Forgiveness Across Faiths

All life is sacred. When a life of promise is taken away, the promise often shines even brighter. So can be the case with Charlie Kirk.

Erica Kirk couldn't have said it better at her husband's memorial. Then she referred to her husband's killer.

"I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do, ... The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us."

In a memorial service clouded by some distasteful and occasionally hateful rhetoric, Erica drew strength in her personal tragedy from Christian ideals of love and forgiveness.

A decade ago, in 2015, a Muslim cleric in Lexington, Kentucky, met his challenge. A teenager had robbed and killed his son. In the court where the robber was sentenced to 31 years in prison, witnessed by all present, Abdul Munim Sombat Jitmoud embraced the convict, expressed his sympathy, and forgave him for having taken his son's life. A kind and gentle soul, beloved by all who knew him, Abdul Munim Jitmoud had embodied the Islamic ideals of forgiveness and kindness.

Erica and Abdul Munim both found comfort and guidance in their spiritual home. They rose above the mundane and touched heavenly inspiration. They may not know each other, but the angels in heaven will know them as kindred spirits.

Your thoughts?

How do Americans vote?

American democracy is only as strong as the ability and commitment of Americans to exercise their right to vote. 

Pretty straightforward. Everyone knows that. A ballot and a ballot box. That's it.

No, it isn't. A vote is more than just a printed sheet of paper with tiny circles to fill in. It is more than that. A vote is a voice raised, a letter sent, a debate engaged. And this vote is also decisive. It can be cast, changed, and withdrawn at the voter's will.

In these strange times, when things are getting curiouser and curiouser, as Alice would say in her Wonderland, Americans need to exercise these not-so-subtle versions of the vote.

This vote resides in American wallets, and in the choices they make with what is in their wallets. 

A business acts in a manner that is likely to damage American democratic culture and institutions? Let Americans vote with their wallets to determine what they buy, what they subscribe to, what they can cancel, and what they can shun. Let enough Americans do that to win the "election."

Pretty simple. The trick is to get enough voters to use the "wallet" vote, even when only a minority of Americans vote in traditional elections.

Remember Ralph Nader, celebrated in the Automotive Hall of Fame? He made Americans conscious of the relationship between a business and its products and the consumers' ability and willingness to support or not that product or company. 

Voting via the wallet, right?

Submission through Strength?

FOR OVER THIRTEEN CENTURIES IN THE WESTERN WORLD, ‘Peace through Strength’ has been a slogan for emperors, kings, and presidents, embodying the urge to be stronger militarily than any potential enemy.
In recent American history, President Ronald Regan popularized the phrase and made it a plank of his ideological platform. Peace through Strength continues to be a slogan of the American Republican Party and like-minded groups. 

But there is a flip side to this coin. We ensure our peace by having a strong military that no one can dare attack us. In other words, those who might try to attack us must consider our military might before they dare. For all practical purposes, the principle in play here, for the potential adversaries, is not Peace through Strength, but Submission through Strength. Their submission, our strength. 

Nations of the world were horrified by the consequences of World War II, following the devastation of World War I. They envisioned a new world, a world in which nations would live in peace, regardless of their strength or size. With all its limitations, the United Nations aspired to become a vehicle for keeping peace among the strong and the weak, not the submission of the weak to the strong. 

Article 1.1 of Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter says:

1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

There is no reference to a strong military to maintain peace, only to “justice and international law”.

It is not a far fetched conclusion that what we, and powerful nations of the world, seek is not (our) peace through (our) strength, but (their) submission through (our) strength, in contradiction to a commitment to “suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace,…”

It follows that the slogan “Peace through Strength” is hypocritical in the least, in violation of our commitment though the United Nations “to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace,…”

What the mighty nations of the world, such as the United States, are truly seeking is not “Peace through Strength” but “Submission through Strength.”

Let’s just admit it so we can sleep peacefully at night.

