Politics not Religion ...

Listening to Bill Mahr last night, I realized the problems we face are bigger than liberals versus conversatives--bigger than right versus left. I listened to Mr. Mahr rake "religion" over the coals for the ills of the world, while professing his born again anti-Catholic view for the world.

Here are the few of the problems with the liberals versus conversative bent. Some liberals (I'm a liberal) believe that the reason we are having problems is that people believe in Jesus Christ. Now throughout the monologue that Bill delivered, he didn't talk about any religion except Christians, more particularly Catholics. He called us (yes, I am a Christian), stupid, ignorant and uninformed about the realities of life. There is no God. Religion has bambozzled us! He cited the issues surrounding gay marriage and abortion, inferring that because some people believe certain issues, it is the reason that Kerry lost and liberals are suffering.

First, politicians have used religion for their own personal agendas for centuries--taking us away from real issues such as poverty, AIDS and other health issues, social security, the war in Iraq and the ever prosperous oil companies such as Exxon raking our pocket books over the coals (o.k. I carry one, but you know what I'm saying). They have exercised the pulpit to their advantage and it has worked only because instead of understanding that people are being duped about what the real issues of concern are, people of faith are being called crazy and ignorant for believing! And these politicians are succeeding because as long as you think those religious folks are stupid, you can't talk to them and they won't listen to you.

Believing in something that directs your life is a good thing. Some people call it religion while others call it spirituality, but while the statements of religions doing great harm is true to a degree, many people who follow a particular path do so for their own growth, go on to do great things and are some of the great minds of this world. No matter how much someone wants to blame a person for believing in something intangible, the truth is that leadership within these religious organizations is often the real culprit. And more, when you get to the bottom of any particular atrocity perpetrated in the name of religion, we find power and greed of certain individuals at its core.

I listened to my Aunt tell me that she was voting for a certain president because "He started the war. Let him finish it." Where did she get this message? Upon further engagement I found out that her pastor had urged his parishners to give the president a chance to fix what he broke. Why? The real reason was that he was receiving many of those faith-based initiative dollars and he wasn't about to throw them away with the unknown of a new president. Further, over time I heard people in my circle of Christian acquaintances give their reason for voting for a particular individual over another because "Abortion will become the norm." Or, "Gay people will get married." They weren't even interested in talking about any of the other issues because in their particular churches they were hearing the other message. No one was giving them the other. Once when talking with a Christian woman, she told me that abortions would become the norm without a Christian president. I pointed out to her that in fact abortion did rise ... during this administration and the most given reason for the abortion was, "I lost my job! I can't afford another mouth to feed." She never even looked at the economics of this particular time in history where companies such as World Com and Enron have blasted families apart financially. When given good information, she said that she was glad to know and that she was able to change her mind. I didn't have to change her mind about abortion, per se. It is not that someone wants an abortion when faced with the decision, but if I respect that belief while giving her real facts, we both won. Perhaps the real answer to address the leadership more diligently, calling for religious organizations to either give complete sides of the issues, or to stay away from the process. When rhetoric and diatribes are allowed to flourish, we all suffer --- religious or otherwise.

The problem with both the liberals and conservatives is that in both camps, violence abounds. They cannot seem to make their points of view without denigrating or abusing a group of people -- whether they are Christians or not. In fact, instead of calling a Christian or any other religious group ignorant or uninformed, how 'bout talking to them about the issues rather than goading them about how they believe. We'll never get anywhere unless we do this. It' a non-violent kind of thing.

I'm not asking anyone to believe as I do as a Christian, but I'm asking to be respected for the path I choose to take. And, for the record, I'm a thinking, involved, informed, Christian. If it didn't work for you, o.k., I respect that. Even understand it as I've struggled with dogma and people who try and push an agenda of deception utilizing something that is sacred to me. When you see me as whole, valued and respected, the conversation can begin.

By the way, Bill --- get in touch with me. I think you might be surprised what a conversation with a genuine Christian can offer.

Why A Peace Hour?

If for one hour we could focus on peace --- intentionally --- with purpose and commitment, what could be accomplished? That's the question I've been asking for more than a year with The Peace Hour, an Open Journal radio program airing once a month on KPFT. We've tackled issues such as Education, Poverty, Health, and yes, War! The formula for the show is a basic one. Non-Violence. Not just as a tool, but as a way of life. July's show was "The Hard Conversations." It came about because of the bombings in London and the issues surrounding suicide bombers. There are those that believe that suicide bombers are not made from fundamentalist religious urgings, but something more basic. These individuals are willing to die for a cause that has its tentacles around occupation. However, as I attended my Christian church, I heard conversations that lent themselves to the same fanaticism they claim to rebuke. Where was the grace, the compassion? More importantly, where was the intelligence that comes with asking questions and seeking answers rather than regurgitating the words of those whose agendas are truly suspect.

The show gave rise to other concerns of individuals -- racism at the forefront. And it gave rise to the conversation at the core of The Peace Hour: Is non-violence a valuable tool? Is there ever a time when non-violence is inappropriate? Does being non-violent mean literally "turning the other cheek"?

I believe that non-violence means listening. I believe that it means valuing all as human beings. Yes, seeing even the worst of our kind (humanity) in a light that they are uninformed, unenlightened. But, I also believe in justice and truth. It doesn't mean foregoing punishment or consequences. It is not a Nirvana concept. It is realistic. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but how we handle conflict in ways beyond politeness, but in a direction of solving the problem, getting out of our comfort zones and seeking justice and healing as the only answer for all of us.

I will bring more of The Peace Hour to you over time. It is our hope to make The Peace Hour a regular weekly show, more informative and focused on real solutions from people dedicated to non-violence and peace as partners for solving our world's problems.

Namaste.
P.K. McCary