Bill O'Reilly's comment about the "white establishment" was at least borderline honest and accurate. He is lamenting the shrinking demographic power of those like him - the majority of power - white, straight males in America, especially those who are upper-middle class to wealthy...
What I saw was the hope of ALL people - a new majority of ALL, and not just those who have had power and wealth. The "us" verses "them" race/class divide has been going on way too long for us to know who started the class divide, though I have my guess. It was certainly around in Jesus' time, as He addressed it time and time again. But sometimes the true majority steps up and speaks loudly.
Straight, White, Wealthy males have a very developed sense of entitlement. They feel entitled to rule over others "beneath" them. They believe they should be entitled to exploit those "beneath" them, both here and abroad. They believe they are entitled to corporate welfare while demanding an end to public assistance to families and while receiving tax exemptions and breaks. They believe they are superior to others, so theirs is "not" bigotry, but true superiority. They believe they should be able to dominate the culture and the returns on monetary efforts of all "under" them. They believe they are entitled to gain all the wealth they want, with no limits, off the backs of those "below" them. They believe the uneven playing field is correct, good and natural, so that affirmative action threatens their entitlement to ALL the choicest jobs, first and best pick to everything they want over others who are not them or like them.
They believe they are entitled to THE BEST of everything like education, employment, housing, cars, boats, food and clothing, recreation and entertainment, healthcare and profit margins. They believe they should have THE MOST influence over government, freedom from regulation, freedom from prosecution, the most profit and the most power and wealth.
Among the abundances to which they feel entitled are greed, bigotry, xenophobia, lust for power, sophiaphobia (fear of anyone valuing or attaining knowledge), ethnocentrism, racism, classism, homophobia, sexism, ruthlessness, mean-spiritedness, self-centeredness, hatefulness and intolerance.
So, Rove, Kochs, Trump, Murdock and others are now very upset because others might "get some".
Right-wing governors, secretaries of state, national politicians and local ones who lied, cheated, and tried to steal their election, who believed their entitlement to be royalty who can operate outside the truth, any sense of decency or integrity, as long as they can get what they want and keep all the power and wealth, are very angry because "those people" actually rose up and exercised their civil rights and actually participated in democracy. They lost one more step toward their unchallenged oligarchic plutocracy, and they are throwing a tantrum.
What is curious to me is that there are some who have been exploited by them - white, but not male or wealthy or just like those of the majority of power, who DEFEND them and espouse their ideology of how these things should continue, though THEY are being exploited and held down by those "in the club", who will NEVER let them be "in the club", because it would mean less power or wealth, or a lowered sense of superiority for themselves. This fierce loyalty and psychological alignment is maintained because they are duped into believing they either "are in the club" or could be someday, and that "those people" are holding them back from being there, when in truth it is those "above them" who are keeping them down and pitting them against others to keep them there and themselves in power and wealth. They believe that AT LEAST by virtue of their whiteness, straightness or the fact that they were born in this nation, they should have SOME entitlement - scraps from their masters' tables. They resent anyone who might equal their rights, provisions or positions in society. Their frustration, instead of being placed on those "above" them who hold them down, is misplaced on those "beside" or "below" them, as if by scapegoating them, they retain some position over them, or at least the favor of those who are "above" them, as if out of their loyalty they will be lifted up by them instead of held down. Rational people see this. They do not.
Now, both those who are among the entitled and those who aspire to be are throwing a temper tantrum because they did not get their puppet president who would do whatever those who truly are in power and wealth want him to do, those who look just like him.
This time, WE THE PEOPLE spoke. This time we got a taste of LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. This time it was an effort OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
It makes me hopeful for our nation. It makes them angry, which speaks volumes.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." "By their fruits you will know them." Jesus
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
However this election turns out...
A little more or less than half of the voters in America voted for President Obama...
Some of them voted for him because he is our first black President.
Some of them voted for him because the other candidate did not represent them well.