The Ninth Commandment - Under Oath?

Remember the Ninth Commandment? Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. From courts to congressional hearings to commitment by elected officials to do their jobs, oaths have become a routine of our public life. People take an oath to commit themselves, truly or falsely, to tell the truth. No fudging, no hiding the truth. Does their oath matter? Let's face it. Those who don't lie will not lie because their mothers taught them not to. Those who lie will lie any time they need to, oath be damned. A lie, any lie, breaks the web of relationships and trust on which a society's or a family's well-being rests. 

It happens to the best of us, sometimes. 

Sometimes we make a casual promise or just express an intention to do something. Then we forget. Sometimes we even want to forget what we promised if it no longer suits us. Not relevant anymore. No harm done if we just set it aside. Life goes on, and sometimes others ignore our dereliction. Sometimes it comes back to haunt us, but we may still shrug it off. However, there are other times when we take an oath, a solemn oath that entitles us to privileges and burdens us with responsibilities. This solemn pronouncement, the oath we swear, usually using a religious book as our witness, is a little different. 

Actually, a lot different. Not everyone sees it that way, though. When asked whether they will honor the oath they took in the presence of the whole world as witness, they might shrug their shoulders. What's an oath between friends, they might think. They didn't mean it that way, they suggest. Look, there are bigger issues they have to deal with than being commandeered by a few words like "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of ...., and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Just a few words, we might think. Then one day, we are asked if we will abide by our oath. Oh yeah, that oath. Well, not quite sure.

Maybe or maybe not! Humm... Wouldn't it be nice if the oath were inscribed at the entrance to the office of the ones who take such an oath? Wouldn't it be nice if each person taking that oath were expected to recite it every morning? Carry it in their pockets or purses? Consider having a ceremony to retake the oath every year, to refresh their commitment to it. 

Too much to ask, you say. Imagine the damage, the unimaginable consequences of "forgetting" the oath, the consequences of not living by the oath - an oath that binds those who govern and those who are governed, those who make the rules and those who are ruled by those rules. The oath that binds... that little thing called an OATH! 

Your thoughts?

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Moses

No Jew can speak for all Jews; no Christian can speak for all Christians; no Muslim can speak for all Muslims. Our three faiths lack a unified voice. We all march to the sound of different drummers. 

Those drums become cacophonous, though, when the three faiths interface because, historically, we are rarely on the same beat. We have been at war with one another for centuries, and in many places in the world today, we still are. Sometimes we call each other names; sometimes name-calling leads to people being hurt or killed. There have been very few years without war somewhere in our mutual history. 

 Can we put an end to a seemingly endless cycle of hatred and violence? And if so, where do we begin? 

One Jew, one Christian, and one Muslim believe it all begins with leadership. Many world leaders today have grown entitled and lazy. Too often, our collective futures are in the hands of demagogues who use toxic weapons of hatred and fear to gain power and keep it. Some leaders start with the good of their people at heart, but luxury and flattery warp the good that is within until they become heirs to history’s worst despots and tyrants. 

Time may be running out for our small, fragile, and overpopulated planet. If we are living on a powder keg, then fanning the sparks of suspicion and prejudice will never end well. The time to act was a million years ago, but we lack a time machine. Those of us living today can only take responsibility for future yesteryears. Otherwise, we court our peril. 

 If we speak as mere individuals, we risk our voice being drowned out by the perpetual yawn of the cynical status quo. But one Jew, one Christian, and one Muslim speaking as one voice could thunder like millions yelling into a canyon. It is possible to sing from the same hymnal if we focus on our shared beliefs. 

This one Jew, this one Christian, and this one Muslim believe there is only one human race, that God is one, that the same God inspires us all, and that we share a destiny. Our common enemy is not each other, but rather, those who decry that there is nothing divine about Creation, nothing sacred worth honoring, and that we should worship riches, power, sex, or human celebrities that serve as idols. 

