Morning coffee: Memorial Day

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This Memorial Day, Let Us Honor but also Resolve

“But, more important, how can we honor and mourn these troops and all the fallen heroes before them if we don’t, as Americans, resolve that our nation will never again send our men and women into harm’s way in distant lands on a whim, on bombast, on a prevarication. Resolve that if and when we do so — as a last resort and only in defense of our nation and our freedom– we will make sure our troops have the nation’s support and the means and leadership to achieve the mission so that we can, quickly and honestly, claim “mission accomplished” and bring our troops safely home. Finally, resolve that when we do send our men and women into harm’s way, we will take proper care of them when they return, especially of those with physical and mental wounds, and in particular of the dependent loved ones left behind by our fallen heroes.”

Always remember the WMD’s, y’all!

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For Memorial Day, go online to go ‘Go Silent’ and honor veterans

The nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America currently has a page on its website for its Memorial Day “Go Silent” campaign. You can pledge online to go silent for a minute starting at one minute past noon. The online page allows you to name a fallen veteran in whose honor you are going silent. Comments by those taking the pledge and the names of the people they are remembering flash across the screen continuously above a stark photograph of well-worn combat boots. The group is also among the chorus of persistent and strong voices urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to work harder to fix the backlog of veterans’ claims that have some waiting more than a year for benefits. In Los Angeles, it can take an appallingly long 600 days. The Times’ editorial board has urged the government to rectify this situation as soon as possible.

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Memorial Day parade cancelled for first time in 152 years because too few older veterans are well enough to march, younger veterans too busy


image: rogerwilkerson

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Remember and honor all those who are currently serving, those who never returned, and those who came back forever changed.

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The strange love-hate relationship Evangelicals have with Jesus

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Phil Zuckerman: Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus –

“Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness. These are supposed to be cardinal virtues of the Christian faith. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of the death penalty, draconian sentencing, punitive punishment over rehabilitation, and the governmental use of torture. Jesus exhorted humans to be loving, peaceful, and non-violent. And yet Evangelicals are the group of Americans most supportive of easy-access weaponry, little-to-no regulation of handgun and semi-automatic gun ownership, not to mention the violent military invasion of various countries around the world. Jesus was very clear that the pursuit of wealth was inimical to the Kingdom of God, that the rich are to be condemned, and that to be a follower of Him means to give one’s money to the poor. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of corporate greed and capitalistic excess, and they are the most opposed to institutional help for the nation’s poor — especially poor children. They hate anything that smacks of “socialism,” even though that is essentially what their Savior preached. They despise food stamp programs, subsidies for schools, hospitals, job training — anything that might dare to help out those in need. Even though helping out those in need was exactly what Jesus urged humans to do. In short, Evangelicals are that segment of America which is the most pro-militaristic, pro-gun, and pro-corporate, while simultaneously claiming to be most ardent lovers of the Prince of Peace.

What’s the deal?

Before attempting an answer, allow a quick clarification. Evangelicals don’t exactly hate Jesus — as we’ve provocatively asserted in the title of this piece. They do love him dearly. But not because of what he tried to teach humanity. Rather, Evangelicals love Jesus for what he does for them. Through his magical grace, and by shedding his precious blood, Jesus saves Evangelicals from everlasting torture in hell, and guarantees them a premium, luxury villa in heaven. For this, and this only, they love him. They can’t stop thanking him. And yet, as for Jesus himself — his core values of peace, his core teachings of social justice, his core commandments of goodwill — most Evangelicals seem to have nothing but disdain…”