While we’re still trying to verify this, a very reliable source (doesn’t that sound really “journalistic”?), indicates that Faith in Action is in the running to receive a 2008 Black Weblog Award.
Now is the next stage. People from all over the world can vote for the finalist. Check it out and if you feel led, click the button for the FIA family. Thanks.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. It was about 4 years ago. I was pulling up to the church on a Sunday morning and one of the members approached my car as I was getting out. She said, “Here Rev. Brown, take one of these. It’s only $2. I’ll get the money from you later.”
What she shoved in my hand was one of those yellow, magnetic ribbons that donned the message, “Support Our Troops!”
I remember not knowing what to say for fear that I might offend her, but deep within me I knew that I wanted nothing to do with that yellow, magnetic ribbon. At that time, there was this blind patriotism drenching popular culture supported by right-leaning religious groups who declared that God gave the “Divine OK” to utterly destroy human beings in Iraq with shock and awe in Jesus name.
As a Believer in Jesus and a Follower of The Way, I disagree with war and believe that it is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. How could one follow a man who was called The Prince of Peace and encouraged loving one’s enemies and at the same time champion war and the killing of other human beings?
Soon after that parking lot experience, I began preaching sermons as I had opportunity against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. I also started preaching against the military activity between Israel and Hezbollah. (and particularly Israel’s murdering of innocent civilians and unjust occupation of Palestine.)
Sometimes with reckless abandon, prophetic zeal, and perhaps doses of self-righteousness I tried as best I could to send a clear message that Followers of Jesus could not waver on the issue of war. The teachings of Jesus just don’t support it.
Now, however, I’ve had a few more experiences in life. Now, I’m a pastor who possesses a greater level of concern for the well being of the sheep. I’m not some itinerant minister who can run to a foreign pulpit, unsheathe my blade, cut up the sheep, leave the sanctuary bloody, and walk out satisfied because I told it like it T. I. is. Now, to a much greater degree, I’m concerned about preaching the truth in such a way that will bring about spiritual growth…that will help build people up -not just tear them down and leave them crippled. And even if I cut them I attempt to extrapolate the cancerous growth with a surgeon’s precision leaving the healthy cells in their proper place.
Now, I can say that I’ve sat down with some of my family members who are in the Armed Forces and had conversations with them about how they are wrestling with being the one who makes sure the screws on the missile launcher are tight. Now I can say that I’ve seen the residue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in family members who still have nightmares about bombing schools in Iraq. Now I can say I’ve met men who were in Vietnam and who still can’t speak about what they saw or participated in while there. Now I can say that I have friends who work for some of the largest weapons manufacturers in the U.S. and who engineer some of the most deadly weapons that the general public has not been made aware of yet.
And now, as of a couple of weeks ago, I can say that two young people who are dear to me have informed me that they have chosen to join the Armed Forces and submit themselves to a process where they will be forced to surrender their ability to think independently, silence their conscience, and dehumanize other human beings so that pulling the trigger will be easier. They’ve agreed to become a part of the world’s war machine - a highly profitable system utilized by the principalities of this world to control the general population of the global community. They’re not the only young people in my circle who have made this decision. I know many young people who have opted to take this path…despite the scriptures, despite Dr. King, despite their religious beliefs, despite Jesus. It baffles me why young people join the military.
And yet - How do I minister to them? How do I support them while maintaining my ardent disagreement with their decision? I try to think of them as if they were my own children. What would I say to my daughter if she wanted to enlist? What would I say to my son? Surely, I wouldn’t picket against them. I wouldn’t kick them out of my house. I wouldn’t disown them. I wouldn’t barrage them with deep philosophical arguments that prove that “I’m right.” But my deep, unyielding, and longstanding love for them would compel me to say something.
