Living next to the world’s hyper-power is interesting.
I spend a fair amount of time blogging about the US government.
George Bush lost me the day he said to the American people and to the world, ” “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
When he spoke in Halifax I understood that as President, he would use the words and language he knows to address the world from a friendly or compliant place. And he did.
I remain uneasy, and I don’t believe it is just my Canadianess.
I am uneasy as a follower of Jesus Christ.
I hop around blogs all the time, and I have never ever been flamed or condemned or criticised in my own country for my beliefs. Nor can I say it has happened on Asian, UK, New Zealand, European, Australian or Catholic, Orthodox or Muslim blogs. If it did happen, fine, I would address the person with respect.
But I cannot say the same for many US faith-blogs.
When I get feeling like I’ve been boot-stomped, preached at, scorned or demanded to, I’ve painfully learned to step back.
Why?
The reality is I tend to feel I am reaching into the US a fair bit, and I don’t want to do so defensively.
I need to stop, remember and listen to the numerous quieter voices reaching graciously and generously back out. They outnumber the boot-stompers, they outnumber the faith-bloggers that have entwined politics and religion to the point I’m left thinking I’m either for them or against them.
I’ve posted about David Domke before. He is a professor that looks carefully at the language of the US administration. I’ll get to him in a minute.
I was surprised to see Peggy Noonan’s piece today. I think she is able to articulate the uneasiness.
The president’s speech seemed rather heavenish. It was a God-drenched speech. This president, who has been accused of giving too much attention to religious imagery and religious thought, has not let the criticism enter him. God was invoked relentlessly. “The Author of Liberty.” “God moves and chooses as He wills. We have confidence because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind . . . the longing of the soul.”
I see Drudge put up UK and European headlines.
They are not all shrill, but they will be painted that way and the unease will be as dismissed as the people expressing it.
Domke took the inaugural address and looked at the mix of religious and political language. Whether or not I agree with everything he says it occurs to me that my US friends (yes, friends) are facing unbelievable pressure to conform. George Bush does not operate in a vacuum and that is downright scary. I am uneasy, I remain uneasy. These are uneasy times.
No matter how God is evoked, no matter how He is used or misused by any administration or any country it does not change who He is. We human beings strive in unbelievable ways to mold Him into our own image. Throughout history people that call themselves Christians have had to prayerfully, carefully, thoughtfully stand against the unholy alliances of power that intentionally or unintentionally shape the time and place we are in.
Domke is correct, the language has moved from, “Either you are with us, or you are against God.”
I’ll hang on to my uneasiness, thank you.
Published 3 years, 7 months ago
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I’ve got that same uneasiness Bene, and I’m an American…and a Christian. That speech really troubled me on several levels. I blogged on Peggy Noonan’s op ed too. Glad I’m not the only one.
I’m from a Red State Capital City. I can tell you that around here a lot of people are googoo over George W. (though I can’t even begin to imagine why).
To the majority of people I have spoken to, his character defects and lack of polish are all made up by his devotion to “Gods Truth” and his deep sense of spirituality. I know that the Bible says that Saving comes from the grace of God and not from ones own works, but what a person actually DOES in this World HAS to count for something! And in my opinion, what GW has done so far in this World would take all of Gods powers of forgiveness to get him safely into heaven. God help us all.
Johnny
When your friends speak about your president’s devotion and deep spirituality, how do you respond?
I hop around blogs all the time, and I have never ever been flamed or condemned or criticised in my own country for my beliefs… But I cannot say the same for many US faith-blogs.
Wow, I so relate. I have no idea why I blog about the US so much except that I’m concerned and uneasy about what’s happening. But it never fails to amaze me the nastiness some Christians can throw at you just because you do not have the same ideology.
I’ve been called a leftist and a liberal, of which I’m not. It amuses me that a lot of these people revert to name-calling when people disagree with them.
However, i don’t have to go to other blogs to get this, they come to me.
Boy you hit that nail on the head, Bene. I couldn’t even get through Bush’s speech. As a Christian and an American, I am terrified and filled with grief at the thought of what we are doing to innocent people. And I am sad for the young men and women of this country who were told they were fighting to protect us when they were sent to war against a nation that had not attacked us and was not planning to do so. Many of our American young people have died in good conscience, thinking they were fighting to save us from weapons of mass destruction that don’t even exist. They have been shamefully, tragically used, and their innocence and patriotism exploited.
What is far worse is that so many people who profess Christ have placed their confidence in a mere man and expect him to save this nation. I have to wonder how many sky scrapers will topple before American Christians recognize that only God is the Lord, and only in God can we safely put our trust and confidence.