We also have a choice on how we treat each other, and that the past does not have to be prologue. As Jews, Christians, and Muslims, we are all spiritual descendants of Abraham and disciples of Moses. Abraham was a man of peace, and Moses was a liberator and lawgiver who found the path to the Promised Land. If we let him, Moses, our standard role model of leadership, will guide us to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah:

“Nation shall not raise a sword against another nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.” 

Honoring the story of Moses does not mean we are forced to tell the story only one way, or that we are only allowed to learn one lesson. In this book, three individuals— Jew, Christian, and Muslim — have joined hands to hold one pen, and though we may write from different minds, it is from the same heart.

May the Almighty illumine our eyes and show us the path to a new Promised Land where we all can live as brothers and sisters. 

Amen.

From the Preface (slightly edited) of How Millennials Can Lead Us Out of the Mess We're In: A Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian Share Leadership Lessons from the Life of Moses Hardcover – Abridged, October 20, 2020

by Mordecai Schreiber (Author), Iqbal Unus (Author), Ian Case Punnett (Author)

Oops, I forgot. A little thing called OATH...

IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US. Sometimes we make a casual promise, or just express an intention to do something. Then we forget. Sometimes we even want to forget what we promised if it no longer suits us. Not relevant any more, we might say. No harm done if we just set it aside. Life goes on and sometimes others ignore our dereliction. Sometimes it comes back to haunt us, but we may still shrug it off. But then there are other times when we take an oath, a solemn oath, an oath that entitles us to privileges and burdens us with responsibilities. This solemn pronouncement, the oath we swear, usually using a religious book as our witness, is a little different. Actually a whole lot different. Not everyone sees it way, though. When asked whether they will honor the oath they took in the presence of the whole world as witness, they might shrug their shoulders. What's an oath between friends, they might think. They didn't really mean it that way, they might suggest. Look there are bigger issues they have to deal with then being commandeered by a few words likes "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of ...., and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Just a few words, we might think. Then one day we are asked if we will abide by our oath. Oh yeah, that oath. Well, not quite sure. May be or may be not! Humm... Wouldn't it be nice if the oath was inscribed at the entrance to the office of the ones who take such an oath? Wouldn't it be nice if each person taking that oath was expected to recite it every morning? Carry it in their pockets or purses? Have a ceremony to retake the oath every year, to refresh their commtment to it, perhaps? Too much to ask, you say. Imagine the damage, the unimaginable consequences of "forgetting" the oath, the consequences of not living by the oath - an oath that binds those who govern and ones who are governed, those who make the rules and those who are ruled by those rules. The oath that binds... that little thing called an OATH! Your thoughts?

New Department, New Confusion?

How do you spell the acronym for the new department of government efficiency? Is it DOGE or is it DODGE? I wonder which?

Two Sides of the Same Coin?

As Alice would say in her wonderland, things are getting "“Curiouser and curiouser!”

Russia wants to subdue a soverign nation, earse its culture, and turn its land into a piece of its own territory, by brute force.

The United States wants to subdue a soverign people, earse their culture, and turn their land into a piece of its own territory, by brute force.

Let's flip the coin. What you see on either side is the same - ethnic cleansing and territorial grab achieved by force in the face of a proud people's aspiration for self-rule.

Are we missing something here? 

“Curiouser and curiouser!”, indeed.

Congratulations! You are Hired!!

IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO LOOK FOR A JOB. 

Mr. Somebody had to find one quickly. Just around the corner was a deli with a "Manager Position Available" sign. Good place to start a job search. Mr. Somebody asked for the manager. The manager sat him down for an interview. First the formalities, then the meat of the interveiw. 

Manager: Tell me about yourself. 

Somebody: I am educated and I have some experience, and I can communcicate very well.

Manager: That's good, but tell me about your management experience. You have some, right?

Somebody: Oh, yes, I do. I was the boss at a non-profit outfit, and then on another one. It was good experience.