Some of them voted for him because out of their ignorance or naivete, they believe he can single-
handedly change the wrong directions we have gone in for so long.
Some of them voted for him because they have seen his steady work to dig us out of the economic,
military/foreign affair and domestic/social mess left by the previous administration.
Some of them voted for him because they see his policies, ideologies and actions to be more fair for
the whole nation, because he does not only favor the wealthy and powerful.
Some of them voted for him because they are hopeful about our future as a nation, and they believe
that his integrity as a leader will help us continue to move toward a better place.
Some of us voted for him because we believe he is the lesser of evils and therefore the greater of goods,
though he has not gone far enough to work toward the well-being of the most vulnerable and all
people in the nation in equality and toward equity.
A little more or less than half of the voters in America voted for Governor Romney...
Some of them voted for him because he is not black.
Some of them voted for him because he represents their interests of opulent wealth and unchecked
power, or because they aspire to be the few in the club who have those things.
Some of them voted for him because they were again, out of their ignorance or naivete, duped into
believing he represented what is best for the whole country.
Some of them voted for him because they know his policies, ideologies and actions will benefit them
to have more opulent wealth and exploitative power over others in the nation who will be less
powerful and therefore more exploitable, or they simply aspire to live their values of ruthlessness,
mean-spiritedness, hatefulness, greed, hunger for power over others, intolerance and injustice, all
to get more quick, short term personal gains at the long-term expense of the rest of the nation and
indeed the world.
Some of them voted for him because they are hopeful about their future of the above-mentioned ill-
gotten gains and living the above mentioned values, regard-less of others in the nation.
Some of them voted for him because they believe he is good enough to get them what they want,
even through unscrupulous means in this election, though he is not even what they want in a
President, but at least he is not "the black guy" who would put reasonable regulations on the
acquisition of wealth for the sake of the rest of the nation, because it is all about them getting what
THEY want for THEMSELVES only, and not for the good of the whole nation or the world.
We are truly polarized and yes, clearly I reflect that polarization.
While I am not an "end time" prognosticator, I do believe the best vision of Jesus' return which is
simple, beautiful and hopeful in I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
I also believe that this is perhaps the beginning of THE GREAT SORTING OUT reflected in the
teachings of Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 16:27, 28).
The Wheat and Chaff Matthew 3:11,12/Luke 3:15-17
The Net and Fishes Matthew 13:47-50
The Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:31-46
It will be the gathering of those who lived Kingdom Values as Jesus, Savior and Lord, fulfiller of the
Law and Prophets, gives them to us in His teachings and examples.
We have been instructed by the Law... Deuteronomy 15:7-11, among others...
We have been warned by The Prophets... Amos 5:11, 5:14-15, 5:21-24, among others...
We have been required to live Jesus' Agape Love Commandment... Matthew 7:1, 7:12, 22:34-40,
Luke 10:25-37
We have been warned by Jesus... Matthew 19:16-26, Luke 6:24-26, 12:13-21, 16:19-31, 18:18-30
and Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 6:46-49
We have been taught by Paul... II Corinthians 8:8-24, Philippians 2:1-11
We have been warned by the New Testament Prophet... James 1:22-25, 2:14-26, 4:1-10, 5:1-6
What is our hope? Repentance - changing our thinking, beliefs and directions like
Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10
I am praying for me, because I do reflect the polarization.
I am praying for those like me and those victimized because of the polarization.
I am praying also for those not like me and those who victimize others for their own gain.
I believe in God's Grace and I know my need for it. I believe in our ability to repent (change our
thinking, beliefs and directions) in order to follow what Jesus taught and exemplified as Lord,
because if we do not, we are not following Jesus as Savior.
Please Pray with me for ALL of us and the soul of our whole nation.
Pastor Jamie
Some of them voted for him because he is our first black President.
Some of them voted for him because the other candidate did not represent them well.
Some of them voted for him because out of their ignorance or naivete, they believe he can single-
handedly change the wrong directions we have gone in for so long.
