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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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Monday, June 7, 2010
Forgiveness
The concept of "forgiveness" is well known, even if not well used. Most people know what forgiveness is although we rarely see it practiced, at least not by countries in their international relations, and certainly not by the competing political parties within this country. When forgiveness is offered someone for a hideous offense it becomes front page news, as in the story of the Amish forgiving the man who executed five Amish girls at the Nickel Mines School in Pennsylvania on Oct. 2, 2006. In the June 5, 2010 edition of Shaping Families http://www.shapingfamilies.com/ we have the story of a family whose daughter was murdered and their process toward forgiveness. Like the story of the Amish victims, this one is also very remarkable.
Even though the concept of forgiveness is well known, there are many mistaken ideas about forgiveness. We may think we know what forgiveness is, but it's just as important to know what forgiveness is not.
Forgiveness is NOT forgetting. Often the offense is so repulsive, as in sexual, physical, or psychological abuse, that we don't want to talk about it and we wish the victim would be quiet and just forgive and forget. That attitude does a grave injustice to the victim who will have to talk about the abuse in order to recover, a process that may take years. People who have been abused, or lost loved ones have had their lives irreversibly changed by the experience. Expecting them to forget, is expecting them to deny their own history and the different person they've become as a result of the abuse or loss.
Forgiveness is NOT excusing the abuse. The abusive behavior still demands a response. In some cases it has to be publicized to warn and thereby protect others. The victim has a right to expect the abusive behavior to be addressed, if illegal, by the authorities, and if legal as in workplace bullying (which can be as emotionally harmful and injurious as rape or torture), by the employer and the community.
One who forgives does NOT necessarily refuse to address the abuse. The victims or victims, especially in cases of abuse are often dismissed by others who don't want to hear any more. In my own experience I was diagnosed with PTSD after being bullied by a co-worker consistently for over two years at my former employer St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. After repeated reports of the problem and bullying to management, which resulted in no change, management told me to "just move on," and "let's act like adults" and also to just forget about it and "focus on my family and my job." A psychologist I was referred to by my employer for treatment of the PTSD hastily dismissed me after only half a session by telling me to "write about the experience but don't think about it." It was clear that his dismissal was permanent. Only later did I find out that he was also an employee of St. Alphonsus. Needless to say these responses did nothing to solve the problem and only aggravated the PTSD injury.
People injured by any kind of abuse, or those who lose loved ones to acts of criminal violence, need someone who will listen to them. The story on Shaping Families of the parents who lost their daughter demonstrates the extensive process people who have been victimized must endure. Talking about the trauma that caused the injury or the loss, is necessary for their recovery. The list above is incomplete. It's important to know what forgiveness is not, as well as what it is. We cross paths every day with people who are hurting as a result of abuse or because they lost a loved one to an act of violence. Telling them to "forgive and forget," 'just move on," or "don't think about it," is not helpful. Listening to their story, even for just a few minutes, can make a big difference, and help them move toward a state of real forgiveness.
Leonard Nolt
For more information on forgiveness check: "Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches" by Carolyn Heggen, especially pages 126-133; "Caring Enough to Forgive" by David Augsburger, and also FORGIVENESS/RECONCILIATION on this blog.
Even though the concept of forgiveness is well known, there are many mistaken ideas about forgiveness. We may think we know what forgiveness is, but it's just as important to know what forgiveness is not.
Forgiveness is NOT forgetting. Often the offense is so repulsive, as in sexual, physical, or psychological abuse, that we don't want to talk about it and we wish the victim would be quiet and just forgive and forget. That attitude does a grave injustice to the victim who will have to talk about the abuse in order to recover, a process that may take years. People who have been abused, or lost loved ones have had their lives irreversibly changed by the experience. Expecting them to forget, is expecting them to deny their own history and the different person they've become as a result of the abuse or loss.
Forgiveness is NOT excusing the abuse. The abusive behavior still demands a response. In some cases it has to be publicized to warn and thereby protect others. The victim has a right to expect the abusive behavior to be addressed, if illegal, by the authorities, and if legal as in workplace bullying (which can be as emotionally harmful and injurious as rape or torture), by the employer and the community.
One who forgives does NOT necessarily refuse to address the abuse. The victims or victims, especially in cases of abuse are often dismissed by others who don't want to hear any more. In my own experience I was diagnosed with PTSD after being bullied by a co-worker consistently for over two years at my former employer St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. After repeated reports of the problem and bullying to management, which resulted in no change, management told me to "just move on," and "let's act like adults" and also to just forget about it and "focus on my family and my job." A psychologist I was referred to by my employer for treatment of the PTSD hastily dismissed me after only half a session by telling me to "write about the experience but don't think about it." It was clear that his dismissal was permanent. Only later did I find out that he was also an employee of St. Alphonsus. Needless to say these responses did nothing to solve the problem and only aggravated the PTSD injury.
People injured by any kind of abuse, or those who lose loved ones to acts of criminal violence, need someone who will listen to them. The story on Shaping Families of the parents who lost their daughter demonstrates the extensive process people who have been victimized must endure. Talking about the trauma that caused the injury or the loss, is necessary for their recovery. The list above is incomplete. It's important to know what forgiveness is not, as well as what it is. We cross paths every day with people who are hurting as a result of abuse or because they lost a loved one to an act of violence. Telling them to "forgive and forget," 'just move on," or "don't think about it," is not helpful. Listening to their story, even for just a few minutes, can make a big difference, and help them move toward a state of real forgiveness.
Leonard Nolt
For more information on forgiveness check: "Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches" by Carolyn Heggen, especially pages 126-133; "Caring Enough to Forgive" by David Augsburger, and also FORGIVENESS/RECONCILIATION on this blog.
Friday, June 4, 2010
On Families and Poverty
I don't know more about it than what this article contains, but this effort in the San Jose, CA to provide affordable housing near public transportation for underprivileged families seems to be something needed in most large cities in this country: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15214285?nclick_check=1. I almost daily use the city buses here in my home town of Boise, ID and it's clear that many people who use buses in Boise would not have access to any form of transportation if the bus service was not available, since they do not drive or even own a car. The same is true for many cities in this country
As Jim Wallis stated in the May 29 issue of
www.shapingfamilies.com/index.asp?Program=5/28/2010
"Forty-four percent of all homeless people work, have jobs, and yet still can't afford houses" Wallis goes on to point out how wrong this situation is, especially in a country with all the wealth and resources found in the US. Certainly providing affordable housing for underprivileged and homeless people is the right way to go, but that housing must be located near public transportation options so the residents can get to their jobs.
LN
As Jim Wallis stated in the May 29 issue of
www.shapingfamilies.com/index.asp?Program=5/28/2010
"Forty-four percent of all homeless people work, have jobs, and yet still can't afford houses" Wallis goes on to point out how wrong this situation is, especially in a country with all the wealth and resources found in the US. Certainly providing affordable housing for underprivileged and homeless people is the right way to go, but that housing must be located near public transportation options so the residents can get to their jobs.
LN
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Ten Quotes for March
Ghandi's Seven Deadly Social Sins
1. Politics Without Principle
2. Wealth Without Work
3. Commerce Without Morality
4. Pleasure Without Conscience
5. Education Without Character
6. Science Without Humanity
7. Worship Without Sacrifice
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"On most crews, each cutter harvests six heads of lettuce each minute, or 360 an hour. At this pace a farmworker earning an hourly wage of $8.37 is paid just two cents per head: these heads are then sold in stores for about $1 apiece. Although total farm labor costs are less than one-third of grower revenue, companies argue that low wages are necessary in an industry forced to deal with unpredictable weather and shifting market demands. But Philip L. Martin, professor of agricultural economics at the University of California - Davis, has shown that even a dramatic increase in labor costs - passed fully to the consumer - would have a very modest impact on the typical American household budget, which spent $322. on fresh fruits and vegetables in 2000. Martin's detailed analysis of the agricultural industry found that a 40 precent increase in framworker wages would increase a household's annual spending on fruits and vegetables by only $8., to $330. A single head of iceberg lettuce, selling for $1., would increase by just two or three cents."
From page 14 of "Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (most)
Americans Won't Do." by Gabriel Thompson.
Also from Page 2 of the same book; "At the height of the winter growing season, Yuma (Arizona) farmworkers are harvesting an astounding 12 million heads of lettuce a day."