I don’t know if these are the right answers, but I think I’d say something like:
“Son, God did not create you to kill other human beings.” …or
“Daughter, there are better ways to expand your horizons and see the world than by signing your life away to the government.”…or
“Son, I sense that you feel your options in life are limited and that you have to enlist in order to pay for college, but I guarantee you that there are other ways to fund your education.”…or
“Daughter, I urge you to read the stories of other young people who walked this path before you and consider what you’re really getting yourself into.”…or
“Son, before you enlist do your homework on what you’re getting yourself into and don’t just count on the word of the recruiter. Like a used car salesman, it’s their job to embellish and fabricate benefits in order to get you to sign.”…or
“Daughter, I know you’ve already enlisted, but there is still time…you can still change your mind”…or
“Son, it is remarkable that you have expressed your willingness to die for your country’s causes, but have you considered enlisting in a different type of army where you can still face injury and possibly death for PEACE instead of for war?”…or
“Daughter, I want you to know that there is a Federal Law that would prohibit me from discouraging you to join the Army, but I am willing to face being arrested if it will help you to think again about this decision.”
What would you say, Faith in Action family if you were in my shoes? Have any of your children, family, or friends joined the military? For those who are in the military and are Believers in Jesus, how have you reconciled what Christ says versus what your Commander says? For any clergy out there how do you minister to your parishioners who are either in the military or have loved ones overseas? For any activists out there, what strategies have you found to be effective in the effort to get military recruiters out of our schools and off of our college campuses?
Help. Our children are marching off to war.
I don’t know, man. I’m just very leery of a cozy relationship between the church and corporations. Not to say that it shouldn’t happen in all cases, but once corporate dollars enter the church’s purse at a significant level, the door is open for them to wield their influence.
For example, here in Maryland near the historic African American community of Turners Station, I know that Honeywell International, Inc., a diversified technology and manufacturing company, is responsible for cleaning up 3 million tons of toxic waste.
Its successor company, Allied Chemical dumped 3 million tons of Chromium near neighborhoods. Certain types of chromium is known to cause respiratory problems, kidney and liver damage, lung cancer, and a host of other physical diseases. This type of environmental racism is nothing new for Honeywell. Consider this excerpt about their environmental practices:
Honeywell ranks 44th in a list of U.S. corporations most responsible for air pollution, releasing more than 4.25 million kg (9.4 million pounds) of toxins per year into the air. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, no corporation has been linked to a greater number of Superfund toxic waste sites than has Honeywell. In 2001, Honeywell agreed to pay $150,000 in civil penalties and to perform $772,000 worth of reparations for environmental violations involving:
failure to prevent or repair leaks of hazardous organic pollutants into the air failure to repair or report refrigeration equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons inadequate reporting of benzene, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, dichlorodifluoromethane, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, and caprolactam emissions
(Daaang! Anybody got the number for Captain Planet?)
Poor folks and People of Color don’t have to go to Beijing to experience crippling pollution. We can find it right in our backyards!
Back in 2006, the State Department of the Environment agreed to give Honeywell 17 years or more to clean up the toxic waste. Since then, Honeywell has been cozying up to the locals down in Turners Station and the surrounding community sponsoring home renovations for residents, school renovation/construction projects, etc. through their Hometown Solutions program. I even hear that one church down in Turners Station allowed Honeywell to hang their corporate banner over their front door!
This type of “positive PR behavior” is not new for corporations. They will often throw out a few trinkets to the community in an effort to silence dissident voices and shade gross illegal or unethical practices. They figure if they throw you a bone, you’ll shut up. Not everyone will shut up, but enough will to essentially isolate the “troublemakers.”
How can the church utilize its prophetic voice on social issues if that voice is underwritten by corporate funding or sustained by government contracts? Is there a way to balance the church’s fiscal relationships with outside entities in a way that won’t compromise our divine mandate?
On Sunday, August 10, 2008 the Faith in Action family reached a significant milestone. At approximately 6:00PM EST, this blog welcomed it’s 100,000th visitor!
For the past 3 years and five months, a very important community has developed around this site. Never in a million years could I have imagined all that this blog would grow to become.
So many fascinating people - so many pertinent perspectives - so many passionate conversations. This space has become more than just something I do in my downtime. FIA has become a very close friend and a daily source of information, encouragement, and challenge.
