An Open Letter to America: Now Is The Time For Us To Stand Up and Stand Together
July 2, 2007
My Fellow Americans:
The power of our voices against the U.S. occupation of Iraq is reaching the top echelons of the military and the administration. Our government is persecuting Americans who speak out against the U.S. military presence in Iraq. The U.S. military has launched politicized attacks on its own military members and moral leaders who oppose the war to discredit their voices of dissent.
We have seen them target Cpl. Adam Kokesh to stop him from exercising his freedom of speech, after risking his life in Fallujah, Iraq. We have seen them threaten Sgt. Liam Madden for publicly stating the legal fact that the U.S. invasion is a war crime according to the Nuremberg principles. They have targeted Cpl. Cloy Richards, a soldier put in the media spotlight when his mother Tina Richards worked to get him the health care he needs after returning from Iraq eighty percent disabled. These are not happenstance targets. These young men are leaders of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and they are speaking out in a strong and coordinated way.
And now I have been targeted.
Who am I? Many of you know me as a reverend, an activist, an architect of Hip Hop politics and a freedom fighter, but I am also an Officer in the United States Air Force Reserve. I have long been in the struggle for peace and freedom and I serve proudly as a leader of faith. I joined the military as part of the “poor peoples draft” - to help pay for my education. In May 2000 I was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was accepted into the Chaplain Candidates program. In 2002 I graduated from Howard University School of Divinity, Magna Cum Laude. I was ordained a Reverend and Elder in the Church of God in Christ shortly after my graduation and today I remain in good standing in the Church. In May 2003 I completed the Chaplain Candidates program, but I decided not to pursue a career as a Chaplain in the Air Force. I have been in the Air Force Reserve Individual Reserve program ever since.
On March 26th of this year I received notification from the Air Force that they are taking action to honorably discharge me on the basis of “behavior clearly inconsistent with the interest of national security.” Ironically, this letter arrived six days after I announced the launching of a national “Make Hip Hop Not War” Tour at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
On July 12, 2007, when I leave Robbins Air Force Base after my discharge hearing, whether I remain an Officer or not, I will be a leader always, and a patriot evermore committed to ending this immoral war.
In February 2003 I felt the sense of urgency many felt in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq to speak out. Even though I was only a Chaplain Candidate and a 2nd Lieutenant, when I had the opportunity to preach at Andrews Air Force Base, the home of Air Force One, the message that I preached was “Who Would Jesus Bomb?” Since then hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and thousands of Americans have lost their lives and we now face a state of permanent warfare in our world.
This moment in history is our generation’s lunch-counter moment - Iraq is our Vietnam and New Orleans is our Birmingham. Our generation could be the generation to defeat racism, poverty and war, but only if we come together as people of conscience. In the movements of the 60’s, solidarity among the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement was never truly achieved. As the “Hip Hop generation” - a generation where the sons and daughters of former slaves work side by side with the sons and daughters of former slave owners - we have the ability to bridge the gap and link movements for peace, justice, civil rights and the environment in true solidarity.
We will not make the world safer - or achieve true national security - by starting wars that put our humanity at risk and we are certainly not making our country safer by intimidating veterans who courageously speak out. Policies that address the issues of poverty, racism, climate change, the economy and jobs are at the core of national security. I will continue to speak out against the war, seek justice for Katrina survivors, fight against racism, struggle for equality and advocate for a healthy planet. I hardly think that this sort of behavior is “inconsistent with the interest of national security.”
My brothers and sisters, opposition to this illegal war and occupation is not a cause - it constitutes a response to a state of emergency. It is our urgent responsibility to stop this war. According to the Book of Psalms, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” I know it looks bad now and our hope seems to wane and sometimes we want to give up. But, if we can all come together - black and white, brown and yellow, rich and poor, male and female, straight and gay, republican and democrat - whether you still love this country or are withdrawn in anger, not only can we defeat this war and restore justice and democracy, there will once again be joy in the morning.
My mother in the movement, Cindy Sheehan, will be with me on July 12th at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia and I urge you to join me on the 12th as well. I also urge you to continue to increase your activism. This is our lunch-counter moment.
For Future Generations,
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. is President of the Hip Hop Caucus. Much needed donations to his legal defense fund can be made at:
Online donations: www.hiphopcaucus.org
Checks, money orders or cash can be sent to: Hip Hop Caucus
1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20036.
You can contact the Hip Hop Caucus at 202.787.5256 or at info@hiphopcaucus.org.