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"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you" RASHI
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"A corporation, essentially, is a pile of money to which a number of people have sold their moral allegiance." Wendell Berry
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"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you
are traveling for." Louis L'Amour
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This quote is similar to another from Joe Conanson's book "Big Lies" that I posted on this blog a couple years ago. It's at http://leonardnolt.blogspot.com/2008/02/quote-from-joe-conason.html. The information in this quote is one of several strong reasons why I am not a conservative.
" When you decide whom to vote for, remember who is on your side as an employee. Virtually every law in history that helped employees was initiated by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. This includes social security, the minimum wage, bans on discrimination based on race, gender, and other illegitimate factors, workplace safety and health standards, and many more. The Republicans even opposed child labor laws. I've been working in Congress for better employment rights for twenty years. I could count the number of Republicans who have ever helped me on my fingers (and have a few left over). "
From "Can They Do That? Retaking Our Fundamental Rights in the Workplace" by Lewis Maltby, Page 243.
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On Jan. 23, 2010 while holding hands and running together across the Boise State Administration Bldg. parking lot on our way to a basketball game, my six-year-old grandson, Zach, said to me, "God is actually squeezed between us, holding hands with us as we run." The he quickly added, "Jesus too," as if Jesus would feel left out if he wasn't included.
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"Freedom only exists when it is a treasure shared by all."
from "The Surrender Tree"
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"Maybe all of us are the same height when we meet our God."
from "Face" by Sherman Alexie, Page 122
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"Hope is not the assurance that things will be easy or will work out well. Rather, hope is the deep inner assurance (a "dimension of the human spirit" he calls it) that what we are doing makes sense and has purpose and that it is the right thing to do, whatever the immediate consequences."
by Czech playright and former president Vaclav Havel. From page 183 of "The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen," by Jeffrey B. Symynkywicz.
_______________________________________
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Letters From the Past (Sept. 9, 1999)
On Sept. 9, 1999 this letter I wrote was published in the Idaho Statesman.
ARMY SLOGAN
According to the Idaho Statesman, the US Army is considering changing its advertising slogan. It's about time. For years the Army has insulted the youth of our nation and their parents with its "Be ALL You Can Be" slogan, falsely implying that the greatest potential young people have is to join the Army and learn how to kill other people. Each young person's life has a greater and better potential than anything an army can offer.
We only have one life to live and we can use it either to make peace or make war. Since armies today generally attack civilians, not other armies, a decision to join any army is a decision to add to the escalating violence and terrorism against civilian populations in the world. A new and honest slogan from the US Army will make that clear.
Leonard Nolt
-------------------------------------------
Here are a few of the responses I received, also published in the Idaho Statesman on the dates indicated.
PROUD OF ARMY - 9-26-99 (Response #1)
I couldn't disagree more with the Sept. 19 letter from Leonard Nolt of Boise regarding our US Army. We are citizens of the greatest country in our planet's history. The men and women of our armed services have helped make this so.
From our nations' birth to today, it has been their commitment, their love for their country and its people, and their sacrifice at home and abroad that defines the true meaning of "Be All You Can Be."
I am a veteran of the US Air Force, but given the opportunity, I would proudly serve in the Army if so asked. I would welcome the challenge, for I owe (as we all do)a great debt to those who have served before us, those who have died fighting for our nation's ideals, and for those who may follow.
Nolt should be thanking our enlisted men and women and the Army they dedicate their lives to. It is their daily sacrifice that allows his anti-American feelings to be printed. (from a Boise resident.)
HURT BY REMARKS - 9-30-99 (Response #2)
In reply to Leonard Nolt (Sept 19 letter), I again felt the anger and hurt remarks like Nolt's provide. My grandfather headed the Minnesota National Guard. My father remains an Air Force MIA in Vietnam.
Our son, a member of the National Guard, is an Army-trained nationally certified EMT. He also attends the University of Idaho as an ROTC member. Since joining the Army, his grades are up, his self-confidence has risen, and he has turned into a proud young man with a purpose, a goal and a very bright future. He has what many young people do not have today: a sense of duty, honor, and pride in his country. He is and always will be "All He Can Be."
The next time Nolt wishes to say something like this, he should think twice and remember who gave their lives so he may remain free to do that. All the men and women of the United States armed forces and we, their families, would appreciate it. (from a Boise resident)
ARMY SLOGAN FITTING - 10-2-99 (Response #3)
I was appalled at the apparent lack of military knowledge and obvious bias, that Leonard Nolt illustrated in his letter in the Sept. 19 Statesman. The US Army has a long history of contributing to American society; there have been and currently are millions of young and seasoned veterans who make up an important part of our national fabric - in government, commerce, education and many other professions.
Tom Brokaw's book, "The Greatest Generation," vividly depicts the military's "personal and personnel" contributions to the greatness which our nation enjoys. The Army's current slogan, "Be All You Can Be," has been a theme that has inspired many young Americans who served their country for varied number of years. My lengthy military experience has netted the view that young people who have served in the military are generally mature and focused, and proud of having served their country. Should the Army adopt a new slogan, I hope it will be a as inviting and hard-hitting to young people as "Be All You Can Be." (from an Eagle resident)
A NOBLE PROFESSION- 10-8-99 (Response #4)
I am writing in response to Leonard Nolt's letter dated Sept. 19. Nolt contends that the Army is not a worthy profession and that it promotes violence. He obviously lacks historical knowledge and fails to possess the ideals and values that this great nation stands for.
As an active-duty Army officer, I consider it an honor and privilege to serve. Our country won the freedoms we enjoy because of the selfless service and ultimate sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces. The purpose of the military is to protect our freedoms and national interests.
The noble men and women who pursue careers in the military, and those citizens who support them, are true Americans. They are worthy to take advantage of the freedoms and opportunities our country has to offer. Those who complain about our military and believe it is immoral are not worthy. (from a Meridian resident)
Obey Orders - 10-25-99 (Response # 5)
As a veteran of the Army, I agree with Leonard Nolt's letter concerning the Army's slogan. He was not attacking the character of our soldiers; he was simply questioning the appropriateness of the slogan "Be All You Can Be" for an institution that really has no interest in whether its soldiers are living fulfilled lives and being all they can be.
The Army simply wants soldiers who will never orders. With this in mind it comes as almost no surprise to learn of the slaughter of hundreds of women and children during the Korean War, which only recently came to light.
Why would good, decent young men, fighting to defend our freedoms, decide to spray bullets into a crowd of helpless non-combatants?
They didn't make that decision - their commanders did. The first thing you learn in basic training is that you don't think for yourself. You just do what your told. Never question orders.
The Army's newest slogan, if they were interested in being honest (they're not), should be: Never Question An Order, No Matter How Cold-Blooded and Inhuman." (from a Boise resident.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENTS and OBSERVATIONS
Although these letters are over ten years old, the issues they raise are still current. Here are a few observations.
1. First let me say that in the letter I wrote (Army Slogan), I was simply expressing my distaste for the slogan which is, like much advertising, dishonest in that it implies the greatest potential young US citizens have is to join the Army and learn how to kill people. Contrary to what was implied or stated in the responses, I was not suggesting that members of the Army and other branches of the military lack commitment, bravery, maturity, or that they don't love their country.
2. I'm aware that soldiers in warfare often act with great courage and bravery under unbelievably threatening and destructive circumstances. I also believe that war veterans should have quick and easy access to any first-rate physical, psychological, or spiritual care they may need for life.
3. It's interesting to note that none of the four letter writers who criticized my letter actually addressed the two points I made. First, that it's insulting to claim US young people do not have any greater potential than learning how to kill young people from other countries. Second, that soldiers in warfare primarily kill innocent people, not enemy soldiers. Is their refusal or failure to respond to the points I made an indication that they have no argument against them?
4. I believe that every person has a much greater potential that simply learning how to kill other people. It's a higher and more noble calling to learn to heal and help, rather than hurt or harm others. It's better to construct than to destroy. It's better to help feed, clothe, and house people than to destroy their sources of food, clothing, and shelter which is what usually happens in war. It's also better for a person to be a peacemaker than a war maker. Einstein said, "One cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." If we're spending our time, our lives and other resources preparing for war, we cannot use those resources to prevent war. Preventing war is better than preparing for war.
