Religion & Spirituality

Though his death certainly was predictable, even inevitable, Christ had to die not to save us, but rather because he confronted and unmasked the political and religious powers of his day. He did this throughout the gospels, but most especially in Jerusalem during “Easter Week.”

Jeff Dietrich, LA Catholic Worker

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April, 2012 | While it may not be entirely accurate to say that Jesus came with his followers to “Occupy” the Temple, nevertheless, the basic in- tentions of both Jesus and the Occupy movement are the same: both seek to unmask the religious preten-sions of the 1% and confront the economic inequalities that have impoverished and marginalized the many. In fact, Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple is far more violent than any of the Occupy Wall Street events thus far.

We are about to enter Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday with the entry into Jerusalem and culminates with the Good Friday crucifixion and Easter Sunday resurrection. Because they do not actually read the gospels, or worse because they interpret them through a lens of national capitalism, most Christians in the U.S. seem to believe that Jesus was a really sweet guy who taught love and tolerance and got killed either by tragic error or simply because he “had to die to save us.”

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From Nagasaki to Minnesota

Jogues Epple, Evergreene Digest

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Shutterstock

March 28, 2013 | Young Willow trees possess the insouciant swish of teenage girls. From dithering between grandiosity and low self-esteem, they bud into graceful women by grace. Willow trees in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes whisper of Beauty. Burr Oaks stand for Power. The fully-grown Willow is like gracious human compassion. She bends.  

The Mississippi River is low this year. The trees have to send their roots farther. Some trees are dying, like the Nagasaki innocents of 1945 swimming in the blackened river to cool their blackened flesh. The Boundary Waters between Canada and Minnesota are still scarred and black from forest fires, but green grows the Willow.  She gets to the water regardless of scorched Mother Earth, Our Sister.   

Diamond Willows make beautiful walking sticks. A carving knife can fashion the wood. Polyurethane varnish glorifies the emerging beauty of the staff. When I was asked to bless the Willows in the Peace Garden, I walked to the site on Diamond Willow. 

For Hiroshima(Aug.6) and Nagasaki(Aug. 9), a handful of Peace Makers 67 years after The Bomb remembered with The Willow. 

WILLOW 

weep for us. 

Seek The River

 with your roots. 

We do too -

when we’ve 

been burned. 

You swish. 

You sway. 

When you are mature –

 you will bend

 and -

kiss Mother Earth, 

our Sister 

with -  

gracious, 

greening,

 and -  

forgiving 

COMPASSION.  

Yes? Yes! YES!!!

• As one Army Officer wrote: “Ten years later, our mistaken invasion of Iraq has taught me three things: questioning the value of the fight is never unpatriotic and is crucially necessary; I personally own the actions of my government and I must stay engaged; and investment in education and economies prevents conflict. I hope we’ve learned the same lessons as a country. The cost is far too high to learn them again.”
• A Rare 360-Degree View of the Iraq War Through Very Personal Stories
• No more homeless veterans

Daniel Gaynor, The Daily Good

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Full story...This week (March 17-23) marks the 10th anniversary since the U.S. invaded Iraq. Over 4,000 American servicemembers died in that decade of conflict. A recent study said that, in total, the Iraq War may have cost 190,000 lives and $2.2 trillion dollars. Those numbers are difficult to swallow, much less comprehend. The Truman National Security Project and Center for National Policy wanted to do something to reflect on the Iraq War—and in doing so, bring a personal perspective to it.

The Iraq 10 Year Project is an initiative to record the stories, photos, experiences, and lessons learned of a generation of top-flight national security leaders. In total, more than 90 stories and photos have been gathered into one place. The writers are former battlefield commanders, Congressional candidates, clean energy advocates, foreign aid practitioners, cyber security experts, and more.

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No more homeless veterans, Rob, Occupy Our Homes

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