100,000 visitors is nothing to sneeze at in a world where people have an infinite number of options to visit while surfing the world wide web. I must thank all of you who visit here - whether you jump in and let your voice be heard or stand on the sidelines and watch the fireworks - I thank you. This is YOUR blog. YOUR space and as much YOUR journal as it is mine.
In addition, I’m extremely excited by the fact that there are 168 subscribers to this blog. People from all over the country with various religious beliefs, a myriad of political stances, and a plethora of life experiences subscribe to this site to listen in or chip in.
To top this all off, a good brother of mine - Chip - serendipitously sent me an email yesterday saying that he was nominating Faith In Action for a 2008 Black Weblog Award.
Now when a few of my other brothers put my name up to replace Tavis as the commentator on Tom Joyner’s Radio Show I went along with it, but kind of brushed it off. Being on nationally syndicated radio isn’t that big of a deal to me and really I believe that my local voice is my most powerful one. (I’d much rather be an inch wide and a mile deep than the reverse.)
But when Chip sent me the email about the Black Weblog Award I got a bit excited. Not so much because I think that I write amazing, life-changing articles that the world must read, but because I really do believe that a very unique community has grown here and while blogs tend to be about the blogger her/him self, this blog I believe is more about “Us” and our passionate exchange on the issues. (However, I confess - I’m biased…and extremely so.)
So if you have a moment and you feel led, I invite you to send in a nomination for Faith in Action on the 2008 Black Weblog Awards Website. I think that “Best Faith-based” blog would be the most appropriate category. (Let me know if you think another category fits better.)
NOTE: While you’re there please consider nominating these fascinating blogs for some much deserved recognition.
Thanks and again - Congratulations. See you at 200,000!
July 28, 2008
Laura Washington
Chicago Sun-Times
350 N Orleans St
Chicago, IL 60654
Dear Mrs. Washington:
I am writing you this letter in response to your July 28, 2008 column. In it you describe our mother, the honorable Dorothy Wright Tillman, as having a “dismal” record as Alderman of the 3rd ward.
Webster defines dismal as: 1. obsolete , disastrous, dreadful 2: showing or causing gloom or depression3: lacking merit : particularly bad, devoid of cheer or comfort. indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess
I stand to disagree wholeheartedly with your imaginative interpretation of her hard work and her history of accomplishment in our beloved community.
You’ve heard by now the news concerning the death of Bernie Mac. The Chicago native died over the weekend from complications of pneumonia. Mac was 50 years old.
Many are also mourning the death of soul crooner, Isaac Hayes. Best known for his Shaft theme song, Hayes died Sunday at his Memphis home. Hayes was 65.
Last week, it was Maryland’s Speaker of the House, Mike Busch’s wife that was offered a courtesy by mainstream media. They intentionally held the news of her drunk driving arrest until Friday when they had the news Wednesday. This week it’s former Democratic Presidential Candidate, John Edwards’ extramarital affair.
Edwards admits to affair, denies fathering child
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer
Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday admitted to an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer. He denied fathering the woman’s daughter.
Edwards told ABC News that he lied repeatedly about the affair with a 42-year-old woman but said that he didn’t love her. He said he has not taken a paternity test but knows he isn’t the father because of the timing of the affair and the birth.
One of my seminary sisters sent this to me today. Very interesting. Would you be okay if a preacher came to your church and did this?
A Baraka success story
Teenager talks about his life-changing experience at the school in Kenya
By Makeda Crane | Sun reporter
August 3, 2008
UniSun recently caught up with 18-year-old Devon Brown, one of 20 boys from the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in Baltimore who was chosen to attend the Baraka School in Kenya, a two-year experimental boarding school that was supposed to separate the students from their city lives in hopes that they would focus on their education while in Africa.
Brown is one of the success stories from the program. Last spring, he graduated from the Academy for College and Career Exploration. Later this month, he will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art on a full scholarship from the Abell Foundation, which also sponsored the Boys of Baraka project. He plans to major in film production.
