Blue Like Jazz

     I really like what Don Miller has to say about love with the hippies. I think it's wonderful that he found people with this capacity for love. I also agree that a lot of times the most religious people can be the most hateful, and the so-called "God-less" people are the people who have the most love to give. As sad as this is, I have found a lot people who justify their hatred with God. They say that God wants them to hate people, especially people who are different. I see this most when religious people say that they hate homosexuals because God wants them to. To me, this has never made sense: God wanted us to love everyone as equal, for he created us all as equals, as brothers and sisters in His eyes. 

     The thing that I do not agree with, however, is his use of "us and them." He constantly uses terms such as "us," referring to the Christians at the camp, and "them," referring to the hippies he left in Oregon. To me, there is no "us" and "them." There is only us. We are all people, and we should all be treated as such. If you separate people, then they will be treated as separates. We are all the same, yet we are all individuals. 

Easter

     Yesterday was Easter. And as I was finishing packaging my bags for my way home, I began to wonder: What is Easter? I will admit, I know very little about it. It was the day that Jesus was resurrected. 

     Yet, some part of me must believe that there is something larger than that. I mean, Jesus is pretty big in and of himself. But, what else?

     Where did all the eggs and bunnies come in? From my recollection, Jesus' resurrection had nothing to do with eggs or bunnies, and not chocolate either, though chocolate eggs and bunnies are delicious. 

     And what of lent? When it first started, it was a time of giving up something so pertinent to your life that you may not go on, so that you may suffer as Jesus did. However, now people are giving up Facebook or chocolate for lent. These, though they may seem to be, are not needed to survive. 

     So, sadly, I think that we have lost a view of what this holiday was. Along with others, we celebrate, but don't know why. 

Project Update

Since my last update, I have begun surveying people in Nashville. Mostly, I have asked people around Belmont, but I am trying to get a larger sample (it's hard without a car to go places). I plan on making my blog to post my findings next week, and open it up so that people can comment and post their own thoughts on the subject.
To present my project, I would like to show my blog to the class. With the screen projector, I can show them the blog, with the different postings, and then talk from there. I will explain to them (perhaps) the differences in opinions on justice, as well as my own, and how this project/class has changed them. I will encourage questions, and maybe address some of my own questions: Why this? What were my/those surveyed reaction(s)? How do I think this will impact me/those around me?

Kosher

Something really struck me about the beginning of chapter nine in Breathing Space. Someone tells Neumark that: "Order in the kitchen keeps chaos at bay." 

Now, first of all, the sounds a little sexist. 

Secondly, I don't agree that order in the kitchen keeps chaos at bay. People could have the most beautifully well kept house, but be tearing down on the inside. And is it not the inside that matters most? What does the outside matter is the inside is peeling away?

Third, I think that some chaos can be beautiful. Everything can be falling apart on the outside. Walls come down, windows shatter, horns blare, the wind blows up all the remains. But on the inside, you are healing, you are smiling, and you are happy. 

That's the mystery that is chaos! That is the order in disorder. 

If you look at all the chaos, all the disorder in your life, it is likely to drive you insane. But, if you can look at a dirty kitchen and remember the process of making it dirty, and focus on the beautiful parts, then the outside doesn't matter because the inside is beautiful.

Heidi Neumark talks a lot about September 11, 2001. I still remember exactly what happened that morning. I am not underestimating the effect that it had on everyone, especially not on those so close to the happenings. 

However, she talks of the phone calls that she received from people after the attack. People called asking what they could do to help her congregation, and she says that she gave them other phone numbers of people to call. 

Then, she continues to talk about the horrors of the attacks, and compares that suffering of her congregation daily to that of the suffering of 9/11. 

But, when people called to ask her what they could do, she sent them away. What I don't understand is why she would send them away?

She says that not enough people offer to help as often as they should, but when people do ask what they can do, she sends them away. As well, she says the only person she can think of is the man who was caught under one of the collapsing buildings in the attack. 

