"Yes, you have to accept punishment sometimes for doing what's right."

(from the novel Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates, Page 126)

"May God bless you with enough foolishness... to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannnot be done."

(from a Franciscan blessing. Published in the May/June issue of Baptist Peacemaker)

"Merely to resist evil with evil by hating those who hate us and seeking to destroy them, is actually no resistance at all. It is active and purposeful collaboration in evil that brings the Christian into direct and and intimate contact with the same source of evil and hatred which inspires the acts of the enemy. It leads in practice to a denial of Christ and to the service of hatred rather than love." Thomas Merton in Passion for Peace

A Letter From The Past (that, unfortunately is still relevant - with some slight editing)

April 6, 2003


Editor
Lewiston Morning Tribune
P.O. Box 957
Lewiston, ID 83501

Editor;

In the March 16, 2003 editon of the Lewiston Morning Tribune, ---------, commander of the Moscow division of the Vetrans of Foreign Wars, is quoted as saying the following in reference to those who are protesting the US attack on Iraq, "I wish they would understand and have a clue."

Maybe they do, Mr. ____. Maybe they realize that since 90% of the victims of wars since World War 2 have been civilians (Kassmann in "Overcoming Violence," Page 60), any decision to go to war today is a decision to kill civilians. Killing civilians is what soldiers at war, including US soldiers, do nowadays. Just check http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ for the latest numbers.

Maybe they don't want the US to get a "big bully" reputation by attacking Iraq since such an attack is a violation of international law.

Perhaps their compassion and empathy is large enough that they don't want to see Iraqis, as well as Americans wrapped in body bags, and just maybe they remember the Bible verse, John 3:16, which says. "For God so loved the world..." and they might realize that the word "world" includes Iraq.

Perhaps they recognize the humanity of every human being and understand that each Iraqi is created as much in the image of God as each American, and has as much right to live in his or her homeland free from foreign attack, as any American does.

Maybe they know, as all Americans should, that half the people in Iraq are under the age of twenty and maybe they don't want to see their tax dollars used to kill children and teenagers.

It's likely they remember a little recent history and recall that the last US war against Iraq failed to remove Hussein from power and make us feel secure. Maybe they don't want to try something that already been a proven failure.

Perhaps they realize that the US is in desperate need of universal health care, better mass transit, more affordable higher educaton, and a resuscitated economy, and also understand that the billions of dollars now being spent to destroy another country is not available to help solve any of these serious domestic problems.

Maybe they know something about history, and maybe they know the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament on how to treat enemies. Maybe they're not near-sighted and can see the suffering of those at the receiving end of this current plague of US military violence.

Perhaps, Mr. --------, the definition of those without a clue, may include individuals who believe that killing human beings is the way to solve our differences with other countries.

Sincerely,

Leonard Nolt

The Good King (a cento, "stretch-villanelle" from Psalms 72)

May you be blessed with the gift of his light;
He always answers the poor when they cry;
How precious is their blood in his sight.

Those who trust in him will never die;
He created the stars, the sun, and the sky;
May you be blessed with the gift of his light.

He will rule the earth for sea to sea;
He will save the children of the needy;
How precious is their blood in his sight.

He will endure longer than the sun;
He will gather to him, all generations;
May you be blessed with the gift of his light.

Enrich the king with acts of justice,
The royal son with your righteousness;
May you be blessed with the gift of his light;
How precious is their blood in his sight.

His shalom flows on, like a great river into the sea;
He will bless his people for time, and for all eternity;
How precious is their blood in his sight;
May you be blessed with the gift of his light.

The fig shall ripen upon the tree,
And the fruit flourish on the vine;
May you be blessed with the gift of his light;
How precious in their blood in his sight.

Please note that, unless otherwise indicated, all the photos, poetry, and other writings on this blog are the property of Leonard Nolt and may not be reproduced or republished in any media, except for brief credited quotes, without permission (Leonard_en@Hotmail.com).

A Few Brief Answers

Here's the scenario. You're on a short break at work. Someone comes up to you and wants to know why Mennonites oppose the death penalty, especially when so many other Christians support it. You don't have much time. The boss is walking down the hall. The blinking red lights on your phone are about to induce a seizure. You almost wish for a seizure to get you out of the this tight spot. How do you respond in a minute or less?