Please visit iraqmoratorium.org, ivaw.org, declarationofpeace.org, unitedforpeace.org grassrootsamerica4us.org, worldcantwait.org, votersforpeace.org, democracyrising.us, codepink4peace.org, and impeachcheney.org.
As mush respect as I have for you Rev, it’s kinda sick to think that a Man of God works for the military.
Don’t forget, the Man said:
Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
and
Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also… and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Both differ significantly to the unofficial military mantra of:
Kill ‘em all. Let God sort ‘em out.
Oh, and what part of Thou shalt not kill don’t you understand?
I disagree with Shane, because as we all know, Jesus is said to have dined with tax collectors.
Regardless, STOP WHOPPER’S WHOPPING WARS! Leviticus 19:11. (Bush Lies, Humanity Dies).
As we all have heard many times, Peace comes from within. From within ourselves and I believe also from within organizations of any group of humans. So why not a ‘man of god’ within the military? The original intent of the military is as defender of our freedom. Because this intent has been corrupted by our leadership, it is up to each son and daughter of god in uniform to act on their own conscience, from within. This concept was promulgated by us at the Nuremburg trials, that a person in uniform is not released from the responsibility of following their god-given conscience.
I agree wholeheartedly with the Rev.Yearwood. This is our moment as a country of conscience, for certainly our leaders have abandoned theirs. Their actions will not relieve us of our duty to stand up against this immoral war. We are all sinking together at the moment. It’s time for we the people to stand together and turn this around. I applaud all the organizations for peace listed at the end of the above letter and I wish to add another to the list. Please check out their program. It can be done quietly and very inexpensively by anyone who wants us out of this war. For the total cost of 6 first-class stamps and a little conversation with like-minded friends, we can have a real influence on Congress to begin the pull-out. All our other national and global problems can only be dealt with after our troops come home from Iraq.
www.wethepeopleforpeace.org
Fran
when you joined the military, did you think at all that you might be ordered to kill people? REVERENT!
Fran writes: The original intent of the military is as defender of our freedom
If you believe that, I have a bridge that I can sell you.
The original intent of all military is the use of force and violence to submit the “enemy” to one’s force of will. Men of God have always served the military to “bless our forces so that they may prevail” which is BS. The true intent is to impress upon the cannon fodder that “our God” is “better than their god”, an old line of propaganda that goes back millenia. It is disingenuous to believe otherwise, and disingenuous on the part of any chaplain.
I’ll say it again, what part of Thou shalt not kill don’t you understand? Or maybe your god is a devout torturer that enjoys seeing his/her creation in profound pain. That’s sick.
“Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also… and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
Many do not know the above statement attributed to Jesus is actually in resistance to the status quo at the time. Slave owners were allowed to slap their property with an open hand (which customarily would be done on the right cheek) for a slave to offer his left to be struck with a fist was to invite his owner to perform an act that would bring a fine. Slave owners of that time were not allowed to strike with a fist. As to the ‘Walk a mile’ Roman soldiers were allowed to give their packs to any citizen to carry for one mile, but would be fined if they forced the citizen to carry the pack two miles.
There is much to honor in old traditions, Clergy has always supported the military though the most couragous of the clergy has resisted when their leaders have clearly been in the wrong. I honor Rev. Yearwood for standing up in resistance, certainly more than I have done and certainly more than it appears his critics here have done.
Our ruling class is scared to death of what we will do next. That is why its chattel, the US Congress, will not respond to the mandate given it last November and bring the troops home. To do so would be to give we the people evidence of our power and encourage us to take other meaningful political actions.
For terryb___ and others.
I’m not very well read and not of a high intellect, poorly schooled and now am of the age where I have a bit of a problem remembering things. So I have some questions included with a few brief comments and opinions.
As I recall, it was in the year of somewhere near 1941, when the United States military was attacked by Japan’s military in Hawaii and the United States was invaded in the Islands of Alaska and shelled by japenese ships in California. The Japenese also sent several thousand high altitude ballons aloft which were carrying bombs and they drifted across the Pacific to the United states. Those bombs were weapons of mass destruction, but luckiloy, they failed to create a great deal of harm.
If I understand some of you correctly, our military should have offered no resistance, not killed anybody and surrendered to Japan that day or soon after, when ever possible.
Is that your position?
When I was a child in school, I was taught, our nation was founded by a group of men, among them a man named Alexander Hamilton. The manner in which the United States was founded, was due to a revolution against the King and country of England. People were killed, there was a war, So tell me, when the first of the new confederation militia were fired upon and some were killed, among them a freed African slave. I’m sorry, my memory fades; it seems as if the story of that incident went round the world, and was named The Shot Heard Round The World. My question is, should the men seeking freedom from oppression, tyranny and unjust laws, have laid down their weapons and quit right then, or did they have a right___ and or a duty, to fire back and very possibly kill others?