Some of them voted for him because they have seen his steady work to dig us out of the economic,
military/foreign affair and domestic/social mess left by the previous administration.
Some of them voted for him because they see his policies, ideologies and actions to be more fair for
the whole nation, because he does not only favor the wealthy and powerful.
Some of them voted for him because they are hopeful about our future as a nation, and they believe
that his integrity as a leader will help us continue to move toward a better place.
Some of us voted for him because we believe he is the lesser of evils and therefore the greater of goods,
though he has not gone far enough to work toward the well-being of the most vulnerable and all
people in the nation in equality and toward equity.
A little more or less than half of the voters in America voted for Governor Romney...
Some of them voted for him because he is not black.
Some of them voted for him because he represents their interests of opulent wealth and unchecked
power, or because they aspire to be the few in the club who have those things.
Some of them voted for him because they were again, out of their ignorance or naivete, duped into
believing he represented what is best for the whole country.
Some of them voted for him because they know his policies, ideologies and actions will benefit them
to have more opulent wealth and exploitative power over others in the nation who will be less
powerful and therefore more exploitable, or they simply aspire to live their values of ruthlessness,
mean-spiritedness, hatefulness, greed, hunger for power over others, intolerance and injustice, all
to get more quick, short term personal gains at the long-term expense of the rest of the nation and
indeed the world.
Some of them voted for him because they are hopeful about their future of the above-mentioned ill-
gotten gains and living the above mentioned values, regard-less of others in the nation.
Some of them voted for him because they believe he is good enough to get them what they want,
even through unscrupulous means in this election, though he is not even what they want in a
President, but at least he is not "the black guy" who would put reasonable regulations on the
acquisition of wealth for the sake of the rest of the nation, because it is all about them getting what
THEY want for THEMSELVES only, and not for the good of the whole nation or the world.
We are truly polarized and yes, clearly I reflect that polarization.
While I am not an "end time" prognosticator, I do believe the best vision of Jesus' return which is
simple, beautiful and hopeful in I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
I also believe that this is perhaps the beginning of THE GREAT SORTING OUT reflected in the
teachings of Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 16:27, 28).
The Wheat and Chaff Matthew 3:11,12/Luke 3:15-17
The Net and Fishes Matthew 13:47-50
The Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:31-46
It will be the gathering of those who lived Kingdom Values as Jesus, Savior and Lord, fulfiller of the
Law and Prophets, gives them to us in His teachings and examples.
We have been instructed by the Law... Deuteronomy 15:7-11, among others...
We have been warned by The Prophets... Amos 5:11, 5:14-15, 5:21-24, among others...
We have been required to live Jesus' Agape Love Commandment... Matthew 7:1, 7:12, 22:34-40,
Luke 10:25-37
We have been warned by Jesus... Matthew 19:16-26, Luke 6:24-26, 12:13-21, 16:19-31, 18:18-30
and Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 6:46-49
We have been taught by Paul... II Corinthians 8:8-24, Philippians 2:1-11
We have been warned by the New Testament Prophet... James 1:22-25, 2:14-26, 4:1-10, 5:1-6
What is our hope? Repentance - changing our thinking, beliefs and directions like
Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-10
I am praying for me, because I do reflect the polarization.
I am praying for those like me and those victimized because of the polarization.
I am praying also for those not like me and those who victimize others for their own gain.
I believe in God's Grace and I know my need for it. I believe in our ability to repent (change our
thinking, beliefs and directions) in order to follow what Jesus taught and exemplified as Lord,
because if we do not, we are not following Jesus as Savior.
Please Pray with me for ALL of us and the soul of our whole nation.
Pastor Jamie
Monday, November 5, 2012
This Election
This election is about the DIRECTION of our country. It will tell A LOT about the character and heart of our nation. It will reveal our soul.
