Saturday, April 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A Break in the Clouds
The title is a line from "Rescue is Coming", by David Crowder Band. Like the name of this blog. It's quite beautiful, and fitting, considering this will be the last post on I Will Not Be Silent.
I started this blog on September 5, 2009, a couple days before school started. I had seen Amelia's, Jessica's, Alex's, Michael's, and Ingrid's blogs, and I was inspired enough to try it out for myself. When I made that first post, I had just finished reading Velvet Elvis, Blue Like Jazz, and Searching for God Knows What. They literally changed my life, and I began to view everything with a different perspective, comparing everything to a different standard. The page to a new chapter in my life had been turned, and I had to share what I had found. My blog became my crusade to try and enlighten the world to truths recently discovered.
Since then, I believe I've become burnt out. Not with ideas, but with my intentions, and the whole style of what I was doing. I watched as I became more and more showy of what I believed to be uncommon knowledge, and slowly realized how much time I spent thinking of the attention and acclamation I would get from my next post. I obsessed over followers, comments, and looking for new, attractive ideas to share. All of this built up, and I believe finally burst two days ago, on my previous post. That night I had been staring at a glaring computer screen for far too long, and I was listening to Radiohead's Kid A, some of the most gut-wrenching music ever to grace the presence of my eardrums. It got a lot more depressing than I originally planned, and fast.
Earlier that day I was at Aaron's house, and I heard about this one essay that Matt, our old Jr. High youth leader, suggested to him, called Weight of Glory. It was by C.S. Lewis, a man most famous for writing the Chronicles of Narnia series. So yesterday I looked it up online, and found the whole book it came from, in its entirety. After much difficulty focusing, I made my way through the dense forest of logic and wisdom that was Weight of Glory. And I don't think it was a coincidence that it contained somewhat of a response to my situation.
There is this desire within me. To work and have that work appreciated. I believe man was designed to be fulfilled in this way by God, who would, like a father to a son, be pleased with the child's accomplishments and reward him. Since the Fall of man, we have lost that direct connection with God. So I, as well as the rest of humanity, seek to satisfy this desire by appealing to other men and women. But it is hardly enough, because the praises of man fade away, and are paper-thin compared to those of an almighty God.
My frustration grew out of this desire, and its refusal to die even when fed compliments of many friends. But there was a very short moment, I had realized after reading C.S. Lewis, when the satisfaction I obtained from trying to please God and others was pure. With the humility of a child delighting in every pleasure he can offer his father. Like that of a pupil to a teacher, or like that of a creature to its Creator. It was a glimpse of how things ought to be, and eventually will be, when I am reunited with Christ, who will fulfill that desire as I serve Him wholly and sincerely. Jesus says that only the ones who change and become like children may enter the kingdom of heaven.
In this my passion was reignited, my sense of purpose in writing blogs reestablished. I now want to strive for that purity and child-like innocence that I had felt long ago. But I feel like I need a break. A change of pace. Everything about this blog reminds me of what used to be, how I used to think. Much like the books I read over the Summer of 2009 opened a new chapter of my life, I believe Weight of Glory has opened yet another. I will retire this blog, and start up a new one. But not soon. I think taking my time would do me some good. So with much nostalgia and sentimentalism, I will bid farewell to this very experimental and fun-filled blog. Everything here will remain for me and whoever else willing to read.
If only a fraction of the intended effect of what I have written is sent out, if only a single person benefits from what I had to share, I will be happy. It's kinda sad though, to see this part of my life go. Granted, it will return, but in a much different form. It's a symbolic farewell. And is sad nonetheless.
I'll talk to you guys later, in a different part of my walk through life. For now, I'll leave you with the closest thing I have to a catch phrase on this blog. Stay safe and don't die~
I started this blog on September 5, 2009, a couple days before school started. I had seen Amelia's, Jessica's, Alex's, Michael's, and Ingrid's blogs, and I was inspired enough to try it out for myself. When I made that first post, I had just finished reading Velvet Elvis, Blue Like Jazz, and Searching for God Knows What. They literally changed my life, and I began to view everything with a different perspective, comparing everything to a different standard. The page to a new chapter in my life had been turned, and I had to share what I had found. My blog became my crusade to try and enlighten the world to truths recently discovered.