Now we are waging a unjust war in Iraq. Our solders are sent there to fight and some may have mixed emotions and or beliefs of whether it is a just or unjust war; beliefs based primarily, upon the lies told by their Commander in Chief. What are they to do when fired upon, surrender? Hmmmm___ don’t many of our troops who are captured, end up with their head sawed off with a hacksaw or suffer some other brutal end?
I just wonder about the words, thou shalt not kill. I recall there were a few other laws, like don’t lie, steal, or screw your neighbors mate. Well, hope some here could relieve me of my ignorance.
The Bible does NOT say “Thou Shalt Not Kill”, the Bible says “Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder”. Big difference.
Allow me to speak directly to the good reverend, “Stand Up And Do What?” I presume you are a big fan of non-violence, but you have been and are unwilling to even approach the point of civil disobedience. I look forward to the time, when we all come to our senses.
Patnval, you sure? all three of my Bibles read, Thou shall not kill. In either case, if you scroll up to the first blog by Shane, he is speaking about solders killing and terry b does also. Wonder if anyone could please answer the questions I have posted, I’m not well educated and would appreciate some higher learning.
Thank you,___ Kem Patrick
Karl “Shane” Rove get back in your stinking hole and the rest of you in the name of Christ, Buddha, Shiva, Allah, or your pet dog stay the F* on topic!
marius002 the good REV. said this is our lucnh counter momement! No! The exact action has not been devised yet - so help devise it!
A leadership call from the from the Black community is finally coming out - All should heed it. The Black community has the most to offer and the most to gain from the impeachment of the current form of warrior behavior!
Watch Eyes On The Prize and witness the verve of the Spirit of the Black Youth that helped carry the Civil Rights movement. The only place in America with a resemblance of that Spirit resides in the Hip Hop community - with in that lies the hoope and salvation of America - it’s one of Martin Luther King’s prophecies!
Get with it! Solidarity! Solidarity! Solidarity!
Something wicked this way comes. Jesus, Ghandi, and King were the only true revolutionaries humanity has ever known. Everything else has just been variations on a theme.
The powerful may soon decide they no longer wish to continue this democracy charade and the exact action puck twain ponders may be forced upon us. We’re not there yet though, and that is the point. Hitler’s devious invasions of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland and Japan’s attack were the very reasons that after the (second) “war to end all wars” international law forbade “pre-emptive war.” In one stroke Bush took humanity backwards at least 63 years. And the whole world (not just America) slouched sheepishly and did nothing.
I’ve found it more than perplexing how many so-called progressives think that our invasion of Afghanistan was somehow justified. What was justified and was starting to take shape before these illegal invasions was a strong police/intelligence/military action to root out Al Queada.
Up until the very moment they began showing us dropping bombs once again on Bhagdad I marveled at the rare opportunity to do something quite remarkable and new. To NOT invade. That would have gone so much further to promote “our ideals, our way of life, and our beliefs” to the rest of the world than what Bush actually did. And it would have been a new page for humanity; the universally acknowledged bully and big dog that decided not to bully.
But no, just another variation on an old, old theme.
Reverend I’m not a Christian, in fact you could say I’m almost rabidly anti-religion, but I’ve come to understand this life experience is not simply black and white (if you’ll pardon the expression) and I can understand how a man of the cloth could become a military chaplain to earn some extra money for a few weeks service a year. Did the same thing to be able to afford to stay in school.
What inspires me about Jesus is the fact that he was just a man and not - as the completely twisted “story” of his life has been abused - the “son of god.”
This post is not off-subject. Jesus was just a human being; we are just human beings. He and Ghandi and King found a way to rise above our primative instincts. Can we?
Vince Lawrence, being anti-christian you likely never pray; for to whom would it be?
I beleive you did drift off of the subject a tad, and entered a realm of peril,___peril for you sir. If you have never seen a Pytoplankton, would you assert they did not exist? I will assure you they indeed do, and we owe our very lives to those microscopic creatures of the oceans. We also owe our souls to God and I will take them or leave them he tells us. You are intelligent, the signs there is a higher being, a god are plainly obvious, for any who attempt to look.
Evelyn / Kem:
I’m not sure if I understand (precisely) what your question was; -was it the apparent dichotomy between the firm Christian injunction, “Thou shalt not kill” - and the dilemma faced when wars begin?
