again, although in the rarefied atmosphere of the Olympics where only the best can compete this is hard to fathom.<br />
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Condoms have been used during the Olympics for a long time, but it was not until Barcelona in 1992 when condoms were offered free to Olympians to encourage safe sex during the games. In Sydney 2000, officials thought that 70,000 (rainbow) condoms would be enough, but after a week they had to send out for 20,000 more. In 2004 in Athens, 130,000 were brought in.<br />
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In Beijing 2008, authorities distributed 400,000 condoms to more than 400 hotels during the Olympics, although some claim that only 100,000 were provided for athletes. In Vancouver 2010, 100,000 were distributed, but only about 40,000 were for those staying in the athlete villages in Vancouver and Whistler. How many of them were actually used is impossible to know, but we can assume that they were.<br />
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In London 2012, the number of condoms had increased to 150,000, while in Sochi 2014 100,000 were distributed in the medical facilities, although not at McDonalds as myth has it. Now, in Rio, 450,000 condoms are available. That is enough to provide the more than 10,000 athletes with about 40 each to cover the 16 days of the games.<br />
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Don't forget, these are the best athletes in the world. They are a group of mostly single, insanely buff young men and women. They come every corner of the globe, and some are very far from home.They are lodged in a private enclave known as the Olympic Village with no nosy reporters and parents around.<br />
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Some of them are very young, For example, the Canadian team consists of more than three hundred men (40%) and women (60%) ranging in age from 16 to 56. Most are single. Many of them are participating in their first Olympics, while some have been there several times already.<br />
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All of hem are incredibly healthy. They have been training hard for many months, with little or no time left over for any other activities. And they have lots of pent up energy, which is no wonder when they consume 9,000 calories per day while in training. At the end of the day, and especially when their events are over, they need to do something with all that energy.<br />
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Their bodies are beautiful and as fit as they will ever be. They meet others who are equally beautiful and fit, They get pumped up with nervous excitement and competitive spirit over several days of Olympic events. Sponsors throw myriad parties, and supply all the alcohol they want. Thus the question is: will 450,000 condoms be enough?<br />
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Hooking up has become easier through social media. During the two weeks of the Rio Olympics, the athletes do not even need to talk in person to get acquainted, they just need to use their Tinder app in order to arrange a rendezvous. It is reported that the use of Tinder has already increased 129%, and this is only for the Olympic Village. It is widely assumed that most of these meetings are not just for coffee.<br />
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Many athletes have reported high levels of sexual activity at the Olympics. One theorized, <i>"Athletes are extremists. When they’re training, it’s laser focus. When they drink, it’s 20 drinks."</i> They are young and known to do everything to excess. They compete to their maximum and they play equally hard.<br />
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The idea of refraining from sex before competitions dates back to ancient Greece and is also found in traditional Chinese medicine. Both suggest that abstinence could increase frustration and aggression, and boost energy. On the contrary, recent studies have shown that sex had no significant effect on athletic performance.<br />
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Thus the myth that athletes should abstain from pre-competition sex can finally be put to rest. Current thinking in elite sports is that athletes should act in ways they consider<i> "normal"</i> and not do anything that goes against their beliefs, which might induce guilt, Then engaging in sex any way may have a negative effect on athletic performance.</div>
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The organizers of the Olympic games would be remiss if they did not encourage safe sex. The rest of the world may not be aware of all this sexual activity, but they should not condemn it too loudly. These are the best athletes that their countries produce and they want to participate in every aspect of the games, even the unofficial ones. Many religions might reject many of these activities, but what can they do to prevent it?</div>
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Muslims might nix the alcohol and the mingling of the sexes, but they should not prevent their young people from attending the games. Christians might be a bit more lenient about alcohol, but they are equally adamant in their condemnation of extramarital sex. What can they do?</div>
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The Rio Olympics are even more dangerous than most. Brazil is infamous for its permissiveness on sexual matters, but this year the Zika virus adds an extra element of danger. No doubt, the athletes are well aware of this, but it probably won't deter them. After all, most are young and fool hardy, and very few are pregnant.</div>
