A ONE PICTURE FOLLOW-UP TO YESTERDAY'S POST

FACEBOOK PROPHETS ARE AT IT AGAIN

 

A LITTLE JOURNEY THROUGH RECENT EVENTS WITH HELP FROM THE POLITICAL CARTOONISTS

BY STEVE DUNN

The following political cartoons clearly are critical of some recent actions, decisions and statements by our President.  I make no apologies because each reflects a question that I and many others have on our minds these days in the whirlwind that is politics and diplomacy.

Why are we suddenly trusting this dangerous dictator>

Why are we keeping the freedom of speech controversy alive?

Why indeed?

Is this really a biblically defensible position?

Why vilify our relatively benign neighbor when we are willing to accept what these other countries represent?

If you have some good answers, I'd appreciate hearing them.  Many of my readers would appreciate it as well.

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - I'VE GOTTEN POLITICAL

BY STEVE DUNN

It troubles me at time that so much I am writing these days is of a political nature. Hopefully from a Christian perspective, but political nonetheless.  But this troubling lessons when I consider how important having a political position is.  I do not always agree with Rachel Held Evans but what she has written recently on her Facebook page speaks eloquently to what is in my heart.  Again, I do not support every item she advocates, but her point is both well-taken and needful.  (You don't need to comment.  Just read and reflect and come to the answers God lays upon your heart.)

And now from Rachel ....

You don’t like that I’ve “gotten political,” huh?

If saying it’s wrong to mock people with disabilities makes me political, then so be it.

If rejecting the notion that demeaning, groping, insulting, and assaulting women is “just how men are” makes me political, then so be it.

If supporting a free press makes me political, then so be it.

If speaking out when religious and ethnic minorities are targeted with misinformation campaigns that have dramatically increased hate crimes against them makes me political, then so be it.

If believing the president of the United States is not above the rule of law, or the most basic ethical accountability, makes me political, then so be it.

If refusing to stand by as desperate refugee families, including many children, are turned away from safety based on misinformation and fear makes me political, then so be it.

If calling my senators to oppose a healthcare bill that would likely increase the abortion rate and definitely leave my friends with special needs kids bankrupt and desperate makes me political, then so be it.

If expecting the president of the United States to behave with some semblance of decorum and decency, even on Twitter, makes me political, then so be it.

If getting angry when Christian leaders shrug off sexual assault, lying, racism, bullying, cruelty to the vulnerable, and unapologetic greed and self-aggrandizement because it gets them the judge they want or the power they crave makes me political, then so be it.

If turning over tables when Christians sing hymns in honor of this administration's ethno-nationalist agenda makes me political, then so be it.

You don’t like that I’ve gotten political?

I don’t like that the future of the Republic and the integrity of the American Church has been so glibly handed over to a man who has no respect for either.

You’re damn right I’ve gotten political.

And even if you remain silent, you have too.

BLACK FRIDAY - COMMENTARY

BY STEVE DUNN

Busy enjoying my family, so I am not "blogging" per se.  These pictures, however, say pretty much what I am thinking this Black Friday morning.

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS EXTENDED: ELECTION ANALYSIS

USA Today continues to provide some of the best political commentary via its cartoons. - Steve

NO COMMENT: THESE SAY QUITE ENOUGH

From the pages of USA Today Opinion come some political observations that I resonate with these days.  Another reason why this is my favorite newspaper--digital or in print. - STEVE

LIFE MATTERS CARTOON COMMENTARY

My thanks to USA Today on-line and these comments about out nation and culture.  They would Sunday "funnies" except they're too close to reality.

FOUR MORE DAYS - WILL OHIO SURVIVE?

Four more days ... and the election will arrive.  The candidates obviously consider Ohio the center of the political universe, the swing state of swing states.  Each has five stops targeted for Ohio in these remaining days.  When Sandy was on her way to the East Coast (and before the candidates decided they needed to stop campaigning for a day lest they look "unpresidential"), most of the campaign tours rerouted themselves through the Buckeye State.