Reading more about Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, the Bush family’s pastor in Houston (and the one who gave the benediction at the inauguration), shed some light on why Bush’s ambitions make me nervous. I recommend Googling him and see what he believes and preaches, particularly in his books.
Thank God for George Bush. Maybe you can share with us how you would fight for freedom if you were president Mr Bene Diction.
Just relax and be thankful for your friends to the south who would come to your rescue in a second in a time of trouble.
I’m not President George, and if asked I wouldn’t run. A blogger friend did consider me for an ambassadorship though.:^)
Keep praying for George Bush and our friends to the south. I’ll join you.
[it occurs to me that my US friends (yes, friends) are facing unbelievable pressure to conform.]
I have never felt the kind of pressure to conform to a politician’s worldview as I do right now, and you’re right… it’s very scary. As a Christian, I am uneasy with a lot of decisions being made, and I can not support the war in Iraq. My dissent in the matter has made me, and many others, traitors in the eyes of many of our fellow Americans.
It’s really been a comfort for me (and I know for many others) to read such supportive and understanding words from our friends around the world. And it also eases my mind to know that no matter what happens, God is still God.
Thanks, Bene.
Drina:
There are not many blogs right now where uneasiness, feelings and civil discourse is available is there? Political conformity to policy rules this season.
I don’t think uneasiness is ungodly at all, and I don’t think relaxing is a solution. Unease is not necessarily worry, it can be a call to prayer.
You have friends around the world that do not condemn you for your questions about political directions your country and many countries are taking. They are your questions, and I hope they will be honoured.
It has to be painful to be dismissed or labelled a traitor, and I’m very sorry to hear that you have been through that.
>>>you would fight for freedom if you were president Mr Bene Diction.<<<–george
George, I wish you would explain exactly how forcing demoncracy at gunpoint onto people who do not want us in their country is “fighting for freedom.” Whose freedom are you talking about? And how do you reconcile young Americans dying for the alleged freedom of a nation that is not their own?
We have placed our alleged “Iraqi friends” at checkpoints and under curfews. The NY Times ran yet another picture this past Wednesday (Jan 19) of a bereaved child who was in the car with her parents when American GIs opened fire on them for not slowing down at a checkpoint (and they didn’t slow down because they had no comprehension of what the Americans expected). There’s one more orphan, splashed with her parents’ blood, whose “freedom” was purchased for her, without her request, at the cost of the lives of her parents. Odd how Bush calls the Iraqia our friends, and yet we treat them like our captives.
If mercenraries had wanted to go oust Saddam Hussein, I would have said fine. But sending our kids over and telling them they were fighting for our safety and freedom was outright deception.
Thank you for your words of wisdom Bene. Particularly in your response to Drina.
Perhaps our American friends might want to ponder prayer vigils in their communities. Perhaps the Catholic churches, of which I am a Canadian parishoner, after considering pontifical initiatives, their own catachism, the misrepresentation of truth and the present circumstances of Iraq, might want to posit some kind of challenge to the “God centeredness” of President Bush’s actions.
Times seem always to be difficult. We must, as best as we are able, carry the cross that is a true life in Christ. May we all find the faith to make a difference.
As an informal member of the US-faith blog community (though I really see myself self as part of the greater whole of the world faith community) may I apologize for the flaming you have mentioned. That is just wrong. You are most certainly entitled to your own pov and you should not be mistreated for it!
I personally try to stay out of political issues just b/c they are such controversial issues and tend to lead toward division amongst fellow Believers.
Hi Rich:
*though I really see myself self as part of the greater whole of the world faith community) may I apologize for the flaming you have mentioned.*
Thank you.
It is so silly seeing someone representing a pov of a US political party out on blogs in the Philippines, Maylasia, etc., putting fellow believers into little boxes and being so strident and naive about it.
Mostly sad though.
And seeing god-bloggers pile into US posts that criticise a well known religious leader with anger and in your face attitude is really sad.
It’s like we speak english, but don’t.
At least with this medium we have a more open opportunity (as opposed to threads etc)to listen and to talk, and I wouldn’t trade that off.
Again thanks Rich, your civility matters and makes a difference. Blog on!
Thanks for the link to Domke. They have a discussion over there about the Purpose Driven Live study, and how common it’s become.
I mentioned that my brother received a copy of the book from fellow marines when he got out a few months ago. He’s never been heavy into the faith, yet he showed me this book and seemed really excited about it.