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I will not repeat many of the stories of sexual escapades that make the rounds every Olympics. They would not serve any purpose except perhaps a prurient one. The objective evidence is enough to indicate what is happening: a lot of sex.</div>
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Faster. Higher. Stronger. That is the official motto of the Olympic Games. But now a new word might have to be added: Sexier. Sex is a normal part of life. Young athletes need to let off steam after the intensity of months of training and the stress of their events. So, what is more natural? Parents may not approve, but what can they do?</div>
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So, let's be glad that sex is not (yet) an official Olympic event, but it is an unofficial one and perhaps the most enjoyable one of all for the athletes involved. Those who deny that such activities take place at the Olympics are burying their heads in the sand. Denial does stop such activities. On the contrary, such an attitude may encourage young athletes to engage in more sex.</div>
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I hope we don't see a sex Olympics any time soon, but sex at the Olympics is unstoppable.</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222065172626712190.post-74258736706426006342016-08-02T17:38:00.000-04:002016-08-09T10:59:02.707-04:00Should Christians vote for Trump?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Should Christians vote for Trump?<br />
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<b>Spoiler alert! </b>Emphatically, No!<br />
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No one should vote for him, but many people will for reasons they know best. Why anyone would vote for a narcissistic, misogynistic, bigoted, loudmouth like Donald Trump is beyond me, but they will do so <i>"lest they miss the boat,"</i> as one ardent evangelical Christian has put it. Many perceive Trump as the savior who will make America great again.<br />
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To vote for Trump or not is hardly a trivial issue. The fate of the US and the world may hang in the balance. It is an issue that philosophers and theologians are also earnestly debating. For example, Wayne Grudem in <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/waynegrudem/2016/07/28/why-voting-for-donald-trump-is-a-morally-good-choice-n2199564">Townhall</a> argues that voting for Trump is a morally good choice, while Michael Stark in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-stark/voting-for-trump-is-not-a_b_11290252.html">The Huffington Post</a> responds by insisting that Christians should not vote for Trump under any circumstances. I side with Stark.<br />
<i><br /></i> Even Grudem admits that Trump is, in Gudem's words, <i>"egotistical, bombastic, and brash."</i> He also describes him as <i>"vindictive"</i> and adds that Trump "<i>has been married three times and claims to have been unfaithful in his marriages."</i> Grudem allows that <i>"these are certainly flaws,"</i> but he doesn't think that <i>"they are disqualifying flaws in this election."</i> Unfortunately, many Americans would agree with Grudem. After all, they would retort, what politician doesn't have flaws?<br />
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Indeed, all politicians have flaws. Some of the most recent crop of presidents are prime examples if any were needed. For Christians, flaws are not the issue. Everyone human being has flaws or, to use more biblical language, they are sinners. In that respect, Trump is no different from the rest of us.<br />
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What does make Trump different is that he is potentially the next President of the United States of America? He is not just seriously flawed but he is also totally unfit to occupy the White House. There has never been a less suitable candidate for the Oval Office, in my opinion. That opinion is widely shared by many people, even by some Republicans. That number is growing by the day.<br />
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How did Republicans allow him to hijack the "Grand Old Party" of Lincoln and other great presidents? Trump is a disgrace! Is he the best candidate that the Republican Party can come up with out of a pool of about 325 million Americans? That is scraping the bottom of the barrel.<br />
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How can Christians vote for such a pathetic individual? He is not only a pathological liar also but totally untrustworthy! He is an imminent danger to the USA and to the entire world since no one is able to accept his word on anything. He changes his policies as easily as he changes wives.<br />
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How can Christians vote for a man who sows fear and hatred everywhere he does, and insults every group from women to Mexicans, to Muslims, to LGBT people, to you name it; someone who has no political experience, but prides himself on being a businessman without admitting publicly to multiple bankruptcies or fleecing of his employees? The man is a fraud from the get-go.<br />
