“Good men must not obey the laws too well.” (Emerson) Some high school kids were waving signs. I jumped to a conclusion…“What are they protesting?” They were simply selling mums for a football game. Have you ever been part of a group waving signs? What do you think about protesters? Some famous law-breakers you might know are: Thoreau, Gandhi, Bonhoeffer, M.L. King and Jesus. In Jesus’ case, the penalty for protesting was crucifixion. ;-) Jack
FROM EDUCATOR PAUL: Profound...What is your opinion regarding violent
protesting? ===JACK: I think that the Thoreau protest was against President Polk. That's worth reading about and comparing to the current situation. Gandhi is also worth a reread, showing how a "meekness" response discombobulates those with "strength." I guess the example that most people would relate to are the Martin Luther King Jr marches. Most violent people wish for a violent response, and when they don't get one, they can't understand. That's the "Jesus message." Having said this, there are such things as violent responses called, wars.===PAUL: Another worthy discussion!===JACK: When it comes to what's right and what's wrong (ethically and religiously), the discussion is unending.
FROM HUNGRY HOWIE: 1. I protested the Vietnam war 2. How do you feel?===JACK: I was a "protester" from afar, so I don't put myself in the same category as you and the others. It was unfortunate that the protest was seen as being against the soldiers in Viet Nam instead of being against only those who were directing the war. The Kent State shootings became a wake-up call. THERE IS A COST TO PROTESTING. It is one thing to be an idealist. It's another thing to be willing to pay the cost of being an idealist. Did you think that you might have to pay that cost? ===HH: I never thought that I would be shot at by our own soldiers I never thought that I could be killed. I never factored that into my decision to protest I did consider that i could be arrested and was willing to take that risk Many lost there lives fighting for labor equity ( hunger strike massacre in 1931) civil rights and as you noted Vietnam. When a country uses violence against its own people it seems that the officials are not able or unwilling to separate the treasonous rebels from the legitimate protesters What would you have done about the weathermen ( in the 60’s) advocating violent protests or the Black panthers advocating violence. Is there a difference between them and the right wing racists operating now. What is the proper response?.===JACK: "Ah, there's the rub," as written by Shakespeare in "Hamlet." There's the difficulty...to know what's right and what's wrong, and to be willing to choose the right. There's a risk in choosing to stand up for what you think is right.
FROM FACEBOOK LIZ: the law against thinking you’re a prophet?==JACK: "The authorities" believed that Jesus was a false prophet, and so he was treated as one. Sometimes the one who loses to "the law" turns out to be the winner. To stand up for what you think is right means that you choose to pay the consequences. I see you as that kind of person.===LIZ: i am learning more abt bible, hit and miss. i do not read it, at this point, but i would do ok on jeopardy. now that i know it is the same story from different viewpoints. my mom, an episcopalian, said it is not to be taken literally... it’s interesting, at any rate. i am, thanks. you, too, i suspect... 👍🏻===JACK: IMO, you have learned an important lesson...the Bible is not always meant to be read literally. Beyond that, who do you choose as your interpreter? Who do you trust to give you scholarly advice? I am comfortable in who I have chosen, knowing that I may be wrong, but I've chosen, using the best knowledge at hand. I hope that it happens that way for you, too.===LIZ: i just read what crosses my path... tho i get our daily bread via email, and a notre dame alumni group daily gospel blog thing. jesus seems like a humorless crab===JACK: Give me an example of Jesus as a humorless crab."
FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL: Margaret and our daughters and granddaughters have all made placards and marched in demonstrations in the last few years. anti-Trump, pro women's rights, anti- poverty, etc.===JACK: There are protest for and protests against. "Your girls" seem to be doing both.
FROM BLAZING OAKS: Bill and I marched with Dr.King for "Fair and more Open Housing,
FROM HUNGRY HOWIE: 1. I protested the Vietnam war 2. How do you feel?===JACK: I was a "protester" from afar, so I don't put myself in the same category as you and the others. It was unfortunate that the protest was seen as being against the soldiers in Viet Nam instead of being against only those who were directing the war. The Kent State shootings became a wake-up call. THERE IS A COST TO PROTESTING. It is one thing to be an idealist. It's another thing to be willing to pay the cost of being an idealist. Did you think that you might have to pay that cost? ===HH: I never thought that I would be shot at by our own soldiers I never thought that I could be killed. I never factored that into my decision to protest I did consider that i could be arrested and was willing to take that risk Many lost there lives fighting for labor equity ( hunger strike massacre in 1931) civil rights and as you noted Vietnam. When a country uses violence against its own people it seems that the officials are not able or unwilling to separate the treasonous rebels from the legitimate protesters What would you have done about the weathermen ( in the 60’s) advocating violent protests or the Black panthers advocating violence. Is there a difference between them and the right wing racists operating now. What is the proper response?.===JACK: "Ah, there's the rub," as written by Shakespeare in "Hamlet." There's the difficulty...to know what's right and what's wrong, and to be willing to choose the right. There's a risk in choosing to stand up for what you think is right.