Brown was the kid preacher featured in the 2005 documentary The Boys of Baraka. Although the school closed after one year due to political unrest in Kenya, it altered his life, he said.
Unlike many of his peers, Brown had the support of his grandmother, who encouraged him in his passion for preaching in the pulpit of Zion Baptist Church, which he began doing at an early age.
For the record, I think that CNN’s “Black in America” special was abysmal. If you missed it, believe me - you’ve seen it before. If you watched Dateline NBC’s special on Black Women in Nov. ‘07, Tavis Smiley’s State of Black America, Real Talk with Al Sharpton, or Upfront with Jesse Jackson - you’ve seen the CNN Special before. More of the usual suspects (for the most part) sitting around talking about how bad Black folk got it with a sprinkling of how some Black folks pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and made something of themselves in spite of their blackness. Not surprisingly, there was no talk of institutional racism and how that plays a part in the current situation. Of course the acrobat of adjectives, the ringmaster of run-on sentences, the prime minister of pronouns himself - Michael Eric Dyson represented us “Black folk” real good to massa ‘nem. And keeping in line with a growing trend in mainstream media’s depiction of Black Women, the CNN special made sure to talk about how more and more Black Women are choosing White Men as mates - in fact, mainstream media is so obsessed with separating Black Women from Black Men that they covered African American Women and Families on one night and covered Black Men alone on another night! (:sigh: I can’t do it again. I already dropped my thunder on this issue when NBC did it.) Sorry, Mr. Media Men - no matter what you do, there are still many Black Women who deeply love and cherish Black Men. Likewise, there are many many many Black Men like myself who not only see royalty in Black Women, but who see love personified in them. A grade for CNN’s WACK attempt at telling OURSTORY? D-
Here is a link to Dr. Maulana Karenga’s commentary on CNN’s docu-drama entitled “Peddling Pathology in the Media: Selling Dream, Drama, and Dread.” Thanks Bro. Jahi!
Now let me find out that the Sultan of Surveillance himself, Martin O’Malley, is outraged by the recent findings released by the ACLU that peace activists in Baltimore were monitored over the course of 14 months and 288 hours for planning lawful, nonviolent, protests against war and the death penalty. Those in Baltimore know that Overseer O’Malley led the way in hanging Blue Light Cameras like Christmas lights all over the city keeping Big Brother’s Eye on Bmore’s Black and poor citizens. Illegal arrests skyrocketed under O’Malley’s iron grip and in the run up to the gubernatorial election he had sections of the city barricaded to restrict movement seemingly to decrease the likelihood of an embarrassing criminal event that his political opponent Robert Ehrlich could take advantage of during the campaign. O’Malley cares about First Amendment rights?! Oh stop it - I CAN’T BREATHE - BWAH HAHAHAHAHA (BTW - if you are a part of an organization that has planned a march, rally, protest in Maryland, the ACLU is offering to help you find out if you were spied on. Click here for more info.)
In other news, Maryland’s Speaker of the House, Mike Busch, is in a bit of a tizzy right now being that his wife was arrested on DUI charges shortly after midnight for driving through two flashing red lights in Annapolis. Busch brushes it aside as a personal family matter. No worries, Busch - mainstream media has your back. Your wife was arrested on Wednesday, but the Baltimore Sun chose not to shine its light on the issue until Friday at 3:32 PM - you know…a time when most folks aren’t even thinking about politics, world affairs, or drunk drivers who happen to be married to the third most politically powerful man in the state!
Closing on a…good note? The House of Representatives passed a resolution (boy, they love those non-binding resolutions don’t they?) Tuesday apologizing for Slavery. Great. Maryland expressed profound regret (along with many other states) and the U.S. House apologizes - fine. Now make the apology mean something. Bring on REPARATIONS! A nationwide, institutional effort to level the playing field between Africans and all other nation groups represented in these so-called United States of America. For more about reparations check out Dr. Ray Winbush’s blog and book.