If so, then yes, the Bible, (-that confused and often confusing tome!) says, ‘Thou shalt not kill’.
then we would be faced with far fewer moral dilemmas today.
This was an advisory embargo, a general guideline for humans as to how they ought behave towards each other. If we also followed the other injunctions (-they usually come as a matching set in most religions!)
There are some fairly clear-cut situations where fighting and killing, -though not the best of actions, was the only (VERY FINAL) choice.
Example: Through a lack of early intervention, we let a loony, (A. Hitler) get so far along the path with his *diabolical* plans, that in the end, an Allied armed resistance to the Nazis was the only **last-ditch** option for defeat of the black magician-lunatic Hitler.
The ‘Forces of Light’ (-they go by various names, but that one will suffice for now) were wholly on the side of the Allies in WWII, and if that meant the loss of life on both sides, well that was the ‘lesser of two evils’.
And ‘the gods’ at least wished that any killing which then occurred was not done with *hatred*, - as that worsens an already dire situation even further.
______________________
Many who have not looked deeply into the unseen (but still very real) forces and phenomena of this world are often quick to opine, and often seek to discredit those who may (-just may!) have reached a BIT more of deeper understanding of the nature of existence.
I feel that too many on the Left are quick to ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater, when it comes to anything smacking of ‘religion’.
But there is, actually, (I have now come to realise) a marked difference between ‘religion’, and ’spirituality’. The two are not necessarily one and the same thing.
And I really DO understand that knee-jerk response! – because I did much the same when a young firebrand revolutionary!
Acknowledging that there are ’spiritual’ verities is not the same thing as taking on board, (lock stock and smelly old barrel), many of the obsolete, often very confused / garbled parts of extant religions.
Most religions in existence today are ‘well past their sell-by date’.
That means that whilst they may still have somewhere in them some useful truths, they have, -for the most part, now been so messed-about by humanity over the years, and now so far removed from the original founder’s intent, that they are sometimes worse than useless.
This leaves humanity in an interregnum period right now, wherein sure / clear guidance is not so easily found.
[btw: In due course I have an inkling that a new and improved ‘latest edition’ religion will come along to help humanity have a clearer basis for their ethics and behaviour. -But that’s all for another day.]
__________________
We have only to see what a dog’s dinner Christianity has now become, to see a prime example of how humanity has turned a LOVING teacher’s words, into a religion of gross sentiment, vile hatreds, and atrocious warfare, -especially as per depicted by the nut-jobs ensconced in the White House, - alongside the sadly ill-informed Born Again / Rapture / pro-war crew…
Were the adherents of Christianity and many other religions to chuck out all the gobbledygook ‘add-ons’ that have been tacked-on to the original teacher’s words, and earnestly research into what has been TAKEN OUT of their various religious books; and then just stick to the vital, core elements, religion would serve humanity much better than it presently does.
A good example here is the stupefying bilge that many people have invented from the obfuscations in the ‘Book of Revelations’ ::: Great learning, intelligence, and deep insight is needed to de-code that particular section of the Bible, but, -in the hands of arrogant, chauvinistic, dollar and power hungry (and VERY unintelligent) greedy, egotist preachers etc, it has been completely misunderstood.
Anyone with a shred of integrity who wishes to adhere to the words of Christ has really only to follow the unambiguous words of their eponymous teacher, -such as those given in *The Sermon on the Mount*, but of course, those with egos bigger than the Empire State Building (who patently ignore Christ’s words about ‘pride being a sin’!) are reluctant to TRULY emulate their teacher…
“Turn the other cheek?” or, “Love your enemy as yourself?” or, “Make great sacrifices for the homeless, the sick and the poor?”
“Huh! -that’s all too much like hard work! There’s no monetary gain it in it, and anyway, -I might get my very expensive Armani suit all dirtied up!”
Unfortunately for the world today, the egotistic, ERSATZ ‘Christians’ prefer their own very warped version of things. (~ But my full respect for those REAL Christians who try to live and act in accordance with their teacher’s ACTUAL message).
But hey, -we are all evolving. We are ALL just kids attending ‘Earth School’!
… And that includes the Rev. Lennox Yearwood in the article above. He, -like each of us here, hasn’t got **everything** right, but he’s doing his best to work it all out, and striving trying to put right wrongs, –both within himself, as well as in the wider world.
~I personally wish him every success.
@ Puck Twain. -A thought:
If you take to rather offensively ordering people about, they will likely do the very opposite of what you wish, and, you then become ‘part of the problem’ not ‘part of the solution’ = you effectively become ‘one of them’ not ‘one of us’?