5, Two of the writers mention the "greatness" of the United States. One person wrote that the US is the "...greatest country in our planet's history." Another refers to the US as "...this great nation." The word great is a very vague term. Which aspect of US life is the "greatest?" Is it our wealth, the potential destructiveness of our military's weapons, or is it our commitment to freedom and the care and concern we show for the poor, minorities, immigrants, and other marginalized people? Another category of greatness to be considered is the availability and affordability of education and health care for all people. Are we the greatest in the world in all these categories? We may be the wealthiest country that has ever existed and we certainly invest more resources in developing our potential to kill more people and destroy more land than any other nation. We spend more on warmaking than all the other countries in the world combined, but is that a sign of greatness? Should we be proud of our ability to kill and destroy others?
9. Over 40% of the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan are under the age of fifteen so these wars we are fighting now are primarily wars against children, teenagers, and women. They are the primary victims of our military violence. There is no honor or duty in attacking women, teenagers, and children, all of whom pose no threat whatsoever to the US.
There is more that could be written in response to these letters but I'll leave it for now.
Leonard Nolt
ARMY SLOGAN
According to the Idaho Statesman, the US Army is considering changing its advertising slogan. It's about time. For years the Army has insulted the youth of our nation and their parents with its "Be ALL You Can Be" slogan, falsely implying that the greatest potential young people have is to join the Army and learn how to kill other people. Each young person's life has a greater and better potential than anything an army can offer.
We only have one life to live and we can use it either to make peace or make war. Since armies today generally attack civilians, not other armies, a decision to join any army is a decision to add to the escalating violence and terrorism against civilian populations in the world. A new and honest slogan from the US Army will make that clear.
Leonard Nolt
-------------------------------------------
Here are a few of the responses I received, also published in the Idaho Statesman on the dates indicated.
PROUD OF ARMY - 9-26-99 (Response #1)
I couldn't disagree more with the Sept. 19 letter from Leonard Nolt of Boise regarding our US Army. We are citizens of the greatest country in our planet's history. The men and women of our armed services have helped make this so.
From our nations' birth to today, it has been their commitment, their love for their country and its people, and their sacrifice at home and abroad that defines the true meaning of "Be All You Can Be."
I am a veteran of the US Air Force, but given the opportunity, I would proudly serve in the Army if so asked. I would welcome the challenge, for I owe (as we all do)a great debt to those who have served before us, those who have died fighting for our nation's ideals, and for those who may follow.
Nolt should be thanking our enlisted men and women and the Army they dedicate their lives to. It is their daily sacrifice that allows his anti-American feelings to be printed. (from a Boise resident.)
HURT BY REMARKS - 9-30-99 (Response #2)
In reply to Leonard Nolt (Sept 19 letter), I again felt the anger and hurt remarks like Nolt's provide. My grandfather headed the Minnesota National Guard. My father remains an Air Force MIA in Vietnam.
Our son, a member of the National Guard, is an Army-trained nationally certified EMT. He also attends the University of Idaho as an ROTC member. Since joining the Army, his grades are up, his self-confidence has risen, and he has turned into a proud young man with a purpose, a goal and a very bright future. He has what many young people do not have today: a sense of duty, honor, and pride in his country. He is and always will be "All He Can Be."
The next time Nolt wishes to say something like this, he should think twice and remember who gave their lives so he may remain free to do that. All the men and women of the United States armed forces and we, their families, would appreciate it. (from a Boise resident)
ARMY SLOGAN FITTING - 10-2-99 (Response #3)
I was appalled at the apparent lack of military knowledge and obvious bias, that Leonard Nolt illustrated in his letter in the Sept. 19 Statesman. The US Army has a long history of contributing to American society; there have been and currently are millions of young and seasoned veterans who make up an important part of our national fabric - in government, commerce, education and many other professions.
Tom Brokaw's book, "The Greatest Generation," vividly depicts the military's "personal and personnel" contributions to the greatness which our nation enjoys. The Army's current slogan, "Be All You Can Be," has been a theme that has inspired many young Americans who served their country for varied number of years. My lengthy military experience has netted the view that young people who have served in the military are generally mature and focused, and proud of having served their country. Should the Army adopt a new slogan, I hope it will be a as inviting and hard-hitting to young people as "Be All You Can Be." (from an Eagle resident)
A NOBLE PROFESSION- 10-8-99 (Response #4)
I am writing in response to Leonard Nolt's letter dated Sept. 19. Nolt contends that the Army is not a worthy profession and that it promotes violence. He obviously lacks historical knowledge and fails to possess the ideals and values that this great nation stands for.
As an active-duty Army officer, I consider it an honor and privilege to serve. Our country won the freedoms we enjoy because of the selfless service and ultimate sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces. The purpose of the military is to protect our freedoms and national interests.
The noble men and women who pursue careers in the military, and those citizens who support them, are true Americans. They are worthy to take advantage of the freedoms and opportunities our country has to offer. Those who complain about our military and believe it is immoral are not worthy. (from a Meridian resident)
Obey Orders - 10-25-99 (Response # 5)
As a veteran of the Army, I agree with Leonard Nolt's letter concerning the Army's slogan. He was not attacking the character of our soldiers; he was simply questioning the appropriateness of the slogan "Be All You Can Be" for an institution that really has no interest in whether its soldiers are living fulfilled lives and being all they can be.
The Army simply wants soldiers who will never orders. With this in mind it comes as almost no surprise to learn of the slaughter of hundreds of women and children during the Korean War, which only recently came to light.
Why would good, decent young men, fighting to defend our freedoms, decide to spray bullets into a crowd of helpless non-combatants?
They didn't make that decision - their commanders did. The first thing you learn in basic training is that you don't think for yourself. You just do what your told. Never question orders.
The Army's newest slogan, if they were interested in being honest (they're not), should be: Never Question An Order, No Matter How Cold-Blooded and Inhuman." (from a Boise resident.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENTS and OBSERVATIONS
Although these letters are over ten years old, the issues they raise are still current. Here are a few observations.
1. First let me say that in the letter I wrote (Army Slogan), I was simply expressing my distaste for the slogan which is, like much advertising, dishonest in that it implies the greatest potential young US citizens have is to join the Army and learn how to kill people. Contrary to what was implied or stated in the responses, I was not suggesting that members of the Army and other branches of the military lack commitment, bravery, maturity, or that they don't love their country.
2. I'm aware that soldiers in warfare often act with great courage and bravery under unbelievably threatening and destructive circumstances. I also believe that war veterans should have quick and easy access to any first-rate physical, psychological, or spiritual care they may need for life.
3. It's interesting to note that none of the four letter writers who criticized my letter actually addressed the two points I made. First, that it's insulting to claim US young people do not have any greater potential than learning how to kill young people from other countries. Second, that soldiers in warfare primarily kill innocent people, not enemy soldiers. Is their refusal or failure to respond to the points I made an indication that they have no argument against them?
4. I believe that every person has a much greater potential that simply learning how to kill other people. It's a higher and more noble calling to learn to heal and help, rather than hurt or harm others. It's better to construct than to destroy. It's better to help feed, clothe, and house people than to destroy their sources of food, clothing, and shelter which is what usually happens in war. It's also better for a person to be a peacemaker than a war maker. Einstein said, "One cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." If we're spending our time, our lives and other resources preparing for war, we cannot use those resources to prevent war. Preventing war is better than preparing for war.
5, Two of the writers mention the "greatness" of the United States. One person wrote that the US is the "...greatest country in our planet's history." Another refers to the US as "...this great nation." The word great is a very vague term. Which aspect of US life is the "greatest?" Is it our wealth, the potential destructiveness of our military's weapons, or is it our commitment to freedom and the care and concern we show for the poor, minorities, immigrants, and other marginalized people? Another category of greatness to be considered is the availability and affordability of education and health care for all people. Are we the greatest in the world in all these categories? We may be the wealthiest country that has ever existed and we certainly invest more resources in developing our potential to kill more people and destroy more land than any other nation. We spend more on warmaking than all the other countries in the world combined, but is that a sign of greatness? Should we be proud of our ability to kill and destroy others?
6. The letter writer dated 9-26-99 claimed that my letter expressed "anti-American feelings." There is nothing "anti-American" about expressing concern for what often seems to be an eagerness to wage wars in this country. The wars we have fought in recent decades have been against countries too poor or weak to attack us, or even defend themselves against us. They've clearly been fought for reasons that have nothing to do with self-defence (Iraq-oil/Afghanistan-possible oil pipeline/Vietnam & Southeast Asia-virulent and blind anti-communism as well as an attempt to expand US control and try out new weapons systems). These wars have also resulted in the premature deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of Americans as well as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans, and in Southeast Asia the victims number in the millions. Most of the people victimized by US military action have been innocent civilians. Is protesting the killing of innocent people "anti-American?"
