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Wise guys and wise people
Who are the wise people and will they please speak up? Why won't the wise guys give it a rest?
Wise guys seem to get the most play in print and broadcast media. Wise guys are the ones who sling words around with unbalanced fierceness instead of using reasoned conviction. Wise guys are those who are more interested in the victory of their opinions rather than the victory of truth. Wise guys are those who consider people of opposing opinion to be an enemy to be annihilated instead of a friend to be convinced or persuaded. Wise guys' ways sell more newspapers and magazine. Wise guys frankly, stir up more interest and response over the airwaves. Wise guys make you want to say something, if you get my drift.
Wise people tend to blend the right amount of knowledge and experience that appeal to our higher nature. Wise people strive to bring people together rather than drive people apart. They move into the midst of strife bringing peace to disorder. Wise people know the difference between confidence and arrogance while handling the truth as they know and believe it to be with humility in what they do not know.
Wise people don't sell as well. Wise people don't always get print space or air time. Wise people make you want to say something, if you get my drift.
In my faith tradition, social justice was a hallmark of the founding and ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 223 years ago. Dr. Dennis Dickerson, historiographer of the AME Church writes in the historical preamble to the mission, vision, purpose and objectives of our vine and fig tree that our "... founders affirmed their humanity in the face of slavery and racism, stands in defense of disadvantaged and oppressed peoples in the 21st century. From the origins in the Free African Society through the involvement of the AME clergy and lay in the Civil War of the 1860's and the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's, the AMEC has preached salvation from sin and bondage. Whether in schools, seminaries, hospitals or social service centers, the AME Church has lived the gospel outside its sanctuaries."
Our mission is to minister to the social, spiritual and physical development of all people in a global ministry that seeks out and saves the lost, serves the needy, encouraging economic development, providing training and education, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry among other things.
But then, this kind of stuff doesn't get much space or play these days.
By
Vashti Murphy McKenzie
|
April 15, 2010; 5:09 PM ET
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Posted by: howtotownight | April 21, 2010 8:21 AM
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Consider this. Archaeologists have found that the story of the Jew Bible about the covenant that God signed with the Israelites has been plagiarised from an Assyrian text dated to 670 BC
http://indianrealist.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/source-of-bible-covenant-with-god-discovered/
Posted by: futuralogic | April 16, 2010 10:26 AM
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Agree with above comment. Ms McKenzie argues against a straw man that she invents then knocks down.
Glen Beck makes it explicitly clear that he is NOT against social justice when it means that the members of the organization are called to take care of the poor.
He specifically condemns Jim Wallis who wants to replace personal social justice with societal social justice, i.e., redistribution of wealth.
Jesus didn't tell the young man, "Keep all of your wealth, but make sure to vote for the progressive/liberal Democrats."
Ms McKenzie, this is not a difficult concept. Try to better next time.
Posted by: GiveMeThat | April 16, 2010 1:42 AM
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I wonder if you ever watched Glen Beck. If you did you would know that Beck calls for people to take care of the poor themselves instead of relying on the government to do it. AME's mission of social justice is not what he is arguing against, he is arguing against religious groups from putting off their responsibilities off to the government. Having the government support the poor is also remarkably different than giving of your own money - you are spending other peoples money.
Despite that: you also must not watch because Beck gives reasons behind his ideas. You may disagree with what he says but Beck gives his reasons. Saying he doesn't is ignorant and only hurts you position.
About using passion to make your point: you're an AME church member and your against using passion to make your argument?!? I'll admit I've only been to a few AME church services. I go to a traditional Episcopal church but I have been to AME funerals and marriages and good gracious! I have rarely been to better services and passion was in no short supply. I really thing your argument is simply based on the fact that you want to dismiss Beck's views by calling him a "wise guy" instead of countering his point.
Posted by: RJlupin1 | April 15, 2010 10:09 PM
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FArnaz MAnsouri, go to On-Success for audition emergency room.