Like Domke mentions at the end of his piece, aparently we now have our own version of the taliban.
Might I humbly suggest that it can also be disappointing to visit non-US god-blogs and find just as much energy put into putting people like me — white, American, evangelical — into boxes as I see evidence of what you all claim goes on on American god-blogs about others?
I mean, seriously — “the Taliban”?
If it’s really honest, understanding dialogue that’s wanted, we could do without much of the self-righteousness and passive-aggressive condescension aimed at we ignorant “red staters.”
Just trying to say that marginalization and stereotyping cuts both ways.
It does Jared.
Odd eh?
Four countries are represented in this thread and the comments you take issue with are from the US.
I’m sure anyone here would be willing to discuss your concerns with you. You are very welcome to use this comment section.
No, actually I take issue with more than just those comments. It’s the general spirit I find present on blogs (such as this one occasionally and on others like Messy Christian’s) against — well, I’ll be honest about it — conservative Christians.
I am condescended to, passive-aggressively belittled, etc.. I have to feel like I am unenlightened or intolerant or bigoted or narrow-minded or a “sheep” or a Nazi or a fascist or whatever.
I sincerely apologize for those in my “camp” who are idiots and do not represent evangelicalism or conservatism or American Christianity well. I am embarrassed about them. But I assumed that on sites like this, some charity might be found. We’re not all like that, but I have to constantly feel like I am. And from the same folks who are constantly complaining that folks like me are intolerant toward folks like them.
Calling Republicans/evangelicals/conservatives or whatever Them people are criticizing “the Taliban” (or Nazis or fascists or zombies, as I’ve seen on other sites) does not contribute to meaningful and constructive dialogue. How do “you” expect “us” to respect and hear “you” when “you” are busy belittling and stereotyping “us”?
(”You” is in quotes, because I don’t mean you, Bene.)
Thanks for allowing this ignorant red-stater room to vent. I am all for communication and mutual respect and a real Christian community on a global level (the Web is a great means to that, isn’t it?), but it will require humility and respect and open ears on both sides.
You are not ignorant Jared, and I never thought about what colour state you lived in.:^)
They hurt. The labels hurt. I only know I’ve wounded when someone slaps them on me.:^(
I don’t think we are going to have mutual respect and a real Christian community on a global level, it’s just idealism and dreams from people such as myself at BDBO.
We god-bloggers are tribal. I’m stunned at how quickly aggregators are inadvertantly fostering that tribalism although that not is the intent.
(been verbally beatup my self lately - this may not be helpful)
I’m sorry too Jared. I can only address my own intent.
I will fail, and maybe all I can be glad for is that people can come over to BDBO, say ouch, be heard and walk away knowing they are not condemned for articulately their pain.
If it helps Canadians have a rich history of bashing our government. And when we speak to other governments it is to policy of an administration, not the people of the country.
I appreciate the courage of your venting. Thank you.
No, Bene, thank you for the outlet and the courtesy.
I’ve no more to say, really, except to submit to everyone that all of us — whatever our “side” — can do better at remembering there are real people behind the labels and criticisms we throw around. It’s a lesson I always seem to become aware of too late. But I’m trying.
Thanks again, Bene, for facilitating, in no small way, all of our attempts to love our neighbors, regardless of their politics or theology.
The real problem is that in the recent US elections we really did not have any good choices. Both parties have so marginalized issues that those of us who have Bible based Christan values on all aspects of life had to choke down dismay at both parties. Maybe it is different in countries with a multi-party system? I personally was extremely upset with Mr. Bush concerning the war in Iraq and his waffling on embryonic stem cell research. But Mr. Kerry’s blatant political opportunism and hypocrisy were even worse, as I judged things to be. I’m not a single issue voter, but the basic right to life (from conception to natural death) and the protection of sexual morality (encouraging marriage as defined in the Bible, discouraging promiscuity) come pretty high on my list of values. Also, I believe that the US Constitution deserves a strict interpretation, and I want a president who will nominate judges who hold that view. If the people do not like what the constitution says, there are legitimate methods to make those changes, involving the Congress and the state legislatures.
There are other important social and economic issues to be addressed, but the president of the USA is not really the one who has the real power there. Many of these are local or regional or the power of the presidency is more on of suasion, not dictation. Hence my decision (hard thought and very difficult0 to vote for Mr. Bush.
A multi-party system has it’s pros and cons.
We have more than our share of problems in Canada, and our parliamentary system can get paralysed or actually get something done.
Maybe it’s why Ottawa bashing is a national sport.;^)