Is not her whole congregation suffering, as she consistently says? Do they not need the help that people are offering? Why turn away help when help is so desperately needed?

Justice

I find it hard to define "justice". Everyone's definition is different. But, that is the beauty of mankind, of freewill. I love that you cannot define everything by a textbook definition. You cannot say that one thing is most certainly right or wrong. For example: A man, good and right, loses his job. He cannot provide food to his family, to his wife and kids. What is right--for this man to let his family starve to death, or steal a loaf of bread so that his family might eat?

There are numerous accounts like this, trying to decide which is the worse of two evils. But everyone will answer differently. That is why we have freewill: so that we might decide for ourselves. 

Most of us would agree upon many forms of injustice, but we would differ upon our actions towards them. If you see someone arguing, do you go in from the start and become involved in something to which is none of your concern, or do you wait for them to begin beating each other and then try and break it up?

I don't have the answers to these, most certainly not, and I don't think anyone should. Because everyone's answers will be different, and you could not fully define what is right. 

Project Update

For my project, I kind of changed my idea. When I went home over spring break, I asked people what their view of "justice" was. I also asked them where they grew up and how long they've lived in Orange County, and what has influenced their view of justice. 

I've found that it's hard to get a random sample, since I asked around in my neighborhood, friends, friends' friends and people around where I was. But I think that the responses are interesting. 

As well, I am going to ask around here, in Nashville as well. I will ask the same questions in the same manner, and see if the answers differ at all, and by how much. 

I plan on posting everyone's response in a new blog on blogspot. Each new post will be from a different person. You will be able to read everyone's thoughts, and can even respond to them, and then add a post of your own stating your views. 

As of now, I need to survey people in Nashville, and start the new blog and put my responses from California in it. I may survey more people, as well, when I return home for Easter. 

Civil Rights Room

I thought our field trip today was really interesting. I had never been to the Nashville library. In fact, I've hardly been to any libraries since the ones near my home were not so great. However, the Nashville library is amazing. It was nice to see such a beautiful public building, since in California not a lot of public funding gets put towards that. 

As well, the Civil Rights room was awesome (and I mean that in the way that it causes awe). To see the photos on the walls of different parts in the movements was shocking, because I've never seen photos like that outside of books. 

I had no idea the extent to which Nashville played in the Civil Rights movement. I thought that it was just like almost any other city in its role. It was refreshing to hear that students partook in the movement, and especially white students, and even teachers. 

It was an amazing experience, and I look forward to going back!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In our recent discussions, many people were voicing concern over how to "act" as a pacifist. In his address, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. states it beautifully: "We [King and followers] had to make it clear that nonviolent resistance is not a method of cowardice. It does resist. It is not a method of stagnant passivity and deadening complacency. THe nonviolent resister is just as opposed to the evil that he is standing against as the violent resister but he resists without violence. This method is nonaggressive physically but strongly aggressive spiritually," (12). "And so at the center of our movement stood the philosophy of love," (13). You cannot fight love. It stands inside of all of us. And, why, would you ever want to fight something so powerful? So good?

The other question that Dr. King brings to us is in "Love, Law, and Civil Disobedience": "How can you be logically consistent when you advocate obeying some laws and disobeying other laws?" (48). 

In the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, it is written that: "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." 

It is destructive not only to those oppressed, but to the oppressor. The foundation of Safety and Happiness is not oppression, it is not hate. It is love. The agape love that Dr. King talks about. The love that will cross all boundaries. The love that, I believe, we are all capable of.

Pacifism

I have always been a pacifist. Since I can remember, I've thought that causing harm to others has been wrong, and I still feel this way. In fact, I remember many, many, years back, when for a homework assignment we were told to ask our parents how they felt about war. So I asked my mother, and she responded (how, I don't remember, but she is not a pacifist), and then asked me how I felt. I looked at her, and very quietly said, "I don't think war is ever justified." This turned into a very big thing (because my mom LOVES to argue), and ended in her and my father (very jokingly, and I am sure somehow lovingly) calling me: "A Pink Commy Pig."