Personally I think your ORDER to, “stay the F* on topic! ” is rather insolent, and I have fought for thirty long years for that little thing called ‘FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION’ –(maybe you’ve heard of that term?)
You ask for, “Solidarity! Solidarity! Solidarity!” - yet your very words, -(preceding that useful call), will NOT achieve that aim, they just will perhaps further divide, -not unite people?
Might I (-perhaps helpfully) point out that a more TOLERANT attitude towards your fellow human beings will help you UNITE the resistance to BuSh Co, and not just ’cause more divisions among the ranks’?
I’m not a follower of any one religion, but I recognise that there are, -and have been, many extremely valuable co-workers who have called themselves Christian, or Buddhist, or Jain, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Jewish, or Atheist, or Agnostic, or Pagan… (and etc).
If we TRULY wish for ‘Solidarnosc’ we will not ostracise potential allies of our cause by insulting them?
Emotionally shooting our mouths off, (with insults and orders to our fellows), is not much better than emotionally shooting guns off, = The end result is much the same: division, hurt, and yet more separation…
RESPECT for fellow activists, (-even if we don’t agree with their every notion), is much more likely to help us form a cohesive movement. ~ Might you agree?
We are all evolving here, -together, and NOT ONE OF US has the full answer to it all, (-and certainly not me!) so, -I respectfully suggest, -maybe tone it down just a bit? – I sincerely believe you’ll attract a lot more allies that way…
I hope that maybe helps a bit?
________________
[And thanks to ALL fellow progressives here, -for your ongoing efforts to succeed with much-needed changes…]
You are correct to resist the governments war; but you are barking mad to believe in “god.”
I would like to direct readers to www.watchtower.org, where you will find a plethora of information based on answers that we are all longing to hear. All of the information is carefully researched and offers a clearer perspective for true Christians who seek to understand why mankind seems to suffer so much at the hands of one another. It also holds out the written hope and promise of God’s word contained in the Bible. That is the message and Good News of God’s Kingdom, A literal government that will soon take over man’s governing affairs, with Jesus Christ as King. Although, it does not takes sides with the current Political elements of the world’s socieites, many topics of discussion are addressed with applicable bible principles offered to help us cope with the many problems that we face today. I am sure, that if you read with care, just as you do here at Common Dreams, you will find wonderful truths that will help us all to “love thy neighbor” more each and every day. Not just for a time or a season, but continuously without hypocrisy. May you all be refreshed and your thirst be quenched.
The invisible man, a/k/a “missionary,” does it occur to you that a Christian Theocracy is antithetical to democracy? That this nation was founded specifically to mark the line between church and state? We do not all agree on flawed human attempts to understand the Deity; and given the blood stained record of Christianity, whatever answers you purport this site to hold lose immense credibility given the RECORD of the church: inquisitions, burning millions of women as witches, and in the US south, hosting barbecues after their own constituents lynched BLACK human beings. This supposition of spiritual superiority is a bad joke given the actual legacy of the church, down to its gold gilded doors and selling the rich indulgences while the poor, then as now, starved outside. Or maybe now they get to eat so long as they concur with some campaign to abstinence or some other ridiculous HUMAN qualifier forced in the “name” of God. Please… spare us.
Invisible Man: I also left out all the holy wars in the name of the church using ‘god’ as its mascot. Just this Christmas C-span had on some glossy eyed pastor IN THE MILITARY who tried to tell the public that the US troops LOVE the Iraqis. Some tough love you got there, leaving 650,000 and upwards dead, kids left without parents, wives without husbands, mothers without sons, many broken for life in body, mind and spirit; their land tainted with depleted uranium and/or the latest design of land mines. Yeah, that’s some LOVIN goin on. I’m sure JESUS would consent… NOT! A great deal of DIABOLICAL behaivor is done in God’s name, and I am really tired of it. MANKIND does not need to be held hostage to religions that foment wars by DECEIVING their flock that outright, obscene carnage is done ‘for’ ‘god.’ ENOUGH! Your gooy sounding oh-so-sugary-sweet words are the slippery slope of an evil tongue deft in the use of deception, ideological sleight of hand, and other seductive devices. Just pass your plate at church, would’ya?
That’s very nice. Save the souls of the murdering scum in the US military. I’m with you, reverend. God is the biggest lie of all time so believe in it if you want. Religion is the biggest form of controlling the population that there is. Join one if you want. Be a preacher! And, by the way, f*ck you!
I just can’t write in here any more today. I am just too pissed off. Have a nice holliday.