Last time round Pennsylvania was a swing state, until it became solidly blue.  It still must have some swing left because the political ads are rolling across prime time at the rate of about eight an hour, but the money must be tight. The ads are the same ones over and over.

  

During the 2008 election, a friend of mine from Indiana was visiting me in Pennsylvania.  He was astounded by the volume and the vitriol of the ads.  "You wouldn't even know there was a Presidential Election back in Indiana.  We barely see an ad on TV."  He was lamenting.  I was envious.

I have done some work in Ohio this past month, spending six nights in the last 25 in the Buckeye state.  The only thing more depressing to me than these ads was the Tigers channeling the Yankees and being swept  by the Giants in the World Series.

To be honest, I have listened to so much stuff and listened to both men flip-flop so many times that I find myself thinking neither man is worthy of leading this nation.  The nation is worth more than the core values of either presidential candidate.  And each has values that I am reluctant to have them installed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

I confess, I am thinking of simply not voting.

LIFE MATTERS--POLITICAL CARTOONS AND FACEBOOK SAGES

The past month I have collected a number political cartoons via USA Today on-line and "wisdom" from my Facebook friends posing as sages and sources of truth.  Here are a few of my recent favorites.

2011 IS WINDING DOWN - THE POLITICAL SCENE

At the moment I am in Toledo OH visiting my new grandson Caleb and his parents, Katie and Jason. A Sunday holiday gave many business and organizations – not to mention the schools, postal service, government and banks to turn Monday into a holiday, as well. I suspect with the New Year’s Eve being on a Saturday that more than a few places will start shutting down early on Friday, as well. Let’s see, that leaves three work days in a lot of places – and not much work is going to happen. 2011 is most definitely winding down. (By the way, I worked both days of last weekend and will work both days of this weekend. It is comes with the territory when you are a pastor). Blogging for me is something I do to relax. I don’t hunt, fish, wood carve, or chop wood-I unwind with my computer and unleashing my fertile imagination. So right now I will “relax” looking at the political scene.

We are now eleventh months from the next general and presidential election. The Republicans debates are in full swing–with candidates almost daily giving us reason not to vote for any of them. The Democrats are having those debates behind closed doors, but right now there are many voters who will not support Mr. Obama’s re-election bid. In fact, after the craziness of the budget, tax breaks, and other assorted DC impasses, I am afraid that a whole lot of people are fed up with the current leadership on either side of the aisle. Unfortunately those throwing tea parties or occupying Wall Street don’t inspire me either. Persons whose whole campaigns revolve around “throw the bums out” rarely have sustainable ideas that promote the common good. 2012 will be a matter of significant prayer for many of us who love this nation and treasure its democratic institutions.

Another dictator, who styled himself literally as a god, died last week. Kim Il Jong of North Korea went where-ever dead “gods” go and I am pretty sure it’s not Heaven (even if as a diehard communist, he believed in any kind of afterlife). No administration has been able to reign in the meglo-manical paranoia of the North Koreans (even the Chinese find them troublesome and potentially dangerous “allies.”) In fact, three thorns in the flesh of democracy met their Maker this year – bin Lauden, Khadaffi, and Jong. Will the world be safer, or freer? Perhaps for a time. But in our Fallen World where men aspire for the power to compel people to choose their way of life or live subject to their warped ideologies, more such “thorns” will erupt. That is why we must work to make our democracy be a beacon of light instead of a poor excuse for a family feud. Democracies work where this is mutual respect, an honest resolution of differences, and the integrity to work for the common good.

This morning’s news contained the disturbing report that the Iraqi President has already begun to act like Saddam Hussein, arresting his Sunni minority Vice President and making bogey men out of his political opponents. Fearing the Shiite majority, the Sunnis and others are already threatening civil war, a development that will only serve the purposes of a greater threat to the world–Iran.

As Walter Cronkite used to say, “And that’s the way it is.” This is where I say, “We need Jesus now more than ever.”

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS HUMOR - NOT