Manager: You know we are a decent sized deli. I have managed it myself for long, but 25 people staff is getting too much for me. So, let me ask you if you have managed that many people.

Somebody: Twenty five? Huh! That's more than ten, right? Ten I have managed at two non-profits, not only one. But I can learn.

Manager: Okay, may be I can train you. But tell me how did you handle the money there. Did you leave them with in a good shape financially?

Somebody: Well you know, how people talk. Some said I didn't handle the money well, but may be they wrere jealous. There were some investigations, but I think I was okay.

Manager: Well, may be my accountant can train you. But tell me a little bit about your personal life. Married? Good family life? No hanky panky with women? You know how it goes. I want my female staff to be respected. You can do that, right?

Somebody: Absolutely. I respect women. Well, I do get carried away sometime. You know how we men are. Ha, hah!

Manager: Well, my assistant, Sarah, will help you understand our deli's culture of respecting one another. 

Somebody: Sure. I can learn, fingers crossed.

Manager: Now, One more thing. You know I don't drink at all, but you may. That's not my business, but my establishment will not tolerate even a drop of drink at work. You are okay with that, right?

Somebody: Let me tell you the truth. I do get drunk once in a while, but I promise, not a drop at work. Promise.

Manager: Well, let's see. You have managed two little outfits with a small staff, didn't manage the money well, haven't related well with women, and do get drunk sometimes.

Somebody: If you say so. So can  I get the job?

Manager: You want me to hire you to manage my deli? To tell you the truth, you might have better luck at that establishment down the street on Pennsylvania Avenue, at 1600, I think. Why don't you apply there?

Somebody: If you say so, sir. Thank you. I will try my luck there. They do have an opening that might fit my qualification and experience. I do appreciate your time.

Mr. Somebody followed the advice of the deli manager. He applied. Got hired!!  

Good luck, Mr. Somebody!

The Future is Now

As time draws near to closing the curtain on one way of national life and drawing it open on another, we wonder if life will be all that different. Most people anticipate it will be, but cannot visualize how different it might be and in what ways.

If there is an expression that may characterize the future, it may be "Who knows?' 

Will words and slogans herald a lasting new vista? Or will this be just a blip on the timeline of national life? Will ordinary people be just bystanders, whatever their interests and apirations might be as new ideologies and ideologues shape the national conversation?

It is the job of leaders to lead. It is the job of the led to articulate their aspirations and shape the collective vision. Society functions best when leaders and the led commit to a social contract that inspires both.

How long "Who knows?" Hopefully, not until it is too late.

Alcohol: Pathway to Cancer

The US Surgeon General has called for posting cancer warning labels on alcohol. This is a welcome warning. Better late than never.

Now it is time that all people of faith and others concerned with health in our nation and the consequences of bad health should heed the finding and recommendation of the US Surgeon General. In one major study, death toll by cancer caused by alcohol use was found to be greater than that caused by cigarettes, according to the Surgeon General. This finding and recommendation by the Surgen General has been reported in major news media outlets on Jnaury 3.

Placing a stern warning on alcohol products as is the case with cigartettes will need a decision of United States Congress. A proposed bill will need to be shepherded throgh the Eneregy and Commerce Committee and then voted upon by the full House. 

Time is ripe and right to launch a serious campaign to support the finding and recommendation of the US Surgeon General. It is time to educate the community at large about this long-needed recommendation. It is also time for a concerted campaign to appeal to the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the full House, to take up this issue on a priority basis. 

One more life lost to alacohol related cancer will be too many to lose. A stern warning label on every alcohol proudct is not too much to ask for or hope for.

At the same time let's remember the furious opposition by the cigarette industry to posting warning labels on cigarttes products. Opposition by the alcohol lobby to labelling alcohol products will be even more furious, perhaps.

It is time to engage in the battle to save lives lost to alcohol related cancer.