I do admire what you are doing. As for your being in the military, what better place to be. You have a good eye and heart for discernment. I believe what the military is afraid of is the power that you would have being a Chaplin. When soldiers are weary you are the first one they will go to. What ever their beliefs before, you are a sign of hope to them and they would have sought you out. They want there to be hope. You were where you were suppose to be. Certain people get through to certain people. One thing about liberals is that we are a diverse community of people and exactly why we need a diversity of people willing to stand up and help us get out of this war and get this administration out of office. Where ever you are I hope you continue doing your work.
InvisibleMan:
I don’t want to engage with you in a full-blown theological discussion here, but suffice to say that, whilst I have met and discussed with approx 50 Jehovah Witnesses in my time, (mainly on my doorstep when they’ve knocked my door) I have met only very few JW’s who were actually prepared to L-I-S-T-E-N to other people not of their persuasion…
Mostly it seems JW’s are there to talk AT people, but (in a closed-minded way), don’t really want to HEAR what others think or believe, unless it’s as an excuse to point to a passage in ‘their book’ –so it’s mostly all ‘one way traffic’.
And… in those many discussions, I think I only ever found x1 person in all of those fifty JW’s who had ever heard of *Origen* (-let alone actually studied him!).
Origen was one of the most important, seminal figures of your Christian faith, a ‘Founding Father’ and yet, who among your JW’s have ever bothered to delve into the roots of your belief system, -prior to going out and proselytizing a somewhat bastardised version to folks?
Yes, everyone must be entitled to their freedom of faith, but we don’t all go around knocking on peoples’ doors expounding things which have proven fallacies in them?
Sorry to say this, but having read all the many variations of the Bible I could find, -including your own JW version, as well as a lot of other important exoteric religious tracts, (and very many esoteric ones as well), I have found your version of the bible has just as many, -(if not more) flaws and erroneous passages in it as most others. There are also whole chunks missing from your JW version, just as with most other bibles today…
On that basis I think it a bit irresponsible to go out and try to assert that YOUR particular brand of religion has got ‘all the answers’?
If nothing else, -why bother with all us supposed ’sinners’? -when, -as your JW tracts point out, only 144,000 of your number can supposedly get into your heaven?
[Such an *exclusive* club you’ve got there baby!]
What nut-job God ever made a world full of human beings, [-there’s currently 6,605,604,900 of us on this planet] and then decree that only **144,000** of them could get into the Big League with him, ~ (and only then if by some accident of birth they happened to read certain books as produced by your sect?)
Personally, I wouldn’t like to believe in such a god as that, -he’s obviously quite, quite mad!
For those who may like to *watch the tower* - in preference to the JW’s ‘Watchtower’ muddles, here’s a page listing 101 reasons NOT to become involved with the group [btw: this list was complied by ex -’Jehovahs Witless’ people] http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2919/reasons.html
Woah Now! I didn’t say I was anti-Christian, I said I was anti-religion. There is a difference. On that cold January day before the invasion in D.C. when we came together in the hope we could stop this before it happened I found myself surrounded by thousands of true Christians, that is, those that embrace Jesus simple message of “all men are brothers.” I try to be precise and concise, but sometimes fail.
“The choices we make as individuals shape the choices we make as families, communities, nations, cultures, and are ultimately what define us as a living force in this world. This fact is so obvious as to be almost invisible at times. Any idea that is offered as an organizing belief must be able to guide the person as well as the people. What I am going to attempt to explain, reveal, and otherwise encourage, I feel in the depths of my very being to be vitally important to all of us.
I myself am not important, that is, no more important than you or any other person in this world. Yet, I am not less, either. At this point in my life, in this present age of man, I must articulate my ideas; I can not do otherwise and come to a final honest rest. We are lacking a vibrant and purposeful organizing idea that is capable of seeing us through our present challenges and that can address some of the possibilities of the future as it glimmers into focus. I truly hope-and it is this faith that sustains me-that my voice will be joined by many others, not necessarily in complete harmony but at the very least in a common chorus of compatible keys.
I condemn no person for their honestly held beliefs concerning the two great mysteries of life, yet I will challenge any who demand universal obedience and servitude to any particular vision of the ultimate truths. What the great geniuses of faith have successfully linked, I will attempt to un-link. Responsible moral and ethical behavior; practicing friendly manners such as patience and tolerance; sharing resources while respecting common boundaries; these are universally admired traits across all cultural heritages. All of these aspects of our humanness make us strong and successful, yet all of these behaviors and most other of the “good” features of our natures are reverently ascribed to, and dictated by, something which is superior and beyond us. It seems to me now, as I consider it, needless, but I can understand that during the crisis and response that forged each great belief system, the invocation of a power beyond the meagerness and frailty of human expertise gave hope that order and continuance were the true nature of this existence.