7. Two letter writers (10/299 and 10/8/99) use the word "service," each one twice. Others write of duty, honor, and sacrifice. If we're waging war to steal oil or other resources, no one is receiving a service. We have no duty to kill civilians for any reason and there is no honor or nobility in doing so.
8. The letters dated 10/8/99 and 9/30/99 mentions "freedoms" or "free." Killing people, for whatever reason, destroys freedom. Dead people have no freedom of speech, press, or religion, no choices on election day, and no democracy. Even people who are not killed but injured with lasting physical or psychological injures have had some of their freedoms destroyed.
9. Over 40% of the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan are under the age of fifteen so these wars we are fighting now are primarily wars against children, teenagers, and women. They are the primary victims of our military violence. There is no honor or duty in attacking women, teenagers, and children, all of whom pose no threat whatsoever to the US.
There is more that could be written in response to these letters but I'll leave it for now.
Leonard Nolt
Friday, January 22, 2010
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APOCALYPSE ( a prose poem)
WHEN I SEE SOMETHING WRITTEN IN LARGE CAPITALIZED LETTERS I START TO CRINGE BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF THE AUTHOR IS SHOUTING AT ME WANTING ME TO TAKE SOME BAD TASTING MEDICINE TO CURE A PROBLEM I DON'T HAVE SCREAMING IN MY FACE THAT I HAVE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TRASH MY HARD EARNED BELIEFS AND BECOME MORE LIKE HIM WHO DOESN'T IN THE LEAST IMPRESS ME AS SOMEONE I WOULD WANT TO BE LIKE ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THIS ABUSE OF MY EARS AND MISUSE OF THE LANGUAGE AND HIS STORMING OF THE AIR AND SPACE BETWEEN US TURNING TRANQUILITY INTO TURBULENCE SO TWISTER TURBULENT IN FACT THAT MIGRATING BIRDS BYPASS THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE LIKE CARS CREEPING PAST A WRECK IN THE HIGHWAY OR MICE TAKING A WIDE DETOUR AROUND A PACK OF CATS IN FACT I THINK A MAJOR STORM IS BREWING BECAUSE EVEN IF WHAT HE SAYS BEGINS TO START TO MAKE A LITTLE SENSE THERE IS NO CHANCE IN HELL THAT I'M GOING TO LET HIM KNOW IT BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN HIS BELIEFS OR THE POWER OF TRUTH WHICH HE SEEMS TO BE GREATLY IN NEED OF NOR ANY TRUST IN THE LANGUAGE HE USES THINKING THAT IT NEEDS A VERBAL EXCLAMATION POINT AFTER EVERY LETTER TWO AFTER EACH WORD AND FOUR AT THE END OF EACH SENTENCE IN ORDER TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS OR MAYBE HE SPENT ENGLISH 101 STRUNG OUT ON SOME FLEETING FLAVOR OF SPOON FED FUNDAMENTALISM AND NEVER LEARNED THAT THE POWER OF LANGUAGE COMES
NOT FROM THE VOLUME OF THE DELIVERY BUT FROM THE VIRTUOSITY OF THE DELIVERER IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT WORD AND THAT UNDER RATHER THAN OVERSTATEMENT IS MORE CONVINCING AND THAT LISTENING RATHER THAN TALKING CREATES HEALTHIER COMMUNICATION THAT SILENCE RATHER THAN NOISE GENERATES STRONGER CONVICTIONS AND I SHAKE MY HEAD AND TURN AWAY CLOSING THE BOOK MAGAZINE OR LETTER AND REMIND MYSELF THAT IT WAS ONLY A PUBLISHED PAGE POORLY EDITED NOT A PERSON WHO SHOULD NOT BE SO EASILY DISMISSED BUT A FORGETFUL PIECE SOON TO BE GONE FOR GOOD ROTTING SLOWLY IN THAT TALLEST SKYSCRAPER OF ALL A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY TOWER OF BABEL THE COMPOST PILE OF FAILED COMMUNICATION WHERE COUNTLESS PRINTERS CHATTERING AROUND THE CLOCK BREED REAMS OF WORDS WHICH SPREAD UNREAD DIRECTLY INTO SHREDDERS RAINING A DOWNPOUR OF WORD CONFETTI ON THE MASSES THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE WAVELENGTHS CLOTTING THE ARTERIES OF OUR COMMUNITIES OBSCURING THE HORIZONS OF OUR LIVES TAP DANCING ON OUR EAR DRUMS AND SOILING OUR SCHIZOPHRENIC SOULS UNTIL WE MOVE LIKE ZOMBIES FROM DAWN TO DUSK SHOULDER TO SHOULDER BUT NEVER TOUCHING EXCHANGING INFORMATION BUT NEVER COMMUNICATING OUR LONELINESS SPREADING LIKE NIGHT OVER THE CROWDED CAVERNS OF OUR CITIES AND CHURCH BUILDINGS
LEONARD NOLT
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Letter From The Past - 9-21-2000 (which is still partially relevant)
Officials Ignore Threat of Dirty Air (First published as a Reader's View in the Sept. 21, 2000 issue of the Idaho Statesman. Although the people occupying the public offices have changed and the bus system is slowly improving, traffic and air quality are still problems in southwest Idaho. )
The first-page story in The Idaho Statesman, Aug. 22, had some surprising news. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne transporting air purifiers to Salmon? The governor concerned about air quality? Well, in Salmon maybe, where it's politically expedient, at least during forest fires, but certainly not in Ada county.
In March the Environmental Protection Agency, under pressure from local officials, removed the air quality standards that governed small-particle air pollution in Ada County, making our county the only area in the nation without such standards.
The governor, mayor, Ada County Highway District (ACHD) commissioners, the Ada County Commission, and most of the current members of the Boise City Council have refused to speak out against this threat to our health. Why? Because they primarily represent influential construction and development interests. Those interests stand to benefit from the relaxed air quality standards by getting millions of dollars diverted from public transportation, where it belongs, to road building, which increases traffic, congestion, and air pollution.
In 1998 Kempthorne tried to get our votes by promoting childhood immunizations. Unfortunately there is no childhood immunization for asthma. Asthma death rates in the nation have more than doubled in the past three decades along with the amount of particle air pollution. The asthma rate has increased the most in children under the age of four - 160 percent from 1q980 to 1994. Asthma is the chief cause of absenteeism in grade school children. Ellen W. Cutler in her book "Winning the War Against Asthma and Allergies" writes "There is substantial evidence linking specific air pollutants to an increase in illness and a decrease in pulmonary function especially in children."
The governor isn't the only one responsible. In her 1998 campaign, Marlyss Meyer of the ACHD promised to work for an "efficient and safe transportation system," and Judy Peavey-Derr, also of ACHD, promised to "commit ACHD resources to realistic solutions that benefit all of Ada County. " What they've given us is traffic gridlock, a neglected bus system, no real effort made on additional public or alternative transportation options, and the promise of dirtier air.
When people are sickened by contaminated food or water, health officials spring into action. Warnings are issued, the source of the problem is located, and corrective measures taken. Lawsuits are filed by the victims. When people are sickened by dirty air, rarely is anything done beyond the warning stage.
Every person daily takes into his or her body a volume of air hundreds of times greater than the amount of food or water consumed.. That air should be as pure as our food and water. Children in Ada County have as much right to clean air as children in North Idaho have to lead-free drinking water. Officials who undermine clean air standards should be as subject to lawsuits as a fast-food restaurant that serves E. Coli-tainted meat.
State and local elected officials are willing to let the thousands of quarts of air you consume every day be dirtier, so their friends in construction and development can get some juicy financial benefits. In a city increasingly characterized by a darkening shroud of smog, the seemingly endless construction of ugly parking garages, and a very inadequate public transportation system, the least we have the right to expect are intelligent solutions to smog and traffic problems that benefit all residents.
Kenpthrone and other elected officials can continue to shuttle air purifiers to Salmon, but the real test of their integrity and leadership will come when they take a stand for clean air in Ada County. We're still waiting for that to happen.
