We aren’t going to let any mace stop us. We are masters in our nonviolent movement in disarming police forces. They don’t know what to do. I’ve seen them so often. I remember in Birmingham, Alabama, when we were in that majestic struggle there, we would move out of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church day after day. By the hundreds we would move out, and … Continue reading Martin Luther King, Jr: Sacramental Theologian
This is part two of a series of reflections on Charlottesville via Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech “I See the Promised Land” (text and audio here). See the Intro here. I can remember [applause], I can remember when Negroes were just going around, as Ralph has said so often, scratching where they didn’t itch and laughing when they were not tickled. [laughter, applause] But that … Continue reading How are Non-White Americans forced to live today?
This is part one of a series of reflections on Charlottesville via Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech “I See the Promised Land” (text and audio here). See the Intro here. The nation is sick, trouble is in the land, confusion all around. That’s a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. (All … Continue reading Where is God’s Hand in Today’s Struggles?
After Charlottesville, what changes? The change is what matters. The posturing doesn’t matter. The marching only matters as a means to an end. After Charlottesville, as in after Charleston, Ferguson and Baltimore, what matters is the change in society to where black Americans can say “Yes! We are truly free!” Perhaps we forget this larger transcendent goal in the immediate skirmishes over policing and monuments. … Continue reading The Promised Land After Charlottesville
I want to write about the MLK holiday. There are several thoughts angling into my brain on this one. It’s probably best if I just lay them all out there at once. I deeply admire Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all that he stood for. I know that he was a freedom fighter, a philosopher, a preacher, a non-violent resister of oppression. I’ve studied … Continue reading How to Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (if you’re white)
You may have heard that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has organized the 10th Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony at Ground Zero in a manner that excludes prayer and the presence of clergy. Perhaps, given that 9/11/11 is a Sunday all clergy are busy leading their congregations. But that would only be Christian clergy. Are there no apt clergy from other faiths available? Clearly something is … Continue reading How the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero would benefit from the Presence of Clergy
Lenten day 23 saw me in the car a bunch. Luckily, I like my car. I tend to work a shorter day on Monday, given that Sundays can be so grueling. But today was a day in which one of my churches was providing lunch for one of the college Habitat teams. I am proud to see this little church get all involved and work … Continue reading Lent 23: Parking
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