Since then, I believe I've become burnt out. Not with ideas, but with my intentions, and the whole style of what I was doing. I watched as I became more and more showy of what I believed to be uncommon knowledge, and slowly realized how much time I spent thinking of the attention and acclamation I would get from my next post. I obsessed over followers, comments, and looking for new, attractive ideas to share. All of this built up, and I believe finally burst two days ago, on my previous post. That night I had been staring at a glaring computer screen for far too long, and I was listening to Radiohead's Kid A, some of the most gut-wrenching music ever to grace the presence of my eardrums. It got a lot more depressing than I originally planned, and fast.
Earlier that day I was at Aaron's house, and I heard about this one essay that Matt, our old Jr. High youth leader, suggested to him, called Weight of Glory. It was by C.S. Lewis, a man most famous for writing the Chronicles of Narnia series. So yesterday I looked it up online, and found the whole book it came from, in its entirety. After much difficulty focusing, I made my way through the dense forest of logic and wisdom that was Weight of Glory. And I don't think it was a coincidence that it contained somewhat of a response to my situation.
There is this desire within me. To work and have that work appreciated. I believe man was designed to be fulfilled in this way by God, who would, like a father to a son, be pleased with the child's accomplishments and reward him. Since the Fall of man, we have lost that direct connection with God. So I, as well as the rest of humanity, seek to satisfy this desire by appealing to other men and women. But it is hardly enough, because the praises of man fade away, and are paper-thin compared to those of an almighty God.
My frustration grew out of this desire, and its refusal to die even when fed compliments of many friends. But there was a very short moment, I had realized after reading C.S. Lewis, when the satisfaction I obtained from trying to please God and others was pure. With the humility of a child delighting in every pleasure he can offer his father. Like that of a pupil to a teacher, or like that of a creature to its Creator. It was a glimpse of how things ought to be, and eventually will be, when I am reunited with Christ, who will fulfill that desire as I serve Him wholly and sincerely. Jesus says that only the ones who change and become like children may enter the kingdom of heaven.
In this my passion was reignited, my sense of purpose in writing blogs reestablished. I now want to strive for that purity and child-like innocence that I had felt long ago. But I feel like I need a break. A change of pace. Everything about this blog reminds me of what used to be, how I used to think. Much like the books I read over the Summer of 2009 opened a new chapter of my life, I believe Weight of Glory has opened yet another. I will retire this blog, and start up a new one. But not soon. I think taking my time would do me some good. So with much nostalgia and sentimentalism, I will bid farewell to this very experimental and fun-filled blog. Everything here will remain for me and whoever else willing to read.
If only a fraction of the intended effect of what I have written is sent out, if only a single person benefits from what I had to share, I will be happy. It's kinda sad though, to see this part of my life go. Granted, it will return, but in a much different form. It's a symbolic farewell. And is sad nonetheless.
I'll talk to you guys later, in a different part of my walk through life. For now, I'll leave you with the closest thing I have to a catch phrase on this blog. Stay safe and don't die~
Monday, February 8, 2010
This One's Optimistic
I don't think any of us know what we're doing. We're just desperately hoping the people that we're following do.
What is it that I'm doing here? Not here on this Earth, but here typing into a box on my computer screen, with the lame title I came up with in the top left corner. I could come up with a whole list of reasons for what I'm doing right now. I could quote my own blog post I wrote a while back. But... really? Is that really why?
Underneath this flowery shawl of good intentions lies something darker. I have this part of me, deep down inside, that needs you to validate me. If only you'll say that I'm smart or insightful or funny. Anything to set me apart from the blur of the rest of the world. I'll be better than them, if only you'd let me.
When I don't get that from you, I try to substitute it with my own judgments. I read what this person writes, hear what this person says, and I criticise every little thing as if in some way, finding their faults nullifies my own.
I see what someone else does, and claim to be their inspiration. They're just copying me, I started it. Like being first at something made me special.
Then I find something that I can reluctantly admit is better than mine. That's when I analyze ever little thing they do right, and try to use it myself. Maybe then people will like me.