Leonard Nolt
The first-page story in The Idaho Statesman, Aug. 22, had some surprising news. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne transporting air purifiers to Salmon? The governor concerned about air quality? Well, in Salmon maybe, where it's politically expedient, at least during forest fires, but certainly not in Ada county.
In March the Environmental Protection Agency, under pressure from local officials, removed the air quality standards that governed small-particle air pollution in Ada County, making our county the only area in the nation without such standards.
The governor, mayor, Ada County Highway District (ACHD) commissioners, the Ada County Commission, and most of the current members of the Boise City Council have refused to speak out against this threat to our health. Why? Because they primarily represent influential construction and development interests. Those interests stand to benefit from the relaxed air quality standards by getting millions of dollars diverted from public transportation, where it belongs, to road building, which increases traffic, congestion, and air pollution.
In 1998 Kempthorne tried to get our votes by promoting childhood immunizations. Unfortunately there is no childhood immunization for asthma. Asthma death rates in the nation have more than doubled in the past three decades along with the amount of particle air pollution. The asthma rate has increased the most in children under the age of four - 160 percent from 1q980 to 1994. Asthma is the chief cause of absenteeism in grade school children. Ellen W. Cutler in her book "Winning the War Against Asthma and Allergies" writes "There is substantial evidence linking specific air pollutants to an increase in illness and a decrease in pulmonary function especially in children."
The governor isn't the only one responsible. In her 1998 campaign, Marlyss Meyer of the ACHD promised to work for an "efficient and safe transportation system," and Judy Peavey-Derr, also of ACHD, promised to "commit ACHD resources to realistic solutions that benefit all of Ada County. " What they've given us is traffic gridlock, a neglected bus system, no real effort made on additional public or alternative transportation options, and the promise of dirtier air.
When people are sickened by contaminated food or water, health officials spring into action. Warnings are issued, the source of the problem is located, and corrective measures taken. Lawsuits are filed by the victims. When people are sickened by dirty air, rarely is anything done beyond the warning stage.
Every person daily takes into his or her body a volume of air hundreds of times greater than the amount of food or water consumed.. That air should be as pure as our food and water. Children in Ada County have as much right to clean air as children in North Idaho have to lead-free drinking water. Officials who undermine clean air standards should be as subject to lawsuits as a fast-food restaurant that serves E. Coli-tainted meat.
State and local elected officials are willing to let the thousands of quarts of air you consume every day be dirtier, so their friends in construction and development can get some juicy financial benefits. In a city increasingly characterized by a darkening shroud of smog, the seemingly endless construction of ugly parking garages, and a very inadequate public transportation system, the least we have the right to expect are intelligent solutions to smog and traffic problems that benefit all residents.
Kenpthrone and other elected officials can continue to shuttle air purifiers to Salmon, but the real test of their integrity and leadership will come when they take a stand for clean air in Ada County. We're still waiting for that to happen.
Leonard Nolt
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Monday, January 11, 2010
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Current Status of the "American Dream" (which is nearly DOA).
"The share of pretax income going to the top 1 percent of American households rose by 7 percentage points from 1979 to 2007, to 16 percent, while the share of income going to the bottom 80 percent fell by 7 percentage points. As David Leonhardt put it in the New York Times: "It's as if every household in the bottom 80 percent is writing a check for $7,000. every year and sending it to the top 1 percent."
Page 179
"But in reality Americans are less likely to move upward from their class of origin that are Germans, Canadians, Finns, French people, Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes."
Page 180
from "Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America," by Barbara Ehrenreich
Page 179
"But in reality Americans are less likely to move upward from their class of origin that are Germans, Canadians, Finns, French people, Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes."
Page 180
from "Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America," by Barbara Ehrenreich
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Quotes from Movies
"I don't know what you owe God, but I can tell you....you can't pay him in cash. You never see a U-Haul behind a hearse... The Egyptains tried it. It doesn't work. You can't take the money with you.
Denzel Washington in "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3."
"Kill off all my demons... and my angels might die too."
Emily Mortimer in "Trans Siberian"
Denzel Washington in "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3."
"Kill off all my demons... and my angels might die too."
Emily Mortimer in "Trans Siberian"
Monday, December 28, 2009
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Some quotes to think about
"Hatred is nothing but a yearning for love."
"Make up your own mind and don't fall victim to group consciousness."
"When you judge a person you don't define them. You simply define
yourself as someone who needs to judge."
"We are two different people,
Your right is not my right...
Your wrong is not my wrong...
You don't live my life"
From an "Ethiopian Protective Scroll"
by Jessie Dickerson on display
in the Liberal Arts Building at
Boise State University, Nov. 18, 2009
"Make up your own mind and don't fall victim to group consciousness."
"When you judge a person you don't define them. You simply define
yourself as someone who needs to judge."
"We are two different people,
Your right is not my right...
Your wrong is not my wrong...
You don't live my life"
From an "Ethiopian Protective Scroll"
by Jessie Dickerson on display
in the Liberal Arts Building at
Boise State University, Nov. 18, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
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Quotes from Zachary
"I want to make an invention to suck up the cars because cars pollute."
" I want to be a government when I grow up to change the laws into good things."
Dec. 2009
" I want to be a government when I grow up to change the laws into good things."
Dec. 2009
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Quotes
As anyone who reads this blog knows, I often include quotes. I try to select them with discrimination, looking for quotes that are eye-opening, thought-provoking, and with a gem of truth. Often a surprise element helps make a quote usable. Some of the quotes I use you've probably heard before. For example, "Confession is good for the soul," which I first remember my older sister using when she was in high school in the early sixties. It's a good quote, truthful and permanently relevant, so I don't mind including it here. Some of them are well-known, because the person who said or wrote the quote is a well-known individual like Martin Luther King, who was a very quotable person.
However I'm more interested in quotes that are not as well known. Here's an example which I just read for the first time in the book, "Anatomy of a Secret Life" The Psychology of Living a Lie" by Gail Saltz. "It is a joy to be hidden, but a disaster not to be found." This quote is credited to D. W. Winnicott. It has the ring of truth to it and it applies to a broad range of human activities and ages from children playing hide and seek to adults who might be engaged in illegal or criminal activities that they enjoy, but may be disastrous to others, and eventually to them.
I frequently see quotes I would not include on my blog because they just aren't that good. I'll make this exception to show you a few examples.
1. "A gift with a kind countenance is a double present," credited to Thomas Fuller. To me this one seems somewhat inane. Would someone be giving a gift without a kind countenance? Is it a gift, if giving it is required, so that the gift giver is doing it out of legal obligation, and is saddened or depressed by his own act of generosity? A gift given out of generosity and love will automatically include a kind countenance. There is no surprise here and it seems to be saying something that is too obvious to justify using in a quote.
2. "It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to," said by Sondra Barnes. This quote is a reject because it's simply not true. How many people in this country today want to find a job yet find it very difficult to get one. Wanting to do something does not make it easy whether the person is looking for a job, a spouse, or a college degree. Neither is it easy if the person is seriously ill and seeking healing, or a minority seeking respect and fair treatment from society.
3. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," by Eleanor Roosevelt. This one has the same problem the last one did. It's a lie. There are tens of millions of people in the world who have had their self-esteem damaged through no fault of their own, but entirely as a result of decisions made by others. This is true for victims of any kind of abuse or chronic mistreatment, and it happens every day in homes, schools, and workplaces. However Ms Roosevelt does have some worthwhile quotes. I have one on a bookmark that I like very much. It's challenging, energizing, and thought-provoking. It's "Do one thing every day that scares you." The "every day" dimension might be a little too frequent. Perhaps weekly would be more practical, since one should take time to consider the possible consequences, positive and negative, of any scary thing they do, and also take time to reflect after doing it. But the people subjected to abuse that I mentioned earlier in this paragraph are doing that every day by going to school, or work, or to any environment where they are mistreated, or, in some cases, by simply trying to survive in their homes.
There were three examples of what I think are weak quotes, either because they come across as being simply dumb, or are not true. Another example of a strong quote and one of my favorites is "Cities should be built on only one side of the street." I haven't been able to find out who said or wrote that one, but if you know please e-mail me at LeonardNolt@AOL.com and let me know. And if you find any quotes you think are strong, let me know and I may use them somewhere and sometime on my blog. Thanks
Leonard Nolt
However I'm more interested in quotes that are not as well known. Here's an example which I just read for the first time in the book, "Anatomy of a Secret Life" The Psychology of Living a Lie" by Gail Saltz. "It is a joy to be hidden, but a disaster not to be found." This quote is credited to D. W. Winnicott. It has the ring of truth to it and it applies to a broad range of human activities and ages from children playing hide and seek to adults who might be engaged in illegal or criminal activities that they enjoy, but may be disastrous to others, and eventually to them.
