I'm an 8 on the enneagram..

F*ck it!  I took the plunge on facebook.  Thanks to all who responded to my previous post.

This is a test of the emergency broadcast system ... blah, blah, blah ... This is only a test.

I'm facing a very profound existential question at this point in my life.

Should I join Facebook?

Hangin' em up

How would you answer this question?

What's your interpretation of these "shoes in the sky"?

a) urban art

b) nice place to air out the ol' sneakers

c) somethin' fishy is goin' on around here ...

d) all of the above

You have exactly a lifetime to answer this question.  Ready. Set. Aaaand begin.

WTF!?

"Why the face?!"

(courtesy of Phil Dunphey from Modern Family)

Let's not get carried away

With today's news of OBL's murder, the US government and military has completed a long held objective and thus has reason to "celebrate".  And for many this news may even provide a further sense that justice has been accomplished.  Given our perspective of retributive justice, so wonderfully portrayed to us by Hollywood and the unbalanced scales of the US justice system, this may be true. 

However, let's not take it too much further than that.   Let's not forget that we are a people whose government and its military is still occupying other nations and is responsible for the disappearance and death of many civilians.  Let us not forget that despite our ideological affirmation of "justice for all", there is no justice for all if you happen to come from the "wrong" part of town, are a hard working immigrant with no visa, are a Katrina survivor, a gay or lesbian Christian trying to find a non-homophobic faith community or a San Antonio Spurs fan (j/k).  The list can go on...

So let's be coherent and transparent on this.  If you are a Christian and want to celebrate, just be honest and say that you are happy about the fact that the US got revenge by blowing OBL's brains out.  To me that's much better than cloaking it in pious, pseudo-religious justification or meaning.  Try not to bring God into the equation by asking him to bless others through this or by attributing this action by the US government to God's doing, sovereignty or whatever.

After all in the midst of this weird, almost dark and morbid euphoria being displayed in the US, let's be careful not to confuse patriotism and nationalism with a way of life that is true to what Jesus of Nazareth taught through his words and life.  A life characterized by mercy, compassion and a loving justice that was infused with concern for the downtrodden, excluded and powerless. 

Good words about peace

"We profess to be people of peace, Lord, but keep us from the temptation to proclaim peace where there is no peace.  Show us today where peace is most needed in our community and in our world.  Show us which of us must plant the seeds of peace, which of us must water them, and which of us must yet become gardeners of your peace. Amen."

Excerpt taken from the April 27 liturgy in the book Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

A modern day psalm

I was listening to this song the other day on the way home from class and was reminded how much I love the power of the words and music.  I couldn't find a video clip to include so that you could listen to the song.  So, if someone out there knows how to embed an audio file please let me know!  I highly recommend listening to it and letting it inspire you to become someone who prays for and practices justice and mercy in God's name.

"Dust Under Carpet" by Abdel Wright

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

The justice system no tek it so light
Nuff youth get mash up, nuff lose dem life
It mention fe a time then it put one side
Dat no right

Remember when them tek the street people them go dump
Now them sitting quite easy pon them rump
Them conscience want bury rotten it stink like skunk
Them judgment

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

Sometimes we have to wake up the ants nest
And don't give a damn who want vex
A them mek the law and a them break it
What a foolishness

Fe trouble ghetto youths that a Babylon style
Cold blooded murderers and some alibis
False statements cover up them lies, lies

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

You never know where the wind blows
You never know, you never know
One day and the dust might get exposed
Then you deeds will show

Why you waste time put your finger inna ink?
Politics promises gone as you blink
Yow ghetto youth yu fe know who unu link
Corruption ship must sink

Government and them nice fancy speech
Them don?t really practice what them preach
Them inside dirty though them outside clean
Them disguising

Law makers a break it
Poor people the target
Some problems them sweep it
Like dust under carpet

Like dust under carpet
Like dust under carpet
Like dust under carpet