I'm pretty sure that's why I'm here. Because I just want people to like me. I'll try my best to look humble. I'll try my hardest to look sincere. And, maybe I'll get a positive comment. One of my friends will come up to me and tell me he likes my blog. And it'll all pay off, won't it?
Sometimes I disgust myself.
What is it that I'm doing here? Not here on this Earth, but here typing into a box on my computer screen, with the lame title I came up with in the top left corner. I could come up with a whole list of reasons for what I'm doing right now. I could quote my own blog post I wrote a while back. But... really? Is that really why?
Underneath this flowery shawl of good intentions lies something darker. I have this part of me, deep down inside, that needs you to validate me. If only you'll say that I'm smart or insightful or funny. Anything to set me apart from the blur of the rest of the world. I'll be better than them, if only you'd let me.
When I don't get that from you, I try to substitute it with my own judgments. I read what this person writes, hear what this person says, and I criticise every little thing as if in some way, finding their faults nullifies my own.
I see what someone else does, and claim to be their inspiration. They're just copying me, I started it. Like being first at something made me special.
Then I find something that I can reluctantly admit is better than mine. That's when I analyze ever little thing they do right, and try to use it myself. Maybe then people will like me.
I'm pretty sure that's why I'm here. Because I just want people to like me. I'll try my best to look humble. I'll try my hardest to look sincere. And, maybe I'll get a positive comment. One of my friends will come up to me and tell me he likes my blog. And it'll all pay off, won't it?
Sometimes I disgust myself.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Eve
I've been re-reading Searching for God Knows What, by my hero and victim of my plagiarism, Donald Miller. He has a way with describing feelings, especially love, that I could never attempt to imitate. He talks about the story of Adam and Eve, the first two human beings, the first couple, and the first romance between a man and a woman.
But before God created Eve, it was just Adam and God in the vast garden called Eden, which was probably the size of an entire continent. You can imagine how lonely Adam was. Granted he had a great and loving God there to keep him company, but he still probably longed for someone more like him, to fill that emptiness in his soul. It was around that time that God put Adam in charge of naming all the animals He created. There were probably thousands, if not millions of different species of animal then, and the Bible says he gives names to every single one of them. This must have taken at least a hundred years, and all throughout the long process of documenting and categorizing all of these animals, he was lonely.
Only after Adam names all of the living things in Eden, and finds that none of them can take the place of that companion that he so longs for, does God create Eve. After decades of being the only human being in existence, Adam sees one who is like him, but in so many ways different. Special. Like everything he lacked would be made complete in her, and everything she lacked was made complete in him. Like they were, in every aspect, made to complement the other. Together, they made something beautiful and true.
It seems cruel that God kept Adam's missing half away from him for so long. But Donald Miller notes that it would be impossible, after all that time of being alone and without a partner, that Adam would mistreat Eve, or take her for granted. He would treasure and respect her, never wanting to go back to the time when Eve never existed.
I feel like God knows I'm lonely, in need of someone to complete me, but instead of showing me my Eve, he has me doing his work, naming the animals or something. But I have something that Adam didn't have. Something to look forward to. The knowledge that someday, God will send that perfect match my way. She'll be beautiful. And she won't mind the fact that I don't always know what to say, or that I don't really care about wearing trendy clothes.
And I hope she'll like the songs I'll write her.
But before God created Eve, it was just Adam and God in the vast garden called Eden, which was probably the size of an entire continent. You can imagine how lonely Adam was. Granted he had a great and loving God there to keep him company, but he still probably longed for someone more like him, to fill that emptiness in his soul. It was around that time that God put Adam in charge of naming all the animals He created. There were probably thousands, if not millions of different species of animal then, and the Bible says he gives names to every single one of them. This must have taken at least a hundred years, and all throughout the long process of documenting and categorizing all of these animals, he was lonely.
Only after Adam names all of the living things in Eden, and finds that none of them can take the place of that companion that he so longs for, does God create Eve. After decades of being the only human being in existence, Adam sees one who is like him, but in so many ways different. Special. Like everything he lacked would be made complete in her, and everything she lacked was made complete in him. Like they were, in every aspect, made to complement the other. Together, they made something beautiful and true.
