EPHEMERAL
Now a couple of new films reprise two of the most celebrated and controversial investigations of recent. I plan to see both, but I'm familiar with the reality behind the cinema.
Spotlight, which details the ordeal of the Boston Globe in breaking the Priest sexual abuse and cover up and Truth, the troubled CBS News investigation of George W. Bush's special treatment as a slacker and no show in his air national guard duty, will give viewers a glimpse into the imperfect world of ferreting truth, or at least getting enough information to make the truth self evident.
When media seems as devoted to Face book, Twitter and popular culture as it is to hard news, significant stories or investigations, it may be helpful these films open the door on what real journalism involves.
Dan Rather wrote this weekend he's not happy that a low point in his career is the subject of a film, played by no less than Robert Redford. Though the report was flawed by fraudulent documents, the Truth remained the same. It took a toll on Rather. The members of the Boston Globe team also endured emotional trauma, for simply trying to tell the truth.
Truth and honest facts can be dangerous. We live in an age when billions are spent to avert our gaze from the truth. Those who seek the facts and try to root out truth, remain my heroes.
MORE TRUTH
Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate is in the pantheon of American Conservatives. There was a time when it was inconceivable you could get more far right than Goldwater. Those who knew or covered Goldwater may have questioned his policies, but everyone respected him for saying it like it was.The following graphic is making its way around Twitter.
Well, on the other hand there have been countless Christians, even church leaders, who have been open minded and facile. Reinhold Niebuhr, Andrew Young, William Hudnut, John Danforth, Benjamin Hooks, Robert Drinan, (President) James Garfield, John Bull, John Witherspoon, Dean Johnson, Walter Mueller were all Christrian pastors or leaders and were capable of compromise and negotiation. Goldwater was right about the Christian Evangelical right. It is worrisome to traditional, moderate, centrist or even "old fashioned conservative" Republicans. Does the word zealot fit?
There is a variation in the personality of this character amidst all of the Scarecrows on display this month all over Cambria.
This may scare in a different way.
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE
This may scare in a different way.
Lana created a take on the Statue of Liberty and if you were able to look closely you would see it is made from pages of a Bible. For the record, it was an old Bible, from childhood and the binding was ruined. Here it is recycled as a statement that some Christian quarters are more open minded and loving than those Mr. Goldwater worried about.
In the eye of the beholder, eh?
PREENING
Hemingway being fastidious.
Count the toes.
Six on each paw
See you down the trail
That Hemingway is one beautiful cat.
ReplyDeleteHe sends back an appreciative "Thanks man! I think the Catalyst is cool too."
DeleteTell Hemingway I read The Old Man and the Sea again this week and loved every word.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great read. I met Hemingway's boat captain, who's hands he used as the basis of the description in the book.
DeleteMany Christian evangelicals fuse the kingdom of God with a preferred version of the kingdom of the world whether it pertains to national interests, a particular form of government, a particular political program, or so on. Rather than focusing their understanding of God's kingdom on the person of Jesus, who incidentally, never allowed himself to get pulled in the political disputes of his day. Many American Christians have allowed their understanding of the kingdom of God to be polluted with political ideals, agendas, etc.
ReplyDeleteFor some Christians, the kingdom of God is taking America back for God, voting for the Christian candidate, outlawing abortion, outlawing gay marriage, winning the culture war, defending quote "political freedom and democracy" at home and abroad by engaging in never ending wars, fighting for prayer in schools and at public events, etc.
I believe these arguments are terribly misguided and have serious negative consequences for the church and for society in general.
Many Christians who take their faith seriously see themselves as the religious guardians of a Christian homeland. America, they believe, is a holy city "set on a hill," and the church's job is to keep it shining.
The truth is that the concept of America as a Christian nation, with all that accompanies that idea, is actually losing its grip on the national psyche, and as America becomes more pluralistic and secularized, the civil religion of Christianity is losing its force. Understandably, this produces consternation among those who identify themselves once again as the religious guardians.
Hopefully Christians of America someday will understand God's kingdom message is where greatness is measured by sacrifice and service. There are no "taking sides" or enemies in such a kingdom where we are meant to embrace and accept everyone.
Thanks Tom for sharing "More Truth" and a venue to communicate thoughts.
My kingdom is not from this world - John 18:36
Thanks for the thoughtful analysis and response. Your view is clear and appropriately admonitional. A Christian mystic who I read, Richard Rohr, also speaks of the problems that stem from duality. You nailed it too!
DeleteWhat did Barry say about Jerry Fallwell? Oh, yes it was that he'd like to him "give him a swift kick in the nuts."
ReplyDeleteThe things I've read and heard about Dr. Ben Carson's beliefs and ideas are absolutely anti-America and 100% Evangelical Christian. He is currently leading in the polls. Bug shit crazy.
Ponder this as a scene for one of your writing drills. Barry talks to Ben Carson. Wouldn't that be great to eavesdrop?
DeleteGreat commentary on the films and times and on Goldwater, who my father adored and the rest of my family thought was the devil incarnate. I hope to see Lana's Lady Liberty next week when I'm up there.
ReplyDeleteWe'd like to see you on your next trip up?
DeleteIt must be significant that people who were not fans then, look back at Goldwater as a comparison to the Freedom Caucus et al and think he's not so bad!
A lot to consider in this post. I definitely plan to see these films, too. And I'm going to pass along this quote from Goldwater. Who knew, back then, that Goldwater would one day appear to be a moderate? At the time, I remember thinking he was a dangerous kook, which makes today's conservatives scary indeed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, who knew he'd be considered a moderate. Many who call themselves far right conservatives today are by comparison the kooks you refer to. When I see some of the freedom caucus in hearings I think of the "Know nothings" or the flat earth society.
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