Where are the miracles and revelations of old that attended the fortunes of the prophets and saviors? Ancient accounts of miraculous deeds and divinely inspired revelations owe as much to the inscrutability of the distant past as they do to centuries of reinforcing tradition. I sincerely acknowledge the genius of the great religious founders, but I will not concede that their ideas were the result of divinely intervened gifts of revelation or that any one of them were other than you and I – human. As I have already said, this thought gives me great comfort and hope.
Let us set aside the squabbling, the condemnation, the trials by blood, the imposition of will and belief by authority of superior strength that has accompanied our search for the answer behind all answers. It may truly be our lot as human beings to never really know the answer to the question, yet it may be our greatest strength and defining attribute that we have survived so far and can continue to survive in the face of such terrifying uncertainty. There are many “truisms” that I challenge the truth of, many often repeated statements about the human condition that should cease to be uttered because they deny what we could truly attain and accomplish.
To believe is to make a choice. I will not ask you to choose to abandon your deepest and most personally held convictions concerning your existence. I will plead though with every word, idea, and device that my imperfect mind can conjure for all of us to choose to have faith in ourselves, our humanness. We are the authors of all the good that has been accomplished as well as all of the bad. Whether I am a fool or a prophet, only time will reveal. I tell you now that in my heart, I am neither. What I hope you will see and will identify with, is that I am
Justaman.”
** Ps:
I rather liked a lot of the JW rules, here’s a few:
8. “There is no Hell (It is simply the grave)”
[That’s no way to speak of Las Vegas!]
10. “Salvation is by good works not by Grace.”
[Grace disagrees. Call her on 685 057 to find out why!]
14. “You are discouraged from attending college.”
[- We like dummies best of all!]
16. “All pastors are the “Antichrist”.
[Damn, and to think I had pasta for lunch today!]
24. “You must attend five meetings per week.”
[But as they are REALLY BORING, feel free to bring along your Play Station or iPod!]
29. “You cannot be a cheer leader.”
[How about a VERY GLOOMY leader?]
31. “You cannot celebrate your birthday.”
[Hey, us JW’s REALLY know how to have fun, don’t we!]
39. “Only Jehovah’s Witnesses can understand the Bible.”
(…Except that really tricky bit about spiritual pride and loving thy neighbor as oneself…]
40. “Angels direct the Watchtower organization.”
[Is that the Hells Angels chapter from ‘Cisco? Dang! -those guys get in everywhere!]
41. “Jesus did not die on a cross but an upright pole.”
[And that ‘upright Pole’ was Mr. Stanislaw Wveszxoleska, -he’s still there to this very day!]
44. “You must go from door to door weekly to gain converts.”
[- Try not to gain Perverts though, they ain’t so very good for our image.]
46. “You must refer to all Jehovah’s Witnesses as ‘brother’ or ’sister’ ”
[…and not ‘Jerk-Off’ or ‘Fatty Pum-pum’ like you did before.]
47. “You cannot play chess.”
[-given these cruddy rules, I think I’d prefer Russian Roulette anyway!]
49. “A child abuser is reported to Watchtower elders and not the police.”
[Great! -how soon can I sign up?!!]
51. “You are discouraged from buying a two door car.”
[~ Diesel locomotives are okay though.]
50. “You must forgo vacations to attend annual conventions.”
[Oh what the heck, …Palm Springs was all rained off last year anyway.]
54: “Women cannot pray in the presence of men without a hat.”
[So, yes, you CAN be stark-butt naked but… just keep that hat on ladies, y’hear now?!]
57. “Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage.”
[Sorry gang, #69 is off today!]
66. “Jehovah’s Witness meeting places have no windows.”
[Damn! but it’s hotter than hell in here!!]
71. “Women must submit to Watchtower elders.”
[Now I bet a MAN didn’t make that one up!]
75. “Most of The Book of Revelation applies to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
[…And the other half to Dr Seuss?]
81. “God only speaks through the “Governing Body” in Brooklyn, New York”
[I bet someone in India invented that rule?]
83. “The Lord’s supper is only to be eaten by select Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
[But the Lord says: “Hey! Who ate all my supper!!??]
91. “Only Jehovah’s Witness prayers are heard by God.”
[He’s a bit deaf in one ear!]