It seems cruel that God kept Adam's missing half away from him for so long. But Donald Miller notes that it would be impossible, after all that time of being alone and without a partner, that Adam would mistreat Eve, or take her for granted. He would treasure and respect her, never wanting to go back to the time when Eve never existed.
I feel like God knows I'm lonely, in need of someone to complete me, but instead of showing me my Eve, he has me doing his work, naming the animals or something. But I have something that Adam didn't have. Something to look forward to. The knowledge that someday, God will send that perfect match my way. She'll be beautiful. And she won't mind the fact that I don't always know what to say, or that I don't really care about wearing trendy clothes.
And I hope she'll like the songs I'll write her.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Too Much Free Time
I feel like I need to do a lot of backtracking. Repeating myself. But I'm probably to blame for not being as clear as I could have been.
I expected no less from you Teddy. I'm glad you finally got to display some of your vast knowledge of history and cultures worldwide. Maybe you could tone that down a little bit on APUSH tests and give the rest of us an easier curve.
My reality show idea was a JOKE. Meant to be FUNNY. It's interesting to follow up on the practicality and the consequences of such a notion, but it is far from my point. Maybe the terrorists would cause violence, maybe the government wouldn't compromise. The whole situation is an outrageous hypothetical
Never in any of what I wrote did I say that we should free the Guantanomo Bay prisoners. What I did, and still do, say is that we should realize that we have no right to convict and sentence others. This is in no way practical advice, that we should go and free, or fight to free those in prison. It's simply something to think about when deciding whether or not to offer our "amen" to the things the government does or says.
And I refuse to back a system just because it's the best of its kind. I could never claim to understand as much about history as you do, as the studies you have went through make you many times my superior. So I'll trust you on a lot of the events you list that I've never heard of. But how you describe the U.S. government makes it sound like we're saying "oh well, at least we're not as bad as them". You understand how this wouldn't be very convincing, right?
Again, I provide no better alternative to the government. My only point was that we should never leave our responsibilities to other people and to God, in the hands of that government. It's great that we have freedoms and democracy, and we should be thankful for our fortunate position compared to the less fortunate in other countries. But government is more of a setting than a tool. It's there, and we cannot change it. To agree with a law is to give it more power and authority than it actually has. We render to Caesar what is Caesar's. We follow the law, but know that we ourselves live by a higher standard.
There's something that bothers me. My first post was about how we should be against killing. I didn't focus on the wrongness of delivering a death sentence without due process. I wasn't doubting whether or not the government would do this with Guantanomo Bay, because that would be besides the point. Teddy, you admit that you were joking, but only about the "immediate execution" of the terrorists. Curtis, you bring up controversy and conflict as the reason for not killing them, rather than for the fact that we'd be ending their lives. I feel like you guys are skimming over my main argument in my first post, and skipping directly over to issues like lenience for crimes, and how we're safer with these men and women in prison. You know how I feel about killing, and I believe execution is never justified, for all the reasons I've already stated two posts ago. I really want to hear what you guys think about this specific topic, because I honestly don't know what you make of it. Should we have executions?
And also, Teddy, I've been thinking about your statement that you would be willing, if circumstances made it necessary, pick up a rifle to make the world a better place, and to protect the innocent. I have some thoughts on this, but I'll save them until I get a better idea of your guys's views on he above topic.
Did I mention that I'm thoroughly enjoying this? Every single night before a day with finals I have spent writing on my blog, taking away from precious study time. For this reason, and this reason only, I'll be sad to see finals go. Let's do this again at the end of the school year, shall we?
I expected no less from you Teddy. I'm glad you finally got to display some of your vast knowledge of history and cultures worldwide. Maybe you could tone that down a little bit on APUSH tests and give the rest of us an easier curve.
My reality show idea was a JOKE. Meant to be FUNNY. It's interesting to follow up on the practicality and the consequences of such a notion, but it is far from my point. Maybe the terrorists would cause violence, maybe the government wouldn't compromise. The whole situation is an outrageous hypothetical
Never in any of what I wrote did I say that we should free the Guantanomo Bay prisoners. What I did, and still do, say is that we should realize that we have no right to convict and sentence others. This is in no way practical advice, that we should go and free, or fight to free those in prison. It's simply something to think about when deciding whether or not to offer our "amen" to the things the government does or says.
