When I was about 10 years old, I fell into a hornets’ nest. The hornets got caught in my clothing. The more I fought, the more they stung me. Later I counted about 20 stings. It was a painful few days, but I survived. Every now and then, I see someone caught up in a flurry of painful but meaningless activity. I am reminded of my childhood experience and often use the age-old expression, “They fell into a hornets’ nest.” Most Americans agree that President Obama fell into a Middle Eastern hornets’ nest during the last few months. Despite the toppling of totalitarian states and the possibility of the establishment of new democracy, it is difficult to see a realistic end to the terrorism, bloodshed, and warfare in this important region of the world. The death of Osama Bin Laden marked a symbolic end to America’s war on terrorism. National jubilation is the only way to describe our corporate feeling about the demise of this “arch enemy” of everything Americans stand for. Perhaps this euphoric victory led the administration’s foreign policy strategists into a subtle state of hubris. This false feeling of power may have convinced them that they could actually advance the peace process by imposing the US will on the Palestinian/Israeli peace process. The entire nation is aware that on Thursday May 19, the president declared Middle Eastern peace talks could only progress if Israel would agree to return to their 1967 boundaries. After a veritable maelstrom of rebuttals, the president's international policy team realized the error of their ways. Therefore, the next Sunday morning (5-22-11) the president retracted his peace talk ultimatum. He even went so far as to claim that he was misquoted. His clarification speech occurred at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual meeting in Washington, DC. Despite the public acquiescence of former Prime Minister Netanyahu, the president seemed to create even more controversy. As I walked through the more than 11,000 pro-Israel advocates, I heard everything from motherly articulation of forgiveness to numerous people declaring they would never vote for President Obama again.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has begun traveling his state on
what he calls his “People First Campaign.” This not an effort to hear from his people,
as the name would imply. Cuomo is actually attempting to sell three policy
agendas. The following quote tells the story in his own words, "Our entire
team is...speaking directly to New Yorkers...about the issues that can move
this state forward...We need to pass a property tax cap, ethics reform, and
marriage equality during this legislative session and time is short.” For social conservatives the most alarming aspect of this
campaign is the fact New York’s Senate blocked a same-sex marriage bill in mid-2009.
The bill was stopped because of an amazingly motivated electorate’s desire to
maintain traditional marriage. Instead of listening to the will of the people,
Cuomo’s website carries this rhetoric, “…it is time to for our state to retake
our leading role in guaranteeing equal rights for all. This is about civil
rights and equality.”
Last Sunday,
May 1st, I appeared on Roland Martin's Washington Watch program with
two other DC pastors. Our discussion centered on the role of the clergy in
politics. One of my fellow participants, Dr. Charles Wallace Smith, came
to national prominence because President Obama attended his Easter services
this year. Starting the Monday after Easter, conservative pundits played
excerpts of one of Dr. Smith’s previous messages on race almost non-stop. A
January 2010 speech at Eastern University in Saint Davids, PA conveyed these
emotionally charged words: “It may not be
Jim Crow anymore. Now, Jim Crow wears blue pinstripes, goes to law school and
carries fancy briefs in cases. And now, Jim Crow has become James Crow, Esquire.
And he doesn’t have to wear white robes anymore because now he can wear the
protective cover of talk radio or can get a regular news program on Fox.” Dr. Smith must
have known that he would eventually get a reaction from this speech, even
though it was delivered 16 months ago. Despite his low opinion of conservatives
and the Fox News team, I came prepared to affirm Dr. Smith’s right to speak.
Further, I wanted to remind the nation that America has been repeatedly
transformed by a free pulpit. The important fruit of religious liberty is easy
to forget when someone is saying something we do not like. Further, I attempted
to offer a plan of action for the nation to begin to tackle the 800 pound
gorilla in the room - 400 years of racial turmoil in America.
