Communities are defined by who’s in them and who isn’t, us vs. them. … people are galvanized by being presented with an opponent. (As a sidebar, when Al Gore established his leadership by defining a situation that impacts us all, by asserting that for once there was no Them, just Us, all of Us, and that we could all make a contribution to fix the problem, I was very inspired. I was also flabbergasted by how many people, those in power and those with no apparent axe to grind, were skeptical and even openly hostile against the effort to reduce global warming. I just don’t get it but can only assume that the agendas are hidden but there, and that the power of denial is incredibly strong. ) Danny Gregory My vote
I got into reading Danny Gregory's blog because he draws and writes and teaches it. Gloria introduced me to his blog and his work is fascinating. But I am quite taken by his passionate tirade about the state of his country's politics. Somehow I feel so right for so many countries and in fact many communities. In the last 12 hours (it's Sunday Evening) I've sat and had some pretty significant conversations and given and received encouragement that may the impossible and miraculous can happen in this world.
Danny continues:
It’s sad that in the current political debate so many people seem more interested in diminishing the ideas of others than in providing solutions of their own. The politics of division are an enormous drag on our progress and eat up resources and energy that could be so much better used.The trouble is community is com plus unity. That is unity together but when we define ourselves something is very wrong. Somehow that will always setup a them vs us thinking. This stuff isn't just about politics. When it comes to things of faith and spirituality it can set up arrogance and pride. I learned a long time ago that frequently what you accuse others of are the things you are already! Something about planks and splinters. When I realized that I shut my mouth and have been careful about when to open it.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7
I have never noticed before that Jesus' answer is under pressure, it is almost as if he is forced to make this pronouncement because they keep talking. They keep accusing "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" In that act they accuse themselves. Remove the us vs. them division for we are all in the same condition really!