And I sat there and said okay because I still didn't think that killing was right. I don't find this on religious grounds, because I myself am not religious, but merely on a moral level. How can we, as human beings, find it okay to kill one another? To me, it's just never made sense. 

I, though many people laugh at me upon hearing this (while others get legitimately upset), believe that every person is good, or at least has the capacity to be good. I think we have a conscious for a reason, and that is to make us feel bad when we have done wrong. And there can be no worse action than killing another. 

And I think that this can be taken to the governmental level as well: a government is merely a system made up on people, to whom we put moral standards to, and therefore we should be able to put governments to the same standards. If we could pull out all of the good within us, and share it with others, as sometimes happens, then there would be no need for war. If we could find the good that is within us inside other people, there would be no need for hate or killing. 

I know that this sound utopian and most likely far-fetched, but I believe it is possible. And with such a simple concept, LOVE, I believe it can happen. 

Charles Strobel

     I think that the "Room In The Inn" is a fantastic place. All over the country, homelessness is a terrible problem. Growing up near L.A., I saw a lot of this. The homeless are already poor, then kicked out of homes or shelters, cannot find a job to help them get a new place to live (sometimes because they don't have a place to live). It gets worse as they can't buy food or keep themselves clean. As well, homelessness and mental illness often go together, though no one knows which causes which, really. 

     It's sad that in a society so affluent that there are so many people without a place to stay, without anything to eat. I remember living in Boston, and seeing the mass amounts of homeless who fell asleep on church steps every night. I remember walking past them, quietly so as not to wake them, and wonder how they got there. I remember the people begging for my money in the subways. I also remember the man on the corner of my school, sitting on a milk crate, who shines shoes for a living, though I never saw him shine anyone's shoes.

     I can't imagine the troubles that these people go through. I know (or at least hope) that if I ever got into a position like that, that my family would help me back up. But, the problem is, that poverty is cyclical. Most of the homeless we see grew up in a poor household, if there even was a household. 

     Charlie made a good point in his speech: we spend billions upon billions on our "national security", yet we still don't feel safe. It would take $30 billion to end WORLD hunger. We spend $540 billion on defense (http://www.borgenproject.org/Cost_of_Ending_Poverty.html)

     We spend so much, and we still don't feel safe. Most of those people living in poverty, especially in such war-stricken places as Africa, will NEVER feel safe. Most certainly without our help.

Prospectus

For my project, I want to do something with music and justice. I feel that musicians have always been able to point out injustices in society, and get their fans excited about it. From U2 with their endless help towards the ONE campaign and the like, to Green Day speaking out against George W. Bush (whether you agree with them or not!), to Pink Floyd singing about the unfairness that they see. There are endless examples. 

I hope to merge some of these songs together, and make a "music collage". Whether it be actually merge them together to make a new song, or take lyrics or make a picture representing the lyrics, this is initially my plan. 

The Prophets

Abraham Heschel's book "The Prophets" brings an interesting outlook to the prophets. I can not imagine the troubles that would go along with having to bring such "weighted" news to the world. Constantly having to tell people how terrible they are, how they are screwing with God's creations and that we are not living up to what He wanted. 

But on the same hand, I can't imagine how the people the prophets were talking to felt, either. To hear that, after all of your trials and tribulations, that you are STILL not doing what God wants: 

"What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

Says the Lord;

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams" 

-Isaiah 1:11

When all that you have been told to do is to sacrifice to your God, to offer him things, I would not know how to respond either. 

I do not know what time would is more difficult to follow faith in: Back in the days of the prophets, when the outlines of "good faith" were so easily drawn out for you (as in sacrifices and religious wars); or now, where there are so many denominations, and each one tells you that "their way is the only way to God". 