I frequently see quotes I would not include on my blog because they just aren't that good. I'll make this exception to show you a few examples.
1. "A gift with a kind countenance is a double present," credited to Thomas Fuller. To me this one seems somewhat inane. Would someone be giving a gift without a kind countenance? Is it a gift, if giving it is required, so that the gift giver is doing it out of legal obligation, and is saddened or depressed by his own act of generosity? A gift given out of generosity and love will automatically include a kind countenance. There is no surprise here and it seems to be saying something that is too obvious to justify using in a quote.
2. "It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to," said by Sondra Barnes. This quote is a reject because it's simply not true. How many people in this country today want to find a job yet find it very difficult to get one. Wanting to do something does not make it easy whether the person is looking for a job, a spouse, or a college degree. Neither is it easy if the person is seriously ill and seeking healing, or a minority seeking respect and fair treatment from society.
3. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent," by Eleanor Roosevelt. This one has the same problem the last one did. It's a lie. There are tens of millions of people in the world who have had their self-esteem damaged through no fault of their own, but entirely as a result of decisions made by others. This is true for victims of any kind of abuse or chronic mistreatment, and it happens every day in homes, schools, and workplaces. However Ms Roosevelt does have some worthwhile quotes. I have one on a bookmark that I like very much. It's challenging, energizing, and thought-provoking. It's "Do one thing every day that scares you." The "every day" dimension might be a little too frequent. Perhaps weekly would be more practical, since one should take time to consider the possible consequences, positive and negative, of any scary thing they do, and also take time to reflect after doing it. But the people subjected to abuse that I mentioned earlier in this paragraph are doing that every day by going to school, or work, or to any environment where they are mistreated, or, in some cases, by simply trying to survive in their homes.
There were three examples of what I think are weak quotes, either because they come across as being simply dumb, or are not true. Another example of a strong quote and one of my favorites is "Cities should be built on only one side of the street." I haven't been able to find out who said or wrote that one, but if you know please e-mail me at LeonardNolt@AOL.com and let me know. And if you find any quotes you think are strong, let me know and I may use them somewhere and sometime on my blog. Thanks
Leonard Nolt
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Last evening, after Zachary in three evenings, completed reading "Stand By, Boys!" by K. Norel, with chapters and 88 pages, a book about people fighting a flood in Holland which I got in 1957 when I was 9 years old, he walked up to me pointing to the back of the book and said, "It says here that this book is for kids aged 9 to 14 to read," which it did.
"I know Zach," I said.
And then he smiled broadly and said, "But I'm only six!"
"I know Zach," I said.
And then he smiled broadly and said, "But I'm only six!"
Monday, November 9, 2009
Missions and the Peace Witness
This message was delivered at the annual
Idaho Christian Worker's Meeting, Indian Cove Church,
Hammett, Idaho, Sunday morning, April 26, 1987.
In the late 19th century the poet, Thomas Hardy, wrote the following words:
That night your great guns, unawares,
Shook all our coffins as we lay
And cracked the chancel window squares -
We thought it was the judgement day
And sat upright.
While drearisome arose the howl of wakened hound,
The mouse let fall the altar crumb,
The worm drew back into his mound.
The glebe cow drooled.
And God called. No!
"Its gunnery practice out at sea.
Just as before you went below
The world is as it used to be
All nations striving hard to make red war yet redder
Mad as hatters, they do no more for Jesus' sake
Than you, who are helpless in such matters;
That this is not the judgement hour
For some of them's a blessed thing
For if it were, they'd have to scour hell's floor
For so much threatening."
So down we lay again. "I wonder
Will the world ever saner be, " said one,
"That when he sent us under in our indifferent century"
And many a skeleton shook its head.
Again the guns disturbed the hour
Roaring their readiness to avenge.
As far inland as Stourton Tower,
And Camelot and starlit Stonhenge.
(Adapted from Channel Firing, by Thomas Hardy)
The words of that poem are about 100 years old now, but they, along with the Bible and much of human history remind us that things haven't really changed much. People are born, they live for a short while, and then die, but sin lives on, sin that is often expressed in violence.
Words like "violence" and "force" are common words, but before I continue I'd like to tell you how I define those terms. Mennonites have probably throughout history used the word "force" more than "violence" when referring to peacemaking. I prefer the word "violence." I don't think "force " is always wrong. The word "force" is often used as a synonym of words like "persuasion" and "discipline." If I do a good job at my business I force my competitor to do a good job also, otherwise he would be forced out of business. That's not necessarily wrong. The word "force" has too broad a definition to define precisely what we mean when we're talking about sin that destroys peace. However the word "violence" needs to include, in its definition, more than what we usually comes to mind when we use it. Not just crime and war, but also refusing to listen to a friend or loved one when they need someone to talk to can be seen as an act of violence.
Idaho Christian Worker's Meeting, Indian Cove Church,
Hammett, Idaho, Sunday morning, April 26, 1987.
In the late 19th century the poet, Thomas Hardy, wrote the following words:
That night your great guns, unawares,
Shook all our coffins as we lay
And cracked the chancel window squares -
We thought it was the judgement day
And sat upright.
While drearisome arose the howl of wakened hound,
The mouse let fall the altar crumb,
The worm drew back into his mound.
The glebe cow drooled.
And God called. No!
"Its gunnery practice out at sea.
Just as before you went below
The world is as it used to be
All nations striving hard to make red war yet redder
Mad as hatters, they do no more for Jesus' sake
Than you, who are helpless in such matters;
That this is not the judgement hour
For some of them's a blessed thing
For if it were, they'd have to scour hell's floor
For so much threatening."
So down we lay again. "I wonder
Will the world ever saner be, " said one,
"That when he sent us under in our indifferent century"
And many a skeleton shook its head.
Again the guns disturbed the hour
Roaring their readiness to avenge.
As far inland as Stourton Tower,
And Camelot and starlit Stonhenge.
(Adapted from Channel Firing, by Thomas Hardy)
The words of that poem are about 100 years old now, but they, along with the Bible and much of human history remind us that things haven't really changed much. People are born, they live for a short while, and then die, but sin lives on, sin that is often expressed in violence.
Words like "violence" and "force" are common words, but before I continue I'd like to tell you how I define those terms. Mennonites have probably throughout history used the word "force" more than "violence" when referring to peacemaking. I prefer the word "violence." I don't think "force " is always wrong. The word "force" is often used as a synonym of words like "persuasion" and "discipline." If I do a good job at my business I force my competitor to do a good job also, otherwise he would be forced out of business. That's not necessarily wrong. The word "force" has too broad a definition to define precisely what we mean when we're talking about sin that destroys peace. However the word "violence" needs to include, in its definition, more than what we usually comes to mind when we use it. Not just crime and war, but also refusing to listen to a friend or loved one when they need someone to talk to can be seen as an act of violence.
Two other words we need to examine are the words "peacemaking" and "pacifism." Mennonites have traditionally frowned on the word "pacifism," probably because of its activist connotations. Quakers are the pacifists. Mennonites prefer peacemaking or nonresistance. However the ways in which words are used, and their definitions change. When we have a president who calls missiles "peacekeepers;" when the United Nations has a "peacekeeping" force; and when branches of the military such as the Strategic Air Command claim that "peace is our profession," the boundaries of the definitions of words like "peace" and "peacemaking" are expanded and begin to include, within the definition, concepts the Bible does not include in its verses on peace and peacemaking.
So I prefer the word "pacifism." I believe the beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers..." can today be more accurately read as "Blessed are the pacifists for they shall be called the children of God." If you ask a soldier in the military if he's a peacemaker, he'll probably say "yes." If you ask him if he's a pacifist, you'll probably get a negative response. I wouldn't be surprised if our Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger sends out Christmas cards each year with the message
"Peace on Earth" on them to his friends and relatives, and yet he still wants billions more of our tax dollars for weapons which threaten to destroy that peace.
