Modern Day Babel

My recent posting about the meaning of the word 'marriage' got me to thinking about the ancient story told in the Jewish Scriptures (Genesis, chapter eleven) about the failure of an ambitious construction project in the region we now call Iraq. The project failed due to confusion caused by language differences among those working on the project. Even if you reject the role of God in the legend it is a real human problem even in our day.

Our culture has a number of intractable public issues that just won't go away. In the pubic discussions of some of these, the symptoms of the ancient Babel legend are apparent. Among these issues are the aforementioned marriage issue, abortion, torture and immigration. At some point the issue related babel may become so wide spread that our whole culture may itself take on the Babel syndrome and experience the  decline that has eroded many cultures in history.

I mentioned  a small example of babel in a posting a few days ago about the men and women praying quietly outside our local abortion center. They were praying for the mothers and fathers coming to have the human life of their fetus terminated.  They were praying for the staff and doctors that facilitate such terminations. And, yes, they were praying for the managers and owners of the center.  Inside a national TV reporter was interviewing the manager of the center. As the camera showed the men and women quietly praying on the sidewalk outside, the manager was describing them as "terrorists".

I don't know how these issues will ultimately be resolved but I am sure solutions would come sooner if we would all agree to use the same language/words and actually try to talk with each other.

MLK Day Gems

Today was very busy but two things stand out as shiny gems. Both have to do with our ongoing struggle to assure human rights for all human persons.

Very apropos for Martin Luther King Day was the poetry of Richard Blanco that we were graced to hear during the inauguration at midday.  In addition to the beauty of the poem he read is the fact that he personally symbolizes the great value that immigrants bring to our country. Here is one verse from that poem. View the entire reading by Richard below.

Hear: squeaky playground swings, trains whistling,

 or whispers across cafe tables, Hear: the doors we open
 for each other all day, saying: hello, shalom,
 buon giorno, howdy, paymaster, or buenos días
 in the language my mother taught me -- in every language
 spoken into one wind carrying our lives
 without prejudice, as these words break from my lips.

The second gem, also relevant to the heritage of Dr. King, is the introduction of a new book about the non-violent and prayer filled campaign against the human rights violation of abortion known as ''Forty Days For Lífe'' . The book was introduced to human rights activists on a web presentation this evening. This book will be released on January 28, 2013. I will post a link to purchase it when it is available. 

Newt's Immigration Stand

Since only the Republicans have a contest for president this year it has been easy to generate somewhat negative criticisms of their discussions. Today I would like to praise Newt Gingrich for his position on immigration reform.  He is right to point out how anti-family much right wing rhetoric on the topic tends to be. Earlier Gov Perry took similar flack for his support of education for the children of illegal immigrants.

Both legal and illegal immigrants come to the US due to jobs and our culture's general support of families and education. A significant part of the illegal immigrant numbers are family members of legal immigrants. For example a legal guest worker may bring his elderly parents to live with him. While he is legal his parents are illegal. would the Republicans insist that the seniors be deported?

One Pastor I know adopted two children while in a foreign country as a missionary. When he returned to the US one of the his children was 15 and a thus  legal immigrant whereas his 19 year old child was illegal due to age.  Should his oldest be deported? 

If middle of the road citizens could construct a composite Republican candidate from reasonable positions from the various candidates in the huge field now debating their way to the primaries we might have a real contender in the general election.

Arriving by the back door - What we have in common with todays Illegals

Years ago I heard Cherish-The-Ladies sing this song in a small rural church in New Jersey. While it is a lament of the "illegals" of an earlier generation it is also a tribute to those of our ancestors who arrived the same way. Please keep today's immigrants in your prayers. They are highly cherished children of our God.

You can check out Cherish The Ladies by clicking here.