94. “You forbidden to say “God bless you” when someone sneezes.”
[But can I say, “Keep the f-ing noise down, pal?]
97. “You cannot be involved in martial arts, boxing or wrestling.”
[Does that mean my naked midnight mud-and-Jello romps with the three girls from next-door is off too?]
98. “You cannot participate in a school play.”
[”Look Kiddo, -you can’t act, you can’t sing, and your breath smells, -maybe try again next year?]
99. “You cannot donate blood or your organs when you die.”
[~ Does that include my mouth organ??]
@ Vince Lawrence: You posted as I was still scribbling ::: Respect for a lot of what you say above…
The Historical Development of Freedom of Speech
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19960722/article_01.htm
May God Bless!
Thanks, ~ She just did!
Oops, never mind.
Well, maybe my stupidity got some good discussions goin. Sorry Vince, I did mis-read some of your words.
It’s so easy to take something out of a text that was written in an ancient language thousands of years ago and report that it says “Thou shalt not kill” or, conversely “Thou shalt not murder.” Has anyone out there played “whisper down the alley” or, for rural readers, “whisper down the valley”? It’s the game in which one person whispers a phrase to another, who passes it on in turn until the last person repeats it out loud. It’s virtually never the same when it reaches the end.
Or has anyone considered what would happen if one person translated “Harry Potter” into Italian and another translated it back into English? I’d be willing to wager that many passages would be greatly misconstrued. No one living today knows what the real implications of the word for “kill” or “murder” would have been when Moses first encountered the commandments. It’s all speculation.
Back on topic: It’s pretty arrogant for anyone who does not know all the circumstances to berate the Rev for his joining the military. He noted in his article that he joined because he was poor and in need of the money. Perhaps someone who was in his position and took a different route might have some room for criticism, but even so, not everyone has the same opportunities.
Anyone who is in the military and takes a stand against shows great courage. It doesn’t matter how that person arrived there. People change their minds when they become aware of the truth. I am in awe of Rev. Yearwood, as I am of the young military men and women who have refused to go back to Iraq or who have taken a stand in war protests.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Lots of stones are being thrown by the “what part of ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ don’t you understand” crowd. I’m not a Christian, and I don’t even have an inordinant amount of respect for the ability to suspend one’s disbelief in order to have a lock on the nature of existence and ensure a place in the hereafter. I don’t understand the mindset that says faith in something you can’t prove is more admirable than looking to reason, science and exploraton for answers. However, I certainly do respect greatly the courage to recognize destruction, avarice, and arrogance and do something about it.
More power to you Reverand Yearwood. You are a true hero, military or not.
UN-common-dreams:
Your commentary helped a bit, and I’ll try to tone it down - a bit…but I ask you, what the #@&*%$#@!! am I supose to say when a man with connections to the community that can bring the necessary Spirit - the Living Spirit - to the movement required to remove the Mafia out of the White House is criticed on some intellectualized level of christianity instead of having a discussion on what a “lunch counter” action would entail and look like?
The head thug just gave a get out of jail card to fellow thug.
Search depleted uranium baby photos and know that this is continuing to go on as we tripe, excuuuuse me, type!
Women and children are being bombed so that Bechtel can privatize the water, ADM can privatize the agriculture, Hallibuton can privatize the highways, Blackwater can privatize security, etc. etc. etc. (so sorry for that third etc! and this exclamation mark)
And you’re helping to pay for it all!
And the main theme of this conversation is parsing Rev. Yearwood’s christianity? (I feel another exclamation mark coming on but I’ll hold off in the hope that there is one person out there that this writing causes just even the slightest bit of perception of the heart area).
And I’ll warn you with this: once the Hip Hop community comes on board you’re going to hear a lot stronger words than this sad sack has to offer, so get ready for it.
And get ready for impeachment.
One Mind: Impeach.
One Heart: Impeach.
One Voice: Impeach.
Please, kindly, humble, I ask you, “Can we get to work?”
UN-common-drerams:
One more point on urgency - we are not “evolving” here as you suggest. The destruction humanity has brought to the atmosphere has stopped evolution (see again the uranium infected babies). What some of us are fighting for is to maintain some form of habital environment so that one day human evolution can function again. The leaders of this movement are not concerned with adapation at the moment but the required immediate adjustments - like a “lunch counter” action.
Thanks PuckTwian, am a bit pushed for time, but will try to get back to this.
For now, just to say that I really respect yr fire and energy, ~ any social movement FORWARDS is lost without a goodly quotient of fire.
~ Blaze on bro’ !
Together we light the night!