Obviously the peace the people in the military are talking about is a different kind of peace from that addressed in the Bible. Military peace is simply the absence of violent conflict regardless of how much injustice, fear, hatred, and anger is present. The Biblical concept of peace is Shalom which includes not only the absence of violence and war, but also the absence of those things which lead to war. Shalom is a broad concept which includes human welfare, health, and well-being in both spiritual and material aspects. Shalom has to do with right relationships between people and God. It has to do with justice, equality, and respect. A community on Earth in which Shalom flourishes is probably the best example of heaven we can find outside of the real thing. The word "peace" or "Shalom" is the best short definition and description of the gospel message. It is our mission as Christians to communicate that Shalom to the world.
The first step toward communicating the need for Christians to be pacifists as an essential part of our mission outreach, is to make sure that we believe it ourselves. Is pacifism optional for Christians? Probably all of us have heard Christians suggest that peacemaking is of secondary importance. However in the Bible we find overwhelming evidence that pacifism is expected to be a part of each Christian's life. Let's look at just a few of those Bible passages.
Matthew 5:44-45 says; "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; in order that you may be sons (or daughters) of your father who is in heaven." The next couple verses remind us that... "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." Their importance is emphasized by the fact that this message is repeated at least twice in the gospels. The same is true of the next verse. "For if you forgive men (or women) their sins you heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt. 6:12, 14-15). This verse is very important in that it tells us that the forgiveness we receive from God for our sins is based on our willingness to forgive others.
At one time in his ministry Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered to the Jews..." Ephesians. 6: 12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places." This verse tells us that Christians who approve of using military violence against other people have failed to identify the real enemy. There are many other passages that emphasize the centrality of pacifism to Christian faith, but I think these are enough to remind us that if we answer "yes" to the question - "Is pacifism optional for Christians" - we are also answering "yes" to the question - "Is it OK to disobey some of Jesus' most frequently repeated commandments?"
It's been a few days since we remembered Jesus' Crucifixion and celebrated his resurrection. I doubt if there's another event on the Christian calendar which reminds me more of the need for Christians to be pacifists. In order to say that someone has to die for his sins, we first have to forget that Christ died for the sins of all the people who will ever live. When we insist on others dying, as we do when we support a war, we are trivializing the sacrifice that God made when he send his son to die on Calvary. In the resurrection we are reminded that sin has been defeated. Righteousness is the winner. Life has triumphed over death. God has been victorious over the evil one, once and for all. When we look to military forces for solutions to our problems we abandon the resurrected Saviour and trust in the sin that hung him on the cross.
I've heard Vernard Eller compare Satan since the crucifixion and resurrection to a chicken that's just had its head chopped off. There's a lot of activity which gives the illusion that life is present. But the chicken is dead and no one can save him. Satan has been defeated and it's only a matter of time until all of his activity ceases. When we look to state-sponsored violence for security instead of looking to the shalom of God's kingdom we are trusting in that defeated , terminal, decapitated chicken, Satan, while ignoring and rejecting the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection. When we disengage ourselves and our resources from supporting military violence we offer new life to our brothers and sisters around the world and new life is what the resurrection is all about.
Mark 16:15 tells us to go throughout the world and preach the gospel to all mankind. Although we may disagree and debate about which is the best way to follow that instruction, there is no question that the word "gospel" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "Godspel" which means "good tidings" or "good news." The word in the original Greek as found in the New Testament is
"euaggelion" from which, through the Latin word "evangelium," comes the words evangel, evangelism, evangelical, and their other derivatives. In our evangelistic efforts the gospel that we communicate to a sinful world must be "good news." We cannot introduce people to the salvation story of Jesus Christ and still retain the option of using military or any other kind of violence against people. That, obviously, isn't good news and if it isn't good news, it isn't the gospel.
Sin has a two-fold effect. It makes us sinners and it makes us sinned against. As sinners we victimize others and are also victimized by others. It's a vicious cycle. To truly save us God must save us from sin, and from the effects of sin. He does just that. We see examples in the Old Testament when he rescued the Israelites from Egypt and in the New Testament when Jesus Christ met the needs of people by healing the sick. Many pastors and especially those on radio and TV, including all of the better-known ones, teach what I would call a half-gospel, a watered down message of Christianity. They present a picture or image of a weakened or crippled God and Jesus. They claim that God is great enough to save us from our sins, but not great enough to save us from our enemies. So we have to have a vast military force prepared to commit unlimited violence against our enemies in order to accomplish what God is not capable of doing.
Their message is partly true and partly false which is sure to deceived more people than a completely false message. However as long as they put their stamp of approval on the use of military power we can see by looking at those who are the victims of that military power that the news they're receiving is not good news, so it can't be the gospel. Since the word "evangel" is the Greek equivalent of "good news" they cannot be accurately labeled evangelistic. Their support of the military damages relationships so their message is not a Shalom message, which means that it's not biblical. What they have is a very effective prescription for deception. Are those people the false prophets Paul is writing about in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 which says; "In the last days there will be men...having a form of religion, but denying the power thereof." They believe God's power is not sufficient to save us from the Communists, terrorists, or other national enemies , so we need a military force to do that job. They believe the blood shed on Calvary was adequate to cover their sins, but not enough to cover the sins of our enemies, so we need to be prepared to shed their blood ourselves, and to do it with our military forces.
One thing Christians can do to enhance their peace witness is to live consistent lives. Much criticism is directed toward Christians and the church because of what the world accurately sees as a double standard. When we oppose abortion and support capital punishment we make a mockery of our faith and standards sine identical reasoning is used to support both. In both abortion and capital punishment the intended victims becomes victims only because they lack a credible past performance. When non-Christians see Christians support one and oppose the other they cannot help but laugh at such a blatant double standard.
Perhaps the most prevalent theme throughout the Bible is the assumption that people can and should be given the opportunity to change. From Genesis to Revelations everything God does to break down the barriers caused by sin is based on that assumption. His calling Abraham, leading Israel to the Promised Land, the work of various prophets in the Old Testament, the message given to those who wrote the various books of the Bible, the birth of Jesus, his ministry as well as his crucifixion and resurrection, the preaching of the Apostles, and the missionary work of Paul. Nothing on that list would have had any value if people could not change, or if they should not have the opportunity to change. The use of military violence and the execution of criminals take away opportunities to change and can only be done in complete defiance of everything the Bible stands for.
It may be a little late for the characters in Hardy's poem, but all around us we see and come in contact with people who still have an opportunity to change. Life is short, fragile, and very precious. Let's not cheapen and endanger human lives by placing our support behind ideas, actions, or behind institutions such as the military that take away the opportunities people have to change. Let's place more prayer and patience behind our peace witness and remember as we go through life that the gospel without Shalom is as lifeless as an ocean without water.
Leonard Nolt
Monday, November 2, 2009
Our House
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Here are a few interior shots of our house after the new paint, carpet, and tile work of this summer. We're not in any hurry to cover up by hanging pictures on the walls or by adding more furniture.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
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The Forever War
Recently I completed The Forever War by New York Times correspondent Dexter Filkins. This is a eyewitness account of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and the war in Afghanistan. However Filkins primarily focuses on the US war against Iraq. Filkins does not hesitate to place himself in harm's way to see and experience the nature of war now at the beginning of the twenty-first century and in the current location that the US has chosen to wage war. Anyone who reads this book will immediately notice the vast credibility gap between the news of the war as written by Filkins and the watered down and colored news of the same events as portrayed on daily TV and in much contemporary media coverage. Most of today's news from current US wars comes from embedded reporters and is communicated in media that makes no effort to conceal it's right-wing biased support for military solutions to problems the US has with other nations. I highly recommend reading The Forever War as an antidote to apathy and complacency concerning US involvement in warfare. Reading it also might help to save some lives, that is US as well as Iraqi lives. Here are three quotes from the book:Walking in, watching the flames shoot upward, the first thing I thought was that I was back in the Third World. My countrymen were going to think that this was the worst thing that ever happened, the end of civilization. In the Third World this sort of thing happened every day: earthquakes, famines, plagues. In Orissa, on the eastern coast of India, after the cyclone, the dead were piled so high and for so long that the dogs couldn't eat any more; they just lay around waiting for their appetites to come back. Lazily looking at one another. Fifteen thousand died in that one. Seventeen thousand died in the earthquake in Turkey. In Afghanistan, in the earthquake there, four thousand. This was mass murder, that was clear, it was an act of evil. Though I'd seen that, too: the forty thousand dead in Kabul. I don't think I was the only person thinking this, who had the darker perspective. All those street vendors who worked near the World Trade Center, from all those different countries, selling falafel and schwarma. When they heard the planes and watched the towers they must have thought the same that I did: that they'd come home (Page 44-45).