And I refuse to back a system just because it's the best of its kind. I could never claim to understand as much about history as you do, as the studies you have went through make you many times my superior. So I'll trust you on a lot of the events you list that I've never heard of. But how you describe the U.S. government makes it sound like we're saying "oh well, at least we're not as bad as them". You understand how this wouldn't be very convincing, right?
Again, I provide no better alternative to the government. My only point was that we should never leave our responsibilities to other people and to God, in the hands of that government. It's great that we have freedoms and democracy, and we should be thankful for our fortunate position compared to the less fortunate in other countries. But government is more of a setting than a tool. It's there, and we cannot change it. To agree with a law is to give it more power and authority than it actually has. We render to Caesar what is Caesar's. We follow the law, but know that we ourselves live by a higher standard.
There's something that bothers me. My first post was about how we should be against killing. I didn't focus on the wrongness of delivering a death sentence without due process. I wasn't doubting whether or not the government would do this with Guantanomo Bay, because that would be besides the point. Teddy, you admit that you were joking, but only about the "immediate execution" of the terrorists. Curtis, you bring up controversy and conflict as the reason for not killing them, rather than for the fact that we'd be ending their lives. I feel like you guys are skimming over my main argument in my first post, and skipping directly over to issues like lenience for crimes, and how we're safer with these men and women in prison. You know how I feel about killing, and I believe execution is never justified, for all the reasons I've already stated two posts ago. I really want to hear what you guys think about this specific topic, because I honestly don't know what you make of it. Should we have executions?
And also, Teddy, I've been thinking about your statement that you would be willing, if circumstances made it necessary, pick up a rifle to make the world a better place, and to protect the innocent. I have some thoughts on this, but I'll save them until I get a better idea of your guys's views on he above topic.
Did I mention that I'm thoroughly enjoying this? Every single night before a day with finals I have spent writing on my blog, taking away from precious study time. For this reason, and this reason only, I'll be sad to see finals go. Let's do this again at the end of the school year, shall we?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sincerely, JoJo
You don't know how much fun I'm having. My cute little post has started a kind of debate, which is quite exciting. Even Michael decided to join in. Yay!
Forgive my presumptuous speculation, but if any of this becomes personal, and any of us start getting too heated, lets mutually agree to stop this. It wouldn't be worth it. Alright let's do this!
Curtis, why so mechanical and serious? You organized your arguments and everything.
Much of what I was saying was rhetorical, not directed at anyone in particular. You guys were just the inspiration for what I've been meaning to write about for a while. If at any time you felt I was trying to doubt either of your loves of God and his Word, that's my bad. I could have been clearer.
I do not support Obama. Let me rephrase that: I do not support the Obama Administration. To say that would mean giving that support to his entire platform, full of ideas and plans I could never possibly fully understand or agree with. If 'liberal' means supporter of Democrats, I am not that either. The thing about political parties is that if you belong to one side, that automatically means you are against the other. Both parties are filled with people: beautiful, wonderful, and loving people. I couldn't imagine being against any of them.
I honestly don't agree with your views on the government. I do not want anarchy, and I don't have any ideas for an alternative, but our government is a flawed system. What else could we expect with mere humans in the driver's seat?
To say "the law has to be enforced to protect people in the future" implies that the Law is something necessary, and our only protection in some aspects. There used to be a similar Law in biblical times. Paul says that nobody is justified by that Law. He even called it a curse. I mention this simply to suggest that maybe that law, that government, aren't as vital to society as some people think it.
Is it right then, to leave the livelihood and freedom of human beings to this law and government? Is it the right of humans to judge other human beings; to punish and determine proper consequences? By judge I mean say that their actions are the equivalent of what is their nature, what's in their hearts. And declaring that they need to "learn a lesson". And we already know how judging is a bad thing.