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How can Christians vote for him and still call themselves Christians? Trump is a morally evil man who should not call himself a Christian since he hasn't the foggiest idea what that means. Even though he was baptized in a Presbyterian church in Brooklyn, he knows next to nothing about the Bible, and -- more crucially! -- he has no idea how to live the Christian life. Even if he had some idea, he would find it difficult if not impossible to live accordingly.<br />
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Psychiatrists have refused to make public their diagnosis of Trump, but a spiritual assessment of him can be made public because his public persona contradicts the basics of the Christian life. Of course, no Christian is able to live that life perfectly, but in Trump's case, even the beginnings of that life seem to be absent to judge by his past and current behavior. His self-aggrandizement alone is contrary to the Christian life which should be marked with humility.<br />
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<i>Trump as Nebuchadnezzar</i></div>
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The Christian life is rooted in love and expresses itself the same way, in love of God and neighbor. With Trump, that love has been short-circuited. Seemingly, he loves only himself. No doubt his love for his children is genuine, but he cannot avoid his penchant for using people. That includes his own children.<br />
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If you think that I am too critical and judgmental of Trump, turn off Fox and turn to other, less-biased news sources. Read your Bible and you will discover not only Trump's moral failings but also how far he falls short of the standard that God sets for Christian living. The Bible teaches,<i>" by their fruits shall you know them." </i>On that basis, we can judge Trump.<br />
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Let me put this more pointedly: <i>a vote for Trump is an anti-Christian vote.</i> His policies, such as they are, are not Christian, His constantly contradicts himself on many issues. In this election, he is using the Christian vote for his own political gain. He is not interested in Christians; he is interested only in himself.<br />
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Trump's ego is so big that he wants to become president.because, for him, that represents the pinnacle of success. He is not interested in the duties of the presidency since he will probably leave the nitty-gritty of ruling the country to others, as long as he can bask on the global stage as the most powerful man in the world. Power is his game! Always has been, always will be!<br />
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Conservative Christians in the US who cannot stomach the thought of voting for Hillary Clinton can, I suggest, vote for a third-party candidate or refrain from voting on the presidential portion of the ballot. But they should not vote for Trump.<br />
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Some Americans may be opposed to voting for any liberal, but they should realize how relative this term is. Let me give an example. A conservative in Canada will likely be labeled a liberal in the US. That is how much Canadians differ from Americans. It has been said before that Canadians would be among the most reliable Democrats if they were allowed to vote in the US, and that Hillary would win by a landslide come November. According to polls, 73-80 percent of Canadians would vote for her. Paint Canada blue!<br />
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Christians must be careful not to let political labels determine how they will vote. A Christian's first allegiance is to God, not to a nation. When the nation trumps faith, something is seriously wrong. There is no reconciling the worldviews of Trump and Jesus. Jesus’ ethic of love stands in sharp contrast to that of Trump.<br />
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A vote for Trump is a vote for bigotry. It’is a vote that leads to bullying and more violence. If that is what you want, then go ahead and cast your vote accordingly. If I were an American, however, I would find it difficult to cast a vote for president at all because both the Republican and Democratic candidates are seriously flawed. But as a Christian, I would not be able to vote for Trump. No Christian should!<br />
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God calls all Christians to embody love, humility, charity, and kindheartedness. They must embody love not only in their personal lives but also in the public square where politics is played out. They must exercise their civic responsibility by voting in elections or even running for political office themselves, but they must do so wisely and responsibly.<br />
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When someone as unworthy as Trump appears on the scene, Christians must use that wisdom and reject candidates who do not embody love, humility, charity, and kindheartedness. Trump is a false prophet whose message is one of doom and gloom and laced with fear. Where is his love? Instead, Christians must vote for those who advocate faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these, as we all know, is love. </div>
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Should Christians vote for Trump? You see now why my answer is an emphatic No!</div>
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Adrian Hellemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611563345804489187noreply@blogger.com0