FROM FACEBOOK LIZ: the law against thinking you’re a prophet?==JACK: "The authorities" believed that Jesus was a false prophet, and so he was treated as one. Sometimes the one who loses to "the law" turns out to be the winner. To stand up for what you think is right means that you choose to pay the consequences. I see you as that kind of person.===LIZ: i am learning more abt bible, hit and miss. i do not read it, at this point, but i would do ok on jeopardy. now that i know it is the same story from different viewpoints. my mom, an episcopalian, said it is not to be taken literally... it’s interesting, at any rate. i am, thanks. you, too, i suspect... 👍🏻===JACK: IMO, you have learned an important lesson...the Bible is not always meant to be read literally. Beyond that, who do you choose as your interpreter? Who do you trust to give you scholarly advice? I am comfortable in who I have chosen, knowing that I may be wrong, but I've chosen, using the best knowledge at hand. I hope that it happens that way for you, too.===LIZ: i just read what crosses my path... tho i get our daily bread via email, and a notre dame alumni group daily gospel blog thing. jesus seems like a humorless crab===JACK: Give me an example of Jesus as a humorless crab."
FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL: Margaret and our daughters and granddaughters have all made placards and marched in demonstrations in the last few years. anti-Trump, pro women's rights, anti- poverty, etc.===JACK: There are protest for and protests against. "Your girls" seem to be doing both.
FROM BLAZING OAKS: Bill and I marched with Dr.King for "Fair and more Open Housing,
in the Chicago area, and certainly saw the ugly side of
those on the sidelines who didn't agree with us! My daughter has
marched 2X in the Women's March in Chicago. She said it was empowering to
see such a mass of women taking some positive action to
get their voices heard and hopefully it has had an impact. It was
dangerous to be marching and protesting with Dr.King, and some did pay with
their lives, but it got laws changed eventually which has made a
difference in countless lives. Still a long way to go!!===JACK: Bonhoeffer wrote The COST of Discipleship. He might have written, The COST of Protesting. For him, it was a cell and hanging.
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: We waved signs for car washes, signs to cheer our teams on and signs to stop abortion. People are still dying for Jesus...all around the world there are people who are persecuted because they follow Him. ===JACK: There are risks involved in being a protester. Sometimes protesters of the protesters can have a violent response.
FROM BB IN CHGO: What’s your opinion on Greta Thunberg and the student climate awareness activists. I love her sense of passion and commitment. It stands in stark contrast with our elected officials.===JACK: I don't know enough about Greta now to form an opinion. But, I do believe that she and student protester have a right and duty to speak out (protest) about the dangers of global warming. It's their world, too! "Free Speech" is part of our American heritage.
FROM PROUD MARY: i believe that protesting is our right. i have been involved in many a protest and march. (i know this surprises you!) it's interesting to meet others with the same passion for a cause. i have, thankfully, never been involved in a protest gone bad. we shall overcome.===JACK: Protests in America are as old as the Revolution. One that I was involved in was a protest against turning the local theater into a porno movie place. Finally it was torn down, and a Rite-Aid drug store replaced it.
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: We waved signs for car washes, signs to cheer our teams on and signs to stop abortion. People are still dying for Jesus...all around the world there are people who are persecuted because they follow Him. ===JACK: There are risks involved in being a protester. Sometimes protesters of the protesters can have a violent response.
FROM BB IN CHGO: What’s your opinion on Greta Thunberg and the student climate awareness activists. I love her sense of passion and commitment. It stands in stark contrast with our elected officials.===JACK: I don't know enough about Greta now to form an opinion. But, I do believe that she and student protester have a right and duty to speak out (protest) about the dangers of global warming. It's their world, too! "Free Speech" is part of our American heritage.
FROM PROUD MARY: i believe that protesting is our right. i have been involved in many a protest and march. (i know this surprises you!) it's interesting to meet others with the same passion for a cause. i have, thankfully, never been involved in a protest gone bad. we shall overcome.===JACK: Protests in America are as old as the Revolution. One that I was involved in was a protest against turning the local theater into a porno movie place. Finally it was torn down, and a Rite-Aid drug store replaced it.
No comments:
Post a Comment