I prefer a relational, person-to-person, approach to issues that show up throughout humanity. Letting the police departments and legislators deal with people seems so detached. Impersonal. But in this way, I agree with you. It's not pragmatic. It is impossible to find the time for, let alone get the message across to all people deserving to hear that message. It's one of the difficult, complex, no-clear-cut-answer issues that we as christians face today.
But as Paul worked in the people under Caesar's government, and Jesus under the Jewish, we should be able to go without depending on 'officials' to carry out what we believe and accept as true. And the great thing about what Jesus taught, was that he advocated a big Love that led to forgiveness. We don't forgive our brothers seven times, but seventy-seven times. It's a Love that lets us turn the other cheek. It's a Love that gives us the hope that in every person there is the ability to change, just like that same Love changed us.
This time I'm screwed for APUSH. Again. No regrets.
Forgive my presumptuous speculation, but if any of this becomes personal, and any of us start getting too heated, lets mutually agree to stop this. It wouldn't be worth it. Alright let's do this!
Curtis, why so mechanical and serious? You organized your arguments and everything.
Much of what I was saying was rhetorical, not directed at anyone in particular. You guys were just the inspiration for what I've been meaning to write about for a while. If at any time you felt I was trying to doubt either of your loves of God and his Word, that's my bad. I could have been clearer.
I do not support Obama. Let me rephrase that: I do not support the Obama Administration. To say that would mean giving that support to his entire platform, full of ideas and plans I could never possibly fully understand or agree with. If 'liberal' means supporter of Democrats, I am not that either. The thing about political parties is that if you belong to one side, that automatically means you are against the other. Both parties are filled with people: beautiful, wonderful, and loving people. I couldn't imagine being against any of them.
I honestly don't agree with your views on the government. I do not want anarchy, and I don't have any ideas for an alternative, but our government is a flawed system. What else could we expect with mere humans in the driver's seat?
To say "the law has to be enforced to protect people in the future" implies that the Law is something necessary, and our only protection in some aspects. There used to be a similar Law in biblical times. Paul says that nobody is justified by that Law. He even called it a curse. I mention this simply to suggest that maybe that law, that government, aren't as vital to society as some people think it.
Is it right then, to leave the livelihood and freedom of human beings to this law and government? Is it the right of humans to judge other human beings; to punish and determine proper consequences? By judge I mean say that their actions are the equivalent of what is their nature, what's in their hearts. And declaring that they need to "learn a lesson". And we already know how judging is a bad thing.
I prefer a relational, person-to-person, approach to issues that show up throughout humanity. Letting the police departments and legislators deal with people seems so detached. Impersonal. But in this way, I agree with you. It's not pragmatic. It is impossible to find the time for, let alone get the message across to all people deserving to hear that message. It's one of the difficult, complex, no-clear-cut-answer issues that we as christians face today.
But as Paul worked in the people under Caesar's government, and Jesus under the Jewish, we should be able to go without depending on 'officials' to carry out what we believe and accept as true. And the great thing about what Jesus taught, was that he advocated a big Love that led to forgiveness. We don't forgive our brothers seven times, but seventy-seven times. It's a Love that lets us turn the other cheek. It's a Love that gives us the hope that in every person there is the ability to change, just like that same Love changed us.
This time I'm screwed for APUSH. Again. No regrets.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dear Teddy and Curtis
Hey Teddy and Curtis. So, yesterday, we were talking about Obama, and how he won't have much of anything to say at the State of the Union address, largely because he hasn't done much of anything yet. Guantanamo bay was brought up, which I learned was still open for business. Apparently, the home countries of these international terrorists weren't keen on welcoming them back. Teddy suggested that we just shoot them.
This is when I pitched my amazing reality TV show idea, where said terrorists would spend a month living with the big wigs and important people in the White House. At the end of the series, the White House officials would decide if they still wanted to execute them, after spending so much time with them. They would, of course, refuse to lay a hand on their new foreign friends, and everone would be ecstatic and throw a party, and rainbows would appear in the sky and bask them in their glory, all the while spreading the message of love and coexistence to all the viewers at home. Ratings would be off the charts.
For some reason, you guys didn't immediately fall in love with my idea. Curtis, you called me a liberal. Teddy, you still wanted to shoot them.
