Osama

After seeing hundreds of comments, tweets, headlines, blogs, etc. proclaiming joyous celebration over the death of Osama Bin Laden, I have not been able to help feeling sad. Feeling that this victory song and dance is wrong. Please don't misunderstand what I am saying here: I am more than completely supportive of our military and the men, women and families who have made incredible sacrifices to serve our country. I am elated that this sad, lost man cannot hurt anyone again. My negative and disappointed feelings have nothing to do with that and should not take away from it. My feelings are only in regard to a huge number of responses I have seen, the reactions of people all over after hearing about his death. I believe that it is wrong, insensitive, ungraceful and unChristlike. I believe that we should have had a more humble attitude and handled his death with more humility, grace. We can still feel relieved that his tyrant reign of power is over. We can still thank God that he cannot cause any more pain. However, why do we not pray for his loved ones? Why is there no grief for his soul, more than likely lost, separated from God for eternity? Do we really believe that Christ is in Heaven, watching and cheering? My God is not. He is mourning the loss of a soul. His heart is heavy. I pray every day that God helps me see things through His eyes, that I am joyful over the things that bring God joy and that my heart is broken over the things that break His heart. My heart is broken. God never rejoices in the death of a human; His desire is that ALL men will choose the path that leads to Him. He does not give up hope when we doing things that are repulsive, hateful, evil. He holds on, offering His mercy until the last moment that we deny Him. It is a sad day when someone chooses to live a life and spend an eternity apart from Him. Not a joyful day. And I cannot help but think that somewhere, while the cheering crowds of Americans were being broadcast, there was a child watching. Perhaps a boy being raised in the ways of Al Qaeda. I wonder if he thought to himself that 'those Americans, those Christians, aren't that different from us after all.' Again, I am not saying that his death is wrong, that he deserved more than death. He was a despicable man and his sins were unforgivable (then again, God forgives all sins, for all sins are equal). A little humility on our part would have gone a long way with the rest of the world watching us. Don't we remember watching the cheering from other countries after the attack on our own soil on 9/11? How is it okay for us to respond with the same uncensored disregard for humanity?
This sums up what I've been feeling perfectly:
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King Jr

I'd love to hear any thoughts?

Woah

Just found this video and read an update on the charges. So sad.

The penal code that they are charged with breaking was put in place to stop protesters from blocking doorways and disrupting business. These men were about fifty feet away from the entrance while the DMV was still closed. They were not yelling at people or causing an uproar. They were standing in a planter in the parking lot, on public property. They were a distance away so that if anyone were interested, they could come talk to them, if not, great. Serious abuse of power on behalf of the officers.

Mosque at Ground Zero

I recently read this post through an online article I read. I have had mixed feelings about the building of the mosque. I really enjoyed this man's point of view and how he presented it, so I wanted to share.
"My Thoughts on the "Mosque" at Ground Zero.

I do understand people's sensitivity to the idea of a Mosque being built ON Ground Zero - however, this is a building in a neighborhood several blocks from "Ground Zero." It is an 11 story "Islamic Center" which the community in which is located overwhelmingly supports. At this stage, the plan is is for the prayer space "Mosque" to occupy only one floor of a 13-story building. The rest would house a swimming pool, a concert auditorium, a gymnasium, a child-care facility, a library, a culinary school and a restaurant. According the article below from the Chicago Tribune, it will bear a strong resemblance to Manhattan's 92nd Street Y.

All that said, I still understand folks' gut reaction - especially when the truth is twisted and the FOX headlines trumpet "Mosque to be built on Ground Zero." But even without all the hype from the right (I know who got in planes and flew them into the twin towers, it was radical Islamic terrorists), heck, the TRUTH of the situation doesn't sit completely well with me. . . I'll admit that. But, to create a groundswell of support to have construction stopped - even if the neighborhood wants it, and many outside, because of an intolerance for Muslims and Islam, band together to have it forbidden, it is a slippery slope we are facilitating. . . Let me give some examples of what MIGHT be:

What if one more "Christian" kills another abortion provider, and then "Christianity" becomes pegged as something that needs to be truly corralled?
Why do we allow Catholic churches to exist when Timothy McVeigh was Catholic (OK, that's a bit of a stretch, because McVeigh never claimed he was "doing it" for Jesus. . . but he was Catholic)?
How about this one - do you remember that pharmacist, Robert Courtney - he owned a pharmacy out at Research Medical Center, and diluted chemotherapy for cancer patients - people DIED - and he did it to make extra money. He was a Christian, very active in his church. One of the reasons he did it was to support a building program at his large evangelical church to which he had committed big dollars. So, should all Christians have their incomes scrutinized, especially those that give to their church?
Ever hear of the Crusades? There are plenty of examples in modern and historical times. . .

There are lots of HORRIBLE things that have been done by zealots for their faith. . . including fringe elements claiming to represent the Christian faith. When people decide to allow the fringes of organizations, religious or otherwise to represent the baseline, fear, stereotyping, racism and other isms begin to take over. That is not the solution here. We need to target TERRORISTS. Not Muslims.

So, to summarize my primary concerns around this issue: my first is how those opposed to this are "spinning" the truth of what and where the facility actually IS to fan the flames of fear and hatred. My second is, if this is not about the consititution (as has been stated by many I have read). . .then what is? The First Amendment is either true and applicable, or it's not. . . To somehow say it's suspended here is the same line of thinking that led to Japanese internment camps in WWII. . .

I don't love the idea, but I love the idea of my religious freedom - to worship the God of the Universe and believe that He provided salvation and a way to live through Christ. I am a Christian. Proud to say it. Will never deny it. And to continue to have the right to do so, I think repressing other people - simply because of their religion (even though I think it is false and don't believe it myself) is not the best way to maintain that freedom."




So what do you think about the building of a Mosque at Ground Zero?