Or you're a student between classes and asked the same question, perhaps not very politely. Maybe your interrogator heard about the report you gave in speech class. You know he doesn't want to hear you quote Bible verses, or hear a sermon, not that you have one to give.

You know the church's position on the death penalty. You've even read a book or two on the topic, but right now you're drawing a blank. You need a quick, clear, sensible answer. At the risk of being too "bumper sticker" brief, here are a few possible choices.

1. The death penalty is an act of violence, and there's already too much violence in the
world.

2. Executing the murderer doesn't restore the life of the victim. If it did most people would
be for it. Executions simply create more victims.

3. Executions are expensive, much more expensive that placing a person, even a teenager, in
prison for life.

4. Why promote death? Death comes for us all, sooner or later. For most it drops in much
too early, uninvited and unwelcome. For others it gnaws at the door for months or years
before gaining entrance. Death is inevitable. Why waste resources promoting something
that's inevitable? Our limited resources should be use to promote life, not death.

5. Seeing the death of others as a solution to a problem is the driving force behind the
behavior of terrorists, serial killers, students who shoot classmates, fired, bullied, or
disgruntled employees "going postal," and national leaders trying to control the resources
of another country. Civilized responsible citizens use peaceful solutions to solve problems.

OK, I admit it. The answers are getting longer. So let's slightly adjust the scenario. The person questioning you is a member of a fundamentalist, non-denominational church in suburbia. Like you, he's a Christian, but also a strong supporter of capital punishment. You adjust your responses.

1. I believe that supporting death for anyone is incompatible with following Jesus who said, "I
have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10: 10).

2. When asked to support the death penalty, Jesus said, "Let the one without sin cast the
first stone," (John 8:7) thereby establishing sinlessness as the qualification one has to meet
in order to carry out or even support the death penalty.

3. The death penalty has no additional rehabilitative or preventive value not offered by life
imprisonment at a cheaper cost to the taxpayer. It is simply an act of vengeance and
Romans 12:19 says, "Vengeance is mine: I will repay," saith the Lord.

4. Jesus died for the sins of the world, precisely so no one would have to die for their own sins
(John 3 :16). Those who support the death penalty are denying the credibility of Jesus'
crucifixion.

5. Christians often use the Old Testament to support the death penalty which is very strange
behavior since there are no Christians in the Old Testament. The Old Testament
injunction, "an eye for an eye," (Ex. 21:24, Lev 24:20, Deut. 19:21), was changed in the
New Testament by the founder of Christianity to orders that as Christians, we must now
return good for evil (Matt. 5 :38-42).

If you think that was hard, now comes the really tough part. Remember that it's more important to hear than to be heard, to understand than to be understood. Patient listening, rather than talking, is more likely to gain you respect. Listening is a good way to develop a friendship and open the door for future communication.

Adapted from an article originally written in the 1990s

Poetic Dining (a found poem - 2003)

On the bar food menu at Johnny Franks's
Restaurant at the Meadowlands Hotel in
Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, is
the following meat dish...


"Mustard Crusted Porkloin Cutlets
With Apple and Cider Vinegar Chutney,
Wild Mushroom Cream, " plus
"West Coast Crab Claws Cooked
in a Garlic and White Wine Cream."

PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Respect the right to disagree

Explain your real concerns

Share common goals and interests

Open yourself to different points of view

Listen carefully to all proposals

Understand the major issues involved

Think about the possible consequences

Imagine several possible alternative solutions

Offer some reasonable compromises

Negotiate mutually fair cooperative agreements


by Robert E. Valett (from a poster)

"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

Elie Wiesel

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi

"What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."
Confucius Analects

"Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up, you get a lot of scum on the top."
Edward Abbey

The hope of the world lies in what one demands, not of others, but of oneself.

James Baldwin "Malcom and Martin," Esquire, April, 1972.

"Calling a woman 'pretty' is a way to undermine the strength of her craft."

Suheir Hammad in Word Warriers: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution
edited by Alix Olson, page 179.