Obama and the Muslim world

Good for Obama. He is actually doing what he said he'd do. It's gonna ruffle the feathers of some "patriots" in the U.S. For years the policy has been no dialogue. Our way is the best (i.e. only) way and any dialogue hinges upon accepting this fact. Don't like it, we'll drop bombs on you.

Most Americans oppose closing Guantanamo Bay. Guess most Americans haven't seen Taxi to the Dark Side yet.

Sure, we must fight terrorists. But is being a terrorist going to stop terrorism?

And what is the fear of bringing them here? That their buddies will target the U.S.? Or is it that we know our justice system is broken and a fair trial may release them within the U.S.? That they may actually live here, pissed off and jaded by the breach of justice committed upon them?

How many of them might become terrorists because of what has happened to them in the name of "justice" American style?

Didn't Jesus say that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword?

Didn't Jesus also say that blessed are the peacemakers? Can use of war be considered a method of peace? Can we really spin that verse?

Kudos to Obama for trying something different.

Revolution...

Any longlasting and effective change has come when the people get together and speak up. Most recently we saw this in the U.S. elections. In 2004, the people spoke but everyone knows that election was basically stolen. That's ok, I'm not so sure Kerry would have been anything more than the not-Bush vote. Ditto 2000 with Al Gore.

Anyhow, in 2008 people actually voted for Obama. Sure there was a definite "we're sick of this Republican regime" sentiment but the people spoke and Obama was elected. The people spoke.

But the people cannot depend on government to effect change. This can only come from people.

But what is this revolution? What is it we want? There are so many revolutions to be fought that it renders them all ineffectual.

A spiritual revolution? We hear this in the Churches. But which Church? There are far too many denominations or non-denominational denominations, each with their own version of revolution, Catholic vs. Protestant, Oneness vs. Trinitarian, mainline vs. non-denomination, megachurch vs. storefront church, Christian vs. Christian.

An economic revolution? A green revolution? What is it we want?

I want less stuff. But it's not as easy as it appears as I type away on my computer, listening to my mp3 player with my special headphones, waiting to head for my house in my pickup truck where we are overflowing with stuff. We are not "into" stuff but when you live somewhere for a long time, stuff accumulates.

Perhaps that is my revolution. To make a move toward eliminating stuff. This would include my books. I've thinned out over the years but still have way too many books and way too many forms of media containing music. CDs, vinyl albums, cassettes, even the ethereal stuff of over 100 GBs of music on my computer.

No wonder Jesus says it's hard for the rich man to get into heaven. He's got too much baggage for the journey.

Sell everything we have to follow him?