The most basic barrier was language itself. Very few of the Americans in Iraq, whether soldiers or diplomats, or newspaper reporters, could speak more than a few words of Arabic. A remarkable number of them didn't even have translators. That meant that for many Iraqis, the typical nineteen-year-old army corporal from South Dakota was not a youthful innocent carrying America's goodwill; he was a terrifying combination of firepower and ignorance (Page 116).
A few miles away, a woman stepped from the voting booth at Yarmouk Elementary School, named for the largely Sunni neighborhood where it was located. Yarmouk was slipping fast, but some of the Sunnis were still coming out to vote. Her name was Bushra Saadi. Like Batool al-Musawi, the young Shiite woman, Saadi covered her hair with a scarf tightly wrapped. But she was older than Musawi and carried herself with greater dignity. Her face was drawn, and her eyes looked as hard as little diamonds. Her neighbors shuffled past her to go inside.
Why vote at all? I asked Saadi. Why not just stay home?
She shot me a withering look.
"I voted in order to prevent my country from being destroyed by its enemies, " she said. She spoke English without an accent.
What enemies" I asked Saadi. What enemies are you referring to?
She began to tremble.
"You - you destroyed our country," Saadi said. "The Americans, the British. I am sorry to be impolite. But your destroyed our country, and you called it democracy" (Page 243-244).
The Forever War is one of those rare books that gives the reader an unforgettable picture of what our US government and military actually accomplishes by starting a war. It's also a grim reminder that it's much easier to start a war than to get it stopped.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize
It's interesting and surprising to hear that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. It actually tells us more about the Nobel Committee and the rest of the world than it tells us about Obama. It tells us that the Nobel Committee is looking to the future and trying to use the prize to improve the safety of people on the earth in the coming years. I think that's commendable although it may be risky. It also tells us something about how the rest of the world sees the US. It reminds us how frustrated most of the people on this Earth were with the Bush Administration. Bush was clearly not interested in being a peacemaker but used the military for revenge and to steal resources. Remember Bush bragging about being a "war president."
Millions of people in the world see the US as a rogue nation, out of control, and using our power, wealth, and military forces to threaten and destroy other countries. We spent annually approximately the same amount on our military that all the rest of the world combined spends on their military forces. We have over 800 military bases on the planet. That's an enormous waste of money and other resources. No one knows the number of civilians who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US military forces. Chris Hedges in his book What Everyone Should Know About War writes that 75 to 90 % of all the victims of wars since World War 2 have been civilians. There are those who have responded to that comment by using the twisted and desperate logic of saying that if we weren't killing them, Saddam Hussein and the Taliban would be doing it, as if that somehow justifies the US killing civilians. The excuses used to start and continue these wars are as absurd as that logic used to justify killing civilians. Obama is in a position to put a stop to two of the most unjustified wars in human history. The sooner he does it, the more he will be perceived of having earned the Nobel Prize. Getting rid of nuclear weapons is an even tougher task, although decreasing the numbers possessed by nations might be easier.
Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who is in a position of power and might actually deserve it in the future is commendable. However we can't expect the other Nobel prizes to be awarded in a similar manner. No one is going to receive a Nobel Prize in physics or medicine because they might accomplish something great or original in those areas at some time in the future. No one is going to receive a Nobel Prize in literature for great novels or awesome and originals collections of poetry that someday, they might write.
The US is seen by much of the rest of the world as a single-minded, tunnel -visioned nation largely made up of people who care only about themselves. US citizens, governments, and lifestyles are the major contributors to global warming and to military violence in the world. We burn more fossil fuels and cause much of the pollution on the Earth. We either cause, participate in, or fund and arm most of the wars taking place at any given time on the planet. The war in Afghanistan is eight years old and the one in Iraq started two days before my grandson was born. He is now more than six and a half years old. Because of these wars his father has been only a marginal part of his life for years. Wars caused by the US government and military, and preparation for war, are the major anti-family forces on this planet.
When the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Afghanistan the US responded with open criticism and sanctions against the Soviets. We boycotted the Olympics and banned grain sales. By attacking Afghanistan the US behaved exactly as the Soviets did not many years earlier. Shortly after they left Afghanistan in defeat, the Soviet Union self-destructed (or some would say, "upgraded" or "advanced") into numerous smaller countries. There are many people in the world who think the human race might just be better off if the United States did the same. By stopping the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, reducing or eliminating the threat of nuclear war, cooling the violence in the Middle East, and addressing the problem of global warming Obama will certainly have earned his Nobel Peace Prize. In doing so, he may also be helping preserve the US in its present form.
Leonard Nolt
Millions of people in the world see the US as a rogue nation, out of control, and using our power, wealth, and military forces to threaten and destroy other countries. We spent annually approximately the same amount on our military that all the rest of the world combined spends on their military forces. We have over 800 military bases on the planet. That's an enormous waste of money and other resources. No one knows the number of civilians who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US military forces. Chris Hedges in his book What Everyone Should Know About War writes that 75 to 90 % of all the victims of wars since World War 2 have been civilians. There are those who have responded to that comment by using the twisted and desperate logic of saying that if we weren't killing them, Saddam Hussein and the Taliban would be doing it, as if that somehow justifies the US killing civilians. The excuses used to start and continue these wars are as absurd as that logic used to justify killing civilians. Obama is in a position to put a stop to two of the most unjustified wars in human history. The sooner he does it, the more he will be perceived of having earned the Nobel Prize. Getting rid of nuclear weapons is an even tougher task, although decreasing the numbers possessed by nations might be easier.
Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who is in a position of power and might actually deserve it in the future is commendable. However we can't expect the other Nobel prizes to be awarded in a similar manner. No one is going to receive a Nobel Prize in physics or medicine because they might accomplish something great or original in those areas at some time in the future. No one is going to receive a Nobel Prize in literature for great novels or awesome and originals collections of poetry that someday, they might write.
The US is seen by much of the rest of the world as a single-minded, tunnel -visioned nation largely made up of people who care only about themselves. US citizens, governments, and lifestyles are the major contributors to global warming and to military violence in the world. We burn more fossil fuels and cause much of the pollution on the Earth. We either cause, participate in, or fund and arm most of the wars taking place at any given time on the planet. The war in Afghanistan is eight years old and the one in Iraq started two days before my grandson was born. He is now more than six and a half years old. Because of these wars his father has been only a marginal part of his life for years. Wars caused by the US government and military, and preparation for war, are the major anti-family forces on this planet.
When the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Afghanistan the US responded with open criticism and sanctions against the Soviets. We boycotted the Olympics and banned grain sales. By attacking Afghanistan the US behaved exactly as the Soviets did not many years earlier. Shortly after they left Afghanistan in defeat, the Soviet Union self-destructed (or some would say, "upgraded" or "advanced") into numerous smaller countries. There are many people in the world who think the human race might just be better off if the United States did the same. By stopping the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, reducing or eliminating the threat of nuclear war, cooling the violence in the Middle East, and addressing the problem of global warming Obama will certainly have earned his Nobel Peace Prize. In doing so, he may also be helping preserve the US in its present form.
Leonard Nolt
Thursday, October 1, 2009
"I think we ought to read only the kinds of books that wound and stab us.....We need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us."
Franz Kafka, 1904
Franz Kafka, 1904
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
"Being bullied is an unnecessary hell. It destroys individuals, wrecks families, devastates lives and livelihoods, and costs both employers and the State dear. It does not "toughen people up," instead it weakens, disempowers and destroys. It does not aid survival, instead threatens our existence. It does not promote long-term growth and prosperity, but favors short-term expediency at the expense of the long term. And, as with other forms of violation and trespass, only those who have suffered it fully appreciate the sheer awfulness of daily unremitting abuse that has no answer, no reason, no value, and no end. In the last decade of the twentieth-century, workplace bullying is, in my view, the second greatest social evil after child abuse, with which there are many parallels."
From Bully in Sight: How to Predict, Resist, Challenge, and Combat Workplace Bullying, by Tim Field, Pub. 1996 by Success Unlimited, Oxfordshire, UK, Page 1.
From Bully in Sight: How to Predict, Resist, Challenge, and Combat Workplace Bullying, by Tim Field, Pub. 1996 by Success Unlimited, Oxfordshire, UK, Page 1.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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