This past week the Maryland Legislature has wrestled back
and forth with the issue of same-sex marriage. For months gay marriage
activists have boasted that there had been no real organized resistance to
their redefinition campaign. The most surprising aspect of the battle was
that last week an army of traditional marriage proponents appeared in
Annapolis, MD. Even though this group had testified and lobbied for over 3
weeks with focus and passion, they obviously saved the best for last. During
this past week over 30 different groups lobbied in shifts. None of them had
received the memo that they were supposed to be the desperate underdogs. In
fact they seemed just the opposite. They were as spirited and coordinated as
Florida A&M’s (my father’s alma mater) marching band during halftime.
Both religious and secular groups prayed, lobbied or
protested according to their own strategies and belief systems. The religiously
based opposition was unique - Mormon, Pentecostal, Southern Baptist, Missionary
Baptist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterians, and AME leaders busily moved from
office to office. These spiritual leaders also represented a diversity in the
size of their flocks and parachurch organizations. Churches ranged from 300
members to ministries shepherding over 20,000. The nationally known,
mega-church pastors moved with an equalitarian unity among their smaller church
colleagues. In addition, the Collective Banking Group (consisting of over 300
member churches), the Southern Baptist Convention of Maryland (with 500
churches), the Maryland Catholic Conference
with over 300 churches), the National Hispanic Christian Leadership
Conference’s Maryland chapter (with over 200 churches), and regional pastoral
alliances from Frederick to the Eastern Shore were all represented.
Last week’s election results were historic. John Boehner’s
teary-eyed victory speech was very appropriate because he had just observed a
modern day miracle. Boehner lives in the world of political reality. He is not
a wimp. He is rough and tumble, professional politician. Nonetheless, his heart
was moved by the surprising change in the nation’s political cycle. The 60 seat
congressional swing in favor of the GOP, along with 17 state legislatures
changing from Democratic to Republican, has definitely been a loud statement of
displeasure by the American people. Just as surely as the nation voted to give
President Barack Obama a chance to bring change in 2008, the midterm vote
clearly repudiated both the priorities and tactics of the administration.
Yes, the vote was salted with impatience. Yes, the
administration could have communicated a little better. Yet, truly great
communication starts with empathy and listening. The greatest question in the
post election season is, “Do Washington insiders of either party truly hear
what the people are saying?” I see signs of both parties misreading the
message that the electorate is sending. Unfortunately in this article I only
have time to address the Democratic Party’s foibles.
Can Christians save the mess that is today’s American political scene? Better yet, should we? Charisma asked two pastors to offer their unique viewpoints on the role politics plays in believers’ lives. The Church as a Prophetic Voice by Harry R. Jackson Jr. I am often asked why I spend so much time engaging in the moral battles of our day. My critics see my work outside the pulpit as crass political pandering or fleshly power grabs. They often are joined by a host of folks in our culture who want to renounce the religious right. These peace-loving believers have not been able to identify with angry, self-appointed spokespersons who have historically dominated the media. Despite the excesses of some of our forerunners, the church dare not withdraw in monklike fashion from the public square.
Over the past few weeks, black crosses have appeared in various locations around the country, including coalmines and energy meetings. Even the White House became a target. After a march from Freedom Plaza and a rally at Lafayette Park, more than 100 people staged a sit-in in front of the White House to demand President Obama end mountaintop mining. Approximately 100 people from the group, called The Black Cross Alliance, were arrested when they refused orders from U.S. Park Police to vacate the sidewalk. Why all the hubbub? These people have displayed a negative symbol of a black cross around the nation, including our national capitol. In some ways they remind me of the cross burnings of the South. Cross burners sought to uphold their own twisted brand of justice, while abusing the rights of thousands of blacks. The same group of people who were victimized by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) are the victims in the energy debates of our day -- poor blacks. The Black Cross Alliance shackles people's hopes and living standards. They make it harder for people to heat and cool their homes, pay their rent and mortgage, afford a car or medical treatment.
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