Are we going to continue on a path of more justice for all, equality and equitable treatment for ALL Americans? Are we going to continue to move toward the better treatment of our most vulnerable in healthcare, safeguards and compassion? Are we going to level the playing field in employment, education, healthcare, housing, safety and human rights? Are we going to respect all people and not just those who are most like us? Are we going to responsibly work with integrity among other nations? Are we going to embrace the principles of democracy over our love for laissez faire capitalism?
OR
Are we going to work our way back to "the gilded age", during which wealthy robber barons in our nation could do whatever they wanted at the expense of most in our society, in order to make more quick profit for themselves? Are we going to abandon the most vulnerable and eliminate safeguards so that we can give further tax breaks and "entitlements" to the most wealthy and powerful? Are we going to continue to entitle those who have over those who have not, and put systemic mechanisms in place that widen the gap between the two? Are we going to deepen the polarization in the nation, so that those in power can go unscathed toward more power and wealth, having successfully pitted the rest of us against each other? Are we going to go back to policies and strengthen them that disrespect, exploit, run roughshod and meddle in the affairs of other nations across the world? Are we going to weaken democracy and ultimately replace it completely with an oligarchic plutocracy?
Clearly, we have a choice tomorrow.
Clearly, the choice we make will reveal our heart and soul as a nation.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Jesus
"By their fruits you will know them." - Jesus
I pray that we will re-elect President Obama because I am a FOLLOWER OF THE WAY OF JESUS, and I cannot vote for someone who clearly does not follow Jesus - whether it is a political party, a candidate or an ideology.
JESUS demands that we work toward justice and peace, equity, equality and Agape Love for the most vulnerable. Anyone who votes for an ideology, party or candidate that goes against those things, votes AGAINST JESUS and His teachings and examples.
Vote your conscience - but if you claim to be a "Christian", vote your conscience informed by your faith and understanding of what Jesus taught and exemplified, as we have that in The Gospels...
... because YOUR VOTE reveals YOUR HEART AND SOUL...
Rev. Jamie Kaufman
Are we going to continue on a path of more justice for all, equality and equitable treatment for ALL Americans? Are we going to continue to move toward the better treatment of our most vulnerable in healthcare, safeguards and compassion? Are we going to level the playing field in employment, education, healthcare, housing, safety and human rights? Are we going to respect all people and not just those who are most like us? Are we going to responsibly work with integrity among other nations? Are we going to embrace the principles of democracy over our love for laissez faire capitalism?
OR
Are we going to work our way back to "the gilded age", during which wealthy robber barons in our nation could do whatever they wanted at the expense of most in our society, in order to make more quick profit for themselves? Are we going to abandon the most vulnerable and eliminate safeguards so that we can give further tax breaks and "entitlements" to the most wealthy and powerful? Are we going to continue to entitle those who have over those who have not, and put systemic mechanisms in place that widen the gap between the two? Are we going to deepen the polarization in the nation, so that those in power can go unscathed toward more power and wealth, having successfully pitted the rest of us against each other? Are we going to go back to policies and strengthen them that disrespect, exploit, run roughshod and meddle in the affairs of other nations across the world? Are we going to weaken democracy and ultimately replace it completely with an oligarchic plutocracy?
Clearly, we have a choice tomorrow.
Clearly, the choice we make will reveal our heart and soul as a nation.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Jesus
"By their fruits you will know them." - Jesus
I pray that we will re-elect President Obama because I am a FOLLOWER OF THE WAY OF JESUS, and I cannot vote for someone who clearly does not follow Jesus - whether it is a political party, a candidate or an ideology.
JESUS demands that we work toward justice and peace, equity, equality and Agape Love for the most vulnerable. Anyone who votes for an ideology, party or candidate that goes against those things, votes AGAINST JESUS and His teachings and examples.
Vote your conscience - but if you claim to be a "Christian", vote your conscience informed by your faith and understanding of what Jesus taught and exemplified, as we have that in The Gospels...
... because YOUR VOTE reveals YOUR HEART AND SOUL...
Rev. Jamie Kaufman
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