It was about this time that I started thinking. I smiled and laughed and continued conversation, but a seed was planted in the massive pulsating vortex that is my subconscious. What would be a good way to explain this? Oh yeah- it was like a duck on a pond. On the surface(my face), everything seemed calm; on the inside(my brain), the water was churning. See what I did there?
So I'm liberal for not wanting these guys to be executed. Not trying to call you guys out or anything, but I couldn't disagree more. I can understand why you guys think this way. These people are responsible for killing tens, maybe hundreds of peoples. We imprisoned them to keep them away from anyone else. But why waste time trying to punish and rehabilitate people who've been so ingrained with their murderous mindset that they would most likely never change? Save them the suffering, and just get rid of them. Or maybe they deserve it. I don't know.
There's this song called "My Enemies Are Men Like Me" by Derek Webb. He sings in the chorus "how can I kill the ones I'm supposed to love? My enemies are men like me". He also makes the comparison that trying to spread peace by war was like "telling someone murder's wrong / then showing them by way of execution". The song is probably referring to when Jesus said "Love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you." Matthew 5:44. Or even the commandment God gave saying "Love your neighbors as yourself." Leviticus 19:18. So either way you see the Guantanamo Bay detainees, enemies or neighbors, we've been commanded to love them.
Is it liberal to be against death? Especially the deaths of those that have yet to know and be saved by the God that loves all of his creation? Is this politics, or is it above something so petty and shallow?
This is what I think! Please don't get angry at me. We can talk about this. In real life this time. Only I won't be as deep and eloquent as the Joseph you see before you now.
Just kidding, I'm never eloquent.
P.S. Why am I so screwed for my AP Bio final? Oh yeah. Because I decided to write this instead of study. Is it bad that I don't regret that decision at all?
This is when I pitched my amazing reality TV show idea, where said terrorists would spend a month living with the big wigs and important people in the White House. At the end of the series, the White House officials would decide if they still wanted to execute them, after spending so much time with them. They would, of course, refuse to lay a hand on their new foreign friends, and everone would be ecstatic and throw a party, and rainbows would appear in the sky and bask them in their glory, all the while spreading the message of love and coexistence to all the viewers at home. Ratings would be off the charts.
For some reason, you guys didn't immediately fall in love with my idea. Curtis, you called me a liberal. Teddy, you still wanted to shoot them.
It was about this time that I started thinking. I smiled and laughed and continued conversation, but a seed was planted in the massive pulsating vortex that is my subconscious. What would be a good way to explain this? Oh yeah- it was like a duck on a pond. On the surface(my face), everything seemed calm; on the inside(my brain), the water was churning. See what I did there?
So I'm liberal for not wanting these guys to be executed. Not trying to call you guys out or anything, but I couldn't disagree more. I can understand why you guys think this way. These people are responsible for killing tens, maybe hundreds of peoples. We imprisoned them to keep them away from anyone else. But why waste time trying to punish and rehabilitate people who've been so ingrained with their murderous mindset that they would most likely never change? Save them the suffering, and just get rid of them. Or maybe they deserve it. I don't know.
There's this song called "My Enemies Are Men Like Me" by Derek Webb. He sings in the chorus "how can I kill the ones I'm supposed to love? My enemies are men like me". He also makes the comparison that trying to spread peace by war was like "telling someone murder's wrong / then showing them by way of execution". The song is probably referring to when Jesus said "Love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you." Matthew 5:44. Or even the commandment God gave saying "Love your neighbors as yourself." Leviticus 19:18. So either way you see the Guantanamo Bay detainees, enemies or neighbors, we've been commanded to love them.
Is it liberal to be against death? Especially the deaths of those that have yet to know and be saved by the God that loves all of his creation? Is this politics, or is it above something so petty and shallow?
This is what I think! Please don't get angry at me. We can talk about this. In real life this time. Only I won't be as deep and eloquent as the Joseph you see before you now.
Just kidding, I'm never eloquent.
P.S. Why am I so screwed for my AP Bio final? Oh yeah. Because I decided to write this instead of study. Is it bad that I don't regret that decision at all?
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