Pre: Rabbi Flip

     I will admit, I do not have an extensive background in religion. Prior to this class, I had not really ever thought about studying the bible. Genesis 1:1-16 seems simple enough. God creates the world, the light, the dark, plants and the world. I don't know if it could have been done in seven days or not, considering its taking us months to just build a new parking garage... but hey, I won't argue. 

     I am, however, confused about Genesis 37. I must be missing something. I read past 37:17 (for the first time), and could not understand why Joseph's brothers would want to kill him. "'Here comes this dreamer. COme now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams,'" (Genesis 37:19-20). 

     In reading this, I was utterly confused. I couldn't help but thinking of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It may seem a little of topic, but we will be reading "A Testament of Hope" in this class. The thought of killing a dreamer, of killing a dream, lead me straight to the thought of Dr. King. His was a dream that led to his death, and I'm sure many others. A beautiful dream. Now, I don't know what Joseph's dream was, but I don't think that dreams, no matter what they, should ever be the demise of the dreamer. 

     I think that we are all dreamers. We all have hopes, thoughts, prayers, dreams. These are the things that make life beautiful. They give us life. For without them, there would be no substance to existence. So why kill them?

     Continuing through the readings, reading Ester did not confuse me. I liked the twist that it gave. Throughout millennia, the people of Jewish faith have been persecuted. Now, not only does a woman hold extensive power, but a Jewish woman. I liked that, because to me it seems as though women often times get overlooked, especially in religion. However, Ester kind of throws a spin on things. 

     We ended with Ecclesiastes. Which seemed like an odd choice. In my mind, the teacher is constantly battling with himself. He says that God's word is the ultimate word, that God is the ultimate power, and who am I to argue with that. But he then almost contradicts himself: "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept m heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil," (Ecclesiastes 2:10). We are supposed to give all we have away, to the poor, and that is that word of God. God controls everything. Yet here our teacher is, living life to its fullest material meaning. 

    These were just some of my thoughts upon reading. I'm not looking for answers, for I have heard that if you ever think that you have an answer to the Bible, that you're probably wrong. And I think it's probably good to have questions. So, question some more!

     I respect Shane Claiborne. I think that he has done what so many of us would like to do. I, like many people I am sure, would love to follow in his footsteps. I would love to help lepers and the homeless. Would love to give all that I have to charity. Unfortunately, most of us have other things in mind. We are going to college, so that we can get jobs, so that we can make money, so that we can buy a car and a house and a white picket fence. 

     Also, like Shane, I see the atrocities done in this world. I feel terribly for the people who lose their lives everyday, whether it is from poverty, hunger, AIDS, or falling bombs. I sincerely wish that there was something more that I could do. I have spoken out at my school, to friends and to family (even the die-hard Catholic grandparents who love the military). I was in the Invisible Children's Club at my high school. My senior year, we won a national contest by raising over $25,000 for the campaign. Taylor Thompson (currently at Vanderbilt) got to go to Africa this summer and help watch the building of a school, which our money funded. 

     I am also deeply confused with our sense of "justice", a main topic in our course. "Ironically, most violence comes from a deep desire for justice," Shane says on page 247. We put people on death row for murder. We bomb other countries "in the name of freedom."

     Shane gives an altar call to close his book. "It is an altar call to the world, an invitation to see a new kind of Christianity and to hear the confession of a church on its knees asking your forgiveness for the mess we have helped create," (357). Will we hear this altar call? And do we even want to? Shane also says: "We want a God who is at a safe distance," (321). I see this more often than I see the Shane's in the world. I think that we all do, though we may not want to admit it. 

     I would imagine that most of us would be afraid to give up all that we have. To protest against the world's injustices. To put ourselves, literally, in the face of death (as Shane did in Iraq). I know that I would be. 

It is beautiful to see people filled with such love as Shane. But how many of us could, and would, honestly, do the same?